<USS Avalon> The Wedding of Anthony and Alder

The Wedding of Anthony and Alder

by Captain Keith Ketchum, Lieutenant Commander Anthony Manson and Senior 
Lieutenant Alder Shimbrodus

 

Keith stood in the lounge in his white dress uniform, how he enjoyed performing 
weddings for crew members that deserved each other.  He waited for them to come 
in.

 

-//\\-

 



"You ready?" Alder smiled at his would be husband in just a few moments. He 
looked at their reflections as they had the same white dress uniforms with the 
gold lining spereating the shoulders.

 

"Seems too real," Anthony said, collecting and noting his own emotions. There 
was  a smile that felt permanently attached. Then again, since Alder, the smile 
always felt attached. 

 

Taking his hand gently, Alder tugged at Anthony's arm, leading the way out the 
doors, "come on."

 

-//\\-

 

It didn't take long as the two ended at the foot of the lounge room doors. 
Alder's hand still firmly holding on to Anthony's. He looked at Anthony with 
the happiest smile he ever made, "this is it."

 

Anthony returned that smile and nodded, he let go of Alder's hand, taking the 
lead as both of them entered the lounge. It was a small gathering. A few of 
Alder's friends that became Anthony's friends. James was there, as well as 
Quinn.  And Anthony found Elissabeth standing near the Captain, waiting.

 

Finally, as they stood in front of him, Keith addressed them and the guests.

 

"Marriage is a commitment to life, the best that two people can find and bring 
out in each other. It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other 
relationship can equal. It is a physical and an emotional joining that is 
promised for a lifetime. Within the circle of its love, marriage encompasses 
all of life's most important relationships. You are each other's best friend, 
confidant, lover, teacher, listener, and critic. 

 

"And there may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing, and the 
love of the other may resemble the tender caring of a parent for a child. 
Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life. Happiness is fuller, 
memories are fresher, commitment is stronger, even anger is felt more strongly, 
and passes away more quickly.  Marriage understands and forgives the mistakes 
life is unable to avoid. It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences, 
and new ways of expressing a love that is deeper than life.  

 

"When two people pledge their love and care for each other in marriage, they 
create a spirit unique unto themselves which binds them closer than any spoken 
or written words. Marriage is a promise, a potential made in the hearts of two 
people who love each other and takes a lifetime to fulfill." 

 

Keith nodded to Anthony as he turned and faced Alder. 

 

"I, Anthony, take you, Alder to be my lawfully wedded husband, secure in the 
knowledge that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and 
my one true love.  On this special day, I give to you in the presence of these 
witnesses my sacred promise to stay by your side as your faithful husband in 
sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through the good times 
and the bad. I further promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in 
times of distress, encourage you to achieve all of your goals, laugh with you 
and cry with you, grow with you in mind and spirit, always be open and honest 
with you, and cherish you for as long as we both shall live."

Keith then nodded to Alder.

Anthony looked up, Alder keeping eye contact as he began his vow, "I, Alder, 
take you...." The thought of dedicating his entire life to Anthony was still 
daunting, still scary, still the best decision he made. Alder's smile was 
cracking at the edges, the man wanted to show his happiness of how much this 
meant. "...in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, as well as through 
the good times and the bad..." Alder concluded, and Anthony felt as if he 
skipped a beat, "...and cherish you for as long as we both shall live."

"You were born to be together, and together you shall be forevermore.  You 
shall be together when the wings of death scatter your days.  Ay, you shall be 
together even in your silent memory.  But let there be spaces in your 
togetherness, and let the winds of the heaven dance between you.  Love one 
another, but make not it a bondage of love, let it rather be a moving sea 
between the shores of your souls.  Fill each other's cup, but drink not from 
one cup.  Give one another of your bread, but eat not of the same loaf.  

 

"Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each of you be alone, even as 
the strings of a lute are alone, though they quiver with the same music.  Give 
your hearts, but not into each other's keeping, for only the hand of life can 
contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together, for pillars 
of the temple stand apart, and the oak tree and the cypress grows not in 
shadow."

"Now, may we have the rings",  Keith looked down on the bands once Elissabeth 
passed them to him, "Let these rings serve as locks not binding you together, 
but as keys, unlocking the secrets of your hearts for each other to know, and 
thus bringing you closer together forever."

Anthony slid the ring on Alder's finger, "This ring I give in token and pledge 
of our constant faith and everlasting love." He looked up, smiling and found 
his vision a little blurry.

Alder did the same, sliding the ring onto Anthony's finger. But his attention 
was on Anthony as he smiled brighter, "This ring I give in token and pledge of 
our constant faith and everlasting love."

"Marriage is a promise, a potential, made in the hearts of two people who love, 
which takes a lifetime to fulfill.  And with these vows taken and these rings 
exchanged, I pronounce you married."

Keith paused for a moment, "You may well, umm, kiss."  He smiled.



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