Chapter Five, The Wedding

It had been a year since the run-in with Edward. During that time Jasper, with approval from her aunts and grandparents, had proposed to Aiyana with the most beautiful engagement ring. It was a crystal blue Opal on a silver band in an intricate design, a design that Jasper himself had made and designed at 'Wohali Atsanvdodi' or Eagle Jewellery where Jasper now worked. Jasper and Aiyana had become great friends with the owners Ahuli, and his wife, Inola, and their three children; their daughter Woya, and their two sons Onacona and Squoyah. All of whom, along with Aiyana's family and the rest of the tribe were ecstatic for their pending wedding bonding.

Almost immediately Aiyana's female family and close friends, including Char, started making the wedding dress while Jasper, Chaska, Peter, Ahuli, Onacona and Squiyah started on preparing the Hogan for the ceremony. Jasper hadn't invited the Cullens as they had become rather estranged since the incident with Edward and Jasper was all for sticking to tradition of his family and tribe. These wedding ceremonies were considered very private and only to be witnessed by close friends and family. It is only the day after when a feast is held (provided by Halona, Kachiri, Zafrina and Senna) where the rest of the Tribe can attend.

Soon, the day had finally arrived and the air was thick and buzzing with everyone's excitement. Jasper, thankful for his training and human blood diet, was able to block out everyone else's emotions and could fully feel his own emotions for the first time since he was human, although, he himself was buzzing with excitement for he couldn't wait to be married to the love of his life. In Chaska and Halona's home Jasper was getting ready with the help of his Grandfather-in-law, while his dear friend Ahuli, was helping Peter don the clothes and paint of the tribe for the ceremony.
"You are ready my son." Chaske beamed, clasping Jasper's shoulder as he looked at him proudly.

Jasper wore a dark sea-blue shirt, black trousers, brown shoes and a white over shirt that he left open which had brown tribal patterns decorating it, and his red and white tribal beads around his neck. "Today, you become my grandson in the name of our ancestors. You have worked hard to become the best version of yourself for my dear granddaughter and I can ask no more than that. You have learned the ways of our tribe, language and the ancestors. They have blessed you, accepted you and so it is that I bless and accept you fully as not only the Elder of the Tribe but of our family." Tears formed in Jasper's eyes that would never fall at Chaska's heartwarming words, in the time that Jasper had been a part of the Tribe he had looked up to Chaska and Halona not only as Elders of the Tribe but as grandparents.

"Thank you." Jasper said in a choked voice. Chaska beamed at him and squeezed his shoulder.
"Now, I expect great- grand babies soon." Chaska teased, making them all laugh.
"It's time." Ahuli and Peter said at the same time, making them all laugh once again. They had all gotten used to Peter's gift, or him just knowing shit, in Peter's words.
"Then let's go." Jasper said excited, following Chaska to the Hogan, the stars starting to appear in the evening sky, with Peter and Ahuli following behind him signalling not only his past life through Peter who was following him into this new life but also Ahuli who signified his new life. At the entrance to the Hogan Jasper used water to wash his hands. The water is a symbol of purification and cleansing and a Ceremonial washing of hands which is used to wash away past evils, and memories of past loves.

When he'd finished Jasper, Chaska, Peter and Ahuli entered the Hogan clockwise, and took their seats. Chaska, Peter and Ahuli sitting to the left of him while they waited for Aiyana. They didn't have to wait long as a few minutes later Jasper heard the sound of water and turned his head; his unneeded breath stolen from him at the sight of his mate as she washed her own hands. She looked ethereal in her white dress with a sweetheart neckline and brown, orange and bronze tribal patterns decorating the gown. Her dark sheet of hair was styled in an elaborate up-do, blue beads were around her neck matching her ring and simple brown sandals adorned her feet.

"You look beautiful." Jasper whispers reverently as Aiyana took her seat beside him.
"And you look very handsome Jasper." Aiyana whispered just as reverently as her soon-to-be husband. She was very excited for the ceremony to be over so they could, finally, be husband and wife. Once everyone had taken their seats the ceremony started with an Open Prayer led by the two Tribe Elders and Aiyana's grandparents, Chaska and Halona. As soon as the last word of the prayer was uttered Kachiri, with tears in her eyes, brought forth a basket of previous prepared corn mush, a mix of white cornmeal (to symbolise Jasper and yellow cornmeal to symbolise Aiyana), which is blessed using corn pollen before Jasper makes a line starting from East to West, and then back to East.

Next, he adds another line starting from South to North and then back o South. The corn mush is then outlined by Aiyana with corn pollen in a circular shape clockwise, beginning from east before completing the entire circle. Once she's finished, Zafrina pours some water into a gourd which is given to Jasper and Aiyana for the second traditional hand washing, symbolising purity and cleansing. With his hands purified, Jasper eats a pinch of the corn mush (despite it tasting like dirt) from each direction, starting with the east, with Aiyana following suit. Finally, they both take a pinch from the middle of the corn mush and share a maize pudding.

Sharing the basket symbolises Aiyana as an equal partner to her husband and the maize pudding symbolises the marriage bond, while the pinch from each direction symbolises all the different stages of life's journey together.
As soon as they had swallowed the pinch they'd taken from the basket, Peter and Ahuli who both signify Jasper's family eat any of the leftover corn mush, while the basket remains stationary. As soon as the corn mush is all gone, Chaska and Halona step forwards giving the wedding blessing ending the ceremony signifying they are now married.

"By the power of the Ancestors, I pronounce you husband and wife." Chaska beamed, watching delighted as Jasper took his beloved granddaughter into his arms for a passionate and loving kiss.
The cheers were so loud that they reverberated off of the walls of the Hogan; as tears poured down the faces of the family who welled in the eyes of those who could no longer shed tears.
"I love you." Jasper whispered against Aiyana's lips when they pulled a hair's breadth away.
"I love you too, Jasper. Both you and Major." Aiyana whispered tenderly, brushing her thumb against Jasper's cheek before she pulled him into another heated and more passionate kiss.

***

While celebrations were happening within the Amazon and Jasper and Aiyana shared a passionate filled night as man and wife, a dark hooded fighter with golden-red eyes and auburn hair was led towards a throne room where three ornate thrones sat upon a Dias with three males seated upon them. The left had a dour faced man with long dark tresses that had an air of unkemptness to them; the middle had another man with long dark tresses but he had an unstable look about him; and the man on the right had shoulder length white-blond hair and an evil sadistic look about him.
"My, my what do we have here?" The man in the middle asked with a giddy unstable voice.

"Well done Jane." The man praised to the short blonde girl who had led the auburn man through the sandy coloured castle towards the throne room.
"Master." The girl now known as Jane bowed, stepping back to watch the show that was about to unfold.
"And why have you come dear Edward?" The insane man asked.
"Finally come to your senses and seen to it that your... animal diet is subpar." The blonde man sneered, noticing Edward's duo coloured eyes that were slowing changing to scarlet red.
"Yes, and I have news. Important news Aro." Edward said with a sadistic grin on his face as he held his hand out to the insane man.

As if it were a lifeline Aro latched onto Edward's hand immediately, searching through his thoughts and what he had seen. When he pulled back he had a troubled yet sadistic grin on his face.
"Now, that is troubling indeed. We shall need to do something about that.... Abomination. I take it you'll help us dear Edward." Aro stated rather than asked.
"Yes, I'll help you end the Amazonian clan and whoever gets in your way, Aro." Edward agreed the sadistic grin spreading wider across his face and a deranged look appearing in his eyes.

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Cherokee to English translations:

*Ahuli (pronounced: ah-HOO-le) = drum.

*Onacona (pronounced: OH-nah-COH-nah) = white owl.

* Sequoyah (pronounced: say-KWOH- yah) = sparrow.

*Inola (pronounced: ee-NOh-la) = meaning: Black fox.

* Woya (pronounced: WOH-yah) = Dove.

*Osiyo (pronounced: OH-see-yo) = hello.
*Atsanvdodi (pronounced; ah-jahn-doe-dee) = jewellery.

*Wohali (pronounced: woh-HAH- lee) = eagle

*Wohali Atsanvdodi = Eagle Jewellery.

*Hogan: the traditional home of the Navajo.

*Halona = of happy fortune.

*Chaska = first born son.