Rollie smiled, his eyes brightened as he looked over her shoulder as someone approached them. Mira and Lucinda were walking toward them.

"I believe your ladies in waiting are here to attend you, my dear," he said softly as Angie’s mouth opened slightly in surprise. They had changed their dresses, from wedding attendees to wedding participants. The color of their gowns was magical as Angie tried to recover from her surprise; each was dressed in an identical amethyst houppelande with slitted sleeves and cream brocade panels tippets extending far below their hands. Each wore a silk brocade sash that hung and trailed with the trailing gown.

"Oh my God!" was all that Angie could say as she stared at them. Both Mira and Lucinda giggled as Rollie winked at them.

"Take her ladies and do my bidding for the hour approaches and my lady will not wait for another moon’s rise before she is wed," Rollie told them, his accent taking on a crisp, Shakespearean lilt.

"Rollie?" Angie started to ask him what was going on but he waved her off, Mira grabbing one of her arms as Lucinda took the other.

"Be assured, my lady- all is well. Adieu until you approach me in handfast design!" he told her, as she shook her head, wondering just what in the world he had just said.

Mangela just smiled as the two of them walked away from Angie and her court. They stood in the enormous Nave of the Cathedral, not another soul about.

"Okay, something or someone has definitely replaced Rollie with this gibbering minstrel from Twelfth Night!" Angie said, glancing at the two of them. Both wore similar brocade wreaths of leaves in their hair that were similar to the wreath that she was to wear.

"Come on! Rollie is bitten with the romance bug, that’s all. He wanted this to be special so don’t spoil it, Ramirez!" Mira said, pulling her along as Lucinda smiled and grabbed Angie’s other hand.

"You should have seen us last night! Up until two in the morning, with Sarah Clanahan making these dresses and the wreaths for our hair!" Lucinda remarked, smoothing the front of her gown in amazement.

"You mean Sarah from wardrobe?" Angie asked, astounded as they moved closer to the Great Altar, entering the Crossing area of the Cathedral. The St. James Chapel was off to their right, where the staged wedding of Dingo and Dorinda had taken place. Angie hoped that Rollie hadn’t tried to get the chapel for their wedding now, she couldn’t get over what had just occurred there barely an hour before.

"Yes, Sarah- she has a sideline, you know. She makes a lot of historical costumes and has her own shop. And you just thought she stole sandwiches from the catering line everyday," Lucinda said, grinning.

"I’m speechless!" Angie said as Mira pulled her arm to the left of the Great Altar. They were going on the opposite side of the altar, away from St. James chapel.

"Okay, Miss Angela, in you go to the waiting room. Your gown is inside, along with your personal dresser, Ms. Lucinda Scott. I have a little errand to run so I will be back very shortly!" Mira told her, as Lucinda opened the door to a small room next to the St. Columba’s Chapel. Angie had never stepped foot in that chapel and her anticipation was growing.

Once inside the small waiting room, Angie sat down and caught her breath. Her pulse was racing as Lucinda fluttered around the room, "Come on, Angie! Let’s get you into this gorgeous gown!"

Time seemed to stand still, and Angie didn’t hear anything except the beating of her own heart as she undressed and stepped into the cool, cream-satin, brocade dress. She pulled the bodice up, it snugly fitting against her breasts as they were pushed up with the high empire waist and the satin cord lacing that was being done by Lucinda in the back.

"Oh, shouldn’t have eaten all those pancakes!" Angie said, wincing as Lucinda told her to take a deep breath as she gave one more pull to the cord and tied the final crossed lacing with a knot bow. She placed her fingers into the finger hooks for her index fingers which brought the long tapered sleeves down.

"Oh, I love these split sleeve elbow ties!" Lucinda remarked, flapping her own elbows as Angie laughed, moving her own.

"I bet these things were hard to take off fast!" Angie said, exhaling deeply and facing the mirror finally, catching her breath and pausing in her rotation. She couldn’t believe it was herself standing in front of the mirror.

Lucinda pulled out her brush and back brushed Angie’s layers, her blonde, soft hair fluffed up slightly now as she then lowered the garland of brocade leaves onto her head. The pearls shimmered with rich highlights of ivory against the afternoon sun that peeked through the stained glass window behind them.

"You’re gorgeous!" Lucinda said, her voice soft and awed as Angie swallowed hard and smoothed the large gathering of brocade brought to point under her bodice piece.

"I can’t believe how this dress makes me look!" Angie said, her voice strained as she continued to stare in the mirror.

"I’ll say, you got more cleavage above then below!" Lucinda giggled.

"I’m afraid to bend over- they might just pop out!" Angie said, laughing back at her.

"Now, that would be something to remember!" Lucinda told her as they decided to rehearse her bending forward.

To their relief, Angie stay put, everywhere and she looked down at her slightly trembling left hand, looking at her ring, the blue diamond sparkled back at her.

"This isn’t happening, is it?" she asked Lucinda, "Do you know that I am marrying Rollie Tyler?"

"Yes, and very soon! Lucky girl! Oh, I do believe someone would like to see you," Lucinda said, hands on hips and opened the door, peeking around it and smiling. She motioned for someone to enter.

Angie turned to see and smiled for her Uncle Guillarmo entered, carrying a small wrapped box in his hand.

"Oh Tio Guillarmo!" she cried out, and embraced him as he grabbed her in her arms tightly and rocked her back and forth.

"Angela, mija- You are lovely, so beautiful. You remind me of your mother when she wore this dress! Your eyes, your face! But say, here I have something that you should wear. It is from me and no one else…"

He handed her the gift and she unwrapped it nervously. Opening the box, she saw a plush jewelry box and shook her head.

"You have given me so much! What more?" she asked him, as she opened it slowly.

Inside, she saw the Celtic cross, made of gold, etched by hand and the small pearl necklace that was attached. She pulled it up slowly as Lucinda held her breath as well.

"Oh my!" she exclaimed, holding it up and her Uncle took it from her hands and said:

"May I assist you in putting it on?" he asked and she immediately turned so that he draped the necklace around her neck and fastened it in the back.

She looked down, the cross resting just below the notch in her neck. It completed the gown, the look, and the magic of the time. Her eyes were brimming with tears as Lucinda dabbled her cheeks with a tissue.

"You’d better stop that right now!" she warned her, "This makeup is perfecto. No more tears!"

Angie laughed, "yes ma’am."

She looked at her Uncle who was beaming with pride, "Your father would be so proud and happy to see you like this. I am honored to take his place at your side to bring you down the aisle."

She thought of Manny and smiled. She knew that somehow, he was there and walking with her down that aisle today as well. There was a knock on the door then and Mira came back inside and let out a gasp.

"Wow!" was all she could say at first, "hey- this thing is getting ready to begin. I just saw the crowd and they are getting restless!"

"Crowd?" Angie asked, her nerves now on edge. She had thought this would be a small, intimate wedding- Rollie wouldn’t really try to have a big wedding. How had he managed to get all the people?

"Oh! I almost forgot, the flowers! Yeah- here they come…" as the door opened and the florist brought in the bouquets as Mira assisted. A beautiful spray of fresh wildflowers were arranged for the bridesmaids with sprays of ivy. Angie thought it looked very unusual, but a beautiful combination. She waited and finally, Mira pulled out the bridal bouquet as Angie gasped.

Lavender! Rollie had remembered her favorite flower and scent! The flowers had been gathered in an elegant flowing arrangement with deeper, purple hyacinth tendrils and again, the sprays of ivy. It was overwhelming to her that he would remember this detail!

She held on to it and inhaled the aroma as another knock on the door made all three women turn.

"Everyone ready?" and two out of the three women responded ; "yes".

Angie bit her lip as Lucinda fussed with her, "Stop that!"

Angie could hear music, a strange and wondrous sound emerging from the St. Columba Chapel. They made their way out into the side altar area of the main cathedral as the sound of a harp and the didgeridoo were heard. Strangely enough, the two instruments complemented each other as Angie knew that Mangela was the musician for the didgeridoo. Her excitement was overwhelming now as Mira, Lucinda lined up in the entranceway of the Chapel, and Angie stood behind them. Tio Guillarmo came up and took her trembling arm in his.

Angie saw Mira move forward, the music seemingly pulling her forward as it hauntingly lured then, Lucinda forward. They walked slowly forward, not stilted with paused steps. Angie moved forward to the entrance as her Uncle moved her slightly and she followed. She swallowed again, her throat dry as she opened her eyes dizzily and looked inside.

The chapel of St. Columba was designed in a Norman/Romanesque style with decorated cylindrical pillars that evoked the cathedrals of Ireland. There were sculptures that flanked both sides of the chapel entrance, carved from limestone. An ornate wrought iron lacquered gateway had been opened inward and Angie stood at the entrance of that gate, staring down the aisle to a small altar with kneeling limestone figures ahead and a gorgeous stained glass window that went from floor to ceiling behind it. Two apses to each side of that also had similar glass work windows and candelabras were lit, the air cool and inviting as they flickered ahead.

The music momentarily stopped. A tall figure stepped forward by the altar and by his side stood Mangela. She looked at the tall figure, the man she was about to marry. Rollie was dressed in a brocade doublet with a cream silk shirt opened in a v-neck and long, flowing artist sleeves. His outfit was similar in color and design to compliment her dress. He wore matching trousers and had a small boutonniere of lavender on his doublet lapel. He looked up only when the music began again, the sound of an Irish hornpipe alone as it began the haunting Celtic melody introducing the bride.

Angie stepped forward as the congregation rose to its feet. Many faces she recognized as she slowly made her way forward. She held on to her bouquet of lavender tightly as she leaned on her Uncle to help her down the aisle. Her eyes went to Rollie’s then finally, their eyes meeting across the Chapel and locking. His face lit up like a starving man who was given a banquet. She smiled, beaming back at him as her eyes fluttered upward as she continued on her way. She saw Mira and Lucinda who seemed to be jumping slightly in anticipation and she grinned. She saw friends, actors, crew people, directors, and others but there were a blur suddenly as Rollie’s face commanded her attention and her life at this moment.

Finally, within an arm’s reach, she paused as her Uncle released her and Rollie stepped forward and turned beside her, both facing the altar as the vicar stepped up before them.

"You come to this place to witness an echo of creation. Hear well, see all, and remember for all time. You shall carry this promise back to the world that it may be given force before man and spirit. Blessed be and well come to this place. Be free from care and healed of harm while you sojourn here."

Angie looked at Rollie and smiled. Rollie had gotten the vicar to perform a handfasting ceremony. It was a medieval rite and one she had romanced about as a child and adolescent. She had spent hours rehearsing the lines of the bride and the groom with the young Rollie spying on her at times and laughing behind a hidden wall. She had given up this child's play by the time she was fourteen and now, to see that he had incorporated it into their wedding thrilled her.

The vicar spoke to Rollie: "You enter this place seeking self. Let the spirit of God be upon you that your hunt be true."

He then spoke to Angie: "God walks with you. Enter this place and be within the presence of God."

Speaking then to the congregation he said: "Well come all, and thrice blessed this place and time that sees two travelers find a common road."

He spoke again to Angie and Rollie: "In the endless dark of the unborn world, there came two flames becoming one fire. Let their flames burn in your hearts to bring light and warmth to the night of your souls."

Lucinda and Mangela handed a lit candle to Angie and Rollie respectively and they held them as the vicar continued:

"As travelers, do we set forth into the forest of life. We are called into its reaches by the promise that there we will find peace and completion. Travelers are we all. We proceed from birth to death. Occasionally are we given to meet others, also tracking the wild paths. By chance may find that upon the passing of a stranger, we find our ways the same and the company a pleasure. If fate is kind, we may find company to join us upon our way. The journey shared. Angela Ramirez and Rolland Tyler have found each other in the dark reaches of the wild wood. Through each others eyes do both see their vision more clearly, with each others ears do they hear the call more plainly, and in each others arms do they find greater strength than either alone possesses. For as far as they can see their path is one…so too have they elected to be one."

Angie eyes misted as she looked up at Rollie. He looked at her with the same eyes wanted so badly to hold her hand. He swallowed hard as the vicar continued and addressed him:

"God is the light which consumes all and the darkness of men’s souls. You find God in the white heat of battle and the cold of black steel. Only in the face of beauty is your wild soul restrained. All that is of God, you have sworn to protect in this one here. Will you take that part to guard that beauty?"

Rollie smiled and responded with a firm, "I will".

The Vicar turned to Angie and addressed her:

"You are the fertile seed in the womb of earth, the moonlit grove where all is clear and the dark caves of hidden mystery lie. God finds you at the heart of all life and tangled in the roots of passion. Your body is the bed upon which this one beside you finds respite. You embrace the wild night and give the Hunt purpose. The heart of God stirs in this one here. Will you give his hunt direction?"

Angie smiled, nodding her head, "I will."

Lucinda and Mangela stepped forward, motioning for Rollie and Angie to take their candles and hold them together so that the flames mixed and lit the central candle on the altar.

"Let the fires within you intertwine and become a single source of light upon your path," the vicar exclaimed. He took a silken cord and tied their wrists that held the candles together into one flame, "May your spirits be bound, your minds be common, and your bodies be one that none may come between you so long as your path is shared."

Mira and Mangela took the candles from Rollie and Angie as the vicar stepped back then and addressed them again; "May God stand beside you always."

He then came around them and faced the congregation, motioning them to rise; "Behold! What came as two goes forth as one. May their path be clear and easy beneath their feet. These two that began the hunt are joined in mortal form. Go forth and celebrate this day."

At this, he moved aside, as Rollie and Angie, still bound by the silk cord, turned around to face the congregation. Angie smiled as Rollie raised his other arm in welcoming his father, Dingo who waved at him from the back of the Chapel.

"Well done, Mr. and Mrs. Tyler!" he yelled and whistled loudly, to the crowd’s amusement. Rollie was truly touched by his father’s turn around and coming back to see them wed.

Together, bound and overwhelmed, they kissed at the urging of Lucinda and Mira and in front of the congregation. Rollie, with his free hand, picked Angie up from the floor, grasping her waist as he hoisted her up easily, kissing her again, wildly.

"You are so incredibly amazing, Angela Tyler!" he told her in her ear, "I love you!"

"Oh Rollie! I can’t believe it! I love you so much!" she exclaimed, as he put her down then and the congregation cheered them on the walk down the aisle out of the chapel.

They literally ran out of the Nave at the Cathedral to the courtyard in the center of the Cathedral and in the silence and seclusion from all others, re-stated their love for each other as they embraced their union in the first glint of sunset over the western horizon.