In The Beginning by Gail Daley (top 100 books of all time checklist .TXT) 📕

quality. "For those who do not know me, I am High Priestess Arella. I will perform the Handfasting ceremony. Since we have quite a few couples to unite this afternoon, each ceremony will be brief. I will ask each couple to come forward and join me under the Greenleaf, we will perform the ceremony, and then you will be free to enjoy the festivities until it is time for the brides to leave for the wedding bower. If there are any here who wish for the Forever and A Day Handfasting, please let me know when you come forward." Arella consulted the infopad next to her.

"Genevieve and Gideon, please join me."

When the Laird and her new husband to be joined her, Arella said, "Please turn and face one another. Each of you cross your arms and take the others hands."

She picked up a thin, braided red and silver cord and laid it over their wrists, allowing the ends to dangle.

"Genevieve, Gideon, your crossed arms and joined hands create the symbol for Infinity. Today, we ask that the Light Of The Divine shine upon this union for a year and a day. In that spirit, I offer a blessing to this Handfasting.

Blessed be this Handfasting with the offerings from the East — new beginnings that come each day with the dawn, the junction of the heart, soul, body and mind.

Blessed be this Handfasting with the offerings of the South — the untroubled heart, the heat of passion, and the tenderness of a loving home.

Blessed be this Handfasting with the offerings of the West — the hastening eagerness of a raging river, the softness and pure cleansing of a rainstorm, and faithfulness as deep as the ocean.

Blessed be this Handfasting with the offerings of the North — a solid footing on which to build your lives, richness and growth of your home, and the strength to be found by embracing one another at the end of the day."

She wrapped the dangling ends of the cord around the wrists of the bride and groom, binding them together loosely and tying a knot.

"The bonds of this Handfasting are not formed by these ribbons, or even by the knots connecting them. They are formed instead by your vows, by your pledge to love and honor each other for a year and a day, at which time these vows may be renewed or dissolved each according to their lights. Genevieve, Gideon do you each agree with the terms of this Handfasting?"

"We do," they said in unison and then Genevieve and Gideon stepped forward, hands still clasped, and kissed. Arella touched the cord and it slid off their hands, still tied. The acolyte a slim teenager in a pale robe stepped forward with a tray holding one of the glass boxes. Arella placed the cord inside the box and gestured for Gideon and Genevieve to each hold opposite sides of the box. The acolyte stepped back returning the tray to the table.

"By blood this oath is taken, on this day and this hour," Arella intoned, touching the box with a small gold wand. Everyone felt the small surge of power. Even though he had been forewarned ahead of time, Gideon winced when a sharp prick on their thumbs caused a drop of blood to form on either ends of the box, but he didn’t drop his end of it. The edges of the box disappeared as it sealed, and their names and the date scrolled across the top of the box in red.

"This Knot is a symbol of your union. Hold it fast and give it an honored place in your home."

Genevieve slipped the box into a ready pocket of her wedding dress and Arella gestured the acolyte to step forward again, this time holding a tray with one decanter and two glasses. "For love and fertility," Arella said, pouring a small amount of golden syrup into the glasses. The two spouts of the decanter enabled both glasses to be filled at once with the same amount of liquid. Genevieve and Gideon each held the glass to the others lips as they drank, then set the glasses back on the tray for the acolyte to take back to the table.

"Thank you Arella." Genevieve motioned for Lucas and Jayla to join them. Holding Gideon’s hand, she stepped up beside them.

"The O’Teague presents her new family, my husband Lord Gideon ni’Warlord of the Clan, his son Lucas and niece Jayla." She announced, and led the way from the arbor to make room for the next couple.

Corrine and Vernal, while not officially taking part in the Matchmaking program, opted to become handfasted, choosing the more involved Forever and A Day ceremony. As expected, the individual Handfasting ceremonies took most of the afternoon and some of the evening, and then new single clan members were presented to the Clan.

When Zack and Katherine had returned to their table to watch the rest of the ceremonies, Gideon asked Zack what had been in the syrup they drank during the ceremony.

Zack shrugged. "The name of it is Payome; Katherine said it’s just a mild aphrodisiac with a touch of soother. She tells me it’s traditional when the bride and groom aren’t well acquainted. The effects usually last four to five hours so it won’t wear off before the wedding night." He grinned, "Since Katherine and I are pretty well acquainted, I don’t think we will need it—Vernal and Corrine either, but you might," he teased Gideon, who snorted and cuffed him affectionately on the shoulder.

Katherine had been concerned that during the celebration some of the newly married pairs might get too enthusiastic about their union where the children could see them. She soon found she had underestimated Drusilla’s organizing skills. Her baby sister had set up dancing for the adults and games for the older children that involved a lot of running and jumping; virtually guaranteed to tire them out early. For the younger ones, like Jaynes boys, she had arranged milder forms of