Bonding Ceremony
1225 Words
I stared at the dress that Alexis wants me to wear. It is the traditional white with silver and gold embellishing. The dress has sleeves that are see through and shimmered in the light. The dress has a long train with silver and gold stones creating flowers. Blaze held a veil that is way too long in my opinion. I can't even explain how long it is.
"Well, are you just going to sit there or are you going to get ready?" Alexis asked impatiently.
"I still have seven hours until I have to get ready!" I exclaimed. They rolled their eyes.
"You have obviously never been to a bonding ceremony before. There are things that must be done before you meet your bonding partner. Like a special bath with herbs. You need to cleanse your body, Evie. Inside and outside. You need to eat and drink special foods. I know it's all confusing but it will be worth it in the end, I promise you." Blaze explained. I sighed. This is why I left the planning to them.
"Very well." I reluctantly said. "What is the first thing I must do?" I asked. A glint entered their eyes and for the first time in a long time, I felt fear.
They had me eat and drink these special fruits and drinks that I couldn't remember the name of. During that process, I tried convincing them to cut my hair, that now reaches the middle of my back. Why my hair grows so fast is beyond me. I blame the family genes. They bluntly refused to.
"Let's get you into the bath. No, not the bathroom. We need to go to a special cleansing room. We have been working on it all week." Alexis said. They led the way to a building that I never really payed attention to.
The inside is rather big and just pure white. I hope to never step foot in a place like this again. Pillars lined the walls. There are no windows either. The walls have engraving in them but you have to look hard to notice them. What really caught my eyes is the large tub that can be considered a pool. Steaming water awaited with different petals and herbs lying in. Women, who seemed to be dressed in ritual clothing, continued to toss herbs and petals into the steaming water.
"Undress and enter into the water." Blaze ordered.
"This makes no sense, but I am totally not going to argue with you." I grumbled. I undressed, not really caring who saw me.
"I must say, the markings on your body are interesting. Are these the tattoos you were speaking to us about?" Alexis asked.
"Yes. Sometimes I forget I have them. I've had them for so long." I answered.
The water is soothing against my skin. The aroma calmed any nervous energy that I had. My muscles relaxed and any pain that I had left. I didn't even realize I was in pain until I got into the water. "I see that the water has already relaxed you. After this every thing will go rather quickly. Just continue to relax." Blaze said.
I don't know how many hours passed before they decided that it is time to do my hair. Alexis curled my hair before put some in a bun. Some of my hair framed my face. "Now for the make up." Blaze handed something to Alexis. "Are you ready?"
"I hate makeup." I whined. They rolled their eyes.
"We know not to put too much on you. You have the natural beauty." Blaze said.
"So, why is a bonding ceremony more important? I keep forgetting to ask that." I asked.
"It brings you closer to your partner than a normal marriage. You will be able to fell your each others emotions, but it won't be strong when you two get married, due to not knowing each other that long. The longer you two are together and the closer you get, the more you'll be able to feel each others feelings. You will also be able to talk to each other in your mind. I don't remember the word right now, but that is a good benefit. The rest you will have to figure out on your own." Blaze explained.
"I should have explained it some more to you, but I got distracted when you two asked me to plan it." Alexis said sheepishly. "Like Blaze said, the rest you will have to learn on your own. It's a process you will have to get used to. You two will get in fights, but the bond will make it hard to be mad at each other for long."
"Well, I guess that's good." I said.
I was soon forced into the dress. Any other person would fear the fact of trying to get me into a dress. I still remember that maid that never came near me again. That will always be funny, but still, I will forever hate dresses.
"Are you ready to get bonded?" Alexis asked after I was fully dressed.
"Ready to spend the rest of my life with one person? I don't think I will ever be used to that idea." I responded. They laughed.
"Come one, Evie." Alexis said gently.
It's odd. Being the center of attention. Everything was wonderful though. Flowers decorated everything. Everyone had gathered by the river, making a scenery that no one will ever forget. Everything is nature based.
David began his speech, which I mostly ignored. When he got to the bonding oaths, I began to fully listen. "Now, for this part, I want you both to repeat at the same time. Join hands." David grabbed a red, green, and white ribbon. "The green represents your future. The red represents your past. The white represents the present. Do you both swear to protect each other until you both die?"
"I do." We replied.
"Repeat after me. I, from this day forth, hereby pledge myself, to my bonded. To honor, to protect, and to serve." David said.
"I, from this day forth, hereby pledge myself, to my bonded. To honor, to protect, and to serve." We repeated. The oath went on from there. It was like going through a daze. David told us what to say and we repeated it. I think what shocked me the most is the devotion and the love shining in Coopers eyes.
"Evie, do you promise to withhold this oath until the day you die? Do you promise to treat him as your king and cherish him until your final breath?" David asked. I looked at Cooper. Although I don't love him yet, I know someday I will.
"I do." I said firmly.
"Cooper, do you promise to withhold this oath until the day you die? Do you promise to treat her as your queen and cherish her until your final breath?" David asked Cooper. Cooper smiled smiled brightly.
"I do!" Cooper fondly declared.
"By the power invested by magic herself, I now pronounce you bonded. May your lives be forever happy and blessed." David declared.
- Writer
