Wizards
by: Will B
(Copyright 2007 by the Author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

When I planned this chapter I wanted the story to be bathed in love. Then this morning the newspaper had a story about how Maryland was becoming a Mecca for gay couples who had adopted children. They moved to Maryland because the legal system for gay couples to adopt, and/or be recognized as parents. So, I would like to dedicate this story for those gay couples that share the love in their hearts with children who might otherwise never know the love of one or two mommies or daddies as the case might be. Will B.

Chapter 6
TWO HAPPY COUPLES START THEIR LIVES TOGETHER

Hank and Rod were sleeping peacefully in each other’s arms. They were in their room at The Haven, enjoying the week off the Minister of Enchantment had almost ordered them to take.

Suddenly through the window came a peal of bells.

“Tin, Tan, Din, Don, Pin, Pan, TON, BONG-G-G.

Tin, Tan, Din, Don, Pin, Pan, TON, BONG-G-G.

Tin, Din, Tan, Don, Din, Tin, Tan, Don. Ton, BONG-G-G.”

“Wake up, my love, wake up,” said Hank.

“Five more minutes?” said Rod.

“Get up now, Rod, or I’ll tickle you, you lazy bugger. It's Holly and Fred’s wedding day. We’ve got to get to the church.”

The parish church of St. Jane stood adjacent to the grounds of the Haven, the home of the Cox family, as well as home to a number of children who had been rescued by the George and Mary Cox, and Nick Touchstone and Tom Pringle who were in the Search and Rescue Division of the Ministry.

Holly and Fred had wanted a church wedding, and the minister, Rev. Leigh, had agreed to perform the ceremony. It was a small church, but it was very beautiful, in the English perpendicular style. It had a small organ, and a choir of four voices. There was one bell to

call the worshipers to service.

Now, readers, you are asking how a church with one bell could produce such a beautiful chime of eight bells. Illogical, you say. My dear friends, perhaps I should have mentioned that Nip and Tuck Cox, George and Mary’s sons, who were in the Research and Development Division of the Ministry had conferred with Rev. Leigh who had given his blessing to their “enhancing,” shall we say the bell tower. Nip and Tuck had done their job carefully, and even put a sign on the door to the tower, saying “On no account should anyone enter the tower when the bells are chiming. Serious injury may result.”

Hank and Rod dressed in their best suits, with a sprig of hollyhock in their jackets.

As they came out of the sun, into the narthex, or vestibule, they saw quite a crowd had gathered, and they heard the murmur of voices, and several times they heard the phrase “Your Grace.”

The center of attention was Holly, dressed in a blue floor length dress, and a coronet of rose buds in her hair. Her son Dan, in his cutaway coat was there. Mary Cox was there as matron of honor. Jane Cox was there as a bride’s maid. Hank and Rod were to be ushers. (The author regrets he is unable to adequately describe what the women were wearing).

They saw Rev. Leigh standing next to another clergyman who was wearing a miter.

Rev. Leigh beckoned Hank and Rod to come over to him. Turning to the other clergyman, he said,. “Your Grace, may I present two of my neighbors, Hank Peters and Rod Cox, who have been diligent in fighting the forces of evil.”

The clergymen shook their hands with a friendly smile, and Rev. Leigh continued, “ This, as I am sure you know is Sayer, Archbishop of Canterbury.”

“I have heard so much of the good work of the bride and groom at the Haven as they attempt to heal the bodies and hearts of so many children, I asked my good friend , Leigh, if I might come to the wedding and pronounce the benediction, and he graciously allowed My Grace to, er, grace the event with my—well, he said I would be most welcome.”

Then the minister turned to another couple and said, “Your Grace, and Your Grace, may I present Hank Peters and Rod Cox, two very important members of the Ministry of Enchantment, Hank and Rod I should like you to meet, Piers, Duke of Danvers, and Etta, Duchess of Danvers.

“I have heard about your bravery in rescuing Miss Cox from the Dark Wizard,” the Duke said. “I once had to rescue my wife, when she was on trial for murder.”

“It took him a long time to convince me to marry him,” the Duchess continued, “But our marriage has been wonderful. He didn’t mind if I continued my writing and last week I sent my twenty-fifth western off to the publisher.”

Holly came over to Hank and Rod, and said, her eyes glowing with happiness, “Do you know what the Duke and Duchess have done, Hank and Rod?” They have lent us their country house, Tallbricks, for our honeymoon, and they have sent Bunting, their man of affairs down ahead of us to open up the house.”

“Yes,” said the Duke, “And he is driving slowly enough so that the port will not be sloshed on the journey, and I also told him to check the basement to be sure that there were no bodies hidden there!”

“Piers is so thorough. He remembers what happened when we went to Tallbricks on our honeymoon,” Etta said with a smile.

Just then the two clergymen started down the aisle to the altar and the Duke and Duchess took their seats. Then Hank and Rod went down the aisle to stand with Fred and George Cox.

Mary and Jane then slowly walked down the aisle, and Dan and Holly stood at the door waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Suddenly there was a blast of fanfare as if from fifty trumpets.

“Rod, I thought you told me the orchestra only had a flute and a bugle,” Hank asked Rod.

“Relax, Hank, Nip and Tuck did a little music enhancement.”

Suddenly the pillars of the church seemed to shake as the organ thundered into the Processional and a choir that had 5 or 6 members, seemed to be made up of 90 voices (thanks again to Nip and Tuck) began to sing Sir Hubert Parry’s might anthem¸ I Was Glad!

“I was Glad

Glad when they said unto me

We will go, we will go,

Into the House of the Lord.

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.

Vivat! Vivat!  Vivat Holly et Frederick! Vivat, Vivat! Vi-i-i-v-a-a-t!”

With a final flourish on the trumpets, the organ began Bach’s Sheep May Safely Graze, and slowly Jane Cox and her mother Mary walked down the aisle, followed by Dan, with Holly on his arm.

Hank and Rod watched as the Holly and Dan, and Rev. Leigh began the traditional service.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…” (Hank and Rod remembered their own commitment ceremony).

“Who giveth this woman?” Dan placed Holly’s hand in Fred’s and backed away.

“Frederick Ludwig, do you take Holly….?”

“Holly Lavender, do you take Frederick….?”

Here Hank saw rose petals drifting down from the church’s ceiling. Looking up he saw the Rose window at the eastern end of the church dissolve and he saw his mother, Gladiola Smith Peters, looking down at her sister and her new husband and Gladiola had tears of joy in her eyes, but as her tears fell, they changed into rose petals.

Now the archbishop came forward and took Fred’s and Holly’s hands in his own, and said, “Inasmuch as Fred and Holly have consented to live together as man and wife, and have signified their intentions by taking these vows, and by the giving and exchanging of rings, now, it gives me great pleasure to pronounce them man and wife.”

Fred and Holly kissed each other tenderly, and as the congregation applauded, the organ began a voluntary, when suddenly the Archbishop raised his hand for silence, and looked down the aisle to the West Door.

Hank and Rod, and the rest of the congregation looked and saw a tall, fair-haired young man in his twenties walking down the aisle.

A whisper of sound ran through the congregation, and then it looked like wind blowing over a wheat field. Hank saw the men bowing and the women lowering themselves in curtseys, their backs ramrod straight, but smiles in their faces.

“Rod, is that..? No, it can’t be…,” asked Hank.

“I think it is,” said Rod. “What a surprise!” (You know very well he couldn’t use his favorite expression, ‘bloody wicked,’ in church).

The newcomer mounted the steps to the chancel and bowed to the Archbishop and the priest. Then he turned to the bridal party, smiled, and spoke to them, to the congregation, and perhaps to world.

“Your Grace, Rev. Leigh, Dr. and Mrs. Weis, Mr. and Mrs. Cox, Miss Cox, Mr. Cox, Mr. Peters, and Mr. Smith. I hope you will forgive my late entrance. I had meant to be here on time, but family matters delayed me. I won’t go into any details, but you may know that younger brothers can sometimes need a talking to.”

A ripple of laughter went through the assembled guests.

He continued “As you may know, my late Mother was one of the first of my family to reach out and embrace people generally considered to be outcasts, or pariahs, through no fault of their own.”

There was no laughter now. The listeners hardly drew breath.

“Since then,” the tall young man went on, “My family has been more actively concerned with the plight of many of those same outcasts, and we have followed with great interest, the work you have been doing at The Haven, Mr. and Mrs. Cox, so ably assisted by Dr. and Mrs. Weis.”

Hank and Rod stood proud to see Rod’s parents and Hank’s aunt so singled out by this family.

“My grandmother wanted to show her appreciation in some way. I believe she would have almost lent Mrs. Weis her best tiara to wear today, but that would have been exciting only for a day.”

“What is happening,” Hank asked himself.

My Grandmother, with the help of the College of Arms, has designed a new Order of Chivalry, the Wand, and Hand Order, known in the family as the WHO. It is to be given to those mortals and those wizards who have used their talents and powers to help those in distress. We also hope that as the work of the Haven continues that mortals and wizards will all come to realize that regardless of powers or inclinations, or orientation, we can and will learn to work together”

The speaker continued “This church of St. Jane henceforth will be the Chapel of the Order, and you, Rev. Leigh will be the chaplain of the Order.”

“George Cox, please kneel.” Here the young man took a sword, and tapped George on the shoulder, and said “Arise Sir George Cox. I am directed by my Grandmother, and I am personally pleased to name you the Grand Master of the Order.”

Turning to Holly and Mary and Fred, the young man said “I am also pleased to name you all as Knight and Dames Grand Cross of the Order, and Dr. Frederick Ludwig Weis, you will also be the Registrar of the Order. Dame Mary and Dame Holly you will be Co-Registrars of the Order.”

The Prince now turned to an aide who had appeared from a side door holding four boxes.

The young man invested three of the four with the ribbon and star of the Order. Then turning to George, he placed over his shoulders the Great Collar of the Order.

At that the congregation rose to its feet and clapped and shouted, and shouted and clapped.  The young man again shook hand with the clergy, with the male members of the bridal party and then going to Holly, he said “I wish you great and long lasting joy, Mrs. Weis.” He took her hand and kissed it, then returned it to her husband. He greeted Mary Cox in the same way. Going to Jane, he smiled at her, took her hand, and said, “I understand you will soon be making your own way down the aisle on your father’s arm. I wish you great happiness in your life ahead.”

With that, the tall young man walked down the nave and out the door to his waiting limousine. He was heard to say to the chauffeur, “To Windsor, James.”

After signing the register, Holly and Fred, Don and Jane, and George and Mary stood in the reception line greeting those who had come to see them married.

At last it was time to leave for Tallbricks. Holly and Fred came out of the church, and there was a beautiful open carriage, decked with flowers, and pulled by four gorgeous white horses.

“Fred, did you arrange this” Holly asked?

“No, dearest, I didn’t, but, it is beautiful, isn’t it?”

Hank and Rod came up and kissed Holly and shook Fred’s hand. “We did, Aunt Holly,” said Hank. “If you get in the carriage you will see something else.”

The bride and groom took their seats in the carriage as the wedding guests clapped and called out their good wishes.

Hank waved his wand, and the four horses became ….. four white horses, with golden wings.

Each Pegasus spread its wing and smoothly the carriage rose into the air.

Rod waved his wand, and spread a cloud of invisibility over the equipage, which vanished.

“We can’t have the good people of England calling Scotland Yard or the Ministry of Defense and reporting flying saucers, or UFOs,” Rod said with a grin.

“What a day!” Dan said to Jane.

“It’s been quite a day,” Rod said to Hank.

“It’s going to be a wonderful life, with you,” said Fred to Holly, as they sped through the air.

 No, readers, it is not our place to look in on the couple’s wedding night. Suffice it to say, that of the three inhabitants of Tallbricks, it is Bunting the valet/chauffeur/butler/ cook, who had the most sleep that night.

To be continued...

Feedback always welcome:     

Well, readers, have you caught all the literary allusions? Let me know if you have identified the writer whose characters and plots I have so shamelessly borrowed.

A confession by the author. E Walk and DD have done their usual fine job of reading my work and pointing out typos and questioning some of my vocabulary, and I appreciate it. E did ask if Nock and Tom’s commitment ceremony wasn’t supposed to happen before Holly and Fred’s wedding. Oh, no, I thought to myself, what have I done? There was only one way to make amends. Indiana Jones had his Temple of Doom, but I thought I would have to check into DD’s Temple of DOM for a couple of hours. Then I hoped they would be gentle with me (Heh, heh), and I wondered if they and my readers would respect me in the morning. I was even going to suggest that any interested readers send in suggestions for specific punishments.

I checked Chapter 4 of Wizards, and found that I had indeed scheduled the wedding the day before the commitment ceremony. I hadn’t made a mistake yet. And the confession, dear friends: I wouldn’t get to check into the Temple of Dom. Oh, well I am sure I will goof up sometime.

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Posted: 06/29/07