8 "Then before our Lord," continued the priest,
"she is presented. Come forth."
9 North and Valley Blossom stepped forward. The priest put their hands
together and on top of them laid a golden cord, holding it in place.
"Do you, Northern Star," he asked, "take this woman as your lawfully
wedded wife, to love, honor and protect from this day forth, to the end
of time?"
10 "I do," answered North.
11 "Do you, Valley Blossom Fox, take this man to be your lawfully
wedded husband, to love, honor and obey from this day forth, until the
end of time?"
12 "I do," answered Valley Blossom.
13 The priest put their palms together, wrapped the cord around their
wrists several times, slipped it between their palms, then turned them
around, so all in The Temple could see. "What I have bound together,"
he announced, "is bound together for eternity. Let no man or woman
attempt
to break that bond, or they would lose their immortal Souls."
14 The priest undid the cord and put it in Valley Blossom's hand. It
would be later made into bracelets which both her and North would wear.
"With the authority invested in me," continued the priest, "I now
pronounce you man and wife! May you be fruitful and multiply the glory
of your
God many times over."
15 To the music of The Wedding March, the young people marched up the
aisle to the applause of those in The Temple. North was pleased his
family was warming to Valley Blossom. They had been hesitant at first,
but as they got to know her, she was quickly becoming part of the
family.
16 At the reception the toasts to their long life and happiness were
happy and sincere. North's mother took him aside. "North," she
inquired, "when you go to Academy, is it proper for me to stay with
you? After all, you have a wife now. There should not be two women in
one house. It makes confusion."