The Marriage

[Zarn Ishtare]

Dedicated to Arashi no Tenshi, Bara no Tenshi, and all other angels.

The chapel was dimly lit, as two brave souls marched down the lane from the great open doors to the Pulpit where they would pledge their love. The only witnesses to this union of souls was the old preacher, a Soldier in a tattered uniform, and a man sheathed in darkness. The Groom and bride themselves did not seem to mind the lack of guests, nor the brokeness of the chapel itself, which was missing a large part of the third wall and several peices were torn from the ceiling. It was not for that that they had journeyed here, not for the voices of angels or the darkness of men did they come into this place...this was obvious by their choice of apparel if nothing else. A Bride in nothing but a gown of sable hue, and a man encased in steel wasn't the normal garb for a wedding. But this was no normal wedding....

"Welcome, all ye souls who have ventured here. We join together today in this holy place to witness the union of these two brave souls, who have found each other from far distances, and who have fought their way to each other through fire and through darkness." The pastor intoned.

"Do ye pledge yourselves to each other, through all the days of your lives? To protect and shelter each other, to die and live for each other, keeping the vows you make today forever into eternity?

The groom spoke, "yes."

The bride spoke as well "may it be so."

"Does anyone here object to this union?" asked the withered old man.

The Man sheathed in darkness spoke. "I object. These two shall not marry without the blessing. Have they recieved His blessing, and the blessing of the Keeper of the Bride?" The darkness suddenly subsided, and revealed a young man in a travelers cloak. " They did not ask for my blessing, nor of God's."

The Bride looked upon the man and saw the truth of him. "Your blessing...I do beg this day,....brother."

The cloaked man stopped short, as though he had not expected this, and then said..."I give you and your bride my blessing." At that moment he bent over, crying out and clutching at his back as though in pain. Suddenly, His cloak was rent in two and where once there had only been flesh Wings spread out. Weeping tears of joy, he flew from the place, freed of his torment and pain.

The Soldier also spoke. "I object. They have asked my blessing, but they did not find the object I desired for my blessing. I who am the Protecter of the Groom object to this union."

The Groom saw this man and he too saw the truth of him. "I give thee this token, for thy blessing...father." the Groom handed to him a small object, which apeared to be a book.

"then thus do I give my blessing." said the soldier. Suddenly his tattered uniform was tranformed in a shinging light into the robes of a king. Where once had sat a dented helm now a perfect crown was raised up. He too appeared to be weeping from joy, and he rose and strode regally from the room.

Finally, the pastor spoke." Children, you still have not asked my blessing. I must warn you, though, if you do ask my blessing, where it will lead you will not be where you might have gone without it. Are you sure you wish to travel the Lonely Road?"

The groom and bride kneeled to him. "We ask you of your blessing...Lord."

The Pastor smiled. "You are given my blessing, children. And such as it is, you are given my love and light and protection from here to the gates of my kingdom. The pastor began to laugh, but the laugh was not of an old man, but as of the laughing of many waters, and as he laughed he changed from the withered preacher to a being of such vastness that I cannot capture in words his form or figure. And the Bride and Groom, now of one flesh, strode from the chapel, and emerged into the bright and unceasing light.

To that old and unfallible love...thank you.

[starstoryteller]

that was intursting I liked it

[Zarn Ishtare]

Even though the love is gone, the dream still remains-Z.

[Anna Mae]

I don't understand your dedication at the beginning.

Let's see, I assume that we have Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit revealed, respectively?

I must ruminate on this story more, although an explanation of symbolism is always good also.