Chapter 6

Wedding Day
Nexus Ranch
Harborton Washington

Tina was sparking with excitement. Today was such a big day for everybody on the ranch!

The Holy Glade was decorated with live garlands of fragrant flowers, soft fairy pipes were playing from sources hidden in the surrounding woods, and an intricately carved dais for the wedding party had been carefully laid down. Flower petals were strewn about the base of the live wood bower that arced out and symbolized (so she was told) The natural influence of Mother Earth that united and protected them all.

Tina hadn’t been to many weddings, but she knew that this one was going to be a blend of human and Fae that was perfectly suited to her new friends and family. Plus she had even been trusted with helping to put it on- well, under Gunny Jean’s guidance of course.

She had helped with the invitations and it had been interesting trying to figure out who to invite. The Fae never even blinked at the idea of a 6-way marriage. Multiple marriages were not uncommon among them at all. Humans, particularly those from Harborton were not quite as flexible for the most part. They decided to invite just those in the know and family who had managed to come to an accommodation with their unusual lifestyle.

Even so, there were nearly 50 wedding guests not including the Fae, the former mercenaries, and the Nexus staff. There was also a contingent of nine striking women wearing identical sky-blue dresses. Tina heard Sarah say something about them being Valkyries, whatever that was, but she heard someone else say they looked like the Swedish Bikini Team and Tina had no idea what that was either. She just knew they were gorgeous and she was more than a little envious of their perfect full bodies. At 14 it was sometimes hard to be around so many beautiful women when she felt like a flat-chested, skinny little girl. Today though, she thought she looked pretty cute in her Fae-designed long dress with her fine blond hair styled and a touch of makeup artfully applied by her adopted sister Maria.

At last, the processional music started and the Brides entered from a small pavilion that had been erected to one side of the glade. They each had a loved one escort them down the aisle. Mei, who had no surviving family was escorted by Tina’s honorary uncles, Carl and John- one on each side. Tina knew there was a story there and she was going to get it out of her soft-hearted uncles one day.

At last, the brides and groom were assembled on the dais and Tina could finally get a good look at them. Their dresses were of the finest ivory-colored embroidered silk and lace, handcrafted specially for each of them by Fae seamstresses. Each dress was different and highlighted each of her adopted sisters differently.

Mei’s long flowing legs and raven tresses were showcased by a high oriental-inspired collar and daring side slits. Sarah’s athletic curves and generous bust were indicated tastefully but definitively with bare shoulders and a decolletage-baring neckline.

Kelly was stunning with her rich mahogany hair spilling out of a carefully coiffed pearl comb. Her perfect skin glowed through strategically placed lacey cutouts and the form-fitting sheath showed her perfectly proportioned rounded hips and narrow waist.

Maria’s dress reflected a more traditional Mexican style with elaborate rose floral designs but with slightly racy peek-a-boo views of her flawless caramel skin and perfect ‘a’ cup breasts. Her rich dark curls were styled to frame and highlight her warm golden brown eyes.

Lizzie looked exactly as every little girl would imagine a princess would on her wedding day with her brunette locks pinned up in elaborate swirls. Her dress was elegant and sweeping and very classic, well until you saw the swooping back which threatened to reveal the cleft of her perfect booty.

Just as they were about to begin the ceremony the sun broke through the light cloud cover and random rays of light struck her sister’s dresses. Tina gasped. The lace and embroidery literally glowed. The complex enchanted patterns somehow tugged on her heart and for a moment she knew exactly how each of the new brides felt about Ben, their marriage, and their future together.

Tina had known there was magic here in the Nexus. She had even seen a little, but this was magic she could feel in her heart.

Jean thought Ben looked especially dashing in his dress blues with his medals flashing and his curved, ivory-handled officer’s sword at his side.

His best man, Ferg, looked pretty sharp too, for an Army pogue anyway. He was wearing the Army equivalent of Marine Dress blues and the rustic old farmer looked very distinguished. Jean could see several of the senior and not-so-senior single ladies intently giving him the eye.

For an instant she almost wished she were up there with his brides and a small sigh escaped her- it just wasn’t to be in this life and being a wife of any kind would never suit her although for a shot at Ben, she might have deemed it worth it.

She could have worn her own dress blues but as she was a bridesmaid she had opted to wear the beautiful Fae creation crafted for her in flattering pastels. She had never felt so feminine and had to give the Fae designers kudos for making even an old scarred war horse like her feel beautiful.

“Uh, Tina is there a hold up? Where is the preacher?” whispered Jean.

“I dunno, it’s supposed to be some big surprise,” replied Tina.

Jean was a touch concerned- so much effort had gone into getting everything just right. But she had been politely, but firmly told that the Fae had arranged for the officiant and not to worry about it.

Jean had just glanced behind her to check for someone hurrying in late when there was a blue flash and a popping sound followed by a collective gasp from the wedding guests. Jean reached for Tina and was about to take them both down for cover when the cause of the commotion was revealed.

Near the center of the dais now stood a gently smiling older man in a slightly scruffy navy suit. His hair fell in unruly waves over his collar and his face was covered in a curly beard that needed a trim. He was shortish but seemed to be in reasonable shape for his age and was otherwise totally remarkable in his unremarkableness. If Jean had seen him at another gathering she might have thought he was someone’s elder bachelor uncle. But as she looked closer she realized that he was surrounded by a subtle but noticeable shimmer -almost as if light didn’t quite know how to behave around him.

She shivered slightly as mouse feet ran down her spine. Jean knew that she was witnessing the presence of a deity. And she realized she wasn’t the only one as she saw every wedding guest with the same stunned look on their faces.

“Welcome everybody! For those that don’t know me you can call me Pan. I don’t get out very much these last millennia but I was very honored when my ancient friends, the Fae, asked me to officiate this holy occasion. How could I say no? After all, it was largely the unintended side effects of my grant of an unconscious wish that led us all here today.” said the figure with a rueful smile.

Now this was interesting information! Jean had never really understood how the Nexus had begun.

“It may have been somewhat of an accident, to begin with, but I believe that there was much more to it than just that and there were powerful hands behind these events. I think the brides and grooms here can vouch for that,” he said gesturing toward Ben and the girls gathered in a semi-circle about him. Enough about that for now though. I’m told it’s customary for the bride and groom to exchange vows so let’s let them get on with it!”

Maria could barely remember her vows. She was just too overwhelmed with it all. Less than a year ago she had just been another young woman wondering what the future held. Then their adventures began and she began falling in love with her amazing Ben. Her feelings weren’t the same as her sisters, in fact, the feelings they each had were different from the others, but she knew beyond any doubt that they were all meant to be together. It had gelled for her during the attack of the Hellhounds and the aftermath. She had nearly lost the love of her life and it made her determined to live fully every moment possible with him and her sisters with no doubts and nothing held back,

Sarah couldn’t imagine why her heart hadn’t burst already from happiness. As Ben’s warm brown eyes locked with her sapphire blue ones she felt once again that fierce burning love from her first dream of him. The love that she had felt before through many lifetimes. In this life, she first felt a young girl crush, but then when the time was right, her feelings flared into a roaring firestorm. She vowed they would never be separated in this life or the next and although she would share him willingly, lovingly even, with her sisters- nothing and no one of this world or any others would come between them.

Mei felt the glow of love and of the life within her as she joined arms with her sisters. The happiness inside her felt almost strange. For so many years she had lived without love, so long that she didn’t even realize what she was missing until she saw its possibility revealed in a simple man’s crooked smile. She was willing to lay down her life for him but then he gave it back to her and so much more. And then there were her beautiful kind sisters who welcomed her as family when she had been an enemy. Her heart was full to overflowing with that much. Now there was a child to be- a gift she never thought to receive! She knew that even amid so much happiness there was much danger and many tears ahead for them but she was determined that the darkness would never overtake her again and she would always strive to return the love she was given one hundredfold.