by J. Adams
“Yes,” Sarah breaks in. “And a large amount of what is left over will go home with you. You will not need to cook for a week. Not that you would really need to, anyway.”
“That fact is still taking me some getting used to. Eating simply for pleasure and not because of need, and not having to worry about what or how much I eat is something most humans dream of.”
“Are you truly happy with the changes, Celine?” she asks earnestly. “Are you really content with this new life?”
Meeting my husband's gaze, I smile. “I am happier and more content than I have ever been in my life. I will treasure the memories I have of my old life, but I wouldn't trade this one for anything. I only hope and pray that I can be worthy of the calling placed before me.”
“Believe me, my dear,” Devon says softly, “you are very worthy. The One chose you because of your worthiness. No one else can do what you will. No one else could be the mother of the golden child.” He looks at his son. “And no one except our son could be your true mate. The One chose him long before he was born.” He smiles. “Ours is a truly blessed family.”
“Thank you.” I am deeply humbled by their praise and their faith in us. With a heart full of gratitude, I turn and watch the passing scenery. The homes and buildings are both beautiful and incredibly designed. They are constructed of marbled granite and crystal, and each one sparkles in the sun. Sebastian said his people lived in cottages, but to me they look more like mini mansions.
We turn up a narrow, tree-lined path. It must be a mile long. At the end of the path sits an exquisite home. The granite and crystal building is topped with twelve tall spires connected by intricately carved arches. The huge double doors are white with gold trim. A granite fountain sits in the middle of a circular flower bed. The large variety of flowers are all in full bloom. Of all the homes we've passed, this one is the most beautiful.
“Is this your home?” I ask Sarah.
“No, Celine. This is your home.” She smiles at my flabbergasted expression.
Sebastian nods and squeezes my hand. “You are the Woman of Prophecy, caro. This home was built especially for you.”
When the vehicle stops, the driver gets out and unloads our luggage. Sarah loops her arm through mine as Sebastian and his father carry everything and we follow them in. We quickly explore each tastefully decorated room. When we reach our room, Sarah helps me unpack. I open the massive closet and hang some of my dresses, noticing a long white garment bag already hanging there. There is a black one as well.
“What is this?” I ask.
“This is your gown for tonight. The gathering is formal, so I picked one out for you and a formal shirt and vest for Sebastian.” Sarah unzips the bag and I suck in a breath as she reveals the regal gown. It is made of deep burgundy velvet and trimmed in gold silk with gold seed pearls around the scooped neck of the bodice and crystal and gold pearls around the bottom. The long bell sleeves are also trimmed in crystal and gold pearls.
“It is exquisite,” I say, thinking that the word does not do the dress justice.
“She beams. Somehow I knew you would love it. There are slippers to go with it,” she adds, pointing to the dainty gold shoes on the shelf above the dress. “Sebastian's attire coordinates with your gown.” She opens his bag to reveal a silky gold shirt with billowy sleeves, topped with a burgundy velvet vest trimmed in gold and accented with gold seed pearls. “You two will look stunning.”
“I can't wait to wear it!”
“Sebastian will not be able to take his eyes off you– neither will the rest of the unbound men in attendance.”
I can feel myself blushing furiously. “I'm sure there will be plenty of single women there to keep them occupied.”
“Well, let's hope so. Sebastian is so gifted at hearing the thoughts of others, no male within his range will leave with his inner organs intact.” When my eyes widen she laughs softly. “I am only joking, dear. Well, maybe.”
She winks and I laugh. I love her sense of humor, as well as her husband's. Her joyful mood is contagious and I can't help feeling happy around her.
“May I ask you a question?”
She smiles. “You may ask me anything, dear.”
“How do Challissians live so long? And how do you grow so tall?”
“Well, The One makes us immortal the moment we are conceived. And as for the height, part of it is genes, the other is the atmosphere in the earth's core. You know, a human weighing two hundred pounds on the surface would weigh only a hundred in Challis.”
“Really? How is that possible?”
“You see, here in the earth's core we don't have the gravity issue. The body is lighter here. Everything is more buoyant.”
“Wow,” I whisper. I had noticed a difference when I stepped off the plane. “I know a few women who would love to loose weight with no effort. We could bottle Challissian air, sell it on the surface and make a fortune.”
Sarah laughs and I join her. “I will be sure to mention that to the city council.”
“Just as long as you tell them the idea came from Sebastian.”
“I will,” she agrees with a grin. “Well, we will leave and give you two time to get settled in. We will return this evening to ride with you to the celebration.”
“Thank you, Mother, for the dress, and for your acceptance of me.”
She smiles and embraces me firmly. “Thank you for willingly accepting your calling, and for accepting our son. The love between bond mates is strong, but that which exist between you two is the strongest I have ever witnessed.” She presses a gentle hand to my cheek. “And as for accepting you, anything else would be impossible. Besides,” she adds with a smile, “you are very easy to love. You were meant to be a part of our family, and for this, we will be eternally grateful.”
I blink against the tears filling my eyes and smile. She kisses my forehead and leaves in search of her husband. I follow her out, meeting Sebastian as he is seeing his father to the door. Devon embraces me and adds his own soft kiss to my cheek.
“Until this evening,” he says, taking his wife's arm.
“Until this evening,” Sebastian repeats, closing the door after them. He turns to me and pulls me to him. “How do you like your new home so far?”
“It's amazing!” I answer, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I never imagined it would be so incredible. There is so much diversity here, just like on the rest of the planet. Except I feel nothing but peace here. I felt the love of the people when we walked through the crowds. It was a wonderful feeling.”
“They do love you. They have awaited the day that they could see you with their own eyes, to finally be in the very presence of the Woman of Prophecy.”
“I can't help feeling undeserving of the praise and ardor. I mean, it is the child who will fulfill the prophecy, not me.”
“But you are the vessel, beloved. Without your willing and selfless heart there would be no golden child. Never forget how blessed you are. Never doubt your importance.” He leans down, presses his forehead to mine, and closes his eyes. “I am very blessed to have you,” he whispers, “to be chosen to share in this prophecy with you, to be given the priceless gift of your love, to be the recipient of your heart, and to have you own mine. I will be thankful for these blessings every single day of forever.”
The tears that come now are unstoppable. He takes my face in his hands and kisses them away. With his loving words, the doubts and fears I have harbored deep inside slip away and are no more.
Twelve
Are you ready, beloved? Sebastian asks me as we prepare to enter the amphitheater. I can't answer him at the moment because I am so nervous, I can hardly breathe. It isn't fear now that incapacitates my tongue, it is a desperate hope I carry inside that I look all right, that I will make my new family proud and not do anything to bring shame to them. This is all so new for me–worrying about making a good impression, hoping people will think well of me, and it is very disconcerting. I take in my husba
nd's regal attire, sighing deeply at how wonderful the gold silk shirt and burgundy velvet vest look on him. He wears this with his standard black leather pants. I've decided leather pants must have been invented just for him because he wears them so well. His silky, straight black hair is unbound and gently falls about his shoulders.
I quickly glance at Sarah and Devon and marvel at how great they look in their coordinating colors of forest green and gold. Sarah's long blond hair has been curled. The sides are held back by two gold combs and the curls fall down her back. Devon's black hair is bound by a gold silk tie. The two make a very beautiful couple.
I finally glance down at myself, feeling rather regal in my gown. I call the style “Victorian meets Renaissance,” because the styles of both periods are blended into one, forming the perfect gown for me. My hair is pinned high on my head while a few curls fall against my face and the rest cascades down to the middle of my back. Because of the change to my skin and eyes, I only use a little makeup now, mainly mascara and eyeliner, which is a major time saver. Still, I find myself hoping I won't have makeup meltdown and don raccoon eyes before the end of the evening.
You are absolutely beautiful, beloved. There is no one more beautiful. And you will always make us proud.
I smile and squeeze his hand. He knows just what to say to calm my anxiousness and I never doubt his sincerity. I give the three my best smile. “Okay,” I say bravely, “let's do this.” Devon and Sarah quickly cover their mouths to muffle their laughter and Sebastian grins widely and kisses my hand.
“All right, my lady,” he says with amusement in his rich voice, “let's do this.”
* * *
Sebastian's parents enter first, then we enter. I suck in a breath when the entire crowd stands and applauds us as we descend the red-carpeted steps. My husband squeezes my hand gently and I lift my smiling eyes to his, completely comforted by the overwhelming love I feel radiating from the citizens of Challis. Little children stand with their parents, cheering with their young voices as we make our way to the seats reserved for us in front near the stage. Before we sit, Sebastian and I turn to the crowd and wave for a moment, wanting the people to know we gratefully acknowledge their love.
When we are finally seated, a very distinguished looking man walks to the middle of the stage and welcomes us with a speech that touches our hearts. He shares the gratitude of the people for our arrival, and pronounces a blessing upon our marriage–a blessing of hope and happiness. Then he pays a special tribute to Sebastian, for diligently fulfilling his calling as my guardian, my protector, and my true mate, to which the crowd responds with thunderous applause. Sebastian's eyes meet mine and our love for one another shines through our mutual gaze.
Our host ends his remarks and the program begins.
Many citizens share their gifts and talents. A mother and daughter sing a song from a Challissian opera, each of them owning the voice of an angel. A young woman plays a piece on the flute while her brother accompanies her on the piano. A group of young girls perform a dance number from the surface world ballet, Swan Lake, and I am sure the piece was chosen just for me.
Two brothers perform a juggling act with balls, fruit, and . . . unless my eyes are deceiving me, cats? I hear the loud meows and cover my mouth, shocked. These peaceful people are juggling cats? The audience is full of laughter. I turn to Sebastian and he bites his lip to keep from laughing at my expression, but soon gives up.
They are not real, beloved. They look it, but they aren't. The Olsen brothers have performed this act for centuries, always using stuffed animals. The meows are coming from back stage.
Oh. My relieved expression and the one word response has Sebastian shaking with laughter. Well, I didn't know, I say, finally joining him.
There are several more performances, some musical and some comical. Each one is done well and met by warm applause. At the end of the final performance the host thanks everyone who performed, as well as the guest for attending, then announces it is time to adjourn to the great hall for the dinner. Everyone remains seated while we are escorted from the theater before standing to leave. Since the hall is only a block away, we walk.
On the way over I express to Sebastian and his parents how much I enjoyed the program.
“I'm glad,” Sarah says. “All the performers have been rehearsing for days and were deeply honored to be asked to participate.”
“They were very talented and I enjoyed them all.”
“Especially the cat juggling,” Sebastian says. I grin and discreetly give him a playful shove before resting my hand on his on his arm. He laughs, placing his hand over mine.
Sorry, angel, but I just couldn't resist.
Squeezing his arm, I smile lovingly. I know.
* * *
The hall is festively decorated in bright colors, from the tablecloths to the fresh cut flowers that adorn each table, to the crystal and brass chandeliers draped in shimmering brightly-colored garland. There are four long tables set around the hall, each one filled to capacity with delectable dishes of food.
Sliced roast beef, so tender it simply falls apart. Mini rotisserie chickens. Juicy slices of roasted pork. Buttery garlic potatoes. Vegetable kabobs. Salads made of tropical fruits. Fresh field greens tossed in a vinaigrette dressing. Luscious breads and pastries. Cakes and pies. The variety of food goes on and on. I almost wish I had a bigger plate to fit everything on. Instead, I pace myself by having just one taste of each thing. And every single dish I try is delicious.
We sit at a long table facing the guests. Many come up during the course of the meal to say hello and introduce themselves. When Sebastian and I are done eating, he links my arm in his and we wander around the hall and mingle. Some are shy and hesitant when we approach, and I understand the feeling well. I smile warmly and try to make them feel at ease. The last thing I want is to be intimidating and have people afraid to talk to me. Every person I meet is kind and thoughtful, wishing us the best and promising to keep us in their prayers.
As the evening grows late, we thank everyone for their kindness and tell them of our appreciation for the wonderful welcome. And just as Sarah warned, we are sent home with a good amount of food, at least a week's worth.
Devon and Sarah have a hover car delivered and present it to us as a wedding gift, surprising us both. The sleek black vehicle is a smaller version of the one they picked us up in when we arrived. We thank them profusely and they send us off with loving embraces.
* * *
When we reach our home, we put the food away, each of us heaving a deep sigh as we come to the end of a very full day. Except for the memorable moments I spent with Sebastian before coming here, I have never enjoyed myself more than today.
“Come out to the courtyard with me,” he says, taking my hand.
“All right.”
Hand in hand we walk through the softly-lit hallway. Our bare feet are quiet on the tile floor. We exit a set of beautifully etched double glass doors. All the doorways are very tall, I notice. I stop and stand next to one of the white stone columns. Sebastian wraps his arms around me and I lean back against his solid chest as we gaze out at the enchanting landscape around us. The colors are vivid and completely perfect.
“The skies are so beautiful here. This whole no darkness thing will take me some getting used to, but it is still beautiful.”
I feel him nod and he chuckles softly. “Truthfully, the dark nights will be the one thing I'll miss about living on the surface. I missed it when we moved back from Italy as well. However, when I was younger, I discovered a way to bring the stargazing moments back with me.”
“Oh, really?” I ask, intrigued. “What did you do?”
“Well, When I had just started my training, I would come home each night and lie out in the grassy field behind our home and stare up at the bright sky. Then I would close my eyes and envision the surface sky. I would focus really hard for a moment and suddenly the night sky was before me. The moon was always a crescent or ha
lf full and the stars were vividly bright.”
“Wow! Would you teach me how to do that sometime?”
“I would love to.” He pauses a moment, becoming thoughtful. “On those nights that I lay out, I used to wish with all my heart that when my calling of guardian to the Woman of Prophecy had ended, I would find my true mate. I used to dream she was somewhere in our world or on the surface just waiting for me, that once I fulfilled my duty, the fates would lead us to each other.”
“Really?” I love it when he shares cherished memories with me.
“Really,” he says, resting his cheek against my hair. “Every night I wished for the same thing, never altering my wish in any way. Then something amazing happened.”
“What happened?” I press when he pauses.
“On the night of my twenty-fifth birthday, my training session ended early. I celebrated with my parents, then went out to my usual spot. I lay out a little longer than normal, and again poured out my wishes for my true mate. I tried to imagine what she would look like. After a while I began to feel guilty for all the time I had spent selfishly wishing for a mate when all my efforts should have been spent expressing gratitude for the honor of being a guardian. As soon as I replaced my selfish wishes with hope for the fulfilling of the prophecy, I saw a beautiful light trail across my envisioned sky. I was shocked. A shooting star had never been a part of my created night sky. As I watched it, I began to feel a warmth inside I had never felt before.”
He tightens his embrace. “Each night after that, I went out and lay for the exact amount of time, and the light appeared at exactly the same moment, never altering in time. “I started calling it the wishing hour.”
“The wishing hour,” I softly repeat. “A fitting name.” I smile as I picture him camped out on the grass, waiting to see the sight that had become so familiar to him.
“I knew it was a sign from The One, telling me that all would be well.” He sighs and presses his lips against my ear saying softly, “And he was right. He knew the path my life would take because he placed me on it. Being bound to you was my destiny.”
