Morrigan laughs, her eyes welling with tears.“I still maintain that I won that night.I got the grimoire…”
Stirling tuts and shakes her head at Morrigan.I have to press my lips together to avoid giggling at the pair of them.This is so typical of Stirling; three seconds in, and she’s ad-libbing and off-scripting her vows.
Dahlia grins at me.She’s not tearful, but then she doesn’t know them the way I do.She hasn’t heard the squabbling these two do over dinner when they recount how they met at some dingy runic poker club lock-in.
Dahlia tilts her head and whispers, “I’ll admit, it’s cute.”
Stirling continues.“Hush.These are my vows, you get your turn in a minute.As I was saying, I was the winner… Not because of the poker, or the runes, but because I won you, Morrigan.You are the greatest prize of all.”
Morrigan’s mouth forms a little O.I have to wipe the bottom of my eyelid.Fucking romance.This is exactly why I want to get married.Gods, it’s so slushy I think I’m going to pass out.
I refocus on Stirling so I don’t miss a single word.
“I always thought negotiations were about winning.But rule one of any negotiation is always be willing to walk away.But that’s the thing, Morrigan.I’m not willing to walk away.Not anymore.So for once in my life, I am bone deeply happy to lose.And I did… I lost my whole heart to you… willingly, openly, with my soul bared to you… I am, and always will be, on my knees for you.My love.My life.My Queen.”
Morrigan’s lip trembles and I don’t blame her.Tears streak my cheeks, and my throat is so thick I can hardly swallow.I’m struggling not to wail like a banshee.We’ve had so many fights over the years, but watching her standing there, looking like a goddess, with a woman bleeding love for her, I’ve never been more proud of my sister.All those fights, the hurt, it all seems meaningless in the face of such ferocious love.
Stirling takes a deep breath.“Marrying you will be the greatest negotiation of my life because I vow to always compromise on whether we’re spontaneous or calculated.”
That earns a chuckle from the audience.Everyone knows Stirling is chaos incarnate while Morrigan is about as organised, planned and precise as you can get.Even Morrigan is laughing.I catch Mother’s eye as she laughs into a tissue, her features swollen with pride as she stares on at her eldest daughter.
“I promise to challenge your overthinking and ground myself when I get too wild.I vow to stand by you through every hardship, deal, promise and negotiation.As your equal, your wife, your lover, your person.But above all, Morrigan Lee, I swear to you that no matter where you are, no matter how far from me you travel, I will always find you where blue meets blue.”
That does it.Morrigan lets out a whimper, two tears fall down her cheeks and she lunges forward to plunge a kiss on Stirling’s mouth.
The officiant coughs awkwardly.“A little early for that, Your Majesty,” she says.
Stifled laughter ripples through the room, but everyone is smiling with those glossy wet eyes you only ever find at weddings.
Stirling slips the ring on Morrigan’s hand and then it’s Morrigan’s turn.
“Stirling Grey.For the longest time, I thought everything I needed to know could be learned from a book.”
Stirling smiles and shakes her head at her.
“But, it seems that love is the exception.Trust me, I asked a professor.”She winks at Remy, and her group of friends all erupt into cheers and hollers.
Oh my gods, I’m giggling and I don’t even know what their in-joke is.But it doesn’t seem to matter, the whole room is joyful with them.The air is warm and buzzing with a golden energy.I thought Morrigan would read from a predefined set of vows, but between them, this is carnage, and I absolutely love it.
Morrigan continues.“You may be a negotiator, but you’re also a teacher.You taught me to love, to see myself for who I am.To embrace my power.”She looks down and huffs a little to herself.
“You showed me that real power isn’t a crown or a title.It’s the ability to let go, to live in the moment, to stop trying to control the outcome.”
Stirling is incandescent as she gazes at my sister.It makes my entire body warm and gooey.Dahlia hands me a tissue, Gods know where she got it from, but I’m grateful, nonetheless.I am the definition of an ugly crier, and I am barely holding my shit together.
Morrigan squeezes Stirling’s hand.“But more than anything, to be vulnerable, because I’m safe now.I know that you’ll catch me, you’ll save me and no matter what, you’ll find me.”
Stirling nods in time to all the things Morrigan says.
“Everyone thinks that I’m the most powerful magician.But they got it wrong.You are.Because you hold my whole heart.You are my equal, my better, my soulmate.You taught me what no book could.That some risks are worth taking.And I know I will take a thousand more if it means I get to keep you.”
She slides the silvery band into place on Stirling’s ring finger.
“I vow to go on every adventure your heart desires.I promise to have your back in every negotiation.I swear to pursue the art of spontaneity…”
There’s another round of loving snickers.
“Above all, I will spend my life learning how to be your anchor, proving to you that this truly is the greatest deal you ever made because this one is meant to last forever.It’s meant to last long beyond old age and skin wrinkled with love.It’s meant to last even when our souls part this realm and live again in another.Because that’s the thing, Lady Grey, I will spend eternity searching for you in every sunset, every horizon and every ocean wave.Until I find you where blue meets blue.”
