Sibiu

Uphill battle to the Great Church or not, come high noon the doors of the church opened and though this sunlit path came the bride to be. Along with the music provided by the organist the young woman took measured steps forward. Though she knew weddings didn't typically take place in the Great Church she didn't expect the mass of people there. All turned to look at her as she entered and seeing this the girl soon became the blushing bride, she chose instead of allowing her emerald eyes to meet any in the crowd to hold her head high and face her soon to be husband and in light of positioning the priest. 'I think no one has any idea what it feels like to be such a spectacle. I feel it would have been better for someone to warn me of this...' she thought as she moved forward. Her dress was a beautiful mix of black and white silks. Ruffled and layered upon one another in the style she tended to favor for her casual attire. A scooped neckline revealed slim shoulders and a perfectly fit corset beneath seemed to maximize the curvature of her shape. Small ruffles and lace adorned the front of her dress including 4 red bows aligned down the center of her being. And atop her head, a crown of lace which perfectly framed two large spiraling pigtails which hung all the way down to the young woman's waist. Her large green eyes set between her bangs and the two small pieces to the side of her face she made this walk, with the eyes of the entire town upon her. But would take these steps until she ultimately reached the end of the podium where her husband to be was standing.

Sorin had actually been the first person present within the church this day. He'd come even before the priest, and had been very patiently awaiting the arrival of one specific person all this time: The bride. Of course, patience was easily a virtue of one who'd known since childhood they would live for nigh eternity. When the woman of the hour arrived, he looked upon her encroaching form with a gentle smile upon his face. He seemed to be keeping his composure with relative ease this day. Upon Kasmina's arrival to his location, and with the idea of preserving the silence around, a simple grin accompanied a telepathic message to the bride. 'You look stunning. All of this, on my behalf? I'm flattered,' he relayed.

Moments after the bride's arrival, the priest before them raised his hand to silence and stand the crowd. Moments after that, he was speaking aloud. "Dearly beloved, you have come together into the house of the Church so that in the presence of the Church’s minister and the community your intention to enter into Marriage may be strengthened by the Lord with a sacred seal. Christ abundantly blesses the love that binds you. Through a special Sacrament, he enriches and strengthens those he has already consecrated by Holy Baptism, that they may; and your love be enriched with his blessing you, so that you may have strength to be faithful to each other for ever and assume all the responsibilities of married life. And so, in the presence of the Church, I ask you to state your intentions." With this said, the priest looked upon the couple. "Sorin Lothaire Phantomhive and Kasmina Elise Dacian, have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?" he asked of the two. "I have," Sorin answered.

Kasmina's walk was painstaking but once she reached her destination she felt at ease. Even with the murmurs among the people as they took in her visage, none of them particularly concerned her. No, instead it was the words of her soon to be husband within the confines of her own mind. According to the Count Phantomhive, his future wife, looked stunning to this day and he was flattered by the trouble she'd gone through. 'Many thanks, and of course this is for you. I would not bother for anyone else,' she thought. Though she personally had no idea when she started enjoying the idea of being married to this man. Within a few moments of her arrival and after giving the onlookers a chance to thoroughly gawk at the soon to be wed, the Minister started the marriage ceremony properly.

She listened to his speech most attentively, finding his words somehow comforting as she looked on to her husband. And when their names were spoken and they were asked if they claimed to enter into this marriage without coercion with all of their hearts, she could only smile and agree after Sorin. "I have," she mentioned loud enough for all to hear. Kasmina felt sure of this part of her speech, more sure than she had of anything else, she could not have agreed to such words if the man standing across from her was anyone else. One might have thought it strange, for this pair to meet each other only a few days prior and so freely agree to marry each other. But in this moment, Kasmina felt there was no other for her, and she had no idea when she'd come to this conclusion.

With the agreement of both parties, the priest continued his speech. It was almost mechanical, the way he spoke. There was hardly any leeway between the answers of Sorin and Kasmina before he asked the next question of them. "Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?" he asked.

Sorin found this question almost laughable. "As long as you both shall live," for vampires, was more lifetimes than a single familiar line could comprehend. Still, Sorin had also accepted that there was no other person to be his betrothed. The idea alone was something that he'd gone without understanding for nearly a week, but he now knew the best way to solve his problems of earlier was to bind himself to this woman. His answer came with overflowing confidence as violet gaze met one of emerald. "I am."

Though the priest seemed admittedly less enthused than the wedding party at hand, Kasmina could hardly say she didn't understand this. His next sentence mentioned the idea of these two loving and honoring each other for the duration of their lifetimes. If Kasmina's understanding of this man's life and thus her own one in the very near future, forever was a very long time. Of course, she had no problem with this, as it was already quite obvious to her that she would be well cared for by this man and she would obviously do her best to care for him as well. Her gaze met his and she found herself agreeing to him forever wholeheartedly. "I am," she responded after Sorin seeming to have no problem with this, though admittedly her current human life time paled in comparison to what she was undertaking. She seemed to be more than alright with this, that violet gaze gave her confidence.

Once again, the pair had consented. This permitted the priest to move on and ask what would be his final question to them this day. "Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church?" he asked. Sorin was, once again, quick to retort. "I am," he said. All this time, his gaze had never wavered from that of the woman who would be known far and wide as his wife within a matter of mere moments.

It seemed that they had finally reached the final question of this wedding ceremony. When asked if they would accept children and bring them up in the ways of Christ, Kasmina realized she had not even considered having children before this point. She knew of course it was one of few things expected of her as someone's wife, but for some reason before this moment she hadn't thought to ask. Though if she were to be able to have children she saw no problem with this. Looking at Sorin she was quite reassured that her decision was the correct one and she would be able to do any and everything if they so desired. "I am." Her retort came after Sorin's with no lag or hesitation. If he was willing she could be no less willing. And at this moment it occurred to her that her marriage mere seconds away.

And with that, all agreements had been made. Though there was no joy visible in the priest's face, he was quite pleased to be seeing to the nuptials of this young pair. He was simply a man of his duty before anything else, and currently, duty called. "Since it is your intention to enter the covenant of Holy Matrimony, join your right hands, and declare your consent before God and his Church."

The smile upon Sorin's face widened. At this point in the ceremony, he'd all but forgotten what the priest looked like. He could only see the future ahead of him... or rather, them. When he spoke next, he did so while reaching out with his right hand to grab that of his betrothed. "I, Sorin, take you, Kasmina, to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life."

The Minister of this church seemed to be all about his job. This was of course, fine with Kasmina as she had only eyes Sorin and had not even bothered to to cast a waning glance at Priest nor congregation in all of the moments since taking up the aisle. Of course, it soon became necessary for this couple to declare their consent before God in his church. This lead to Kasmina's hand finding its place within Sorin's. Surprisingly enough for one who'd never much liked the idea of being married before this point, she seemed happy enough to consent willingly, not out of duty or obligation to her father, but because of her genuine interest in their future together.

She received Sorin's words while looking only to him. And though they'd not known each other long, she felt he meant these words with great conviction. She could do not, but answer in kind. "I, Kasmina, take you, Sorin, to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honor you all the days of my life."

It was all but official now. The bridegroom and bride had each given their respective vows. The priest had another blessing to be offered, but there was little else required of the couple. The elderly male began speaking thus: "May the Lord in his kindness strengthen the consent you have declared before the Church and graciously bring to fulfillment his blessings within you. What God has joined, let no one put asunder. May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God who joined together our first parents in paradise, strength and bless in Christ the consent you have declared before the Church, so that what God joins together, no one may put asunder. Let us bless the Lord."

Following these words of the priest, the entire congregation of the Great Church, which was presently almost every citizen of Sibiu, replied with "Thanks be to God" in unison. During this time, a young male of the church walked the aisle toward the altar. He came bearing a pillow, which had upon it two rings of an elaborate design in gold. Diamonds adorned these rings, and within, they were inscribed with the phrase "Keepe Faith Till Death." Sorin took one of these rings in hand, and began slipping it onto Kasmina's left ring finger as the priest spoke once more. "May the Lord bless these rings, which you will give to each other as the sign of your love and fidelity."

"Kasmina, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."