Page 69 of Must Love Lavender and Little Lies
My friend…
My soon-to-be husband.
“Good people of Moonshine Hollow,” Elder Thornberry announced. “Today we are here to celebrate a match all of us saw coming except the bride and groom,” he said with a laugh. “Juniper and Granik have come before the good people of Moonshine Hollow to celebrate their love, and to promise themselves to one another for the rest of their mortal lives, and in orcish custom, in the worlds beyond time,” he said, stepping aside so Master Mirefoot could step forward.
“Welcome,” the orc greeted everyone, “and fair tidings. Today, Juniper and Granik come before you all in a melding of their worlds. But what an easy melding that will be, will it not, my friends? From farm to apothecary, from flower to ointment, from dear friends to husband and wife. It seems as if the ancestors themselves had planned this union of spirits. So today, we shall ask Granik and Juniper to make the seven pledges to one another. And in so doing, combine their lives forever.”
Master Mirefoot lifted the loving cup. “Juniper, Granik, do you pledge to always respect one another?”
“I do,” Granik said, taking the cup and drinking. When he did so, his brow twisted, and he looked at the cup.
The crowd giggled, knowing that drinking the bogshine was the real challenge of the wedding.
I cringed inwardly but took the cup from Granik. “I do,” I said, then sipped.
When the taste of the bogshine met my lips, I was surprised. There was no alcohol taste at all. There was only…tea. Tea.
Granik looked briefly at Gree-Gree, who merely nodded to him, then gestured for Granik to pay attention. Had she switched the drink? Knowing I would not have had the constitution for it, had she swapped it out? What had happened?
Gree-Gree winked at me but said nothing more.
“Do you pledge to always care for one another in times of sickness and need?”
“I do,” Granik said, drinking again, then handing the cup to me.
“I do,” I swore, then drank again.
“Do you pledge to dedicate yourself to the other’s joy and happiness?”
“I do.”
“I do.”
“Do you pledge to support one another’s dreams and goals, however changing?”
“I do.”
“I do.”
“Do you pledge to be there for one another in times of sorrow or hardship?”
“I do.”
“I do.”
“Do you pledge to love one another unconditionally?”
Granik held my gaze, his eyes wet with unshed tears. “I do.”
“I do,” I replied, a lump in my throat.
“For the seventh promise, now that the bogshine has loosened your hearts and minds, tell us what you pledge. Granik?”
“I pledge to always protect you, especially from shrieking goats.”
The crowd chuckled, but his words moved me.
Master Mirefoot turned to me. “Juniper?”
