Overlap

Chapter 78: Sacred Vows

<12/01/2011 - 19:30 | Altiri Temple, Karnak Gravity Well, Unity Controlled Space>

After I drowned my senses into Lumina, she took her place on the circular platform behind the frozen platform. The queen placed herself behind the small stand, and waited on the two of us to prepare. After Lumina asked me if I was ready for this, I slowly inhaled, reminding myself of every second of time I've spent with her as a means to calm my nerves and synchronize me with the moment. After I confirmed it, Lumina nodded to the queen for visual cue to get started.

"Lumina. Reed. You have both been summoned here today, to celebrate and declare official marriage proposals to each other. I, acting as queen, will generate full documentation, which will be legally binding in both our worlds. This documentation will be saved to the Altiri's digital database. Based on Lumina's earlier submission, I have prepared the vows to you thus owe each other. Lumina. Are you prepared for this?"

"Yes. Yes I am." I couldn't see it from her side, but Lumina was about to start crying once more from how happy this moment already made her. She knew what would come next, and braced herself for the ultimate sacred vow.

"Lumina? Do you accept your husband to be, the man you shall marry for the purpose of love and prosperity? Do you intend to stay with him for as long as you both may live, to work together with Reed facing any adversity, and supporting him through any conflict of utmost objective intentions? And do you accept the responsibility that your fiancé will beseech of you in all of the days to come?"

"Yes." Lumina spoke proudly and happily, as the words held our hearts together.

"And Reed?"

"Yes, great queen?"

"You and Lumina have come a long way, despite the difficulties you've both faced in the coming summers that exist in your current residence. Yet before all of us today, you stand ready, already hath proposed to Lumina for marriage. Do you, Reed, promise in truth to remain in love and devoted to Lumina? Do you accept, despite the possibilities of future situations stirring conflict, even if between each other, to remain caring and loyal to Lumina for as long as you both may live, disregarding which planet you are stuck on? And do you promise to help Lumina with any great adversity that may hinder or befall her behavior or her physical situation; to demonstrate that which you both consecutively agree to be the love and care you would each demonstrate to soul mates?"

Her words were a mouthful, but thanks to my mental preparation and having expected this, I already knew what to say in return. "Yes, I do. I accept Lumina as my absolute and only soul mate for all of eternity, even if death tires to tear us apart."

The queen waited for a couple of seconds, looking at as both like she was too proud for words. "Lumina. You are hereby officially married to Reed, and are now his wife in legal documentation and law, set in accordance by The Unity. You currently have the option to change or alter your legal name to befit your new title. Would you like to make such a change?"

"I'm content with the way my name is now." Given Lumina's answer, the queen was mute for a moment, wondering if she should have even asked.

I knew why she did; all human marriages do this. People have the option of adding or combining last names in the legal process. Since Lumina (as all Altiri) has no last name while I (as all humans) do, the option came up for whether I would combine my last name to Lumina's first name. The thing is, we already talked it over, and decided not to change anything. I don't need a last name to know who my wife is, but I know my cue to interject was now. "Don't worry. Lumina and I already talked about the idea. Lumina sees her name as sacred in identity, and I kind of feel the same way for myself, so we're both cool with it." Names don't have to change just because other humans are accustomed to it.