The day had come! The flowers were strewn along the aisle, ribbons hung from the trees nearby that would be untied and carted off after the ceremony as to not disturb the local wildlife. Everything was in various shades of pink and cream, with bright green woven sparsely between. The entire glade looked like a scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream, as if Titania herself were going to step out from between the trees to officiate the ceremony herself.
Ruth was waiting behind the small screen that had been set up to keep her groom from seeing her in her wedding dress before it was time, turning her boquet around and around in her hands. Ida and Belle both giggled at her and put their hands over hers.
"You'll be just fine," Belle started.
"You've been waiting for this day for ages now." Ida finished.
Ruth pulled in a steadying breath, closing her eyes as she imagined all her nervousness flowing down her body and into the earth. She knew the planet would take it and recycle it for her, turning it into something new, possibly better. She opened her eyes again and smiled at her sisters. "You're right, everything is fine."
Moments later, the bridal march sounded from the quartet that had been hired for the occasion. Ruth did one more steadying breath, then turned and waited for her cue. Ida and Belle moved in front of her, linking arms.
It would have been perfect if their brother or father were there to walk any of the sisters down the aisle, but the brother had been lost to the war and father to the flu. Their mother wasn't strong enough to walk with them, but would be waiting at the end of the aisle to hand Ruth off to her groom. At least a few traditions could stay intact.
The music swelled as the women made their way down, Ruth's groom grinning from the altar, which was a picnic table covered with three lace tablecloths all layered together. Nancy and Dorell stood behind it, both wearing their official ceremonial garb. There had been no question as to who would officiate the ceremony.
Upon reaching him, Ruth took her groom's hand and squeezed, turning to catch her mother's kiss on her cheek. Everyone was smiling, a few with tears in their eyes. Love infused every nook and cranny of the glade. Gentle noise from the waves of the lake made for the perfect soundtrack of the day, muffled slightly by the trees between it and the glade.
"Welcome, all. Please be seated." Nancy held her hands out to the congregation, and the betrothed turned to face her, still holding hands. "This Beltane, we gather together to honor and recognize the love between these two members of our coven, and join them together not just legally, but energetically as well." She lifted a set of three ribbons from the altar, passing one end of them to Dorell.
"These cords represent core facets of every relationship." Dorell held the end of the red ribbon higher than the others. "Love." Dropping that, he lifted the white. "Trust." And finally, the yellow. "Friendship." He gathered all three into his hand once more. "These three things stand at the base of every marriage, every coupling."
Nancy and Dorell lifted the ribbons high, stepping around the little altar and lifting the ribbons over the betrothed's heads. The groom had to duck ever so slightly. On cue, the pair turned and linked their right hands together. Dorell pulled the red ribbon from the others, draping it over their linked hands. He did the same with the others, naming each ribbon once more as he did. Nancy echoed him.
"If you enter this marriage with an open heart and solid trust, take the ribbons in your left hand." Nancy took Ruth's boquet as she held it out, and the bride and groom reached forward to take the ends of the ribbons.
"If you enter this marriage with joyful friendship and true love, tie the ribbons together." Dorell folded his hands in front of himself, grinning as the pair started tying the knot before he'd even finished his sentence. Everyone chuckled.
The bond was sealed. Dorell and Nancy moved back to their posistions behind the altar, both raising their hands to the sky. Nancy spoke. "Join with us in offering prayers to the spirits of this land, to our ancestors, and to the deities we speak with, asking to bless this union and these people. May their marriage be long, happy, and fulfiling."
There was a brief cheer from the guests before a stillness fell over the glade, many coven members holding their breath as their hands lifted. Those who weren't in the coven, but had experienced enough of these ceremonies to know what to do, copied. Ruth and her groom lifted their joined hands, never letting go of each other.
The moment stretched. The lake sang softly, a bird or two joining in. The trees provided the gentlest percussion, and somewhere off in the distance, it almost seemed as if one of the land spirits had begun vocalizing. It stopped as quickly as it began, leaving most to wonder if they'd imagined it. Ruth knew better, and grinned, squeezing her groom's hand. One of the spirits tied to Faodail had blessed them specifically, and she would find out who so she could thank them.
"And now, the legal proceedings." Dorell was recognized as an official on the island, and would oversee the more mundane bits of the ceremony. These passed mostly in the normal way, leaving out any bits that didn't match the couple's religious leanings. They promised to love and honor each other, take care of each other, until death did them part.
"You may now kiss your bride." Nancy beamed towards the groom, who used their bound hands as a bit of leverage to pull his wife towards him. He dipped her back with the kiss, Ruth's foot popping up behind her so that he was the main thing keeping her upright. More cheers and laughter came from the gathered loved ones, and the newlyweds pulled back with unparalled delight radiating off them both.
It was a Beltane ritual for the ages. As the newlyweds piled into the back of an open-top car to make their way back to Ceangal where the reception was to be held, other coven members stayed behind to clean up the glade.
Nancy peered between the trees towards the lake. She had heard the spirit's song as well, and thought she knew who it might be. Squinting, she noticed a small creature standing on the lakeshore. She grinned. The creature mostly kept her distance, but enjoyed rituals near the lake and often hovered around the edges of them. With a blink, it was gone, and Nancy made her way back to the glade. They'd have time to make friends with a Faodail spirit later. First, there was a party to attend.