Survive

by Vera Nazarian

  When he is done, growing silent—smiling at me as the last honey-caress of his deep voice and the final guitar twang fades—I allow one little sob, which escapes me despite my best efforts. And then I place my stolen hand back against his palm, letting it tremble against his warm, then again scalding skin.

  There is a long pause of silence, giving us both time to compose ourselves, even as the heat between our clasped hands builds up again.

  “Aeson Kassiopei! What is your Will for this Union? Speak your Truth!” Darumet pronounces.

  With the fire coursing between us, Aeson smiles and looks into my eyes. “Gwenevere Athena Lark, with all my Will, I take you for my Wife, now and always. Nothing shall part us.”

  His words come soft and yet perfectly clear across the grand expanse—spoken in a Logos voice of power.

  They pierce me with love.

  I start to tremble again but there is no time—no time to collapse or fall to pieces—because now Therutat addresses me: “Gwenevere Athena Lark! What is your Will for this Union? Speak your Truth!”

  I open my mouth, and on my breath, like ethereal fire, the words come. . . . “Aeson Kassiopei,” I gently utter the words of my soul. “With all my Will, I take you for my Husband, now and always. Nothing shall part us.”

  “By your Will and your Truth and Amrevet-Ra, you are now One!” the First Priestess and First Priest pronounce in unison. “Together you will now light the Sacred Flames to seal your Union in the Book of Life.”

  This is our moment.

  Aeson and I reluctantly break the sweet contact between our palms and walk to the central altar. I pick up the lit taper on the left, and he takes the one on the right. We face the chalice from opposite ends and then gaze at each other across the altar space with its softly flickering white fire inside the wide bowl. . . .

  Gentle sounds of traditional Atlantean instruments fill the chamber—strings, reedy winds, and a soft underlying beat of drums. It’s our cue to begin our duet, the ancient lovely Eoseiara. Aeson and I slowly begin to walk in a circle around the chalice. And in that moment, together we sing.

  Eoseiara, eoseiara,

  Near and far, my heart longs to stay.

  Eoseiara, eoseiara,

  Count every star, make no delay.

  Every two stanzas, we pause to lower our burning tapers to light one of the wicks on the rim of the chalice. The wicks we choose are always directly opposite each other, aligned across the chalice. Tiny white flames spring up as soon as the wicks ignite, like white flower petals around a blossom core.

  Eoseiara, eoseiara,

  Brew in the jar, fire under clay.

  Eoseiara, eoseiara,

  Strum the sitahrra, hurry, I pray.

  As we sing, with each stanza our voices seem to align more and more, the harmony so perfect between us that the resonance builds in power. Eventually, I start to feel its tangible presence lift the tiny hairs along the surface of my skin . . . and I think that Aeson feels it also.

  Eoseiara, eoseiara,

  Door is ajar, waiting all day.

  Eoseiara, eoseiara,

  Sweetly we spar, time fades away.

  Only two unlit wicks remain. We will light them together as we finish the song.

  Eoseiara, eoseiara,

  I am your harbor, you are my bay.

  Eoseiara, eoseiara,

  Over our love, nothing holds sway.

  Our voices and the music fade. The circle is completed. And now the chalice burns in every spot along the rim, a fire flower blooming before us.

  In the silence, Aeson and I stand enraptured, still feeling the gravity waves, the entwined harmonies and acoustics of our voices coursing through our flesh. Now our gazes are once more drawn to one another.

  “Amrevet-Ra! It is Fulfilled! Blessings be upon your Union!” the First Priest and Priestess proclaim in unison, sending echoes resounding.

  Oh my God . . . we’re married.

  Just as the incredible thought comes to me, I recall that the Ceremony is not over.

  The Venerable Therutat raises her hands once more and addresses the hall: “Who Stands with the Bride who is now Wife? Who gives their light?”

  A tiny pause. . . .

  In the background, the Priestesses of Amrevet-Ra begin singing a soft, barely audible chant.

  “Amrevet-Ra . . . Amrevet-Ra . . . Amrevet-Ra . . .”

  And then I hear behind me, coming from the left where my family stands, my brother George’s familiar, comfortable voice.

  “I stand with her and give my light!” George says loudly, then walks a few paces to one of the four lesser altars, the one in the rear burning with a green flame. There he picks up an unlit taper from a small pile, and lowers it into the green flame.

  His taper ignites with the same green fire, and he holds it up, slightly above his head. Then George steps aside, but does not return to the back and instead takes a spot at one of the eight-point star rays on the mosaic floor around the altar.

  The moment he’s done, my sister Gracie steps forward. “I give my light!” she exclaims in a nervous but gutsy voice. Gracie walks around to the opposite side and picks up a taper near the chalice altar in the forefront, with the red flame. She lights her taper and it burns a passionate crimson. She remains near the spot.

  “I give my light! Yeah!” This time it’s my brother Gordie, speaking loud and clear. Gordie saunters over across the Sanctum space as if he’s going to get something from the fridge. He stops in the back at the blue altar, takes a taper and lights it with cool blue fire. And he stands there, grinning.

  “I give my light!” Laronda steps forward from my group, looking fabulous in her gold-and-blue dress, with a small corsage of my Wedding flowers on her bodice and in her hair. She heads directly to the front on my side, and picks up the taper from the yellow altar. Lighting it with the yellow flame, she gives me a shining smile and remains nearby.

  “I give my light!”

  One by one, my friends speak the phrase, then head to the altar flame corresponding to their Quadrant (mostly yellow), and remain standing in the spot forming a circle around the altar, holding their burning tapers aloft. There’s Hasmik, smiling warmly in a lovely mauve dress, with my flowers in a garland around her neck, holding up her yellow flame. Dawn and Chiyoko are right next to her, in light blue and violet, continuing the circle, with flower-bracelets and more blossoms tucked in their hairdos, and their tapers raised high. Dawn nods at me with calm happiness and her yellow flame, and Chiyoko appears to be her usual, slightly nervous self, but smiles brightly and waves her green taper at me.

  “I give my light!” Blayne’s voice comes as a pleasant surprise behind me, making me glance just to be sure. He must’ve been hiding in the back; how did I not see him?

  Yes! Blayne made it to the Wedding!

  And not only that—he is staying upright without a hoverboard, as he miraculously levitates to the yellow altar as though floating, supported by a curious orichalcum vest that he wears strapped over his festive jacket. I glance at him with dancing energy, then glance quickly at Aeson and see im amrevu give me a mischievous deepening smile. What am I willing to bet that Aeson had something to do with this contraption for Blayne?

  There is a small pause, while the priestesses continue to chant in the background, and now the Venerable Darumet addresses the hall. “Who Stands with the Bridegroom who is now Husband? Who gives their light?”

  “I stand with him and give my light!” The speaker is Keruvat, and he walks with a smile to the blue altar, lights his taper and joins my friends and family in the circle.

  “I give my light!” Princess Manala, wearing a shimmering violet and white layered dress, exclaims in a beautiful clear soprano, then lights a taper from the yellow chalice and steps into the circle. She gives a radiant smile to Aeson and me, and lifts her yellow flame high.

  “I give my light!” Xelio takes a proud step forward, wearing the same Fleet White Uniform, contrasting so well with his gor
geous mane of raven-black hair falling down his back. Xel lights a taper from the red altar and joins the circle.

  “I give my light!” Erita approaches in an elegant floor-length blue gown and lights a green taper before stepping into the circle. She gives Aeson and me a warm smile and a mischievous wink.

  “I give my light!” Oalla is next, in a spectacular fire-orange dress, wearing my flowers in a garland around her neck. Lighting the yellow flame, she blows us an air kiss and enters the circle.

  Several more astra daimon proceed with the ceremony, including Quoni Enutat, Radanthet Ulumaq, Culuar Efrebu, Nergal Duha, and a few more whose names I don’t know.

  Finally, when every single one of our relations and friends is standing in the great circle around us, with flickering flames of red, blue, green, and yellow filling the expanse, only our parents remain.

  My Dad, the Imperatris, and the Imperator himself now approach the central chalice behind us, and light tapers using the great white flame in the center.

  “I uphold the light!” they say, one after the other, and remain standing where they are before the chalice.

  Both my father and the Imperatris smile blissfully at us. The Imperator, as usual, is more reserved. For once, he does not show overt hostility in his stone-like expression and even seems pleased, or at least relaxed, but neither does he smile.

  I suppose it’s the best we can expect out of him.

  The First Priestess and Priest give us a few more seconds, then raise their arms high and pronounce loudly: “Who Stands with the Wife and Husband? Who gives their light?”

  And suddenly everyone in the great circle of lights responds simultaneously, speaking as one. “I stand with them and give my light!”

  Shivers of awe flow through me. . . . I catch Aeson’s eyes in that moment, and they are full of liquid glimmer.

  Echoes of everyone’s thundering voices still rebound in the Sanctum when the Venerable Therutat approaches me, and the Venerable Darumet nears Aeson.

  I glance down and see they are holding something in the open palms of their hands.

  “In the tradition of Earth,” Therutat says with a sudden light smile at me. “Take this Ring intended for your Husband.”

  Oh, wow! I glance down at her palm and see a slim golden wedding band with fine delicate etchings. It is meant for a larger man’s finger. I reach out and take it with my own slightly trembling fingers.

  Now, Darumet says to Aeson, “Take this Ring intended for your Wife.”

  Aeson takes the smaller matching golden band, and I notice it has a stone.

  “Exchange rings and seal your traditional Earth bond with a kiss!”

  With a shy and beaming smile, I let Aeson take my left hand, turn it comfortably—even as I surrender to his strong, sensual touch—and slide the feminine band on my ring finger. It is delicate and fits perfectly, and the sparkling, intricately cut jewel stone is an amazing deep blue color with purple and rose highlights. I have no idea what kind of gem it is, and I don’t care! It is stunning.

  Now it’s my turn. Aeson watches me in amusement as I struggle to hold his relaxed large fingers, and carefully slide his own band on his ring finger.

  It is done.

  And now, the kiss.

  I gaze at my beloved, im amrevu, turning my face up to him, parting my lips softly in anticipation.

  My husband leans down, and suddenly his lips cover mine in a slow, warm, breathless moment of intimate contact. What starts out warm ends up searing, as a powerful stab of desire rips through me, and I tremble, even as we come apart. . . .

  We are truly married now.

  Oh, sweet God.

  “Witness and Behold, it is Completed!” The voices of the First Priest and Priestess sound in unison.

  And in that moment, the Sanctum fills with the voices of all the priests and priestesses singing “Amrevet-Ra!” and the entire temple erupts in a roar of cheers and applause.

  “Go forth and be One, with the blessings and eternal company of Amrevet-Ra!” they proclaim, even as Aeson grabs my hand, and we glance at each other and laugh.

  Together we walk down the length of the red path and out of the Kassiopeion, followed by continued cheers and song, and the echoes of joyful music and drums, and our loved ones.

  Chapter 63

  Aeson and I emerge breathlessly out of the building into the bright sunlight of Hel, and pause for a moment on the top stair of the Kassiopeion to wave to the crowds gathered outside. An absolute roar greets us, and the security guards rush forward and down the steps to make room and give us a safe barrier of space.

  We smile and raise our free hands to wave, even as we continue to hold each other with the other hand. A levitating platform waits for us below—this one with a wide bench seat to accommodate two people, and open from four directions except for a canopy roof—and the guards and priestly attendants hurry to make sure it is suitably prepared for us, since it is also decorated with garlands of Wedding flowers, some of which were blown about by the breeze onto the cushions during the long Ceremony. . . .

  A few moments later, having given the public a nice view of us as a couple, we descend the stairs. Aeson helps me step up onto the platform and take my seat, and then he joins me on the softly padded bench with its equally cushioned back.

  The attendants voice-key the platform, and it lurches gently and then begins floating along its designated route over the paths, past the crowds on both sides, and onward through the park and gardens of the Imperial Palace complex.

  I glance back and see our family and friends streaming out of the temple building, coming down the stairs. The Imperator and Imperatris have a similar floating platform transport waiting for them, except with two bench seats to accommodate four, so that Manala can sit across from them. A large retinue of the Imperial guards surrounds the Imperial Family closely as they take their seats.

  Then my Dad and siblings get a platform too, with similar double benches for four people. Next, there are several more platforms, but I’m not sure who they’re for, possibly some other VIPs or even foreign heads of state invited to the wedding. The rest of our friends get to walk as part of our procession—which is so slow-moving that walking along is not a hassle but literally a pleasure-walk in the Imperial park. And in their wake come the priests and priestesses of Amrevet-Ra, a choir of children, and the temple musicians, accompanying us with music and softly pounding drums. And only after them do the rest of the guests follow, first the Court, then all other invited guests including a few select media representatives. Of course, the nano-cameras are swirling everywhere. . . .

  “How do you feel, im amrevu?” Aeson asks with a mischievous expression, leaning in close to me, even as I smile at him.

  “We did it, we’re married!” I whisper with a giggle, feeling his hand discreetly slide around my back and take my waist, pulling me to him slightly.

  “Indeed, we are,” he confirms, squeezing my waist while continuing to wave to the public with the other hand.

  I giggle again, as though I’m punch-drunk, and ease myself against him, melting with long needed relaxation. Then I notice how the fierce sunlight turns the blue stone on my ring finger to blazing fire. “It’s so beautiful . . .” I whisper, turning my Wedding ring this way and that to catch the light.

  “Not as beautiful as you,” Aeson Kassiopei, my husband, says, craning his neck slightly to look at me with intensity. “You like it?”

  “Not like—I love it! What is it?”

  “It’s Pegasus Blood. One of the rarest colors.”

  “How did this come about? I had no idea about the rings!”

  Aeson laughs. “You may thank the Venerable One, whom I asked to incorporate this Earth tradition into our ceremony.”

  “Your Venerable One or mine?”

  Aeson laughs again. “Who do you think? It’s always the little one whose divine authority is uppermost.”

  I shake my head with happy amazement. “I must thank her so much fo
r everything when all of this is over!”

  Our Wedding procession moves slowly through the park toward the main Palace building where we will have our Imperial Wedding Reception inside the Ruby-and-Pearl Grand Chamber.

  We arrive, step off the levitating platform directly onto the Palace main entrance stairs, and then go inside the cool interior. Imperial servants bow and step back to make room for us and our guards, with doors opening in advance of our approach.

  “Tired? Hungry?” I ask Aeson as we walk. “How are you holding up?”

  He glances at me and raises his brows mischievously. “Well enough to dance with you many times over, and hungry enough to eat everything in sight to fortify myself for the evening. And of course, there’s the um . . . exertions of Amrevet Night.”

  “Oh! Right . . .” I say breathlessly, holding back a silly grin, and immediately feel my face turning red.

  Aeson sees my condition and laughs.

  At this point I must mention our reception venue. The Ruby-and-Pearl Grand Chamber is a huge banquet hall, rivaling the Pharikoneon Imperial Assembly Chamber in size. It must be able to accommodate the entire Court and then some.

  Unlike the Pharikoneon, with its elevated Thrones set against the golden sunburst relief wall, which is used for the most formal, political, and imposing occasions, this hall is intended for feasting and more casual celebration.

  The reason for the name becomes obvious, since the walls are deep burgundy, with elegant pearl-white trim and a domed ceiling that is also pearl-colored as if an immense pearl has been hollowed out and placed as a fabulous lid over the roof.

  For the reception, a grand U-shaped table is to be set near the rear wall, with central seating for the newlyweds and the Imperial Family, with other relatives and friends along the perimeter. Meanwhile numerous long tables will be set for the Court, parallel to all the walls.