26 He could now only wait until the guards returned. A little
before mid-day they did. "Come," they announced,
"the time has come...The Lords await."
27 As Gray Dove emerged from the tent and started after the
guards, his procession fell in behind him.
28 First came the bearer of his Family Symbol, then, a small
group of musicians playing his favorite tune.
29 Then, came all the rest of his friends. They made their way
through the camp to the cries of "Good luck! and "Best
wishes!" from the crowd. When they finally reached The
Temple they halted.
30 From the opposite direction came Thorn Blossom and her
procession, Thorn Blossom led by two female guards. Gray Dove
knew she had spent her night and morning almost exactly the way
he had spent his, her female friends giving her a glorious
sendoff!
31 The four guards symbolically struck their weapons together,
and the female guards asked "Who is it that shall
lead?"
32 And the male guards said, "It is the man's place to go
first, to see if the way is safe." And the women answered
"So it is tradition, and proper. Let the man go first."
33 The guards nodded politely, turned to Gray Dove, and
commanded, "Follow after," and led the way into The
Temple with Gray Dove following.
34 The guards went down and took their place on either side of
The Symbol of The Lords, before which Lame Fox stood.
35 Gray Dove came down and took his place on the left side,
before The Speaker.
36 In the background the musicians played the traditional song,
"Long And Proud Is My Line."
37 When all of Gray Dove's people were in their places, Thorn
Blossom's people entered and took their places.
38 Then her guards marched down, taking their positions on either
side of the Symbol with Thorn Blossom following, taking her place
to the right side, before The Speaker.
39 Then, The Speaker spoke. "We are here to witness the
joining of this man and this woman in Holy Contract, one with the
other, to be bound, one to the other, for life. Is there any
person here that knows any reason why this joining cannot take
place? If they do, speak now."
40 There was no response. The Speaker turned to Gray Dove.
"Are you prepared," he asked, "to make contract
before these witnesses and bind yourself to this woman from this
day to the end of your days in this world?"
41 "I am," answered Gray Dove.
42 And The Speaker turned to Thorn Blossom. "Are you
prepared," he asked, "to make contract before these
witnesses and bind yourself to this man from this day to the end
of your days in this world?"
43 "I am," Thorn Blossom answered.
44 "Then arise," said The Speaker, and the two rose.
The Speaker motioned to his left. "Let the Contract be
brought forth."
45 And a young man came in bearing the contract on a writing
board and The Speaker motioned to his right. "Let the pen be
brought forth," he commanded.
46 And a young girl appeared bearing an ink well and pen. The
Speaker dipped the pen and gave it to Gray Dove. "By the
place and before The Lords, put your name."
47 Gray Dove did so. When he was done, The Speaker dipped the pen
and gave it to Thorn Blossom. "As he has done," he
said, "you do also."
48 And Thorn Blossom signed. "What man," cried The
Speaker, "bears witness for this man?" Loyal Dog came
up and signed.
49 "What woman bears witness for this man?" cried The
Speaker. Mountain Glory Crow came up and signed. 50 "What
man bears witness for this woman?" cried The Speaker. The
Old Fox came up and signed.
51 "What woman bears witness for this woman?" Yellow
Blossom Dove came up and signed for her daughter.
52 The Speaker took the Contract and held it towards the Image of
The Lords. "It is signed and witnessed," he cried,
"and blessed." He handed the Contract back to the
bearer, and turned to the two young people. "By the Power
given to me," he announced, "by The Lords, and borne
witness to by this company, I declare that you are legally
joined, one to the other. Go, with The Lords Blessing!"
53 Gray Dove and Thorn Blossom quickly ran from The Temple, as
was tradition. But they were overtaken by their guards and
escorted to their mating feasts, and a glorious celebration it
was as the people danced and sang and toasted the young people's
happiness.
54 The celebration continued even after Gray Dove and Thorn
Blossom slipped away to the privacy of their tent. And there they
knew each other with happiness and joy. And The Lords blessed
their union, for eleven months to the day a son was born to them,
the first of their twelve children.
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