Ceremony
Today is a wonderous and beautiful day, it's a wedding day! Two eastern kingdoms of Africa are to be unified upon this day between Coastal Ridge and the Pride Lands. Prince Mufasa couldn't believe that the time is here and he is nervous as he fiddles with his yellow sash on his chest a few times.
King Consort Ahadi noticed his son's behavior. "Relax son, you said that you love Sarabi and she loves you." He tells him with a smile. "Yes Father, but this is our big day, with lots of eyes on us⊠I'm scared that I could somehow ruin this." Mufasa said gently.
Ahadi goes over and fixes his son's sash then pats down his sleeves. "Mufasa, I've seen the two of you, nothing that you believe that might go wrong will make Sarabi rethink on picking you to marry, breathe. Also I promise you that the moment you see her, all of your doubts will go away." He told him gently then holds his face.
"Now my boy, it's time for the painting." He added with a fatherly grin then leads his son to where a couple people are waiting to paint the Prince's face with the symbol of the Sun Spirit on his forehead and with the colors of strength and royalty.
Once Mufasa is ready, he and Ahadi head out to where their family and friends are gathering for the ceremony. The crowd made a circle around with one side of those of the Pride Lands and the other visiting from Coastal Ridge. Mufasa took a deep breath as he goes to center of the circle where the royal shaman and good friend to the family Rafiki stands with his staff in hand.
They gave each other a friendly nod then stood there as they wait for the bride. Ahadi stood next to his wife and Queen, Uru, they hold hands and both have proud smiles on their faces towards Mufasa but the second born Prince Takasa is nowhere in sight and that hurts his family.
Soon gentle music begins to play as King Kiburi and Queen Sura of Coastal Ridge walks out with their daughter Sarabi, the young woman wore a white gown to match Mufasa's white clothing but she has dark blue accents on her while he has yellow. Sarabi has the symbol of the Moon Spirit on her forehead.
Sarabi smiles warmly to Mufasa as she gets closer, her parents stood with the Queen and King of the Pride Lands. Mufasa's jaw slightly drops seeing Sarabi, his father is right all the worries he had just fade away the moment he saw her.
The two young royals smiled at each other, Rafiki steps forward with his arms up in the air. "Greeting friends of all kinds, near and from a far. I, Rafiki, Seer to the Great Spirits and Ancestors is here to join Prince Mufasa of the Pride Lands and Princess Sarabi of Coastal Ridge in marriage." The mandrill animan said with a big smile at the couple as he give them a vine necklace of flowers.
Mufasa bends down to receive yellow flowers and Sarabi is given light blue ones. "Today we are here to join two lives, two hearts, two souls, and unite them as one." Rafiki goes on then gently rise up the couple's hands to hold them in his.
"Understand this with full awareness that within this circle, you are not only declaring your hand and marriage before your friends and families but you speak your actions to also the Great Spirits and the Ancestors that smiles over us. The promises made today will greatly strengthen your union. They will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth.
Do you still seek to enter this ceremony? If so say 'yes'," Rafiki ends with a smile at them. Mufasa nodded to him then goes to look at Sarabi. "Yes." He said softly with a warm smile.
Sarabi smiles back at him gently. "As do I." She said. Rafiki held up their arms next to each other then takes out a long rope, he rest it on their wrist then looks at Mufasa.
"Prince Mufasa, will you cause her pain?" The seer asked him gently. "I hope not." Mufasa said as he looks at Sarabi in her eyes. "If you somehow did, was it your intent?" Rafiki asked next. "Never." The Crown Prince answered gently.
Rafiki takes the rope and ties it around Mufasa's wrist then looks at Sarabi. "Princess Sarabi, will you cause him pain?" The princess looks at Mufasa. "Yes." She said nonchalantly getting some confused reaction from the crowd and Mufasa stares at her perplexedly.
"When it comes to sparring that is." Sarabi added with a smirk, people starting laughing at that, Rafiki chuckled a bit too, and Mufasa smiles shaking his head a bit that she got him. "But seriously I never wish to cause him any pain." The princess said with a sweet smile on her lips.
Rafiki ties the rope on Sarabi's wrist. "Will you both share each other's pain and seek to ease it?" The mandrill asked them both, they nodded and both said "Yes." Rafiki then ties their wrists together with the rope.
The Seer takes out another rope and like the last one rest it on their combine wrists then continues to ask them questions and which they answer with 'yes' to keep their promises.
On the last promise Rafiki looks at them. "Will you honor each other?" He asked, Mufasa gazes into Sarabi's eyes with a loving expression on his face. "I will." He said softly.
Sarabi is gazing back at the Prince. "Yes, with all my heart." She has love in her tone, Rafiki beings to the tie another knot in the binding. "And with that the final promise has been made, here before your friends and families and the eternal light of the Great Spirits and the Ancestors. I pronounce you, wife and husband, you may kiss." Rafiki told them with a smile.
Mufasa goes to lean in to give a gentle kiss his bride but Sarabi yanks him towards her to lock lips catching him off guard but the Prince quickly kisses her back, the crowd cheers loudly and threw flower petals in the air around them.