[Child of the 7th Age]

Child's post

Amaranthas slipped in through the unlatched door and came hobbling up the corridor, with a serious expression on her face. Cook followed close behind.

"Enough games, Miz Pio! Our younger guests are getting rambunctious. It's time your friend stepped forward to tie the knot."

The older hobbit gazed around searching for the bride, who had wandered over to the side of the room trying to blend into the wall. Amaranthas approached Cami and reached out with the tip of her cane, giving a slight jab to the hobbit's ribs. "Let's have a closer look."

She surveyed her top to bottom, and gave a chuckle of approval. "Not bad for a bride who's a bit long in the tooth." She bent down and, with some difficulty, picked up the edge of Cami's silken overskirt, then peered intently underneath, sifting through layered petticoats until she felt a telltale lump. Cami wiggled uncomfortably as Amaranthas unhooked the pouch and triumphantly looked inside. The older hobbit inspected the contents: a small clump of earth laden with roots, a piece of bread, and a Shire penny. Then she showed the items to Cook before returning them to the pouch and pinning it back under Cami's skirts.

"Well, lass, you haven't forgotten all your customs." Amaranthas exchanged an approving glance with Cook, as Cami breathed a sigh of relief to see the older hobbit turn and disappear down the corridor as quickly as she had come.

Cami turned a gleeming face to Pio, "It's almost time!"

"What was that?" The Elf gazed quizzically at her friend.

"Just custom. Thank goodness Amaranthas let me off easy. I've seen the wise women do far more vigrous inspections."

The Elf wondered what those might be like, but merely asked about the pouch Cami carried.

"Oh, that. It's said to contain all that's needed for a happy life. The bread for food, the rich earth for the protection of a burrow, and a simple penny for the basic things we need to hold ourselves together."

At that moment Bilbo knocked on the door and asked if Cami was ready. She gave Pio an impulsive hug and walked over to Bilbo. "As ready as I'll ever be."

"Lorien is here, and Maura has the children lined up in front. You'd best hurry as they're beginning to wiggle."

As Bilbo linked arms with Cami, he leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I do believe you're the only hobbit in history to have the cord tied by one of the Vala."

Cami responded with a grin, "It's all your fault. You know what the neighbors said about giving a lass an education. It's all those fanciful tales you told me."

With that, Bilbo affectionately towsled the bride's curls. Then, the two walked together towards the floral arch in the garden, with Cami being careful to support the hobbit's faltering steps with the sturdy weight of her own body.

Bilbo led Cami under the bower of flowers set up in the garden and gently laid Maura's hand on top of hers before he stepped away. The first silver star of the evening hung overhead like a lonely beacon of hope, as Maura looked deep into Cami's eyes. Then he made these simple promises: I, Maura Took, take you, Camielia Goodchild, to be my chosen wife. May I ever show love and respect for you. And may our union be as fruitful and blessed as the rich bounty of the earth. Then Cami repeated these same vows.

Lorien came forward, asking Cami and Maura to place their wrists near each other. Then he took a silver cord and wrapped it about their hands and arms and bound them together with a single knot, repeating these words:

Above you are the stars
below you are the stones
as time does pass
Remember
Like a star should your love burn brightly
Like a stone should your love be firm
Before the witnesses assembled,
And in respect of vows privately pledged,
I proclaim them Husband and Wife,
And declare them bonded.

Then he asked if either Cami or Maura had children who should come forward under the mantle of family. With shaking voice, Cami called out the names of Holly and Gamba, Asta and Roka, Maura and Ban, and even of absent Rose, as well as the unnamed babe she carried beneath her heart. And Lorien took a great mantle of linen and cast it over them all, saying they should love and respect each other as family.

And when all that was over, it was quiet for a moment until a small frantic voice rang out: "Mommie, I can't get out of this thing!" And the family's friends ran forward to lift the mantle and untie the cord, and offer the couple their best wishes.

*********************************************

Orual's post

Sam smiled as Lorien completed the ceremony, and thought of his own wedding. It had been a simple affair, but it had been everything that either of them needed. He could remember the glow on Rose's face as they exchanged vows. It was much the same as the glow that was now on Cami's face.

Sam smiled fondly at his childhood friend and cousin, radiant in her beautiful dress, gazing lovingly into fiancé--her husband's eyes. Quite a different person from the girl he squabbled with as a boy, who lorded her whole year of seniority over him, who he looked up to and tried to emulate and had wished so desperately to impress. Cami and Maura turned to him, and he took a deep breath. Rose gave the Hobbiton Registry of Marriages to him, and he held it up before the newlyweds. Rose was standing at his side, a quill pen in her hand, ready to give it to whoever would sign first.

"Camielia and Maura Took," he said, smiling as he said their names together for the first time, "you are now married under Iluvatar, with all of us as witnesses. Now, I ask if you wish to be recognized as a married couple by the laws of Hobbiton and of the Shire. By signing this Registry, you will be married under the law. I ask you, do you wish to sign?"

Cami and Maura looked at each other, and nodded. "We do," they said, nearly in unison. Rose solemnly handed the quill pen to Maura, who signed and handed it to Cami, who put her signature next to his.

Rose took the quill back, and Sam blew gently on the ink to dry it. "Signed and sealed under the law," he said. "You are married by the laws of the Shire." He grinned at Maura. "If you wish, you can kiss the bride."

[ June 19, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[ June 19, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]