Zelda was so delighted as Alfred went through the vows that it was difficult to keep herself from grinning too widely; she'd wanted to hear this (or something like it) for so long that it was easy to ignore the circumstances and just feel the pure joy of it. The specifics aside, marriage vows were essentially a promise, essentially a contract — and now they were finally officially, if secretly, tied to one another. They'd been unofficially tied together for a while now, but this was bigger.

Alfred finished and the minister, with a slight eyeroll, rearranged their hands so that Zelda was holding Alfred's right hand. She decided not to ask about this because now it was her vows. Zelda was at least a little relieved that she had not had to go first.

"I, Zelda Ophelia Fisk, take you, John Alfred Darrow, as my wedded husband," she said, holding Alfred's gaze. Now she had to be sure to get things in the right order, which shouldn't be that difficult, because Alfred had just gone. Carefully, she continued, "To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. To love, cherish, and to obey, till death us depart." She took a breath in, and her grin widened before she continued: "According to god's holy ordinance. And thereto I plight you my troth."

The minister sighed and took their hands in his own again. "In the presence of God, and before this congregation, John Darrow and Zelda Fisk have given their consent, and made their marriage vows to each other," he said, "They have declared their marriage by the joining of hands. I therefore proclaim that they are husband and wife." He put Zelda and Alfred's hands together again and finished: "Those whom God has joined together let no one put asunder."

The minister reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a folded-up piece of paper. "Now all three of you need to sign the license."

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