Following Our Hearts

Dynamis is the closest thing I have to a regular job. At a set time I show up, slaughter things that would normally giggle and roll me over in an instant if I was alone, and hopefully leave with a purse full of things to sell for gil to pay for the needed supplies for the night. Even if I don’t get a new piece of artifact armor which is what I really hope for, we have a good time together. Every other thing I fill my day with is on a whim or a one time thing.

Tonight started no different. Coming out of dynamis-Jeuno I felt pretty good about myself. I had managed to make enough gil stealing coins from the beasts to pay for supplies needed to go into the fight and I had not lost consciousness one time. The great beasties really can knock one senseless even when we’re being careful.

Walking down the steps I carefully wiped my daggers clean making sure to leave no cranny unpolished. Brodie was sitting near the residential area and jumped to his feet when he saw me coming.

“Wow, what a surprise! It’s been so long since I remember seeing you in the city.” I leapt at him throwing my arms around him and kicking up my feet forcing him to grab hold of me with one arm and brace himself against the wall with the other.

“I thought it was time to come see you.” He looked a little nervous and I settled down to look him over.

“Something wrong?” I asked.

“No, I hope there isn’t. I just needed to ask you about something.” Kneeling down his soft eyes looked a bit scared as he held my hand in his. “Alison, marry me.”

I felt the air sucked out of my lungs and I had to fall down to my knees too or risk fainting. He certainly wasted no time getting to his purpose. “But we never even see each other anymore. We’ve already talked about it. How could it work?”

“I don’t want you to marry anyone else. I love you. That’s enough. Forget the rest.”

Feeling a little more confident I sat on his knee and ruffled his silky chocolate colored hair playfully. “So, tell me how this works. You have my attention.”

“I love you, you love me, and we live happily ever after.”

I had to laugh at how idealistic he was all of the sudden. “Well I do love you, and you love me, and happily ever after sure sounds nice.”

“Marry me tonight. Please don’t say no.”

“Tonight?” I said as I raised my eyebrows.

“Yes, I have the chapel on stand by already. We don’t have to wait we can just do it before we over think and chicken out again. I love you Alison. Stay with me for the rest of our lives. I can’t stand to wait anymore.”

His beard tickled my lips as I kissed him. “It’s all I ever really wanted. So, no over thinking? Just do it now and run off together?”

“That’s my plan.”

Smiling widely now I was filled with excitement. I wasn’t sure how it would work but I was beginning to catch the spirit of love over logic. Biting my lower lip I little I gathered my nerve. “Let’s do it.”

“Really?” He said looking a little surprised.

“Yes, I love you.” Standing up I pulled him to his feet and held his arm tightly. “Take me there.”

Grinning widely now too he raced me down to Upper Jeuno and into the chapel where an elderly evlaan looked like he was hoping we would come. “Are you two ready?” he asked politely.

“Yes, please hurry.” Brodie said has he kissed my head.

“Do you have rings?” he asked.

The look on Brodie’s face made it clear he had not thought that far ahead.

Taking the ring Brodie made for me so long ago I gave it back to him. “I want this to be the symbol of our love.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Very. I even have one for you.” Taking one from my hand and kissing it I smiled at the old priest.

“Well then, let’s begin.” Repeating after him as instructed I began:

"In abidance with the laws of the Jeuno,
I, Alison, take this man, to be my lawful wedded husband,
to have and to hold, in sickness and in health."

Slipping the ring on his finger I began to cry as it hit me that he would finally be mine. Brodie took his vows:

"In abidance with the laws of the Jeuno,
I, Brodie, take this woman, to be my lawful wedded wife,
to have and to hold, in sickness and in health."

Putting the ring I loved so dearly back onto my finger he smiled loving at me and wiped away my tears.

“Congratulations. With Altana here bearing witness, and by the power vested in me by The Grand Duchy of Jeuno, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Tenderly embracing we exchanged our first kiss as husband and wife. Everything else would have to wait until we were good and ready to face it. For now only this moment mattered.

(Special thanks to Brodie for doing this screenshot over and over and over again until I got just the one I wanted. Thanks sweetie.)