And so it was that she agreed to a vow ceremony just a few kilometres from the knoll overlooking the ocean where she had farewelled her father.
Providence was on their side because on the morning of their wedding, instead of the clouds and storms of that fateful day a few months ago, the sun shone over Dunia, turning the jade planet into a glittering gem against Pegasi’s canvas.
Selene took in the view from a window in the traditional Dunian long house that overlooked the narrow strait between the islands of Carpe and Evera, off New Malindi’s wild southern coast.
In the distance, the churning whirlpool under the straits bridge sent mist into the air, which danced with the light to create a near-permanent rainbow over the scene.
It was perfect.
‘You look radiant.’
Selene turned to see her dearest sister and best maid, Sheba, standing behind her in the generous changing rooms at one end of the long wedding house overlooking the peninsula.
‘But I haven’t even dressed yet,’ Selene said with a smile.
‘Radiant from within, hon,’ Sheba quipped, ‘because the nightgown action you’ve got going on right now won’t cut it down the aisle.’
Selene rushed to hug her, joy suffusing her. Their tight embrace reflected all they’d shared and experienced together over the past years with losing both parents, almost losing Kainan and fighting a war for the planet they loved.
Sheba smiled. ‘I love you, woman.’
‘I love you more,’ Selene whispered.
‘Are you excited?’
‘Beyond. I could have never imagined this moment.’
You don’t have to because it’s here, it’s truly happening, and I’m so happy for you.’
Selene squeezed Sheba’s hand. ‘Thank you.’
‘Shall I help you get ready?’
‘Please.’
They began with Selene’s makeup followed by a traditional silk head wrap, per an age-old Dunian tradition where the bride had to cover up her head on the day she married to indicate she was of pure heart and mind. Selene pinned the intricate folds while Sheba fixed the complicated knot and wove in the silver feathers that decorated the crown.
Selene followed with bold diamond and xentium necklaces and earrings that her mother had worn at her vow ceremony many years ago.
Sheba then took Selene’s wedding dress out of its carrier bag.
‘It’s so stunning, hon!’ Sheba sighed.
The flowing silver dress seemed to shimmer with the light of the Alphetraz’s twin stars, adorned with gold accents and delicate diamonds that sparkled in the sunlight. The lace and rope tie effect was also a piece of art that took on a life of its own.
Sheba helped Selene slip on the underskirt, followed by the exquisite dress, lifting both over her headpiece with care so they wouldn’t mess up her makeup. She slipped on her shoes, and finally, she was ready and studied her silhouette before the large mirrors blanketing one wall.
‘I look good,’ Selene said, running a nervous hand over her hips.
‘You better than good. You look like a Queen,’ her sister reassured her.
Selene relaxed, Sheba’s gentle voice calming her mind, soul, and heart for what was to come.
‘It will take a bit to get used to moving around in heels and the big underskirt.
‘That’s why I’ll be by your side, hon, to catch you when you fall!’
The sisters laughed.
Selene glanced outside where the guests were gathering, and she smiled to see how much they’d all embraced Kwavi and Dunian attire in their dresses, robes and sartorial choices. She spotted feather headdresses, beads and exquisite head wraps and no matter their gender or background; they all adhered to the colour theme of the wedding, which had specified that the brighter or bolder the pattern, the better. Sheba’s dress was a feathered floor-length gown with a dazzling sequinned V-Neck and a fluted feather skirt that was all luxury and sophistication.
‘Everyone looks so gorgeous, especially you, lovely one,’ Selene said, pulling Sheba close so they could look at each other in the mirror.
‘Thank you, but we all pale in comparison to you. Hear that?’ her sister asked.
The sound of ululating filled the air, and as if from nowhere, a group of dancers leapt onto the sun-drenched knoll beyond where the wedding guests were gathering, followed by a set of drummers and singers, each twisting with vigour in the traditional Dunian dance that preceded the arrival of the groom.
‘Oh my. So bold and stunning!’ Selene whispered.
The ululating of the singers and dancers grew louder, and the drumbeats intensified as the groom’s party arrived. The Sable Riders, each dressed in the traditional garb of navy and silver vests and pants embroidered with silver thread, stalked into the wedding, greeting guests who ranged from Eden II’s Elder Council members to kings, queens, princes and dignitaries from all corners of Pegasi.
‘Damn, they look handsome,’ Selene observed.
No more outside views for you, my dear,’ Sheba laughed, touching a button to shutter the glass window. ‘Your man is about to land, and it’s taboo to set eyes on him until the ceremony itself.’
‘I can’t wait to see him,’ Selene sighed. It’d been a week since she’d seen Kainan, as he’d returned to Eden II to prepare for the wedding and to make any final arrangements required. She missed him terribly and couldn’t wait to feel his arms around her again.
‘It’s time,’ Sheba announced.
Selene gathered herself together and, with the help of Sheba, stepped out of the longhouse and down the paved pathway leading to her forever.
Their guests clapped in rhythm to the beats of the drums as she arrived, rising to their feet to welcome her.
Selene’s heart swelled with anticipation and love as she reached the stunning wedding arch of woven indigenous plants and leaves.
She stood there with Sheba by her side, under the love dripped with large silver and white blooms that seemed to glow in the sunlight. The scent of the flowers wafted through the air, adding to the already heady mix of emotions surrounding her.
She could hear the distant sound of his ship landing, the thrumming of its engines echoing across the island. The dancers on the knoll redoubled their efforts, their movements growing more frenetic as the Kainan drew close. Selene’s heart beat faster as she waited for him to appear, her stomach aflutter with nerves and excitement.
The drumming grew louder, and the ululating was more intense as his meta presence suffused the gathering as he made his way towards the archway.
And then she saw him, standing before her in all his glory. He wore a traditional Kwavi white and gold groom’s robe. Open at the chest, it hugged and accentuated his broad shoulders and chiselled features and billowed out behind him in the wind. He also wore a coronet of gold and sapphire that glinted in his dark hair, pulled back in intricate braids glittered with diamonds and gold.
As he approached with Zane by his side as best man, she could see the small smile that played at the corner of his mouth, and then they were together, Kainan taking her hand to stand beside her under the arch.
She felt a surge of emotion for a moment, letting go of her sister’s hand, overwhelmed by the thought of leaving her old identity behind and embracing her new one.
Yet her fears all fell away as soon as Kainan and her eyes met, and their hands clasped tightly, their love and commitment to each other written on their faces. She could feel the love and adoration in his heated sapphire and gold gaze and felt her heart skip a beat as Kainan stepped closer.
‘My khamila, you look even more stunning than ever,’ Kainan whispered, gazing deep into her eyes.
As Selene stood before him, everything around her seemed to fade away, and all she could see was him, the man she would spend forever with. ‘And you, my prince, are ravishing as always.’
The ceremony was simple and yet breathtakingly beautiful.
They stood under the arch and in front of a sacred Dunia almond tree, its branches spreading over them as though giving its blessing to their union.
J’Kuu Kabi was their chosen wedding griot, and she began by pouring a small glass of whiskey at the feet of the couple to honour their lost parents and ancestors. Then she blessed the couple, her voice echoing across the knoll as she spoke of love and commitment, of the joining of two worlds and two hearts.
She went on to speak words of wisdom over them. The assembled group laughed at the J’Kuu’s light-hearted interpretation of the vows and the challenges of married life.
Then she began to speak the words that would bind them together forever, reciting from an ancient Kwavi wedding script.
Selene and Kainan exchanged vows, their voices low and husky with emotion. Kainan took Selene’s hands in his and gazed into her eyes. ‘Selene, you are my everything,’ he said, his voice low and husky. ‘I promise to love and cherish you always, to support and encourage you in all your dreams, and to honour and respect you for all eternity. This is my solemn vow as witnessed by our beloved ones and by the sun, moon, and stars,’
Tears welled up in Selene’s eyes as she gazed back at him. ‘Kainan, you are my soulmate,’ she replied, her voice trembling with emotion. ‘I promise to stand by your side through all of life’s ups and downs, to be your strength when you need it, and your soft place to fall. I promise by the sun, moon, and stars to love and honour you all until the end of days.’
J’Kuu Kabi smiled and extended an ancient Kwavi scroll they both placed their hands on as a symbol of commitment and reciprocity.
‘Kainan, do you take Selene to be your wife, to have and hold, in sickness and health, for all eternity?’ the alderwoman intoned.
‘I do,’ Kainan replied, his voice filled with emotion, his eyes misting over with tears.
Selene reached out to wipe away the moisture, and he turned his head to kiss her palm.
‘And Selene, do you take Kainan to be your husband, to have and hold, in sickness and health, for all eternity?’
‘I do,’ Selene replied, her eyes locked onto Kainan’s.
The J’Kuu Kabi blessed the scroll and spoke the ‘words that bind’ over them:
‘From this day on, you will feel no rain, no cold, no loneliness
For you will be each other’s shelter, warmth and resting place.
May joy and true peace surround you both through all the years.
May happiness be your companion where the stars meet the sun.
And may your days be good and long upon the ground we stand on.’
The official tying of the knot followed the binding words. J’Kuu Kabi held Kainan’s left hand and Selene’s right together. Then she wrapped an ancient Kwavi cloth around both their hands, followed by a string of diamonds, pearls and flowers and knotted it all together in a ritual meant to signify that their souls were now bound forever.
Zane handed over the exquisite diamond ring that Kainan placed on her finger while Sheba passed over the thick solid xentium band Selene slipped over her groom’s hand.
Above them, the wind picked up, and the tree’s branches rustled as if celebrating their union. And they sealed their marriage with a kiss, their lips meeting in a passionate embrace as the sun set behind them, casting the sky in hues of pink and gold.
Kainan
As soon as the alderwoman announced them as life partners, the ululation, drumming and singing started again.
Minutes later, they walked down the aisle, smiling and greeting their guests, before being led to the cocktail tent.
Once inside, they were showered with congratulatory hugs, kisses and excitement as friends and guests from all over Pegasi mingled, sharing beers and champagne to congratulate Selene and Kainan as sunlight shone through.
The Sable Riders muscled in to salute their khosi.
‘Never thought I’d see the day,’ Kage laughed as he hugged them both. ‘But I’m so happy for you both.’
Kainan’s eyes misted over as he pulled from the embrace. ‘Never thought I’d see it too. It means that much more than just existing is possible for all of us now.’
‘Oh, the pressure,’ Kage laughed, but there was an inflection in his voice that hinted at a longing for the same happiness his leader had found.
‘Kainan settling down is setting a precedent,’ Zane grumbled. ‘I’m beginning to want a wife now.’
‘I’ll believe it when girlfriend number 401 lasts longer than a few months with you,’ Kainan teased.
He watched his bride gliding through the tent, looking radiant and stunning. ‘All I can say is the joy, brothers, is off the charts. I can’t be without her for even a few hours after this. And on that note, I’m done horsing around with you, kinais; I need to be with my bride.’
He strode off and found her surrounded by a group of her ministers. He welcomed their warm wishes before stealing her for a private moment.
They escaped behind a large stand of flowers, where he proceeded to kiss her until her breath was ragged.
‘You’re such a scoundrel.’
‘I’m just a man so in love with his wife who needs a taste of her before he combusts.’
‘Can you believe this?’ she asked, changing tack as they peeked at the crowded tent filled with happiness.
‘It’s more than I could have dreamed of,’ Kainan rasped, yet his eyes never left her face.
‘Look at all the colours, khaji,’ Selene whispered to her groom. ‘How beautiful and happy everyone looks.’
‘And all because of us. It humbles me,’ Kainan whispered, bending over to give her another long kiss before Sheba spotted them and dragged them back into the joyous fray.
Later, the reception swung into action. As guests entered the long roofed, no-wall long house reception room, above them, flowers, gossamer lights, and bunting hung low from the ceiling as the dancers welcomed them to their tables.
There they found decor that paid homage to Kwavi and Dunian culture, from centrepieces of carved xentium to flower table runners and Edenite crystal glasses that added to Kainan’s and Selene’s shared authenticity that they’d both desired for the day. Each table also had small ceremonial pots and vessels clustered together, filled with various condiments with deep meaning. Salt to represent healing and preservation in marriage, pepper for heat and passion, germs of wheat for fertility and the giving of life, wine representing the mixing of the blood of two families, bitter herbs for the growing pains of married life and honey – for the sweet love between the couple.
The drummers started once more as Kainan, Selene, Zane and Sheba, their best man and woman, entered the reception dancing behind the entertainers.
The guests stood to ululate as the bride and groom danced in, their faces capturing the warmth, love, and joy that filled the air. The drumming faded as a stunning cellist stepped forward to serenade the couple for their first dance.
When the music started, Kainan looked into Selene’s eyes, feeling like it was just them two. When the song’s crescendo kicked in, Kainan spun her around, and she laughed with joy.
‘My soul feels so light it’s about to take flight.’
‘Oh no, it won’t unless mine is right there with you,’ he growled.
Soon they were joined on the dance floor by Zane and Sheba, followed by a flood of their guests, swaying to the alluring sound of the orchestral melody.
Above, as the fairy lights illuminated the tent and reflected the dramatic sky high above Dunia, servers walked out with platters of food, drink and condiments reminiscent of Old Earth feasts - peppered with spice and delicious bursts of flavour that had everyone tantalised.
The wedding party sat down, ate, drank, laughed and indulged in the finest wines and flavours from all over Pegasi.
At the centre of the longhouse table was their beautiful cake wrapped with silk fabric and topped with a stunning white bouquet. With three layers of tropical, vanilla, and spice-flavoured richness, the cake was orgasmic, and when dessert was served, the party exclaimed with delight as they ate.
After the dancing took off once more and the wine flowed, conversations deepened, and connections were enriched.
Hours later, the couple slipped away from the party and headed towards Kainan’s Corvette, ready to take off for a long-awaited honeymoon on a private island off Zanyria’s pleasure coast.
As they lifted into a sky suffused with the light of the most beautiful sunset and purple light, Kainan took Selene’s hand and smiled at her. She leaned in and kissed him, feeling the warmth of his lips against hers.
‘I love you, khamila,’ he whispered, brushing her cheek.
‘I love you too, khaji,’ she replied, snuggling into his side.
They flew for hours through skies and stars scattered in space. Finally, they arrived on Zanyria and winged their way to the island, a secluded paradise on the planet’s southern coast surrounded by crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches.
As they exited Mirage, Kainan scooped Selene up and carried her towards the beach. The moon was full, casting a soft glow over everything, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filled the air.
They walked hand in hand, the sand soft and warm under their feet, until they reached a secluded spot. Kainan set Selene down on the sand, his eyes never leaving hers.
‘Our forever starts now,’ he said, his voice filled with love and adoration.
Selene smiled, feeling the warmth of his love enveloping her. ‘Our forever for all eternity,’ she replied, her voice soft and filled with emotion.
And then they kissed, their lips meeting in a passionate embrace as they began their life together, bound by love and commitment that would last for all eternity.
