The day of the wedding arrived and Ariel found herself dressed in the finest silk in all of Egypt for the occasion. Queen Tuya declared that there was surely no goddess in all of Egypt that could match her beauty that day. Moses was Ramses’ best man and he was very proud to do so; in fact it was mainly due to his over-eagerness to make sure that nothing went wrong on the day, that nothing did go wrong on the day.
The ceremony began as the musicians picked up their instruments and Ramses and Moses, at the end of the aisle, turned their heads to see the bridesmaids scattering flower petals across the aisle. Seti watched with a blank face, but Ramses merely smiled. His father would come around eventually, he knew.
And then, there she was, his Ariel, looking as radiant and happy as ever. “She looks beautiful,” he whispered to Moses, who nodded in agreement. Ariel was beaming all over her face as she practically floated towards him in her white silk, a bouquet of exotic flowers held in her hands and her hair shimmering like a waterfall. In that second, he could not imagine a more exquisite sight in the whole world that her.
He reached out a hand to her as she reached him and she placed hers in it. “You look so beautiful,” he whispered to her.
She blushed. “Thank you, and you look very handsome.”
“Dearly beloved,” announced Hotep. “We are gathered here today...”
“...In the sight of all the Gods,” put in Huy. “To join this man...”
“...And this woman,” Hotep went on. “In holy matrimony. If anyone has any objections to this union...”
“..Then speak now. or forever hold your peace...” Huy finished.
Automatically, Ramses glanced at his father, but Seti had clearly decided to hold his peace for he said nothing.
“Do you, Prince Ramses, son of Pharaoh Seti, take Ariel...Benson to be your lawfully wedded wife?” asked Hotep.
Ramses smiled. “I do.”
“And do you, Ariel Benson, take Prince Ramses, son of Pharaoh Seti, to be your lawfully wedded husband?” asked Huy.
“I do,” Ariel smiled.
“Then by the power invested in us...”
“...By all the Gods...”
“...And Pharaoh Seti...”
“...We now pronounce you husband...”
“...And wife. You may now...”
“...Kiss the bride.”
As Ramses complied, Moses led the guests in rapturous applause. Ariel closed her eyes, listening to all those cheering, for her and Ramses, for their wedding. This was the happiest moment of her life and she was the happiest she had ever been before in her life.
And she told Ramses so that night as he led her upstairs to his room where they stepped across the threshold together, finally, as equals.
(It's not over yet!)
