Page 107 of Potions and Proposals
The words echoed around the temple, and Benedict clenched his jaw. It was time.
Wilhelmina extended the binding cup to him, and he accepted it. However, instead of drinking from the cup to complete the binding of their families, he placed it on the candlelit altar around which they all stood. He gave the high priestess a reassuring smile as he watched her mind racing.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, and I know that personal vows aren’t traditional. However, there is something I wish to share with the woman I love and those who brought us here today.” He cleared his throat. He and Lucinda had agreed that they wanted to do something to make the ritual feel a little more personal, especially since it had changed from something they’d felt trapped by, to their dearest wish, so they’d each written their own personal vows.
“Lucinda, I never had to wait for the love of my life to walk through the door, because you were already in my corner. You were never a dream, because you have been my reality. Our love may have been a surprise to us, but your kindness, love, fierce passion and understanding never fails to amaze me. With this cup, I ask you to be mine, today, tomorrow, and forever.” He lifted the cup from the altar and drank without any hesitation.
Lucinda was welling up as he handed it back to her mother. They smiled at each other while the other coven members watched in awe.
Lucinda glanced at the crowd. Benedict admired how she took hold of his hand, a symbol of their united front. With pride swelling in his chest, he watched as Lucinda picked up the cup with the other.
“Benedict, our love might not have come easy, and over the years we have brought out the best and worst in each other. But in that struggle to find our love for one another I know that we will always find our way back to each other, no matter what’s thrown at us. Even when we’re lost, we find peace in each other. There is no tear, no laugh, no grief or moment that I don’t want to share with you. So, with this cup, I ask you to be mine, today, tomorrow, and forever.”
Benedict suddenly didn’t care about the ancestors’ acceptance of their love; she was his, and he was hers. Nothing was going to change that.
She was about to take a sip, but he placed his hand over the cup. She frowned at him. He knew he’d pay for surprising her later, but there was one more thing he had to do before they continued the ritual.
To the surprise of everyone in the room, he fell to one knee before Lucinda. Staring up at her with sheer admiration, he declared, “Lucinda Hawthorne is the High Priestess we need.” He rose to stand by her side. “I withdraw my candidacy,” he added, looking between her and the coven.
“You don’t have to do this,” Lucinda started, but he shook his head.
“This is the right thing for Foxford.”
Mrs Crawford stepped forward from the crowd and attempted to question his decision, but a sharp stare from Benedict silenced her.
“Lucinda’s right to leadership never should have been questioned. I’m honoured to stand by her side now and for therest of our lives,” he told them all. “There is no one else who’ll love and protect Foxford as she will.”
Lucinda stood tall at his side, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation for what lay ahead.
“I’m in awe of the faith Benedict has in me,” she began, the moonlight radiating off her beautiful dress. “I love this town and desire to lead this coven as my ancestors have. I know I’ll struggle, stumble, and no doubt fall, but such things don’t phase me any longer, because I will have every person in this temple to guide me.”
Looking at Benedict, she placed her hand over her heart, and he knew it was her way of silently thanking him.
“When you decided to bind me and Benedict, you were right in saying we both have qualities the other is lacking, but you neglected to include yourselves in that equation. This coven is not ruled by one or two people, but by all founding families. This coven, our town, our home, hasn’t become a sanctuary for so many because of my mother or grandmother but because we all put aside our self-interest for the town.”
There was a mutter of agreement. Lucinda’s words rang true. Their unity had always been the secret to their strength, even with differing opinions among the families.
“My mother has no fear in stepping down, because she is leaving it to all of us. I can only ask for you to accept me as I am. Not because of any binding or the approval of our ancestors, but because each of you wishes for me to be your leader.”
The anticipation in the room was palpable. As the silence grew, Lucinda’s expression began to falter, but Benedict knew her heart, her spirit, was the answer to all their concerns. Suddenly, applause erupted, and he watched as Lucinda blinked away tears.
“Lucinda, whenever you are ready,” Wilhelmina said, looking to the cup still in her hand.
“If you have no other surprises for me, can we get hitched now?” Lucinda teased Benedict, who nodded with a grin. The coven clapped and cheered as she drank from the cup and completed the ritual.
With one final kiss, their souls were joined as one in front of those they loved.
Benedict and Lucy walked leisurely, hand in hand, under the stars into the town. It was long past midnight, and the All Hallows’ Eve festival had closed, but she’d wanted to walk with him and let all they’d overcome in the last month wash over them. They had each other, and she was sure that no matter what life threw at them, they’d be able to handle it together. So long as they didn’t kill each other first.
At the end of Lover’s Lane, Lucy paused when she saw everyone gathered on the green surrounding the gazebo in the town square.
“What’s all this?” she asked, stepping forward to get a better look at the long tables decorated with food platters and wildflower centrepieces.
“Surprise,” Benedict whispered in Lucy’s ear, kissing her cheek. She stared at him in complete shock as the whole town came forward to greet the newly-weds.
Not wanting to smudge her mascara, she dabbed at her tears. “When did you have to the time to do all this?” She looked to her mum, walking down behind them, for answers, but Wilhelmina only shrugged.
“It was all Rosie! And many of the coven members helped,” Benedict said. Her hands flew to her mouth; Rosie was waiting at the head of the group, looking stunning in a plum gown with her hair all pinned up with flowers. “When did you start? How could you keep this from me? You’re terrible at surprises!”
