Part 80
“She said what?” Maria leapt from her seat, her face exploding with anger.
“She said,” Max released a heavy sigh, “that a royal wedding party is not allowed to have unmarried people standing with the bride and groom. She knew that we would want you and Michael with us, so she came to tell me before our plans were too advanced. It’s some ancient law or tradition or something.”
“And you’re okay with this?”
“As a matter of fact,” Max shook his head. “No. I’m not.”
“You’re the King,” Maria snapped. “So change the law!”
“I am well aware that as their King, I have the power to amend these archaic laws, Maria. God knows, I’ve ripped through enough of them in the past few months. But I have to be seen to favor my people and their laws. I’m quite prepared to ignore ones that might somehow prevent Liz and I being together, or even getting married at all, but I won’t rebel against inconsequential little ones like this one. I will fight the fights that are important, not all of them.”
“That sounds like a load of selfish twaddle, Max!” Maria yelled. “And you know it!”
“You sound like getting married is the last thing you would want to do,” Max smirked.
“So if you want me and Michael…”
She stopped when she saw the guilty glances between Max and Liz.
“What?” she demanded.
“Actually, see, Jesse and Isabel are already married, and…”
“You want them instead.” Maria sounded hurt.
“You’re only partly right, Maria,” Liz tried to place her arm around Maria’s shoulders, but her friend shrugged it off. “You see, we want all of you to stand with us. We want all three couples up there to share our big day.”
They were met by silence.
“Only to do that, we have to get married first,” Connie was the first to speak.
Her answer was more silence.
“Oh my soul’s mate,” Kyle bowed with a florid wave of his hands. His face broke into a crooked grin. “You are the most beautiful maiden in the galaxy. Cupids stop to watch as you go by, nature blooms so that they may see you. You are the reason the sun rises, and the same reason that the moon chases it away, both vying to smile upon your magnificent features. You are my north, my south, my east and my west. Will you make all of creation green with envy and agree to be mine for evermore? Will you consent to give me your fair hand in marriage?”
Trying hard to hide their giggles, everyone turned to Connie.
“Ask me properly,” she glared. “Or you’re not standing with Max.”
Kyle blinked.
“What do you mean, properly?” he complained. “If Max had proposed to Liz like that, she’d be a puddle of mush on the floor.”
“Don’t bet on it,” Liz whispered to Max, hiding her grin.
“You are no Max,” Connie shook her head.
“You know what?” Kyle growled. “Thanks for reminding me.”
“I mean it, Kyle. I want to hear you propose. I don’t want to hear how you think Max would propose.”
Kyle stared hard at her, while his friends shifted uncomfortably.
“I used to envy Max, Connie,” Kyle’s voice was a soft murmur. “For everything he had. Especially Liz. But now, I have something that Max doesn’t have. Something special.”
“What’s that?” Connie’s eyes grew large.
“You,” Kyle smiled, dropping to one knee. “Connie, would you make me the happiest human being in the entire universe and agree to become my bride? Will you marry me?”
Unable to speak, Connie pulled him up by his lapels and kissed him. It was a solid, sincere kiss.
“We’ll take that as a yes, then,” Maria grinned, winking at Connie. Connie could only nod, still kissing Kyle while tears leaked from the corners of her eyes.
“Very nicely done, Kyle,” Liz smiled, patting Kyle on the back.
“Well?” Maria turned to face Michael.
“Well, what?” Michael grunted.
“Michael!”
“What? Here? Now?”
“Of course here, now.” Maria rolled her eyes. “Why not?”
“I thought you weren’t into getting married yet?” Michael stated bluntly. “And anyway, you said you didn’t want to do this until after Max gives Liz her big ceremony.”
“Michael!” Maria stamped her foot. “I swear! For a big time, hot shot military commander, your timing sucks.”
“What? What?”
“I’m not missing out on standing with Liz in her fairy tale wedding for anybody, Michael Guerin!” She waved her pointed finger in his face. “If you don’t damn well propose, then I’ll find someone who will.”
Michael looked at Maria, who had turned away from him with her arms crossed. He looked at Max looking back at him with a quizzical look on his face. Liz was looking at him like thunder.
“Maria,” Michael dropped to his knees and crawled the short distance to her. “You know me. You know that I don’t go in for that flowery sh… ah, stuff.” He reached for her hand. “But ever since this started, you know; you and me. That day I stole your car and kidnapped you, you know, there’s never been anyone else I would rather have kidnapped. You were the one. And like Max always knew that Liz was the one for him, I always knew that you were meant for me. Even through everything, Pierce, Billy, and all the crap that’s flown around us since we started finding out who we are, my feelings have never changed. You’re still the one, Maria. There was a reason why God made you Liz’s best friend. That was so that I would find you, when Max found Liz. So, Maria? Will you make a crabby alien very happy, and agree to marry me?”
Maria’s reaction was similar to Connie’s, except that she had the sense to blurt out a quick ‘yes’ before she burst into tears. Max and Liz smiled at their two sets of friends, hugging their partners tightly. With tears in her eyes, Liz looked up at her own partner.
“Our kids have all grown up, Max,” she smiled.
“About time,” Max smirked, pulling her to him so that they would not be left out of the kissing fest.
It was true. In many ways, the two of them had been parents to their friends.
* * *
Kyle and Connie were the first of the two couples to get married. Opting for a simple and private ceremony, it was relatively easy and quick to arrange. Although he had tried to go through Liz, Kyle finally plucked up the courage to ask Max to be his best man. Kyle had decided that if it hadn’t been for Max, who he was, and what he had done to him all those years ago when Kyle was shot, then Kyle would never have left Roswell and would never have met Connie. It seemed fitting that Max stand with him, heralding in the new dawn of the rest of Kyle’s life.
“So,” Max grinned as they stood near the alter while they waited for the ladies. “I heard you had a hard time plucking up the courage to ask me to be your best man.”
“Liz tell you?”
“Of course,” Max chuckled. “Was it so hard?”
“No,” Kyle joined in the laughter. “Not really. Not after everything we’ve been through.” He looked sideways at Max. “I could never have handled it all, you know. Even if I had your superpowers, I couldn’t have gone through what you did and come out the other side basically the same guy. I mean, where are your scars?”
“Liz,” Max shrugged as if that explained it all. “She kissed them all away.”
“Well, you did good, Evans. Just wanted you to know that.”
“Thank you, Valenti. Now will you relax?”
“Easy for you to say,” Kyle snorted. “Was it like this for you that day back in Cherry Creek?”
Max thought for a moment.
“No,” he shook his head. “I don’t remember being nervous. But then, we were kind of in a rush. I don’t know. It was almost as if fate was by my side, you know?”
“Destiny.”
“Yeah,” Max nodded. “Look, Kyle. You and I never really talked, you know, about Liz breaking up with you, and then I…”
“Max?” Kyle interrupted. “It took me a while to see it, but don’t worry, okay? You and Liz? You’re this, I don’t know… Romeo and Juliet. Astair and Rogers. Burton and Taylor.”
“I hope not,” Max smirked while shaking his head. “Didn’t they get divorced?”
“Yeah,” Kyle giggled. “Four times, or something. But like that would ever happen to you two. The world will end before that happens.”
“I think you might be right, Kyle,” Max thought back to his talk with Liz about the whole world ending fiasco. “But you and Connie. You’ll make it, too. What you have with Connie has been through almost as much as Liz and I. She’s great, and it’s great to have her with us. Both of you.” Max faced Kyle and placed his hand on his shoulder. “Kyle, I couldn’t have picked better human friends.”
The opening bars of the wedding march attracted their attention, and both young men turned to look down the aisle, past all of their seated friends and family. As Connie stepped into view in her ivory wedding gown, with her proud father beaming at her side, Kyle sucked in his breath. Never had he seen a lovelier vision.
“This is it,” Max nudged him. “Your last chance to run away.”
“Not a chance,” Kyle managed to breath.
Knowing that he should at least try to acknowledge the bride, Max’s eyes were only on Liz. The short walk up the aisle seemed, in Kyle’s mind, to go on forever. Afterwards, he could remember the prompting of the priest and he could remember Max nudging him a few times, but he could remember little else between seeing her for the first time, and kissing her for the first time as his wife in front of all his family and friends.
* * *
Max sat at the back of the restaurant, watching Kyle and Connie Valenti take center stage. This was their wedding breakfast and Max was only too pleased to give Kyle his moment of fame. He had hidden from the photographers and the camera crews when they held their press conference for just that reason. Max had no doubt that if he had been present, then the circus would have focussed on him and would have shown Kyle and Connie no interest. Both Michael and Isabel agreed, and so, like all of the Antarians, they had withdrawn until Kyle wanted to show the world that he was Max’s friend, and called him out.
“So,” Michael grinned. He and Max were alone at the table, while Liz and Maria were talking with the other women. “You finally get to have your normal life.”
“Not sure if you could call the life I’m going to lead, normal,” Max grinned. “I mean, I’m this king now, you know? Leader of an entire planet. Not to mention whatever status they give me here on Earth.” He looked over at Liz, whose bright smile had not faded all day. “But it has its compensations.”
“Yeah,” Michael nodded, noting how Liz was looking straight back. “But come on. You get to have your house with a white picket fence.”
“My what?” Max blinked.
“I thought that’s what you wanted. You know, a neat little house somewhere in the suburbs, a white picket fence…”
“You thought wrong,” Max screwed up his face. “Where did you get that idea?”
“I thought you wanted normal?”
“And that’s ‘your’ idea of normal?” Max shook his head. “You’re weird, Michael.”
* * *
Long after Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Valenti had left for their honeymoon, the six remaining friends gathered in the Evan’s living room. Philip and Diane were with Liz’s parents, leaving the kids to themselves.
“That went really well, Isabel,” Liz congratulated her.
“You’re getting really good at planning these things out, aren’t you?” Maria agreed.
“It’s only my own I falter at,” Isabel laughed.
“Do you have Michael and Maria’s sorted out?” Max raised his eyebrows.
“I hope it’s small and quiet, like Valenti’s,” Michael growled.
“Yeah, Michael,” Isabel rolled her eyes. “Like you stand any chance of getting away with that.”
“Face it, Michael,” Max laughed. “You’re a big man on campus, now.”
“Just how big is our wedding going to be?” Maria’s eyes grew wide.
“Okay,” Isabel sat upright. “On a scale of one to ten, with Kyle and Connies at one, mine was a four and Max and Liz’s will be a ten, then I guess you guys will be a…”
“An eight,” Max finished. “At least.”
“What?” Michael did not seem happy.
“You’re important to me, Michael,” Max continued. “And so is Maria. Liz is going to need the support of her best friend when we go to Antar, and if Maria’s going to be taken seriously, then she has to be seen to be taking your position seriously.”
“You know I don’t want all that crap.”
“I don’t care what you want, Michael. Not about this. This is about Antar. They need something to help them accept Maria, and Liz, for who they are. What better way than this? Give Maria, and Antar this day, Michael.
* * *
The main church in Roswell, New Mexico, had received a fresh coat of white paint and had never looked more majestic since the day it had been finished, sixty three years ago. The window boxes were covered in flowers. Inside, the wooden pews were gleaming from the fresh coats of varnish that followed the repair jobs. All of those invited to the wedding of Lord Michael of Antar, and Maria DeLuca had already been escorted to their designated seats. Friends and family took up the front rows, while those people that Michael and Maria had considered important to them filled up the rest. In spite of his prominence, Michael had insisted that no political figures, with the exception of Max, attend his wedding. This was not about politics, Michael complained. He was just a soldier who did his duty.
So it was that King Max of Antar stood beside Lord Michael in front of the altar at the Saint Peters Chapel while they waited for the most important woman on the planet, at least, for that day.
“I thought you would be more nervous,” Max observed.
“I’m not like you, Maxwell,” Michael grinned. “Sure, I love Maria. And she loves me. But we don’t have this… stuff that you and Liz have. We love each other and that’s enough. What’s to get nervous about? It’s not like she’s going to change her mind.” Michael smirked. “At least, not if she wants to be Liz’s Matron of honor at your wedding.”
“One day,” Max grinned. “I’m going to witness a truly memorable moment.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m going to see Michael show some real emotion.”
“Not in this lifetime,” Michael shook his head. “Hey, compared to the fighting we’ve faced, this is going to be a breeze.”
“Glad to hear it,” Max shook his head. “Sometimes, it was hard to tell who you fought against the hardest. Nikolas, Kivar or Maria.”
“Funny, Maxwell. Funny.”
“Admit it, Michael. You’re nervous.”
“I’m not.”
“So why did you just check your watch again?”
“I was just… I did not.”
“Gotcha.”
“Look. You might like this, you know, being the center of attention, but I don’t. Okay? I just want to get this over and done with.”
The start of the music warned them that Maria was on her way. Michael stared dead ahead. Max smirked, and pulled Michael around to look at Maria. Holding Jim Valenti’s arm, wearing a straight cut white dress that almost seemed to shimmer, even Max had to acknowledge that she looked beautiful. His eyes met Liz’s and they smiled to one another. Wearing her lilac matron of honor’s dress, she was just as beautiful as Maria. At least to Max’s eyes. Behind Liz, he saw Isabel and Connie, both looking into the seats at their respective husbands. Something distracted Max. He turned to look at Michael, and his mouth dropped. Not only was Michael shaking, there were tears in his eyes. At last the procession reached the altar, and after handing the bouquet to Liz, Maria lifted her veil and seemed surprised at the open emotion on Michael’s face. Max had to physically turn Michael to face the priest. The ceremony progressed smoothly, and no one even noticed that Max had to murmur the words again to Michael when the priest recited them for him.
“Do you, Michael Guerin, take Maria DeLuca to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward?”
“Uh?” Michael seemed confused.
“I do,” Max’s steady voice seemed to ring in his mind. “Say, I do.”
“I do,” Michael squeaked in a high pitched voice.
The great stonewall, Michael Guerin, had finally met his match and crumbled to dust at her feet.
* * *
Blue Remembered Hills (M&L CC, Child) (Complete)
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Part 81
A Majestic Dawn of a New Era.
A private interview with the young King and Queen of Antar, their Royal Majesties, Max and Liz Evans.
You know at once when they have entered the room, even if you don’t see them. You feel them. The whole atmosphere changes. You could almost expect to see Aphrodite herself entering, but it is only a very loving young couple. The first thing you notice about them, apart from their age, or the wisdom in their eyes is that they are constantly touching. Usually, it is only in a small gesture, like their fingers will brush against one another, but it is not long before their hands are joined together. When there is no physical contact between them, the way they look at each other suggests that there is a touching of the souls happening on some metaphysical plane invisible to us mere mortals. This is a couple very much in love.
There is such an aura around Max that you easily find yourself forgetting that this is an informal interview, and you rise, automatically. Max and Liz raise their eyebrows in reproval, silently scolding me for my lapse. Max is still not comfortable with the pomp and circumstance that surrounds him these days. I doubt he ever will be comfortable with it, as I know that he prefers those he calls his friends to act normal around him. It’s not in his nature to be so grandiose and neither is it in Liz’s, though at times, they appear so regal, it’s hard to imagine that she once served fast food to tourists in her parent’s café, and he worked in a tacky UFO exhibition center. Now there was irony for you.
Finding myself standing, it is only natural that I complete the formality with a bow as I thank him for seeing me.
“You are more than welcome, Sarah,” he smiles at me. His smile is devastating. I wonder how female politicians around the world will cope with this. His smile can win over the hardest of hearts, yet no one stands a chance of capturing his. Liz holds on to that too firmly, with his blessing. He motions for me to sit down, and I can’t help feeling like he has given me a royal command, which of course, he hasn’t. Again, they are touching. Liz leans against him while his arm snakes around her. I swear that roses bloom in their shadow.
“I mean,” he continues to speak, “you have helped us out so much in the past. You’ve been a great friend to Liz and I. You deserve all the exclusives you can handle.”
I admit that I felt pride that he knew about how I helped him and his cause behind the scenes. It was hard to stop myself from blushing. Something I failed at. I confess to him that my career has really taken off since I bumped into his brother-in-law, Jesse Ramirez in Boston early last summer. Liz grins and asks me where the time went. I guess it had been pretty hectic for her. We know now of some of their adventures, but there is so much that they don’t tell us. I know that not all of it was fun.
I point out that they did, indeed, seem to have had a time of it. They had run away from FBI assassins, got married, helped countless people along the way and still managed to save the Earth from a full scale invasion and win an intergalactic war. And now, it seems, they are planning a formal, interplanetary Royal Wedding. They must be exhausted.
“Yeah,” they look into one another’s eyes again. Even when touching, it seems, they like to do this. “We could do with a rest, but there will be time enough for resting, later, while we’re on our honeymoon. We’ll relax, and recharge our batteries then.”
I ask if that’s what newlyweds call it these days, and they show that they are still human by blushing ten shades of red. After all, the rumor among their friends is that these two are worse than a couple of energizer bunnies.
“You won’t write that, will you?” Max asks. There is this beautiful, mortified look on his face. I really wish I had brought a photographer, but the camera would have never made it past the unique shield that surrounds the palace. I promise Max I won’t, but I know that Liz knows.
“Of course she won’t, Max,” Liz grins at me. She can see straight through people, an ability that will prove the undoing of many, many delegates who try to trick Max into an agreement he won’t really want. “Cause she knows what we can do to her in retaliation.”
My grin falls away at the thought of what she could do to me. I’ve heard the rumors too. Liz burst into laughter at my discomfort. I tell her that she is one devious young lady.
“Well,” she thinks for a moment. “It’s not something I enjoy, Sarah. Being devious. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from all this, I’m not going to sit back and take it anymore. Mess with us and we’ll mess with you.”
I wince at her harsh words, recognizing the steel that Max and the others know only too well is there. I believe her.
“Only nicely,” Max adds. “I doubt Liz is mean enough to carry out that kind of threat.”
I point out that Max believes that only because he never sees her tough side. At least, not from a third person’s point of view. Max grins at his wife and I find myself wondering again at the things these two must have seen.
I ask them about their honeymoon. It has been the subject of speculation since the wedding was announced. Whole battalions of spies have been put onto the task, and there isn’t a journalist alive who hasn’t tried to bribe one of Max’s guards. Except for me. I know only too well how such unwanted guests are treated. Let’s just say that the drug stores of Roswell have sold out of antihistamine creams.
“As honored as you are, Sarah,” Max shakes his head. “You’re not that honored. That’s on a need to know basis. So far, only Serena, Michael, Maria and our parents know. And Michael has strict instructions to deal with anyone who asks where we are going in any way he sees fit. I doubt he’ll tolerate our parents being harassed anymore than he’d tolerate us being bothered.”
Max has this way of making his threats seems so innocent. Like cotton wool wrapped around an iron bar. I back off, but not before I ask for a hint.
“Hot. Sandy. Quiet,” he grins.
I can’t help but realize that he has just described a large portion of the Earth.
“Who said it was on Earth?” Liz’s eyes dance with mischief. I was right, she is devious.
I inform them of the latest rumor that claims they will be staying on a deserted island in the South Pacific.
“Really?” Max smirks. Ladies. Even his smirk is sexy. I find myself wondering how Liz even functions, faced as she is with Max all day, every day. My legs turn to jelly every five minuets, but don’t tell my fiancé.
So, after the honeymoon, what’s next for the world’s most popular couple?
“Well,” Max pulls Liz closer to him. “During the summer, we’re all going to Antar for our official coronation. We’ll do what we can to help get things back to some semblance of normality. Then we’ll return in the fall when we’ll take up with what we all wanted to do before all of this was thrust upon us. Isabel wanted to be the perfect housewife and will support Jesse in his latest venture.”
I ask him about that.
“What’s to tell, Sarah?” Max grins. “You know as well as I do that your fiancé, Glen McCarthy is running for president, with Jesse Ramirez as his vice president.”
I wondered where Max stands on that. He is still technically an American citizen and would have the right to vote. And it’s no secret that he and President Forest don’t exactly see eye to eye. Max rather publicly humiliated the president the other day, by refusing an invitation to meet with him at the White House. Max was quoted as saying, ‘White man speak with forked tongue.’ Their differences are widely reported.
“I stand where I would stand no matter who was running. I think Glen is the best choice, and has the best possible V.P. running with him. I’d say that even if he wasn’t my brother-in-law. Of course, I have to say that or Isabel will kill me.”
I ask him in all seriousness, if he doesn’t consider Jesse to be a little too young and inexperienced to become the vice president of the U.S.A. He would, in effect, be second only to the president, in the ruling of the most powerful nation on the planet. Max’s reaction is to give a very sarcastic smile, and I immediately feel foolish for asking him that question.
“Jesse’s older than I am,” he shrugs with that grin of his. “And I rule what is for all I know, the most powerful planet in universe. So you’re probably asking the wrong guy that question. But he can’t do any worse than the current incumbent, right? Jesse has had the best training anyone could ever have. I’d like to see his opponents question Jesse’s military background. And it will be a brave investigative journalist who tries to dig into Izzie’s background.”
‘Izzy’ is Max’s pet name for his sister. Their closeness is remarkable, and always has been, by all accounts.
I ask them if it was true that Forest had declined to attend their wedding. Liz and Max, for once, seemed to differ in their opinion. Max nods, while Liz shakes her head. But I realize again that they are more closely linked than I realize.
“Yes and no,” Max grins.
“He’s not coming ‘cause we didn’t invite him,” Liz growls. “I still have visions of what Max went through the time the FBI caught him. If Forest had succeeded in catching him again…” She grows speechless with anger. No one will tell me just what Max had to endure when he was in the hands of the FBI Special Unit in one of their ‘White Room’ medical research facilities, but you don’t need a degree in film studies to make a guess. Liz needs to calm down and she walks over to the sideboard to drink some water.
“He’s not coming,” Max glosses everything over, but his eyes are on Liz. It is remarkable that she is more upset than he, and that he seeks to comfort her when it should really be the other way around. Neither likes to see the other in pain, even in their imagination.
I change the subject to their friends, and ask about Michael and Maria. Max grins at me and says that they’re coming, and it takes me a moment to realize that he is making fun of me. I ask him what they will do when they return from their trip to Antar. It’s Liz who takes over, having recovered from her rage.
“Well, Maria’s been offered all these singing contracts, and she’s determined to have a go. But she’s doing it on her own terms, you know? She will hold full production powers so she can sing what she wants, how she wants to sing. And Michael is just tagging along for the ride. He doesn’t want to get bogged down with a job or anything because he takes his role as Max’s second-in-command seriously.”
“We couldn’t ask for a more loyal friend than Michael,” Max nods as he watches Liz talk about their friends with passion. “I just hope he gets to live a little.”
“Maria will make sure of that, Max,” Liz grins. Michael and Maria are quite a pair. Unless you know them, it’s impossible to realize that they are in love at all. They constantly fight.
I tell them that we already know that Kyle and Connie will be in charge of their security forces while they are on Earth.
“That’s not really true,” Max shakes his head. “Connie is going to be our personal pilot. She just loves flying our ships, and we need someone we trust, so... And for the same reasons, Kyle is our personal mechanic. The two of them will be with us wherever we go, so yeah, they’re an important part of our security, but Michael’s in overall charge.”
They also have two rather impressive looking bodyguards in the form of Eldugar and Katya. Both Antarian, they are among the elite of Max’s guard. They accompany Max and Liz wherever they go, guarding them at all times.
“Not all times,” Max smirks. “For a start, they get some time off when we go back to Antar. They’ll get married themselves, and they have families to visit.”
So that just leaves our royal couple. What will they be doing upon their return from Antar in the fall?
“College,” they smile together.
“It’s part of a promise I made to Liz,” Max kisses the back of her hand.
I ask them if they have made up their minds yet. It is no secret that there isn’t a college in the world that has not offered the pair of them places in their establishments. The blandishments they have been offered can only be imagined. There is no doubt about how much prestige would be gained by the college that can claim they helped to educated the King and Queen of the Universe. It is also no secret that Harvard are the favorite, due mainly to Liz’s childhood dream of one day attending the Molecular Biology department there.
“Yeah,” Liz nods with a bright smile. “That’s right. Harvard was always up there, you know? But when I applied last time, they said no. And they didn’t even reply to Max at all. So we’re going to go to the college who originally accepted us both when we were a couple of nobodies.”
It was quite a surprise, and yet, knowing these two as I do, it wasn’t. They have chosen to attend Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, making it the most popular campus in the world. So, you heard it here first. Max and Liz will be attending Northwestern in the fall.
“Good for NWU,” Liz waves her arm in the air. She would make a great cheerleader, but unless Max makes the team, I doubt she would even bother.
So with their foreseeable future sorted out, I ask them if they have any plans for post college.
“I think that what Sarah is trying to ask, Max, is will we stay on Earth or move to Antar.” Did I mention that Liz is very astute?
“Ah,” Max nods. “Why use four words when a hundred will do, right?” He grins at me again. Perhaps I should suggest a new clause for the Geneva Convention.
“Max will take his duties seriously,” Liz spoke for him. “We will spend time on Antar, holding court when we can. But we also have responsibilities to this planet. So we will spend time here, too. There’s so much to be done, for both worlds.”
Which brings me neatly into this next part. I ask them about their palace.
“It’s lovely, isn’t it?” Liz almost bubbles with joy.
Lovely hardly does the place justice. The Antarian engineers have encouraged the walls of the palace to ‘grow’ from the desert floor. Constructed entirely of crystallized granite, there isn’t a single joint or seam to be found. I’ve been told that the process used means that the stone will not weather. The palace will stand in as pristine condition in a million years as it is today. It looks so…
“Natural,” Max nods. “Like it just grew from the land. The Native Americans were very impressed. They came to give us their blessings in a special ceremony last week.”
Max and Liz have quite an affinity with the indigenous population.
“I think they know that we don’t intend to exploit the land, but live in harmony with it. The way their ancestors did.”
There’s a huge archway, again made from the same crystallized granite that spans the entrance to Max’s property. The way it refracts the light makes it look like a rainbow. On an altar beneath the zenith of the arch, the name of every member of Max’s entourage who gave their life while fighting alongside him against his enemies has been carved. It’s the most incredible thing I have ever seen, notwithstanding the fact that considering the odds they have faced, there are relatively few names there. It’s no secret that Max does not like people dying for him.
“It’s called the Gate of Peace,” Max tells me. “Not to mark our victory, but to mark the fact that the war has ended. Each life lost was regrettable, and we want to make sure that the memory of them last forever. It’s a symbol, uniting the planet Earth, to the planet Antar. I hope that in time, it becomes as great a monument as any others that adorn all the lands around the world, both of them. I hope that people will see this as a kind of… shrine, I guess. A shrine against the futility of war.”
No floor plans of the palace are available, for security reason, but I ask Max to explain the layout of his palace to me.
“Over there, are our personal quarters. It’s shaped like a plus sign so that we each have our own wing. As and when we raise families, we can have our privacy, but our friends will always be close by. Naturally, we have a huge pool. I kind of promised Kyle and Michael.”
“Not that you fought too hard not to have one,” Liz nudges Max’s ribs.
At the mention of family, I ask if we can expect to hear the patter of tiny feet soon.
“Not from us,” Liz smiles. “Not till we’ve finished college.”
“The private quarters are protected from the main compound by that high wall,” Max continues. I also suspect that the wall is protected with another one of those shields of theirs. “That [the main compound] is where the barracks and these meeting rooms are. Where we’ll hold court, while we’re on Earth, anyway. I guess it’s the equivalent of the Oval Office or something.”
The gallery where Max will meet and greet his guests has a strange name.
“Not strange,” Max shakes his head. “Honored. We’ve called it ‘Bektor Halls’, after a very brave Antarian who gave his life to save Liz’s. We will never forget him.”
And Bektor is not the only person that these two have remembered.
“No,” Liz agrees. “We’ve rebuilt the theatre that Kivar destroyed, only bigger and better. Obviously, Roswell’s going to be changing since we know that people will be coming here to see us. So we wanted a place that could cater to the heads of states and so on. We wanted a place that could host ballet, opera, Broadway shows, and of course live bands. Something Roswell could be proud of.” Liz’s eyes fill with tears. “We’ve named it ‘The Alexander Whitman Memorial Theatre.’ After a very dear friend who died before all this happened to us.”
I could tell that I had reached the end of the interview by the emotions that they were starting to show. It’s strange to think that this young couple would have any feelings left, after being through what they have. But they do feel, and they do care. You need only see the loyalty that is given to them by those who have served under them. Loyalty and respect that they have earned through the cauldron of battle. It’s not just the warriors, either. Their partners, their children all seem to love them too. Not that I was around to know him, but in many ways, Max reminds me of J.F.K.
I know that they must have a million and one commitments to attend to, and although Max and Liz can do many things, they cannot control time. I thank them for sparing me some of theirs, as valuable as it is.
“As we said before, Sarah. We owe you so much. It’s the least we could do.”
Liz hugs me, and kisses my cheek. Not a Hollywood actress type kiss, but one that show she truly cares. Max takes my hand, and pulls me into a hug. He too kisses my cheek, and it feels like it’s on fire. As they leave the room, I watch them for a while. As soon as they think they are out of sight, they start to frolic with each other, by playing tag, like a couple of normal teenagers, which reminds me that that is exactly what they are. Well, maybe not normal. It’s like Max and Liz both have split personalities. It’s something that those seasoned veterans who have grown close to the young couple have commented on time and time again. One moment, they are these serious world leaders, the shapers of our future, with care and compassion oozing from every pore, whose words carry weight to those who listen, whose deeds have surpassed even the greatest of history’s generals. The next, they are a couple of fun-seeking teenagers, madly in love, looking for a private spot to make out. Make no mistake. Max and Liz will take the future of both planets by the scruff of the neck, and will make out just fine.
Sarah Brackam.
* * *
A Majestic Dawn of a New Era.
A private interview with the young King and Queen of Antar, their Royal Majesties, Max and Liz Evans.
You know at once when they have entered the room, even if you don’t see them. You feel them. The whole atmosphere changes. You could almost expect to see Aphrodite herself entering, but it is only a very loving young couple. The first thing you notice about them, apart from their age, or the wisdom in their eyes is that they are constantly touching. Usually, it is only in a small gesture, like their fingers will brush against one another, but it is not long before their hands are joined together. When there is no physical contact between them, the way they look at each other suggests that there is a touching of the souls happening on some metaphysical plane invisible to us mere mortals. This is a couple very much in love.
There is such an aura around Max that you easily find yourself forgetting that this is an informal interview, and you rise, automatically. Max and Liz raise their eyebrows in reproval, silently scolding me for my lapse. Max is still not comfortable with the pomp and circumstance that surrounds him these days. I doubt he ever will be comfortable with it, as I know that he prefers those he calls his friends to act normal around him. It’s not in his nature to be so grandiose and neither is it in Liz’s, though at times, they appear so regal, it’s hard to imagine that she once served fast food to tourists in her parent’s café, and he worked in a tacky UFO exhibition center. Now there was irony for you.
Finding myself standing, it is only natural that I complete the formality with a bow as I thank him for seeing me.
“You are more than welcome, Sarah,” he smiles at me. His smile is devastating. I wonder how female politicians around the world will cope with this. His smile can win over the hardest of hearts, yet no one stands a chance of capturing his. Liz holds on to that too firmly, with his blessing. He motions for me to sit down, and I can’t help feeling like he has given me a royal command, which of course, he hasn’t. Again, they are touching. Liz leans against him while his arm snakes around her. I swear that roses bloom in their shadow.
“I mean,” he continues to speak, “you have helped us out so much in the past. You’ve been a great friend to Liz and I. You deserve all the exclusives you can handle.”
I admit that I felt pride that he knew about how I helped him and his cause behind the scenes. It was hard to stop myself from blushing. Something I failed at. I confess to him that my career has really taken off since I bumped into his brother-in-law, Jesse Ramirez in Boston early last summer. Liz grins and asks me where the time went. I guess it had been pretty hectic for her. We know now of some of their adventures, but there is so much that they don’t tell us. I know that not all of it was fun.
I point out that they did, indeed, seem to have had a time of it. They had run away from FBI assassins, got married, helped countless people along the way and still managed to save the Earth from a full scale invasion and win an intergalactic war. And now, it seems, they are planning a formal, interplanetary Royal Wedding. They must be exhausted.
“Yeah,” they look into one another’s eyes again. Even when touching, it seems, they like to do this. “We could do with a rest, but there will be time enough for resting, later, while we’re on our honeymoon. We’ll relax, and recharge our batteries then.”
I ask if that’s what newlyweds call it these days, and they show that they are still human by blushing ten shades of red. After all, the rumor among their friends is that these two are worse than a couple of energizer bunnies.
“You won’t write that, will you?” Max asks. There is this beautiful, mortified look on his face. I really wish I had brought a photographer, but the camera would have never made it past the unique shield that surrounds the palace. I promise Max I won’t, but I know that Liz knows.
“Of course she won’t, Max,” Liz grins at me. She can see straight through people, an ability that will prove the undoing of many, many delegates who try to trick Max into an agreement he won’t really want. “Cause she knows what we can do to her in retaliation.”
My grin falls away at the thought of what she could do to me. I’ve heard the rumors too. Liz burst into laughter at my discomfort. I tell her that she is one devious young lady.
“Well,” she thinks for a moment. “It’s not something I enjoy, Sarah. Being devious. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from all this, I’m not going to sit back and take it anymore. Mess with us and we’ll mess with you.”
I wince at her harsh words, recognizing the steel that Max and the others know only too well is there. I believe her.
“Only nicely,” Max adds. “I doubt Liz is mean enough to carry out that kind of threat.”
I point out that Max believes that only because he never sees her tough side. At least, not from a third person’s point of view. Max grins at his wife and I find myself wondering again at the things these two must have seen.
I ask them about their honeymoon. It has been the subject of speculation since the wedding was announced. Whole battalions of spies have been put onto the task, and there isn’t a journalist alive who hasn’t tried to bribe one of Max’s guards. Except for me. I know only too well how such unwanted guests are treated. Let’s just say that the drug stores of Roswell have sold out of antihistamine creams.
“As honored as you are, Sarah,” Max shakes his head. “You’re not that honored. That’s on a need to know basis. So far, only Serena, Michael, Maria and our parents know. And Michael has strict instructions to deal with anyone who asks where we are going in any way he sees fit. I doubt he’ll tolerate our parents being harassed anymore than he’d tolerate us being bothered.”
Max has this way of making his threats seems so innocent. Like cotton wool wrapped around an iron bar. I back off, but not before I ask for a hint.
“Hot. Sandy. Quiet,” he grins.
I can’t help but realize that he has just described a large portion of the Earth.
“Who said it was on Earth?” Liz’s eyes dance with mischief. I was right, she is devious.
I inform them of the latest rumor that claims they will be staying on a deserted island in the South Pacific.
“Really?” Max smirks. Ladies. Even his smirk is sexy. I find myself wondering how Liz even functions, faced as she is with Max all day, every day. My legs turn to jelly every five minuets, but don’t tell my fiancé.
So, after the honeymoon, what’s next for the world’s most popular couple?
“Well,” Max pulls Liz closer to him. “During the summer, we’re all going to Antar for our official coronation. We’ll do what we can to help get things back to some semblance of normality. Then we’ll return in the fall when we’ll take up with what we all wanted to do before all of this was thrust upon us. Isabel wanted to be the perfect housewife and will support Jesse in his latest venture.”
I ask him about that.
“What’s to tell, Sarah?” Max grins. “You know as well as I do that your fiancé, Glen McCarthy is running for president, with Jesse Ramirez as his vice president.”
I wondered where Max stands on that. He is still technically an American citizen and would have the right to vote. And it’s no secret that he and President Forest don’t exactly see eye to eye. Max rather publicly humiliated the president the other day, by refusing an invitation to meet with him at the White House. Max was quoted as saying, ‘White man speak with forked tongue.’ Their differences are widely reported.
“I stand where I would stand no matter who was running. I think Glen is the best choice, and has the best possible V.P. running with him. I’d say that even if he wasn’t my brother-in-law. Of course, I have to say that or Isabel will kill me.”
I ask him in all seriousness, if he doesn’t consider Jesse to be a little too young and inexperienced to become the vice president of the U.S.A. He would, in effect, be second only to the president, in the ruling of the most powerful nation on the planet. Max’s reaction is to give a very sarcastic smile, and I immediately feel foolish for asking him that question.
“Jesse’s older than I am,” he shrugs with that grin of his. “And I rule what is for all I know, the most powerful planet in universe. So you’re probably asking the wrong guy that question. But he can’t do any worse than the current incumbent, right? Jesse has had the best training anyone could ever have. I’d like to see his opponents question Jesse’s military background. And it will be a brave investigative journalist who tries to dig into Izzie’s background.”
‘Izzy’ is Max’s pet name for his sister. Their closeness is remarkable, and always has been, by all accounts.
I ask them if it was true that Forest had declined to attend their wedding. Liz and Max, for once, seemed to differ in their opinion. Max nods, while Liz shakes her head. But I realize again that they are more closely linked than I realize.
“Yes and no,” Max grins.
“He’s not coming ‘cause we didn’t invite him,” Liz growls. “I still have visions of what Max went through the time the FBI caught him. If Forest had succeeded in catching him again…” She grows speechless with anger. No one will tell me just what Max had to endure when he was in the hands of the FBI Special Unit in one of their ‘White Room’ medical research facilities, but you don’t need a degree in film studies to make a guess. Liz needs to calm down and she walks over to the sideboard to drink some water.
“He’s not coming,” Max glosses everything over, but his eyes are on Liz. It is remarkable that she is more upset than he, and that he seeks to comfort her when it should really be the other way around. Neither likes to see the other in pain, even in their imagination.
I change the subject to their friends, and ask about Michael and Maria. Max grins at me and says that they’re coming, and it takes me a moment to realize that he is making fun of me. I ask him what they will do when they return from their trip to Antar. It’s Liz who takes over, having recovered from her rage.
“Well, Maria’s been offered all these singing contracts, and she’s determined to have a go. But she’s doing it on her own terms, you know? She will hold full production powers so she can sing what she wants, how she wants to sing. And Michael is just tagging along for the ride. He doesn’t want to get bogged down with a job or anything because he takes his role as Max’s second-in-command seriously.”
“We couldn’t ask for a more loyal friend than Michael,” Max nods as he watches Liz talk about their friends with passion. “I just hope he gets to live a little.”
“Maria will make sure of that, Max,” Liz grins. Michael and Maria are quite a pair. Unless you know them, it’s impossible to realize that they are in love at all. They constantly fight.
I tell them that we already know that Kyle and Connie will be in charge of their security forces while they are on Earth.
“That’s not really true,” Max shakes his head. “Connie is going to be our personal pilot. She just loves flying our ships, and we need someone we trust, so... And for the same reasons, Kyle is our personal mechanic. The two of them will be with us wherever we go, so yeah, they’re an important part of our security, but Michael’s in overall charge.”
They also have two rather impressive looking bodyguards in the form of Eldugar and Katya. Both Antarian, they are among the elite of Max’s guard. They accompany Max and Liz wherever they go, guarding them at all times.
“Not all times,” Max smirks. “For a start, they get some time off when we go back to Antar. They’ll get married themselves, and they have families to visit.”
So that just leaves our royal couple. What will they be doing upon their return from Antar in the fall?
“College,” they smile together.
“It’s part of a promise I made to Liz,” Max kisses the back of her hand.
I ask them if they have made up their minds yet. It is no secret that there isn’t a college in the world that has not offered the pair of them places in their establishments. The blandishments they have been offered can only be imagined. There is no doubt about how much prestige would be gained by the college that can claim they helped to educated the King and Queen of the Universe. It is also no secret that Harvard are the favorite, due mainly to Liz’s childhood dream of one day attending the Molecular Biology department there.
“Yeah,” Liz nods with a bright smile. “That’s right. Harvard was always up there, you know? But when I applied last time, they said no. And they didn’t even reply to Max at all. So we’re going to go to the college who originally accepted us both when we were a couple of nobodies.”
It was quite a surprise, and yet, knowing these two as I do, it wasn’t. They have chosen to attend Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, making it the most popular campus in the world. So, you heard it here first. Max and Liz will be attending Northwestern in the fall.
“Good for NWU,” Liz waves her arm in the air. She would make a great cheerleader, but unless Max makes the team, I doubt she would even bother.
So with their foreseeable future sorted out, I ask them if they have any plans for post college.
“I think that what Sarah is trying to ask, Max, is will we stay on Earth or move to Antar.” Did I mention that Liz is very astute?
“Ah,” Max nods. “Why use four words when a hundred will do, right?” He grins at me again. Perhaps I should suggest a new clause for the Geneva Convention.
“Max will take his duties seriously,” Liz spoke for him. “We will spend time on Antar, holding court when we can. But we also have responsibilities to this planet. So we will spend time here, too. There’s so much to be done, for both worlds.”
Which brings me neatly into this next part. I ask them about their palace.
“It’s lovely, isn’t it?” Liz almost bubbles with joy.
Lovely hardly does the place justice. The Antarian engineers have encouraged the walls of the palace to ‘grow’ from the desert floor. Constructed entirely of crystallized granite, there isn’t a single joint or seam to be found. I’ve been told that the process used means that the stone will not weather. The palace will stand in as pristine condition in a million years as it is today. It looks so…
“Natural,” Max nods. “Like it just grew from the land. The Native Americans were very impressed. They came to give us their blessings in a special ceremony last week.”
Max and Liz have quite an affinity with the indigenous population.
“I think they know that we don’t intend to exploit the land, but live in harmony with it. The way their ancestors did.”
There’s a huge archway, again made from the same crystallized granite that spans the entrance to Max’s property. The way it refracts the light makes it look like a rainbow. On an altar beneath the zenith of the arch, the name of every member of Max’s entourage who gave their life while fighting alongside him against his enemies has been carved. It’s the most incredible thing I have ever seen, notwithstanding the fact that considering the odds they have faced, there are relatively few names there. It’s no secret that Max does not like people dying for him.
“It’s called the Gate of Peace,” Max tells me. “Not to mark our victory, but to mark the fact that the war has ended. Each life lost was regrettable, and we want to make sure that the memory of them last forever. It’s a symbol, uniting the planet Earth, to the planet Antar. I hope that in time, it becomes as great a monument as any others that adorn all the lands around the world, both of them. I hope that people will see this as a kind of… shrine, I guess. A shrine against the futility of war.”
No floor plans of the palace are available, for security reason, but I ask Max to explain the layout of his palace to me.
“Over there, are our personal quarters. It’s shaped like a plus sign so that we each have our own wing. As and when we raise families, we can have our privacy, but our friends will always be close by. Naturally, we have a huge pool. I kind of promised Kyle and Michael.”
“Not that you fought too hard not to have one,” Liz nudges Max’s ribs.
At the mention of family, I ask if we can expect to hear the patter of tiny feet soon.
“Not from us,” Liz smiles. “Not till we’ve finished college.”
“The private quarters are protected from the main compound by that high wall,” Max continues. I also suspect that the wall is protected with another one of those shields of theirs. “That [the main compound] is where the barracks and these meeting rooms are. Where we’ll hold court, while we’re on Earth, anyway. I guess it’s the equivalent of the Oval Office or something.”
The gallery where Max will meet and greet his guests has a strange name.
“Not strange,” Max shakes his head. “Honored. We’ve called it ‘Bektor Halls’, after a very brave Antarian who gave his life to save Liz’s. We will never forget him.”
And Bektor is not the only person that these two have remembered.
“No,” Liz agrees. “We’ve rebuilt the theatre that Kivar destroyed, only bigger and better. Obviously, Roswell’s going to be changing since we know that people will be coming here to see us. So we wanted a place that could cater to the heads of states and so on. We wanted a place that could host ballet, opera, Broadway shows, and of course live bands. Something Roswell could be proud of.” Liz’s eyes fill with tears. “We’ve named it ‘The Alexander Whitman Memorial Theatre.’ After a very dear friend who died before all this happened to us.”
I could tell that I had reached the end of the interview by the emotions that they were starting to show. It’s strange to think that this young couple would have any feelings left, after being through what they have. But they do feel, and they do care. You need only see the loyalty that is given to them by those who have served under them. Loyalty and respect that they have earned through the cauldron of battle. It’s not just the warriors, either. Their partners, their children all seem to love them too. Not that I was around to know him, but in many ways, Max reminds me of J.F.K.
I know that they must have a million and one commitments to attend to, and although Max and Liz can do many things, they cannot control time. I thank them for sparing me some of theirs, as valuable as it is.
“As we said before, Sarah. We owe you so much. It’s the least we could do.”
Liz hugs me, and kisses my cheek. Not a Hollywood actress type kiss, but one that show she truly cares. Max takes my hand, and pulls me into a hug. He too kisses my cheek, and it feels like it’s on fire. As they leave the room, I watch them for a while. As soon as they think they are out of sight, they start to frolic with each other, by playing tag, like a couple of normal teenagers, which reminds me that that is exactly what they are. Well, maybe not normal. It’s like Max and Liz both have split personalities. It’s something that those seasoned veterans who have grown close to the young couple have commented on time and time again. One moment, they are these serious world leaders, the shapers of our future, with care and compassion oozing from every pore, whose words carry weight to those who listen, whose deeds have surpassed even the greatest of history’s generals. The next, they are a couple of fun-seeking teenagers, madly in love, looking for a private spot to make out. Make no mistake. Max and Liz will take the future of both planets by the scruff of the neck, and will make out just fine.
Sarah Brackam.
* * *
-
WR
- Addicted Roswellian
- Posts: 388
- Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2001 10:22 am
- Location: Somewhere over England
Epilogue
To all the people who have read my story, I would like to say, thank you. As I saw those numbers rise, it proved to me that I wasn't wasting my time.
To all the people who have EVER left me feedback, either here, in b-mail or in an e-mail, I give you extra thanks for helping me to smile through what has been a personal nightmare two years for me. This story, and the feedback has been the only thing that has kept me sane.
So, rather than dealing with you all individually, as is my wont, I just leave you with this heartfelt message of thanks, and of love, and a promise that I will be back after a short break, with a light, entertaining piece, and then with a new epic with an absolutely amazing beginning.
Part 82 - Or, Epilogue
Max didn't sleep very well the night before his big day. It wasn't because of the pressure that had been involved with the preparation of such a big and momentous day. Neither was it because he was nervous about marrying his soul mate, again, in front of a worldwide audience. And it wasn't because his friends had been giving him grief, determined to prove that he was as human as they were and was nervous before his big day. No, the cause of Max's insomnia was the fact that after months of Liz near constant accompaniment, he had to sleep alone. Liz's mother was adamant that the tradition of not seeing the bride before the ceremony would be honored, even though the ceremony was a wedding in name only. He had risen with the sun that morning, and had already performed his daily regimen on exercises when Serena arrived, along with Teren, his newly appointed valet, who was carrying Max's breakfast.
"Good morning, your majesty," she nodded formally.
"How many times, Serena?" he shook his head. "Just, Max will do. And I can get my own breakfast."
"Not today," Serena refused. "Today, you are our King. You are marrying your Queen. Today, you will be shown the formality that your station deserves, and I beg that you behave in the same manner. Please do not let Antar down."
"I won't, Serena," Max shook his head. "Believe it or not, I want this to be right, too. For Liz. But still…"
"Start the day as you mean to go on, sire," Serena bowed. "Teren knows what he has to do, so please follow his lead. It's just for one day, sire. Today, you must play at being the King."
"All right, Serena. If it's going to make you happy. But it's going to be King Max, okay?. If anyone, even the priest calls me Zan, I'm ignoring him."
"I can live with that, though I don't doubt that there are many who will be disappointed. Your mother being one of them."
Max winced.
"I'm grateful to them for our second chance, Serena," Max sat down when Teren indicated his breakfast was ready. "But I was raised as Max Evans. My parents… my… adoptive parents… it's because of them that I am who I am. They taught me ever manner that I have the fortune to posses. So, Max is who I am now. Zan was someone else. Liz is marrying Max, not Zan. No matter what you or anyone else says. I'll abdicate rather than be someone I'm not."
Serena nodded.
"Enjoy your day, sire. It is a very important one. You are very important now."
"Believe it or not, Serena," Max grinned. "Today, Liz is far more important than me. Even among the Antarians and especially among the Earthlings."
Serena smiled, and left the room.
"Are you married, Teren?" Max looked at his valet.
It seemed strange that a warrior such as Teren would willingly act as a servant.
"No, sire," the young Antarian who had often called Max by his name blushed.
"You wouldn't want to marry Serena and get her off my back, would you?"
"No, sire," Teren grinned.
"Wise man," Max laughed.
There was a knock at the door. Teren went to answer it, while Max started eating.
"Lord Michael to see you, sire," Teren announced with a formal declaration.
"Lord Michael?" Max raised his eyebrows. "Teren, you've been with us on since we returned from the Nyelda. Since when do you refer to him as 'Lord'?"
"Since today is your wedding day," he replied. "We've waited a long time for the return of our King, sire. It's hard enough to find that you don't really want to be one. Please don't take this joyous event from us, too."
"Very well," Max nodded. "Show Lord Michael in, Terren."
Max sighed. It promised to be a long day.
* * *
"Good morning, Liz," Nancy breezed into Liz's bedroom, above the café, and drew back the curtains.
"What's good about it?" Liz grumbled, pulling her blankets over her head.
"My, my. Aren't we grumpy this morning? Anyone would think you didn't want to marry Max."
"Anyone should think I should have been sleeping with him last night," Liz called from under the covers. "Who invented that stupid tradition anyway?"
"Sit up, Liz," Nancy sat on the edge of the bed. "Absence does make the heart grow fonder, you know. I have some tea for you."
"Is Maria here?" Liz's voice was filled with suspicion.
"Not yet," Nancy shook her head as Liz started to prop herself up in her childhood bed. "Why? Should she be?"
"No," Liz smirked. "It means that the tea will be normal, and not some herbal muck guaranteed to kick-start my day, or something."
"She's not that bad, is she?"
"You have no idea."
"So, what would you like for breakfast? I could do a fry up, if you like."
"Just some toast," Liz smiled. "And some marmalade, if you have it."
"I know my little girl," Nancy smile and lifted a tray in front of Liz. Toast, marmalade and a cup of tea."
"Are you okay with all this, mom?"
"All what? Serving you breakfast in bed?"
"No," Liz shook her head biting into a piece of toast. "All the attention you and dad are getting. I mean, you can't go anywhere without some journalist bugging you."
Nancy looked at her little girl. Girl, she smirked. She was a woman, now, famous across two galaxies.
"We've always wanted the best for you, Liz. And never in our wildest dreams did we ever imagine that you would get that. The absolute best. You have a man who loves you totally and completely; you have a future that is brighter than anything we could ever have imagined. I mean, how rich is Max anyway? You'll never want for anything, Liz. And we know that you are the sort of gi… young woman who won't be affected by all that. You will still be Liz Parker."
"The smallest of small town girls," Liz smiled.
"No, Liz," Nancy smiled. "You were never just a small town girl. From what I've heard, Max has been in love with you since before you were born. In his eyes, you've always been a Queen. So, you see, destiny has known all about you since the beginning. You have always been the farthest away from a small town girl as you could get. So your dad and I will put up with everything that comes our way, because it reminds us that you reached for your dreams and made them come true. And if that means we have to live in your shadow and be known as the parents of Queen Liz, we'll hold on to that for all its worth. Because we love you, and at the end of the day, nothing is more important to us than your happiness."
Liz looked at her mother with tears glistening in her eyes.
"Thanks, mom," she whispered.
"Now finish your breakfast, and let's get started. It's a big day for you, but it's a big day for all of us. Let's make it all that it can be. Deal?"
"Deal."
* * *
The atmosphere beneath the gorgeous blue desert sky was one of expectancy. Even the New Mexico weather had turned out to see Max and Liz marry two planets together. The day was so perfect - neither too hot, not too cold - that it was as though Mother Nature herself was in attendance. The ushers, recruited from the ranks of Max's army, had performed their task and made sure that the guests were all seated. Those few family members were at the front, on their respective sides, while the rest of the seats were filled with friends, acquaintances, and all of those who had helped, or had been helped by, Max and Liz. The rear seats were those reserves for the representatives of the United Nations. The aisle ends of the seats had ribbons tied across them, symbolically sealing the congregation in. Silken walls formed separate alcoves, behind which, everyone knew that the bride, the groom, and all of those involved were waiting for their signal. A signal that was waited with baited breath by an audience of billions, around the world. The happy couple had given permission for a select number of television crews, and journalists to record the event.
At last, the waiting was at an end. To the sounds of Pachebel's Canon, two ceremonial guards, one Human and the other Antarian, stepped through the silk flaps that symbolized the door. They each carried a spear, decorated with Native American regalia, a gift from their central governing body. They banged the shafts onto the wooden walkway. Kyle and Connie Valenti appeared through the silk flap at the top end of the aisle. They walked along the red carpeted aisle toward the alter, Connie gliding while Kyle Marched, both in time to the music. When they reached the altar, they each picked up a white tapered candle, lit them, and stood them up. They both bowed to the altar, turned to face one another, bowed again, and took seven paces backwards, Kyle standing to one side of the altar with Connie standing to the other.
As soon as they had completed their ritual, the ceremonial soldiers again banged the shaft twice. Jesse and Isabel Ramirez stepped through. Like the other two before them, they moved along the aisle, though Jesse seemed less stiff than Kyle had. Again, they both took tapered candles, lit them from the candles Kyle and Connie had lit, and stood theirs with the other two. They bowed to the altar, faced one another, bowed, and took six steps backwards to stand at an angle from Kyle and from Connie.
As before, the ceremonial guards hammered their spears against the floor but this time, three times. Jim and Amy Valenti, accompanying Mrs. Ramirez stepped through the doorway. They walked up the aisle with Jim in the middle. They selected tapered candles, and lit theirs from those lit by Jesse and Isabel. These were placed with the others. They bowed to the altar, with Mrs. Ramirez adding the sign of the cross to the ceremony. Instead of joining the others, Jim escorted Mrs. Ramirez to the front seats, on the groom's side, and then crossed over to sit on the bride's side. It had been a tough decision for Jim, close as he felt to Max, but Amy had been a lifelong friend of the Parkers', and so he bowed to her desire to sit with Liz's parents.
The banging spears four times upon the wooden walkway announced the arrival of Philip and Diane Evans. There was a light ripple of applause for the parents of King Max. Philip beamed proudly while Diane could only blush. They walked with their heads held high along the aisle and stepped up to the aisle with an air of confidence. They lit their tapered candles from Jim and Amy's, standing them amongst the growing bouquet of burning candles. After they bowed to the altar, they took their places next to Mrs. Ramirez in front row of the seats.
Dressed in a ceremonial uniform, Major Armstead escorted Nancy Parker as she made her way along the aisle. She too received a light applause. Like the Evans', she had played her part in raising one of the amazing people that the world had fallen in love with. They lit their candles from the Evan's and both bowed to the altar. Major Armstead escorted Nancy to her seat in the front row, bowed to her, and marched to his own seat in the row behind the Evans.
To the tune of a lone trumpet playing Trumpet Voluntary, the Reverend Timothy Price and Eldugar, both dressed in religious robes, stepped through a silken doorway to the right of the altar. Reverend Timothy Price was the priest who had married Max and Liz the first time, in Cherry Creek. It had been decided that he would be invited to perform this ceremony, rather than accept the many offers from the higher-ranking clergymen representing almost every denomination around the world. Eldugar had been possessed by the Antarian holy man, Jebulan, who had spoken to Max on board the Nyelda. Michael, and then Max stepped out behind them, to a rather tumultuous applause. Max grinned but he ducked his head. He scratched the back of his ear. Michael shook his head. Max stopped at the base of the steps that led to the altar. Michael bowed to him, stepped up to the altar and lit a tapered candle from Mrs. Ramirez's. He bowed to the altar, bowed to the holy men who now stood to either side of the altar, and went back to Max's side. Max knelt down as the two Holy Men approached him. Reverend Timothy Brown performed a benediction that encompassed as many denominations as he could think of. When he had finished, Jebulan placed his hand behind Max's head. The audience gasped as Max's seal shone against a silken sail suspended from the arch.
"Let all present witness that this is his Royal Majesty, Max Evans, King of Antar by the Grace of the Granolith. Would any here present gainsay this fact?"
He was met with silence.
Jebulan nodded, and he and Reverend Price walked back to the altar. An air of expectancy grew in the sudden hush.
From an unseen orchestra, the Bridal Chorus by Wagner started. As one, the audience rose and turned to face the door at the back of them. The Guardsmen snapped to attention, their spears rigid by their side. Jeff Parker stepped through the silken doorway, with the woman of the moment, Elizabeth 'Parker' at his side. As one, the audience sucked in its breath and gasped at the vision before them. Weeks of speculation had tried to predict the style of dress that Liz would wear, but no one, outside the select little group, had even come close. Liz had chosen to wear the same dress she had worn in Cherry Creek, the one her mother had taken for safe keeping when they had been caught up in the armed siege. She was covered in a veil of the purest silk, laced in infinitesimally thin fibers of silver. She seemed to shimmer as she moved without effort up the aisle, her hand lying delicately over her father's arm. Even through her stunning veil, Max could see that Liz's eyes were glistening with moistness. He could not help tears of his own forming. This was it. The culmination of all the promises he had made to Liz when this had begun so dramatically on her balcony the night he had proposed to her. Maria stepped behind her, but Max scarcely noticed. It was as if they were alone. Everyone had vanished, and it was just the two of them. As though this had been what nature had intended from the very start. His eyes never left Liz as the small party approached them. Liz stopped across from Max, a distance of a few feet, but to Max, the Grand Canyon. Jeff Parker and Maria stepped up to the altar and lit their own candles, from Nancy's and Michael's. They bowed to the altar, and walked back to the others, taking their places by Liz's side. Everyone bowed to Max, who remained upright. He cast a quizzical look at Liz, who had also bowed. She smiled back with a sparkle in her eye. Jeff lifted the veil from his daughter's face, and smiled as he looked into her eyes. He cupped her chin in his hands, leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek. More tears formed in Liz's eyes. Jeff then stepped back beside Maria.
Max spoke up, his voice booming across the congregation.
"I know not if the voice of man can reach to the sky. I know not if the gods will hear as I pray. I know not if the gifts I asked for will be granted. I know not what will come to pass in our future days. I hope that only good will come, my love, to you."
"Please be seated," Reverend Price invited the audience. He waited for everyone to take their seat. "Welcome, everyone," he smiled. "Normally, I like to welcome those who have traveled great distances to be here, making it a kind of amazing thing that the young couple have such wonderful friends, but… I don't think it will have the same meaning if I ask if anyone traveled far today."
There was an amused titter across the congregation.
"In the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit," Reverend Price continued, "we have come together at the unraveling of a greater destiny to witness the marriage of Max and Liz, to pray for God's blessing on them, to share their joy, and to celebrate their love." To help explain the Granolith to the humans, Serena had claimed that it was their version of the Holy Trinity. Reverend Price paused and looked down at Max and Liz, not surprised to see that they were looking into one another's eyes.
"Marriage is a gift of God in creation through which husband and wife may know the grace of God," he continued. "It is given that as man and woman grow together in love and trust, they shall be united with one another in heart, body and mind, as Christ is united with his bride, the church. This, we have recently discovered, is a tradition shared with another planet, giving greater glory to the thought of a higher power at work. The gift of marriage brings husband and wife together in the joy and tenderness of sexual union and joyful commitment to the end of their lives. It is given as the foundation of family life into which children may be born and nurtured and in which each member of the family, in good times and in bad, may find strength, companionship and comfort, and grow to maturity in love. Marriage is a way of life made holy by God, and was blessed by the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ when those celebrating a wedding at Cana in Galilee became witnesses of his first miracle. It is a sign of unity and loyalty, which should be upheld and honored by all. It enriches society and strengthens community. Brightens the Universe. No one should enter into it lightly or selfishly but only after weighing the consequences in the sight of Almighty God. Max and Liz are now to enter this way of life. They will each give their consent to the other in solemn promises, and in token of this they will give and receive not only visible symbols of this, the rings, but a more spiritual symbol. The seal of Antar that binds them together in ways few can understand. We pray with them that the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen them, that they may fulfil God's purposes for the whole of their earthly life together."
Again, the holy man paused.
"Would the parents of the bride and groom please rise?"
Philip and Diane Evans and Jeff and Nancy Parker rose from their seated positions.
"Do you give your blessing upon Max and Liz? Do you honor the covenant into which they enter today, giving them your loving support, respect and encouragement?"
"We do," they all answered.
Jebulan stepped forward, and looked at the Parkers.
"As Max's Queen, Liz has access to certain powers," he told them. "These powers are there for a reason, that reason being, she is part of Antar now. Do you give your blessing upon your daughter, in the knowledge that she becomes a daughter of Antar, a tool of the Granolith? That she will belong to Antar and not just her family? Mr. and Mrs. Parker, do you give your daughter to Max of your own free will?"
"We do," they both looked at Max and smiled.
They sat down again when the reverend indicated that they could.
"Max," Reverend Price took ever. "Do you accept Liz to be the one true love of your life, to live together in the covenant of marriage, to be faithful to her and to place her needs above yours, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Max's voice boomed loudly and full of confidence. Only Liz knew that he was a quivering wreck inside.
"Liz," Eldugar asked. "Do you accept Max to be the one true love of your life, to live together in the covenant of marriage, to be faithful to him and to place his needs above yours, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Liz's voice was melodious, and clear, but filled with emotion.
Reverend Price and Eldugar stepped backward, and indicated to the others on the altar. With Maria holding Liz's silken train, they walked up the few steps and took their place in front of the altar. Liz handed Maria her bouquet of hand tied white roses and both Max and Liz each selected a candle. They lit them from the candles already burning, offering the wick to each flame, symbolically tying them to their family and friends.
"When thou vowest a vow unto God," Reverend Price intoned, "defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest." He turned to Max and Liz in front of the altar. "Max, Liz, I would ask you to face each other and take one another's hands."
He received a burst of light laughter, because neither Max, nor Liz had let go of the others hand, nor had they stopped looking at one another. Max waited for the chuckling to stop.
"I, Max take you, Liz, to whom I have pledged my life, my love and my soul, to be my wife. And I promise before the Granolith, God, our family, and our friends here present, that I will share my life with you, in all love and honor, in all faith and tenderness, through happiness and sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."
Liz repeated this.
"I Liz take you, Max, to whom I have pledged my life, my love and my soul, to be my husband. And I promise before the Granolith, God, our family, and our friends here present, that I will share my life with you, in all love and honor, in all faith and tenderness, through happiness and sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."
Maria handed Liz's bouquet to Isabel, and both she and Michael stepped forward, Maria standing beside Max while Michael stood beside Liz. Michael spoke first.
"Liz, please hold Max's hands in yours, so you may see the gift they are to you. These are the hands, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you and commit to you all the days of his life. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will wipe tears from your eyes - both tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will massage tension from your shoulders, that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief rack your mind. These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes - eyes filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you. These are the hands given to you with love."
Maria: spoke after Michael had finished.
"Max, please hold Liz's hands in yours, so you may see the gift they are to you. These are the hands, young and smooth and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will wipe tears from your eyes - to comfort and console. These are the hands that will massage tension from your back, that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times and hopeful moments. These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into her eyes - eyes filled completely with her overwhelming love and desire for you. These are the hands given to you with love."
Jebulan stepped behind the young couple and lifted their joined hands.
"These are the hands that will heal a world. These are the hands that will show love and care to all in need, on Max's world, and on Liz's. These are the hands of a King and his Queen."
As soon as he finished, Jesse stepped up. He held a satin cushion upon which sat Max and Liz's wedding rings, surrendered the day before only with great reluctance. Max picked up the ring he had already given to Liz. He placed it on her finger.
"I give this ring as a symbol of my vow and in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love. With all that I am and all that I will become, I honor you, in the name of the Granolith, the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. With this ring, I thee wed."
Liz took her ring for Max, and placed it on his finger.
"I give this ring as a symbol of my vow and in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love. With all that I have become and all that I am, I honor you, in the name of the Granolith, the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. With this ring, I thee wed."
"We will now give up a brief prayer for the young couple," Reverend Price indicated that the congregation kneel.
Only Maria did not kneel to offer up their silent prayers. From behind the altar, she picked up a guitar. Only those close to Max and Liz knew the significance of the well-loved instrument. She started to play, caressing the strings, pouring out her love for Alex, for Liz and for Max.
"You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we walk in fields of gold
So she took her love
For to gaze awhile
Upon the fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold
Will you stay with me, will you be my love
Among the fields of barley
We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we lie in fields of gold
See the west wind move like a lover so
Upon the fields of barley
Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth
Among the fields of gold
I never made promises lightly
And there have been some that I've broken
But I swear in the days still left
We'll walk in fields of gold
We'll walk in fields of gold
Many years have passed since those summer days
Among the fields of barley
See the children run as the sun goes down
Among the fields of gold
You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold"
The congregation prayed, while they listened to Maria's heart-rending rendition of the well-known song. Max had wrapped his arm around Liz's waist and their heads were tilted together while they knelt, touching. It was such a tender moment, that this turned out to be the most photographed part of the ceremony. For weeks, news reports would show this clip when talking about the marriage, both on television, and in the press.
"I can hardly believe it Max," Liz smiled at him. Her voice was low. "We made it. We really made it."
"You don't know how happy I am that we're at this place, finally, Liz," Max smiled back, running his thumb over her cheek.
"Yes I do," she nodded. "'Cause I'm just as happy. I love you."
"I love you."
"In the name of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit," Reverend Price ended the prayers, "Amen,"
"Amen," everyone echoed.
Then, Max and Liz rose, crossed to the altar and together and lit their unity candle, just as Maria's song was ending.
"I never stopped believing, Liz," Max wiped a tear from his eye. "Never. We'll always walk in fields of gold."
"Normally," Reverend Price smiled when the couple had retaken their places, "this is the time when it is fitting for me to say, 'What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.' But even I am not so blind as to see that there isn't a force in this universe that would stand a chance of putting this union asunder. God saw fit to place these to people together for a reason. I doubt he would suffer any attempt to put part them, any more than Max or Liz would. So perhaps I should instead say, 'let he who would put what God has joined asunder, seek mercy from their wrath.'"
He paused for the laughter to die down.
"Max, Liz. Although you are not on the threshold of new life together, being technically already married, your renewed vows are nevertheless very exciting. I challenge you Michael and Maria, Jesse and Isabel, Kyle and Connie, and all of Max and Liz's family and guests to remember you are here because Max and Liz asked you to be there, and that you must now approach them not individually, but corporately. Though, I understand you have been in the habit of doing that in any case."
Jebulan stepped up to Max, and again placed his hand on his head. This time, he placed his other hand on Liz's head. The two symbols of the Royal seals of Antar merged together on the silk sail overhead, showing complete unity and harmony.
"The Granolith has given its blessing," he called out.
Every Antarian in the congregation placed their right hand over their heart. Light-years away, a whole planet erupted in jubilant celebration.
"I know now that the voice of man can reach to the sky," Max spoke loudly. "I know now that the gods have heard as I prayed. I know now that the gifts I asked for have all been granted. I know now that the word of old we truly have heard. I know now that our future days will have no number." He turned to face Liz. "I know that only good will come, my love, to us."
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," Reverend Price grinned. "Max, you may kiss your bride." He started to applaud. The congregation followed suit.
Neither needed a second invitation, although they were in enough control to keep their kiss tender and not at all like the passionate lip-locking so many had been used to. But to Max and Liz, it meant so much more than any kiss they had ever shared. This kiss was the culmination of everything they had ever endured to be together. They had taken every test to prove their love, and had passed. They had earned the right to be together and there was no force in the Universe blocking them. It was obvious to Michael and Maria, being closest to them, that they were sharing some visions together, visions that made them smile shyly at one another. At last, they separated.
"And now, I present MR. AND MRS. EVANS! The King and Queen of Antar!"
While the orchestra played The Anastasia Finale, Max and Liz, hand in hand, went back up the aisle, followed by Michael and Maria, Philip and Diane, Jeff and Nancy, Isabel and Jesse, Kyle and Connie, Amy, Jim and Mrs. Ramirez and finally, Reverend Timothy Price and Eldugar. As they passed the aisles, volunteers from the royal guard released the guests, row by row, by untying the tulle, which had been strung down the seats. Max and Liz, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, the King and Queen of Antar, stepped through the silk doorway, they were faced with a corridor of their Royal Guard, dressed in their gleaming ceremonial regalia. They emerged through this to a barrage of flash guns that put the sunshine into shadow and a huge cheer from the gathered tourists and citizens of Roswell, New Mexico, ready to face the world, together. Someone in the huge crowd started to sing. It was a song that was picked up by those surrounding the original singer, spreading like wildfire, until soon, the whole crowd had joined in and was singing with one voice. At last, the refrain reached Max and Liz, now joined by Isabel, Jesse, Michael, Maria, Kyle and Connie.
"Oh I am what I am,
I'll do what I want but I can't hide
I won't go,
I won't sleep.
I can't breathe,
Until you're resting here with me.
I won't leave.
I can't hide.
I cannot be,
Until you're resting here with me."
The End
To all the people who have EVER left me feedback, either here, in b-mail or in an e-mail, I give you extra thanks for helping me to smile through what has been a personal nightmare two years for me. This story, and the feedback has been the only thing that has kept me sane.
So, rather than dealing with you all individually, as is my wont, I just leave you with this heartfelt message of thanks, and of love, and a promise that I will be back after a short break, with a light, entertaining piece, and then with a new epic with an absolutely amazing beginning.
Part 82 - Or, Epilogue
Max didn't sleep very well the night before his big day. It wasn't because of the pressure that had been involved with the preparation of such a big and momentous day. Neither was it because he was nervous about marrying his soul mate, again, in front of a worldwide audience. And it wasn't because his friends had been giving him grief, determined to prove that he was as human as they were and was nervous before his big day. No, the cause of Max's insomnia was the fact that after months of Liz near constant accompaniment, he had to sleep alone. Liz's mother was adamant that the tradition of not seeing the bride before the ceremony would be honored, even though the ceremony was a wedding in name only. He had risen with the sun that morning, and had already performed his daily regimen on exercises when Serena arrived, along with Teren, his newly appointed valet, who was carrying Max's breakfast.
"Good morning, your majesty," she nodded formally.
"How many times, Serena?" he shook his head. "Just, Max will do. And I can get my own breakfast."
"Not today," Serena refused. "Today, you are our King. You are marrying your Queen. Today, you will be shown the formality that your station deserves, and I beg that you behave in the same manner. Please do not let Antar down."
"I won't, Serena," Max shook his head. "Believe it or not, I want this to be right, too. For Liz. But still…"
"Start the day as you mean to go on, sire," Serena bowed. "Teren knows what he has to do, so please follow his lead. It's just for one day, sire. Today, you must play at being the King."
"All right, Serena. If it's going to make you happy. But it's going to be King Max, okay?. If anyone, even the priest calls me Zan, I'm ignoring him."
"I can live with that, though I don't doubt that there are many who will be disappointed. Your mother being one of them."
Max winced.
"I'm grateful to them for our second chance, Serena," Max sat down when Teren indicated his breakfast was ready. "But I was raised as Max Evans. My parents… my… adoptive parents… it's because of them that I am who I am. They taught me ever manner that I have the fortune to posses. So, Max is who I am now. Zan was someone else. Liz is marrying Max, not Zan. No matter what you or anyone else says. I'll abdicate rather than be someone I'm not."
Serena nodded.
"Enjoy your day, sire. It is a very important one. You are very important now."
"Believe it or not, Serena," Max grinned. "Today, Liz is far more important than me. Even among the Antarians and especially among the Earthlings."
Serena smiled, and left the room.
"Are you married, Teren?" Max looked at his valet.
It seemed strange that a warrior such as Teren would willingly act as a servant.
"No, sire," the young Antarian who had often called Max by his name blushed.
"You wouldn't want to marry Serena and get her off my back, would you?"
"No, sire," Teren grinned.
"Wise man," Max laughed.
There was a knock at the door. Teren went to answer it, while Max started eating.
"Lord Michael to see you, sire," Teren announced with a formal declaration.
"Lord Michael?" Max raised his eyebrows. "Teren, you've been with us on since we returned from the Nyelda. Since when do you refer to him as 'Lord'?"
"Since today is your wedding day," he replied. "We've waited a long time for the return of our King, sire. It's hard enough to find that you don't really want to be one. Please don't take this joyous event from us, too."
"Very well," Max nodded. "Show Lord Michael in, Terren."
Max sighed. It promised to be a long day.
* * *
"Good morning, Liz," Nancy breezed into Liz's bedroom, above the café, and drew back the curtains.
"What's good about it?" Liz grumbled, pulling her blankets over her head.
"My, my. Aren't we grumpy this morning? Anyone would think you didn't want to marry Max."
"Anyone should think I should have been sleeping with him last night," Liz called from under the covers. "Who invented that stupid tradition anyway?"
"Sit up, Liz," Nancy sat on the edge of the bed. "Absence does make the heart grow fonder, you know. I have some tea for you."
"Is Maria here?" Liz's voice was filled with suspicion.
"Not yet," Nancy shook her head as Liz started to prop herself up in her childhood bed. "Why? Should she be?"
"No," Liz smirked. "It means that the tea will be normal, and not some herbal muck guaranteed to kick-start my day, or something."
"She's not that bad, is she?"
"You have no idea."
"So, what would you like for breakfast? I could do a fry up, if you like."
"Just some toast," Liz smiled. "And some marmalade, if you have it."
"I know my little girl," Nancy smile and lifted a tray in front of Liz. Toast, marmalade and a cup of tea."
"Are you okay with all this, mom?"
"All what? Serving you breakfast in bed?"
"No," Liz shook her head biting into a piece of toast. "All the attention you and dad are getting. I mean, you can't go anywhere without some journalist bugging you."
Nancy looked at her little girl. Girl, she smirked. She was a woman, now, famous across two galaxies.
"We've always wanted the best for you, Liz. And never in our wildest dreams did we ever imagine that you would get that. The absolute best. You have a man who loves you totally and completely; you have a future that is brighter than anything we could ever have imagined. I mean, how rich is Max anyway? You'll never want for anything, Liz. And we know that you are the sort of gi… young woman who won't be affected by all that. You will still be Liz Parker."
"The smallest of small town girls," Liz smiled.
"No, Liz," Nancy smiled. "You were never just a small town girl. From what I've heard, Max has been in love with you since before you were born. In his eyes, you've always been a Queen. So, you see, destiny has known all about you since the beginning. You have always been the farthest away from a small town girl as you could get. So your dad and I will put up with everything that comes our way, because it reminds us that you reached for your dreams and made them come true. And if that means we have to live in your shadow and be known as the parents of Queen Liz, we'll hold on to that for all its worth. Because we love you, and at the end of the day, nothing is more important to us than your happiness."
Liz looked at her mother with tears glistening in her eyes.
"Thanks, mom," she whispered.
"Now finish your breakfast, and let's get started. It's a big day for you, but it's a big day for all of us. Let's make it all that it can be. Deal?"
"Deal."
* * *
The atmosphere beneath the gorgeous blue desert sky was one of expectancy. Even the New Mexico weather had turned out to see Max and Liz marry two planets together. The day was so perfect - neither too hot, not too cold - that it was as though Mother Nature herself was in attendance. The ushers, recruited from the ranks of Max's army, had performed their task and made sure that the guests were all seated. Those few family members were at the front, on their respective sides, while the rest of the seats were filled with friends, acquaintances, and all of those who had helped, or had been helped by, Max and Liz. The rear seats were those reserves for the representatives of the United Nations. The aisle ends of the seats had ribbons tied across them, symbolically sealing the congregation in. Silken walls formed separate alcoves, behind which, everyone knew that the bride, the groom, and all of those involved were waiting for their signal. A signal that was waited with baited breath by an audience of billions, around the world. The happy couple had given permission for a select number of television crews, and journalists to record the event.
At last, the waiting was at an end. To the sounds of Pachebel's Canon, two ceremonial guards, one Human and the other Antarian, stepped through the silk flaps that symbolized the door. They each carried a spear, decorated with Native American regalia, a gift from their central governing body. They banged the shafts onto the wooden walkway. Kyle and Connie Valenti appeared through the silk flap at the top end of the aisle. They walked along the red carpeted aisle toward the alter, Connie gliding while Kyle Marched, both in time to the music. When they reached the altar, they each picked up a white tapered candle, lit them, and stood them up. They both bowed to the altar, turned to face one another, bowed again, and took seven paces backwards, Kyle standing to one side of the altar with Connie standing to the other.
As soon as they had completed their ritual, the ceremonial soldiers again banged the shaft twice. Jesse and Isabel Ramirez stepped through. Like the other two before them, they moved along the aisle, though Jesse seemed less stiff than Kyle had. Again, they both took tapered candles, lit them from the candles Kyle and Connie had lit, and stood theirs with the other two. They bowed to the altar, faced one another, bowed, and took six steps backwards to stand at an angle from Kyle and from Connie.
As before, the ceremonial guards hammered their spears against the floor but this time, three times. Jim and Amy Valenti, accompanying Mrs. Ramirez stepped through the doorway. They walked up the aisle with Jim in the middle. They selected tapered candles, and lit theirs from those lit by Jesse and Isabel. These were placed with the others. They bowed to the altar, with Mrs. Ramirez adding the sign of the cross to the ceremony. Instead of joining the others, Jim escorted Mrs. Ramirez to the front seats, on the groom's side, and then crossed over to sit on the bride's side. It had been a tough decision for Jim, close as he felt to Max, but Amy had been a lifelong friend of the Parkers', and so he bowed to her desire to sit with Liz's parents.
The banging spears four times upon the wooden walkway announced the arrival of Philip and Diane Evans. There was a light ripple of applause for the parents of King Max. Philip beamed proudly while Diane could only blush. They walked with their heads held high along the aisle and stepped up to the aisle with an air of confidence. They lit their tapered candles from Jim and Amy's, standing them amongst the growing bouquet of burning candles. After they bowed to the altar, they took their places next to Mrs. Ramirez in front row of the seats.
Dressed in a ceremonial uniform, Major Armstead escorted Nancy Parker as she made her way along the aisle. She too received a light applause. Like the Evans', she had played her part in raising one of the amazing people that the world had fallen in love with. They lit their candles from the Evan's and both bowed to the altar. Major Armstead escorted Nancy to her seat in the front row, bowed to her, and marched to his own seat in the row behind the Evans.
To the tune of a lone trumpet playing Trumpet Voluntary, the Reverend Timothy Price and Eldugar, both dressed in religious robes, stepped through a silken doorway to the right of the altar. Reverend Timothy Price was the priest who had married Max and Liz the first time, in Cherry Creek. It had been decided that he would be invited to perform this ceremony, rather than accept the many offers from the higher-ranking clergymen representing almost every denomination around the world. Eldugar had been possessed by the Antarian holy man, Jebulan, who had spoken to Max on board the Nyelda. Michael, and then Max stepped out behind them, to a rather tumultuous applause. Max grinned but he ducked his head. He scratched the back of his ear. Michael shook his head. Max stopped at the base of the steps that led to the altar. Michael bowed to him, stepped up to the altar and lit a tapered candle from Mrs. Ramirez's. He bowed to the altar, bowed to the holy men who now stood to either side of the altar, and went back to Max's side. Max knelt down as the two Holy Men approached him. Reverend Timothy Brown performed a benediction that encompassed as many denominations as he could think of. When he had finished, Jebulan placed his hand behind Max's head. The audience gasped as Max's seal shone against a silken sail suspended from the arch.
"Let all present witness that this is his Royal Majesty, Max Evans, King of Antar by the Grace of the Granolith. Would any here present gainsay this fact?"
He was met with silence.
Jebulan nodded, and he and Reverend Price walked back to the altar. An air of expectancy grew in the sudden hush.
From an unseen orchestra, the Bridal Chorus by Wagner started. As one, the audience rose and turned to face the door at the back of them. The Guardsmen snapped to attention, their spears rigid by their side. Jeff Parker stepped through the silken doorway, with the woman of the moment, Elizabeth 'Parker' at his side. As one, the audience sucked in its breath and gasped at the vision before them. Weeks of speculation had tried to predict the style of dress that Liz would wear, but no one, outside the select little group, had even come close. Liz had chosen to wear the same dress she had worn in Cherry Creek, the one her mother had taken for safe keeping when they had been caught up in the armed siege. She was covered in a veil of the purest silk, laced in infinitesimally thin fibers of silver. She seemed to shimmer as she moved without effort up the aisle, her hand lying delicately over her father's arm. Even through her stunning veil, Max could see that Liz's eyes were glistening with moistness. He could not help tears of his own forming. This was it. The culmination of all the promises he had made to Liz when this had begun so dramatically on her balcony the night he had proposed to her. Maria stepped behind her, but Max scarcely noticed. It was as if they were alone. Everyone had vanished, and it was just the two of them. As though this had been what nature had intended from the very start. His eyes never left Liz as the small party approached them. Liz stopped across from Max, a distance of a few feet, but to Max, the Grand Canyon. Jeff Parker and Maria stepped up to the altar and lit their own candles, from Nancy's and Michael's. They bowed to the altar, and walked back to the others, taking their places by Liz's side. Everyone bowed to Max, who remained upright. He cast a quizzical look at Liz, who had also bowed. She smiled back with a sparkle in her eye. Jeff lifted the veil from his daughter's face, and smiled as he looked into her eyes. He cupped her chin in his hands, leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek. More tears formed in Liz's eyes. Jeff then stepped back beside Maria.
Max spoke up, his voice booming across the congregation.
"I know not if the voice of man can reach to the sky. I know not if the gods will hear as I pray. I know not if the gifts I asked for will be granted. I know not what will come to pass in our future days. I hope that only good will come, my love, to you."
"Please be seated," Reverend Price invited the audience. He waited for everyone to take their seat. "Welcome, everyone," he smiled. "Normally, I like to welcome those who have traveled great distances to be here, making it a kind of amazing thing that the young couple have such wonderful friends, but… I don't think it will have the same meaning if I ask if anyone traveled far today."
There was an amused titter across the congregation.
"In the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit," Reverend Price continued, "we have come together at the unraveling of a greater destiny to witness the marriage of Max and Liz, to pray for God's blessing on them, to share their joy, and to celebrate their love." To help explain the Granolith to the humans, Serena had claimed that it was their version of the Holy Trinity. Reverend Price paused and looked down at Max and Liz, not surprised to see that they were looking into one another's eyes.
"Marriage is a gift of God in creation through which husband and wife may know the grace of God," he continued. "It is given that as man and woman grow together in love and trust, they shall be united with one another in heart, body and mind, as Christ is united with his bride, the church. This, we have recently discovered, is a tradition shared with another planet, giving greater glory to the thought of a higher power at work. The gift of marriage brings husband and wife together in the joy and tenderness of sexual union and joyful commitment to the end of their lives. It is given as the foundation of family life into which children may be born and nurtured and in which each member of the family, in good times and in bad, may find strength, companionship and comfort, and grow to maturity in love. Marriage is a way of life made holy by God, and was blessed by the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ when those celebrating a wedding at Cana in Galilee became witnesses of his first miracle. It is a sign of unity and loyalty, which should be upheld and honored by all. It enriches society and strengthens community. Brightens the Universe. No one should enter into it lightly or selfishly but only after weighing the consequences in the sight of Almighty God. Max and Liz are now to enter this way of life. They will each give their consent to the other in solemn promises, and in token of this they will give and receive not only visible symbols of this, the rings, but a more spiritual symbol. The seal of Antar that binds them together in ways few can understand. We pray with them that the Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen them, that they may fulfil God's purposes for the whole of their earthly life together."
Again, the holy man paused.
"Would the parents of the bride and groom please rise?"
Philip and Diane Evans and Jeff and Nancy Parker rose from their seated positions.
"Do you give your blessing upon Max and Liz? Do you honor the covenant into which they enter today, giving them your loving support, respect and encouragement?"
"We do," they all answered.
Jebulan stepped forward, and looked at the Parkers.
"As Max's Queen, Liz has access to certain powers," he told them. "These powers are there for a reason, that reason being, she is part of Antar now. Do you give your blessing upon your daughter, in the knowledge that she becomes a daughter of Antar, a tool of the Granolith? That she will belong to Antar and not just her family? Mr. and Mrs. Parker, do you give your daughter to Max of your own free will?"
"We do," they both looked at Max and smiled.
They sat down again when the reverend indicated that they could.
"Max," Reverend Price took ever. "Do you accept Liz to be the one true love of your life, to live together in the covenant of marriage, to be faithful to her and to place her needs above yours, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Max's voice boomed loudly and full of confidence. Only Liz knew that he was a quivering wreck inside.
"Liz," Eldugar asked. "Do you accept Max to be the one true love of your life, to live together in the covenant of marriage, to be faithful to him and to place his needs above yours, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Liz's voice was melodious, and clear, but filled with emotion.
Reverend Price and Eldugar stepped backward, and indicated to the others on the altar. With Maria holding Liz's silken train, they walked up the few steps and took their place in front of the altar. Liz handed Maria her bouquet of hand tied white roses and both Max and Liz each selected a candle. They lit them from the candles already burning, offering the wick to each flame, symbolically tying them to their family and friends.
"When thou vowest a vow unto God," Reverend Price intoned, "defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest." He turned to Max and Liz in front of the altar. "Max, Liz, I would ask you to face each other and take one another's hands."
He received a burst of light laughter, because neither Max, nor Liz had let go of the others hand, nor had they stopped looking at one another. Max waited for the chuckling to stop.
"I, Max take you, Liz, to whom I have pledged my life, my love and my soul, to be my wife. And I promise before the Granolith, God, our family, and our friends here present, that I will share my life with you, in all love and honor, in all faith and tenderness, through happiness and sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."
Liz repeated this.
"I Liz take you, Max, to whom I have pledged my life, my love and my soul, to be my husband. And I promise before the Granolith, God, our family, and our friends here present, that I will share my life with you, in all love and honor, in all faith and tenderness, through happiness and sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live."
Maria handed Liz's bouquet to Isabel, and both she and Michael stepped forward, Maria standing beside Max while Michael stood beside Liz. Michael spoke first.
"Liz, please hold Max's hands in yours, so you may see the gift they are to you. These are the hands, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you and commit to you all the days of his life. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will wipe tears from your eyes - both tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will massage tension from your shoulders, that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief rack your mind. These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes - eyes filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you. These are the hands given to you with love."
Maria: spoke after Michael had finished.
"Max, please hold Liz's hands in yours, so you may see the gift they are to you. These are the hands, young and smooth and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness. These are the hands that will wipe tears from your eyes - to comfort and console. These are the hands that will massage tension from your back, that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times and hopeful moments. These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into her eyes - eyes filled completely with her overwhelming love and desire for you. These are the hands given to you with love."
Jebulan stepped behind the young couple and lifted their joined hands.
"These are the hands that will heal a world. These are the hands that will show love and care to all in need, on Max's world, and on Liz's. These are the hands of a King and his Queen."
As soon as he finished, Jesse stepped up. He held a satin cushion upon which sat Max and Liz's wedding rings, surrendered the day before only with great reluctance. Max picked up the ring he had already given to Liz. He placed it on her finger.
"I give this ring as a symbol of my vow and in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love. With all that I am and all that I will become, I honor you, in the name of the Granolith, the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. With this ring, I thee wed."
Liz took her ring for Max, and placed it on his finger.
"I give this ring as a symbol of my vow and in token and pledge of my constant faith and abiding love. With all that I have become and all that I am, I honor you, in the name of the Granolith, the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. With this ring, I thee wed."
"We will now give up a brief prayer for the young couple," Reverend Price indicated that the congregation kneel.
Only Maria did not kneel to offer up their silent prayers. From behind the altar, she picked up a guitar. Only those close to Max and Liz knew the significance of the well-loved instrument. She started to play, caressing the strings, pouring out her love for Alex, for Liz and for Max.
"You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we walk in fields of gold
So she took her love
For to gaze awhile
Upon the fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold
Will you stay with me, will you be my love
Among the fields of barley
We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we lie in fields of gold
See the west wind move like a lover so
Upon the fields of barley
Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth
Among the fields of gold
I never made promises lightly
And there have been some that I've broken
But I swear in the days still left
We'll walk in fields of gold
We'll walk in fields of gold
Many years have passed since those summer days
Among the fields of barley
See the children run as the sun goes down
Among the fields of gold
You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold"
The congregation prayed, while they listened to Maria's heart-rending rendition of the well-known song. Max had wrapped his arm around Liz's waist and their heads were tilted together while they knelt, touching. It was such a tender moment, that this turned out to be the most photographed part of the ceremony. For weeks, news reports would show this clip when talking about the marriage, both on television, and in the press.
"I can hardly believe it Max," Liz smiled at him. Her voice was low. "We made it. We really made it."
"You don't know how happy I am that we're at this place, finally, Liz," Max smiled back, running his thumb over her cheek.
"Yes I do," she nodded. "'Cause I'm just as happy. I love you."
"I love you."
"In the name of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit," Reverend Price ended the prayers, "Amen,"
"Amen," everyone echoed.
Then, Max and Liz rose, crossed to the altar and together and lit their unity candle, just as Maria's song was ending.
"I never stopped believing, Liz," Max wiped a tear from his eye. "Never. We'll always walk in fields of gold."
"Normally," Reverend Price smiled when the couple had retaken their places, "this is the time when it is fitting for me to say, 'What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.' But even I am not so blind as to see that there isn't a force in this universe that would stand a chance of putting this union asunder. God saw fit to place these to people together for a reason. I doubt he would suffer any attempt to put part them, any more than Max or Liz would. So perhaps I should instead say, 'let he who would put what God has joined asunder, seek mercy from their wrath.'"
He paused for the laughter to die down.
"Max, Liz. Although you are not on the threshold of new life together, being technically already married, your renewed vows are nevertheless very exciting. I challenge you Michael and Maria, Jesse and Isabel, Kyle and Connie, and all of Max and Liz's family and guests to remember you are here because Max and Liz asked you to be there, and that you must now approach them not individually, but corporately. Though, I understand you have been in the habit of doing that in any case."
Jebulan stepped up to Max, and again placed his hand on his head. This time, he placed his other hand on Liz's head. The two symbols of the Royal seals of Antar merged together on the silk sail overhead, showing complete unity and harmony.
"The Granolith has given its blessing," he called out.
Every Antarian in the congregation placed their right hand over their heart. Light-years away, a whole planet erupted in jubilant celebration.
"I know now that the voice of man can reach to the sky," Max spoke loudly. "I know now that the gods have heard as I prayed. I know now that the gifts I asked for have all been granted. I know now that the word of old we truly have heard. I know now that our future days will have no number." He turned to face Liz. "I know that only good will come, my love, to us."
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," Reverend Price grinned. "Max, you may kiss your bride." He started to applaud. The congregation followed suit.
Neither needed a second invitation, although they were in enough control to keep their kiss tender and not at all like the passionate lip-locking so many had been used to. But to Max and Liz, it meant so much more than any kiss they had ever shared. This kiss was the culmination of everything they had ever endured to be together. They had taken every test to prove their love, and had passed. They had earned the right to be together and there was no force in the Universe blocking them. It was obvious to Michael and Maria, being closest to them, that they were sharing some visions together, visions that made them smile shyly at one another. At last, they separated.
"And now, I present MR. AND MRS. EVANS! The King and Queen of Antar!"
While the orchestra played The Anastasia Finale, Max and Liz, hand in hand, went back up the aisle, followed by Michael and Maria, Philip and Diane, Jeff and Nancy, Isabel and Jesse, Kyle and Connie, Amy, Jim and Mrs. Ramirez and finally, Reverend Timothy Price and Eldugar. As they passed the aisles, volunteers from the royal guard released the guests, row by row, by untying the tulle, which had been strung down the seats. Max and Liz, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, the King and Queen of Antar, stepped through the silk doorway, they were faced with a corridor of their Royal Guard, dressed in their gleaming ceremonial regalia. They emerged through this to a barrage of flash guns that put the sunshine into shadow and a huge cheer from the gathered tourists and citizens of Roswell, New Mexico, ready to face the world, together. Someone in the huge crowd started to sing. It was a song that was picked up by those surrounding the original singer, spreading like wildfire, until soon, the whole crowd had joined in and was singing with one voice. At last, the refrain reached Max and Liz, now joined by Isabel, Jesse, Michael, Maria, Kyle and Connie.
"Oh I am what I am,
I'll do what I want but I can't hide
I won't go,
I won't sleep.
I can't breathe,
Until you're resting here with me.
I won't leave.
I can't hide.
I cannot be,
Until you're resting here with me."
The End