Authors: Astrid Yrigollen
“Wedding bells? As in marriage?” Etrigan asked Dekker.
“Of course man, the way the two of you came up over the side of the ship with lips locked, it was highly indecent for the rest of us to see.”
“Yes, so naturally we would think a wedding would follow shortly.” Horace added.
“Please you two, why do you bring up such things?” Claren said not thinking she could bear this conversation much longer. Their two friends did like to stir the bee’s nest. She stood up to leave the room before they could see her tears of embarrassment. Etrigan caught hold of Claren’s hands and held her in place.
“I don’t know if she will have me, but I do want to find out.” Etrigan said pulling Claren closer to him as he moved from his chaise lounge to the floor onto one knee. He reached into his pants pocket and brought out a beautiful ring with pink and white sparkling stones. He held the ring up to her.
“I have been carrying around this ring in my pocket for months. I do not have social status or graces. I never went to a Gentlemen’s academy but I do know that I will love and protect you forever. You draw breath for me, without you I am nothing. I know you are my mate and were made for me, I love you Claren.”
Dekker and Horace were shocked into silence, they had not expected to see a proposal today.
“Will you accept and marry me Claren?” Etrigan asked holding the ring out to her, his voice trembling with emotion.
“Yes Etrigan Lowood, as a friend, lover and my husband I will accept you.” Claren’s eyes filled with tears of happiness and she could not suppress the smile that she was sure went from ear to ear. Etrigan placed the ring on her trembling finger and looked over at their two companions.
“She said yes.” Etrigan said sheepishly more to himself then anyone in the room.
“Well kiss her man!” Horace said out of character. Etrigan turned towards Claren and for the second time brought his lips to hers, kissing her softly.
Horace and Dekker cheered and clapped happily. Fredrick, who had been discussing the lunch menu with Mrs. Whitby heard the commotion and ran in to the living room, his face white. He was not used to so much noise in the house since Claren’s windows were repaired.
“What is going on?” He nearly cried feeling every bit of his age and not of want of any more nastiness.
“Your son is getting married.” Horace said cheerily shaking Fredrick’s hand.
“What’s this? Is it true? Claren, Etrigan?” He looked to the young couple who were both smiling radiantly. Their happy face gave Fredrick his answer as he walked over to embrace them both. Claren felt as though her whole body was smiling, every pore felt happy. Every morning for the last two weeks she woke up with a smile on her face and at times she would try to hide it, to no avail. Spending time as Etrigan’s “nurse” provided much time for feverish kisses and the exchange of sweet sentiments. He had confided in her that he watched her many a nights as she slept before she put up curtains, his curiosity burning more than his anger.
“You captivated me Claren, I was angry you were here but I didn’t want you to leave. It was as if I had finally awakened from a deep sleep.”
“Then why did you push me away so hard?”
“I was afraid of you, of the feelings you caused within me. I didn’t know what love was but it made me feel vulnerable.” Etrigan placed his finger under her chin and raised her mouth up to his.
“Forgive me for being foolish and immature. I think I learned of love in a backwards fashion. I knew what love was
not
but I do know that I always want you to love me Claren and I promise to always love you, you who are a part of my soul.” I fell into Etrigan’s arms once more feeling my blossoming love grow deeper for him.
With Mrs. Whitby’s natural love of parties, she happily helped Claren and Etrigan with their wedding plans. Etrigan was curious about the whole procedure and asked many questions, enjoying the experience. Soon enough Horace and Dekker were involved in the planning. Lively arguments would break out between the friends and Mrs. Whitby.
“I think we need to have at least 20 barrels of champagne on hand for this event.” Dekker was overheard saying.
“You do know there are less than ten people attending this event?” Horace would counter.
Claren and Etrigan were able to get through the planning process in spite of the “help” that they received from their friends. The morning of their small spring wedding was bright with large puffs of cumulus clouds moving slowly across the sky. Since neither Claren nor Etrigan had many friends, they decided on a small outdoor wedding with fresh flower bouquets. Fredrick had completed a minister’s license by correspondence and was now able to marry his son and Claren. He felt it would not be right to ask to give her away even though he did feel as though she were a daughter to him now. Instead as Etrigan stood waiting in his morning tuxedo, Horace and Dekker walked Claren down the aisle and took their place next to Mrs. Whitby who had volunteered herself as maid of honor.
Something that the three of them fought over as well.
“Who ever heard of three maids of honor, and two being men no less!” Mrs. Whitby hissed at the men. Dekker then suggested he would stand in as Etrigan’s best man but they would still walk Claren down the aisle (something that in the excitement was forgotten by Dekker until Mrs.Whitby pointed for him to move over to Etrigan’s side.)
Claren had chosen to wear the white dress that she had worn to the Winter Ball much to Mrs. Whitby’s disappointment, but Claren loved the dress and felt that it would do nicely. Etrigan’s face lit up as he took her hand in his as his father read the vows they were to repeat.
“I promise to love, respect and treat you dear for the rest of my life Claren Maidstone. With you by side, as my wife, my mate, we will rewrite the pain of the past and move forward to a future filled with love and happiness.” Etrigan placed the matching pink and white stone wedding band on Claren’s finger.
“Our marriage will be a journey of two friends, I will always hold you in my heart as my friend and my husband, loving and respecting you till I draw my very last breath.” Claren slipped the band around Etrigan’s ring finger as they both turned towards the elder Lowood.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Etrigan moved forward and tenderly took Claren in to his arms wrapped them around her waist. Their hearts pressed together through the fabric of their clothes, beating as if only a single one was shared between them. He never wanted to let her go and wished they were alone now but he knew he had to break the kiss before his companions started their harassment. Claren smiled at him as they parted, her eyes full of the joy he felt.
“It is with great happiness that I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Lowood.” Fredrick said as the small group broke out into applause. Mrs. Whitby cried freely as her husband Thomas patted her back and nodded appreciatively at the young couple.
“Well let’s break out the champagne and discuss the honeymoon!” Dekker said after the congratulations had been said and the couple walked to a prepared table for the wedding feast.
“Dekker!” Claren said in admonishment.
“What?” He said innocently as Claren caught Etrigan’s blush and felt her own face warming.
“All I meant is now is the perfect time to discuss your honeymoon plans and our gift to you.”
“
Our
gift? I got them a serving robot, I don’t know what you are talking about,
our gift,
Dekker.” Horace said.
“That is just it, I know it’s a little limited, your traveling plans, well with these great big black things always hanging about, so I thought that I would arrange passage for you on my ship,
The Sea Dog
. I already have your luggage on board and we can all leave tomorrow morning.”
“Wait, what are you talking about?” Etrigan said shaking his head.
“
We
can all leave tomorrow?” Claren added.
“Yes,” Dekker said putting his arms around his companion’s shoulders, drawing them into a tighter circle.
“You see, we are all ready to head out to the Devil’s Continent tomorrow and I just can’t bear the thought of being away from my bosom companions, so you are all coming along. It will be a great wedding present, and honeymoon…” Etrigan took my bouquet and began to playfully hit Dekker about the head and shoulders.
“Do you think I want to spend my honeymoon on
The Salty Dog
? With my wife,
you
and
Horace
?”
Dekker raised his hands to fend off the assaulting flowers.
“It’s called
The Sea Dog, Sea Dog
!”
“Wait just hear me out! Adventure awaits us my friends!” Dekker said as Horace laughed so hard his glasses finally slipped past his nose and on to the ground. My wedding day was filled with much laughter and happiness and, as it turned out, Dekker’s gift to us was the entire ship which we promptly renamed, “
The Salty Sea Dog
”.
And so continued a lively friendship between the four of us that sometimes became quite exasperating and other times endearing but lasted far beyond our honeymoon trip to the Devils Continent, (that we
did
end up spending with Horace and Dekker), but
that
adventure is for another time.
The End
********
Astrid Yrigollen is a vegetarian hoping to go vegan, residing in Marin County, California with her husband, cats and her Debelius Reef Lobster. She is anxiously awaiting the newest member of their family, a dog. Lover of all things anime, she is naturally learning Japanese, her third language. Astrid is a collector of Volks Super Dollfies and is the founder of California Coast Ball Jointed Doll Convention which she co-chairs with her husband.
About the illustrator
Szimonetta
Szakál
currently resides in Budapest. She enjoys manga, sushi and BJDs (Super Dollfies) Szimonetta’s natural talent and style in the anime aesthetic made her a perfect fit for this project.
Her contact email is
[email protected]
(Yes the ‘Y’ is correct)