Villa Ferro, Miraflores – 2:00 PM
Classical music livened up the colonial house and garden, where the Ferros hosted their private ceremonies. In waiting for the bride’s arrival, some stood by the stoic marble knight, the fountain in the courtyard. Marta Gomez, the trusted housekeeper, pushed Eva Bosco’s wheelchair, so the matriarch could check one more time that everything was in place and ready. They passed by the white chairs made fragrant by the fresh flowers decorating them. The garden seemed to have blossomed for such an occasion, inviting a host of butterflies and hummingbirds to partake in the joyful ceremony.
The groom in his dark blue suit looked striking and serene. He waited near the solid door, surrounded by his new friends, allies, and trusted men at his wedding. Each of the men standing next to him represented the family he never had: Cherut’s agents, old and new, including Kei Sato, Svend Falken, Bastian Blum, Eldad Shalit, Eiji Kudo, and Adriel Yankton. Six modern warriors who had proven their loyalty in difficult times and so it would be to the end. The Sachapuyo Warriors: Gadiel Shein, Amidor Guillou, Hadi Kalef, and Leo Ackerman stood by his side.
“She is here!” Ifat Arad yelled from the main thick door. She lifted the hem of her dress and ran in to alert every one of the bride’s arrival. “Everyone in position!”
As in a synchronized dance, everyone moved to their practiced places. The Roths took the bride to Kei Sato, who waited by the entrance. Mila held on to her father’s arm, the father the Highest had given her, and walked to the beat of the wedding march to the middle of the road where Alexander Lyashenko, accompanied by Eva Bosco, was waiting for her.
“I leave her in excellent hands,” Kei affirmed, “But I’ll always be a call away when you need me, my daughter.” Then he let her go, nodding to the groom.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Eva approved, as Alexander bowed to kiss her hand, but she cradled his face with her wrinkly, burnt hands. She looked intently into his eyes as she spoke. “This is your family, Sasha.”
Alexander held Mila’s hand, and both walked the rest of the way to the canopy prepared with climbing flowers and dangling vines. There stood three Cloud Warriors; together with Ifat they made four sturdy pillars.
Gadiel awaited the couple in the center to officiate as Healer, leader of their ancient civilization and representative of the Highest.
The couple stood holding hands in front of Gadiel and listened to the message with reverence.
“Marriage is the union of a man and a woman. The union of two worlds known and yet to be known. The union of two opposite poles that must become one. For many, this idea sounds absurd, as opposite things can never mix and become one, can they? They both were light and darkness at different times of their lives.” Gadiel paused as if recalling moments of Mila’s fight for cherut, her abduction and her incursion bioterrorism. Alexander’s support to an empire of death although learning to use his skill to sabotage it from within. “This union of two opposites is possible, but it isn’t easy. For without love, without will, without laugher and a special power covering them both, they will fail. But with the force that unites opposites, with the divine energy of the Highest—who is the source of the love that they are professing to each other—can these two become one until the end of their days.”
Mila turned to look at the Roths, and Elaine pointed to the sky. Mila smiled and nodded.
“For man and woman can only truly become one if they offer their beings to something greater than themselves. Love, attraction, chemistry, biology, and physics are very important ingredients for marriage, but what will keep them together is a common sense of purpose. As long as the Highest is here, you will stand under this canopy where we are standing now for a lifetime. Mila Ferro and Alexander Lyashenko: both have devoted themselves to that cause of which I speak. Both have sacrificed for the welfare of others, both have fought against evil, both have lost much, but now we celebrate what they have won: the union of their lives committed to each other, to the Highest, and to humanity.” Gadiel spoke with so much passion and wisdom that he seemed to be a messenger from another realm. “Alexander, you can give the ring to your bride.”
Alexander held the ring between his fingers with his brown eyes connected to Mila’s with the intensity of everything they had experienced and survived. “‘I still recall the wondrous moment: When you appeared before my sight as though a brief and fleeting omen, pure phantom in enchanting light. And now, my heart, with fascination, beats rapidly and finds revived devout faith and inspiration, and tender tears and love and life.’” Alexander recited the love words by his favorite poet and kissed her hand before putting the ring on her finger.
“Mila, can you give the ring to your groom?”
Mila received the ring from Gadiel. “Alexander, my love: as we move towards our future, I consider myself beyond blessed to have you as my partner until the Highest wills it in all the spheres of Time,” Mila said, putting the ring on Alexander’s finger. “I can’t wait to a lifelong adventure with you.”
“From now on, two become one!” proclaimed the Healer, his amethyst eyes sparkling over the couple.
Alexander kissed his wife’s warm, full lips.
As they turned to the joyful witnesses of their commitment, the garden burst into cheerful expressions: music, claps, whistles, best wishes in different languages. Even the flowers in the garden seemed to diffuse the sweetest of scents while the old Italian Knight, the fountain in the garden, recorded yet another memory in the crevices of its marble.
“Thank you, grandmother.” Mila embraced and kissed Eva gently on her wrinkled cheek. She was still healing, the regeneration of her body would be a long process.
“Go on, Mila, the driver is ready to take you to your flight.” Eva encouraged the bride.
Following the couple with Marta’s help. They rolled her wheelchair to the street where everyone gathered to bid them farewell. “I hope you don’t mind sharing the flight with the Cloud Warriors. They can’t wait to return to their work in their laboratory.
The Sacred Garden — Amazonas, Peru
Mila removed her white wedding sandals and sat at the edge of the pond, letting her feet splash the water playfully as she reminisced on when she was seven and Tzofia had spoken to her, right there, about the Garden of Life, a place the Highest was gracious to preserve in Time.
She extended her arms as she had done back then, and curious butterflies landed on them. She breathed in the earthy scent of aguaje hanging copiously from each palm tree at the other side of the large pond. The jungle music played the late afternoon song, birds sang in their nests, and a cascade splashed against the river nearby. The sun was setting, coloring the sky. The fireflies’ luminous bellies became more noticeable, turning their lights on and off. They would soon float like souls in the dark.
Alexander, who had been watching Mila from a distance, giving her space, approached her and sat next to her. He took her gently and in silence into his arms. Together they watched the sunset’s warm hues beyond the palm trees. There weren’t any more words to be said, just wisdom to take in. They sat holding each other until there was only a fine line of gold at the edge of the forest and the cicadas began their high and low nocturne melody.
“Shall we go in?” Alexander whispered to her ear.
Mila nodded.
They trailed to Tzofia’s rebuilt home. The door was open and Mila could see the soft glow of the oil lamps inside. She made a mental record of her first personal memory in the house.
Alexander led her to their room, their fingers intertwined. Lit candles awaited above the stone fireplace, enticing them into their rustic bedroom. The bed was simply prepared with soft white cotton spreads. Neither rushed the moment; they had learned to be patient.
Alexander and Mila kissed as if for the first time, longingly, softly. Their hands traveled over their bodies methodically as their wedding garments slid and fell, one piece after another.
They lay on their bed which was lavender and chamomile scented as the day Flora brought Mila to the light in the same place. They both immersed in their honesty and vulnerability exactly as they were with perfections and flaws. Defeats and victories. Alexander kissed carefully every scar and bruise left still on Mila’s body. She caressed with her fingertips the remaining burnt paths left by the explosions on his chest and back, records of a dangerous duel with death.
Their bodies interlaced, taking possession and surrendering in equal measures, whispering to each other: “I am yours as you are mine.” And after so much chaos, there was a moment of perfect peace for both as it was the beginning of all beginnings: the creation of life.
For when going through fire, one could get monstrously burnt, but then again, one could also emerge golden.