That Sacred Arrangement....

[all7seas]

Who: wise_maiden and lists_to_port; We are leaving this log WIDE OPEN. So if you are family or friends, you are invited and may mingle or gossip or be all dressed up or get drunk or do the electric slide or WHAT HAVE YOU. Are there any Wedding Crashers in Luceti? Ha!
What: Wedding
When: Monday afternoon
Where: That spot with the lilacs by the river in that meadow west of the village. You know that spot---we know you know that spot.
Summary: Jack and Raine get married, and everyone ships it hard forever.
Rating: G I expect? It's so hard to tell sometimes.



On the morning of his wedding, Jack sat bolt upright in bed and then vomited onto the floor. Several minutes after that were spent dry-heaving and gasping for breath, and then another several minutes crawling to the bathroom to put his head under the shower. Cold water---it brought back reality and rationality, and erased dreams of being a pirate and dying in some war and having a best mate and a lover who had always been forbidden him---ever since Jack Horner's lesson and the two weeks following it.

Sparrow figured it was a case of wedding nerves. Strange dreams were a new thing for him, after all--normally he slept dreamlessly and woke up alert.

Later, as he stood in the quiet meadow he and Raine had chosen for their ceremony among the fragrant lilac trees, that morning dream was forgotten. Sparrow was calm. Happy. Clean-shaven and dressed in the attire Buffy had picked out for him and eagerly waiting for his beautiful bride.

Comments

[wise_maiden]

The previous few days had been a blur for Raine--making all the arrangements to have a few days off from work after the festival, spending the weekend on finalizing details, finding just the right dress--something simple enough and yet elegant, for her.

When the morning--that morning arrived, it was after the second night of vague, disconcerting dreams--though she was no stranger to dreaming strangely. She knew that she was simply anxious for the day to come. It truly had come quickly; it was almost hard to believe that it had been a week ago since the proposal itself, looking back. Her bedroom was still very empty, as most of her personal items had already been moved to the Cullen House. An empty room, the last night she would have spent truly single, waking up to a strange emptiness. That night would be the first in a new home. She breathed, and continued to prepare for the rest of the day.

In the afternoon, now, she stands in the meadow, looking across the field to where her soon to be husband was waiting. All fears aside, Jack was there, truly there, in the clothing he had shown her just a few days ago. That was when the anxiety evaporated, as Raine tried to meet his eyes from afar--and it was all she could do to keep herself waiting properly. Patiently. Her steps toward him would be measured, even, even though her heart beat rapidly within her. Smiling, glowing -- they would finally be together.

[all7seas]

Once she appeared before him, Jack Sparrow could not look away. Now all mysterious morning dreams were firmly erased from his mind. The only thing he could see was a delicate woman who was more beautiful than starlight or the sunset over the lake or any thousand other very beautiful things.

He took a few halting steps toward her before he remembered it was customary for the groom to wait for the bride. "Hang the customs," he muttered, but forced himself to stand still. He knew Raine observed customs carefully. It was one of the things he loved about her.

[wise_maiden]

He would have to wait for Raine to make the walk. Not that it was too much to ask, in the face of all that had happened. The patience of that walk, the spacing and timing of it--it was rather that she floated to him instead of stepped. Her feet felt very light, and the faces of surrounding friends and family all did seem to blur. There would be time for talking to them later; seeing them and mingling, after she became wife to the man standing.

Closer now. She is thankful for the bouquet that hides her trembling hands---but her smile and eyes remain bright and unwavering.

[all7seas]

Like an angel, really. You don't deserve her, Sparrow. Jack clenched and unclenched his fingers, a gold ring held tightly in one fist. He didn't deserve her, did he. He suddenly felt afraid of the kind of power Jack Horner had over him, now: it never felt comfortable when another man knew your sins. It was always best to hide them.

Hiccup, too...

She could never know.

[wise_maiden]

And the moment arrives, where Raine arrives just before him, stopping just a few feet away. Waiting for him to go to her, so they can make the rest of the walk together. If there's anything that will bring a true realness to this moment, it will be closing her hand in his. Concentrating on the rest of the ceremony that lies ahead.

One step at a time.

[all7seas]

Once she was by his side, Jack offered her his arm. "You," he said, drinking her in, "You are alight today, my love."

[wise_maiden]

She reaches out to take his arm, lowering her head as she tries to avoid a blush, but still smiling. "... you're rather easy on the eyes yourself, you know." His clothes had certainly been chosen well; that could not be denied.

[all7seas]

The clothing felt comfortable, and that was all that mattered. Jack had no notion of fancy clothes from plain ones, which was why he had relied on Buffy's help in this department.

"Not normally this dressed up, am I. I'm afraid you'll have to get used to a rather ordinary Sparrow after today."

[wise_maiden]

"You, Jack, could never be ordinary." She gently reprimanded, leaning in as they made their way over to the priest together. "Besides, I've already told you what I thought about that."

[all7seas]

Throughout the ceremony, Jack felt unfocused. He was trying to keep his ears on the words being used to bring them together, but for some reason that dream from the morning was starting to intrude.

A dream of himself as a man who ran far and fast from marriage commitments, always. Who could barely commit to one woman, and who had had many--all around the globe. A globe he had sailed around more than once.

What the hell is this...

Sparrow tried to shake himself out of it by focusing on the silver-haired woman by his side. The woman he loved, who had born him children. It helped.

A little.

[wise_maiden]

Raine finds herself caught up in the moment, her eyes alight with that restrained excitement. She never imagined that the two of them would wind up together, in this place. Not in any of her dreams, and certainly not the ones from last night. The breeze was blowing lightly, gentle enough. It was a beautiful day. Clear, wonderful.

She can hardly hear the Father's words, only knowing that she's answering appropriately, from her heart, when the time comes for her speak. Her sleek white gloves come off so that the new ring may be set properly in place.

[all7seas]

He slipped the ring onto her slender finger and heard the words coming from his mouth: the words of promise and forever and love.

Something felt unsure, still, but he chalked that up to nerves as well. She was so beautiful--so beautiful, and now she was his.

Jack leaned in to kiss his wife.

[wise_maiden]

Raine lifts her face up to meet his, closing her eyes as her husband guides her into that sealing kiss, meant to wipe all doubt and hesitation from mind. It was final: they had made it, coming full circle from that night all those years ago.

It's almost a shame that they just can't leave right away, but there is the party to think of. Greeting others.

For now though, there's only him in that perfect moment.

[all7seas]

"It's a shame we can't leave right away," he whispered to her as their friends and family cheered their union. "Because..." Jack trailed off; he broke a sprig of lilac from a nearby tree and tucked it behind her ear. They'd have to spend some time with family now.

[wise_maiden]

"Later, love," She whispered back, mirth in her expression as he voiced her thoughts, eyes lingering on him until they moved to rest over the crowd before them. "The first day of the rest of our lives, isn't it?"

[all7seas]

In answer, Jack kissed her again, lingeringly--a promise of at least how they'd spend the first night of the rest of their lives.

[wise_maiden]

It was a wonderful promise--and breathtaking, as always. For now, the crowd awaited them, to take those steps together as husband and wife, down the same path that she came.

Even if the later festivities would part them, she would find a way back by his side eventually.

[all7seas]

"Dance?" Their first as husband and wife. Jack needed something physical, even if it was just a dance. That was the sort of man he was; he looked forward to holding onto her for a little while.

[wise_maiden]

"I would be honored, my dear husband." The perfect excuse for them not needing to part from one another for long.

[all7seas]

Gently, Sparrow took her hand and drew her close, moving with her as he had done that evening at the festival. His Raine; his wife. Now all his troubles seemed to vanish--any nervousness or uneasiness he'd had was gone.

[wise_maiden]

For the first little while she's quiet--all that matters is them moving together like this. As long as they're together, they can leave unsettling thoughts to rest. Her voice is for him alone, when she does speak. "It's been such a beautiful day."

[all7seas]

"Aye---the most beautiful of my life, darling." He twirled her before bringing her close again. "And with so many more to come. And a beautiful night ahead as well."

[wise_maiden]

She keeps her steps, matching his movements. It was as if the dance at the festival was just practice. "I want to remember every moment."

[all7seas]

"Ha! How could we forget? Even the most dire shift couldn't drive this day of ours out of my mind."

[wise_maiden]

"I know. I just like hearing you say it." She ducks her head the way she usually does when she feels them rise with color. "We're both truly here. It's... wonderful."