Chapter 44

Part 5

Theramin’s smile was so wide it was a wonder that he could speak properly. “Do you, Talia, take this male; Mark, to be your husband?” he asked.

“I do.” she answered, and seldom were two words said with such warmth. Her eyes never left Mark’s as she spoke her vows, nor did his leave hers, though he’d seen an intense flash all around them as she’d spoken.

Theramin continued. “Do you solemnly swear to love him before all others, and to strive to bear his children, and to care for him as best you are able, and to seek always to bring him happiness, for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do so swear. HUHH!!!” The power of the binding was incredible, as the cloud of magic around her contracted and intensified, and much of it was drawn into her. It was the most powerful act of magic ever seen by almost all of those in attendance. The feeling of it had driven her breath from her lungs and staggered her, though she was well used to dealing with large quantities of the power. She leaned against Mark to keep from losing her balance completely, then started to slide to the floor as her legs gave out on her.

He was completely blinded by the flash of the binding of her major oath, but he sensed it when she started to collapse, and he hurriedly passed her left hand to his left and held both her hands with his one, so he could wrap an arm around her and support her. The back of his right index finger touched the tine band, still on his left bicep, and his heart slammed even harder as he realized that he still had to put it on his head and remove the velvet covering!

It took her a few moments to get her breath back and her legs steadied. As she stepped back a bit he took the tine band from his arm and put it on his head and removed the velvet cover, trying to do it in one smooth motion that he hoped looked like he was wiping sweat from his brow. He adjusted his belt as he tucked the velvet under it, and asked Talia; “Are you okay?”

“I’m…” She began as she opened her eyes and looked at him, and then she fully felt the effect of the vow. “Oh Mark! Oh Mark! I love you so much! It’s… overwhelming! Oh Mark! I love you! I love you!”

She realized that she was in danger of becoming hysterical, and she leaned against him and closed her eyes again. She concentrated on the calming exercises she used to center herself before casting a major spell, and soon she felt she could continue. She straightened again, took a deep breath, and braced herself for the blast of emotion she knew she’d feel again when she looked at him.

“All right.” she nodded as she opened her eyes once more, and she was saved from being overwhelmed again because she was distracted by the realization that he had a very strange and fearful expression on his face, and that he was not precisely looking into her eyes anymore, or even focusing on her.

“I’ll need a moment or three.” he stated, sounding strange.

“What is it?” Theramin asked.

“I can’t see. When Talia completed her vows, there was a flash like silent lightning striking right in front of me. All I can see are big white spots moving around.” he said as he blinked repeatedly. He tried rubbing his eyes a bit, with no effect.

Hilsith stepped to him and inspected his eyes. “I can’t tell. My diagnostics don’t work on him, but his eyes appear to be undamaged.” she quietly stated.

“Wait a second… I think it’s coming back. Yes, definitely, the spots are fading.” Mark said in obvious relief.

Soon he was focusing on them again, and a few moments later he said; “Okay. I’m okay. Please, let’s continue.”

Hilsith stepped back to her place.

Theramin nodded, and said; “Place the ring, which symbolizes love without end, upon his finger.”

Alilia stepped forward as she handed the ring to Talia, who slid it onto Mark’s finger.

Mark smiled at the beauty of the ring, and gave Alilia a big smile and a small nod of gratitude before returning his smile to Talia. Then he again took both of Talia’s hands in his left one, and covered them with his right.

Now the anticipation was ten times greater, as everyone wondered how the vows would affect him, and their concentration upon him was intense. As Theramin spoke, the power field seemed to become a bright storm of magic that filled the entire glade, intensifying towards the center.

“Do you, Mark, take this female, Talia, to be your wife?”

Just before he spoke, Mark reached up with his right hand, pressed the center of the tine band hard against his forehead with his thumb to hold it firmly in place, and plucked the five tines simultaneously with his fingertips. “I do.” he answered, and as he said it he couldn’t help but squint his eyes almost shut against the expected flash. When it happened, he was glad he’d done so, or he’d have been blinded again. He could feel the magic rushing through him with a sensation that was indescribable.

The onlookers let out a collective ‘Ahhh!’ of amazement, for it appeared that he had absorbed as much of the power field with his minor vow as Talia had with her major one! And still the field intensified, becoming a maelstrom of boiling magic brighter than any there had ever seen!

Theramin asked the question. “Do you solemnly swear to love her before all others, and to strive to give her your children, and to care for her as best you are able, and to seek always to bring her happiness, for as long as you both shall live?”

This time Mark plucked the tines as hard as he dared, holding back only enough of the strength of his fingers to be sure not to bend the steel.

However, there were those among the gathered elves who were not satisfied to simply let their ambient magic reinforce his vows, and chose instead to actively bolster it by casting Compulsion on him at the critical moment.

The total magical effect was staggering. The enormously intensified magic field seemed to get sucked into Mark, all of it and then some, for it pulled some internal power out of every elf present as well, leaving them all noticeably weakened for a moment.

Mark said; “I do so swearAAAAAAAAAARRHHH!!!” His body spasmed like he’d been shot with a crossbow bolt, and he clutched frantically at his left shoulder.

At the same time, Yazadril cried; “NO!!!”, for he and some of the other wizards had felt the Compulsions being cast, too late to do anything about it.

He, Dilimon, and as promised, half the groomsmen leaped to Mark’s aid, even as Talia cried his name in alarm, and Hilsith yelled; “Heart cramp!”, having instantly recognized the signs. “Lower him quickly!” she barked, and even as they did so she had her ear pressed to his chest. As soon as he was down she began striking him sharply over his heart. She did so five times, then listened again. “Damn it, there is little I can do for him!” Again she struck his chest repeatedly, then listened. “Source above, I’m losing him! UHH…”

At that moment Mark spasmed so powerfully that Hilsith, Yazadril, Dilimon, and two groomsmen were thrown aside like toys, and at the same instant Talia screamed; “AAAHH THE CURSE!”, and fell to her knees beside Mark, shuddering violently. But only for a moment. Then she lifted her face in wonder, even as Mark’s seizure ended.

“It’s gone! Already, as suddenly as that! It’s completely gone!” she marveled, then wondered if she was going into shock, and Healed herself against it.

Hilsith scrambled back to Mark and again pressed her ear to his heart. “It… It’s fine!” she stammered in amazement. “The beat is strong and steady! It’s like nothing was ever wrong with him!”

Talia took his hand as his eyes opened, tears pouring down her cheeks.

He looked at her wide-eyed. He tried to speak, but could not. He tried again, and still couldn’t make his voice work.