A Wedding Story, as Told by the Brother-in-Law of the Groom

Jeremiah, Michele's little brother, got married this last Sunday to his beloved Amy. Many wonderful events took place, and a new family was begun. Here is the story of their wedding, as told by the brother-in-law of the groom.
 

What an amazing event. The weather agreed to accommodate an outdoor August Arkansas wedding. There was no denying that it was a hot southern evening, but a good amount of cloud cover almost made the vested tuxedos bearable.

I, standing at the front among the groom's men, was such a proud father to see my little girl dressed up as a flower girl. Being that she's 15 months old, after a good look at all the people, she contented herself to squat at the entrance to the isle and play with the rose petals on the runner—par for the course, I suppose. I think she was great. The bride was almost as stunning as the third bride's maid, who also happened to be my wife, and the groom was confidently poised. The four of us groom's men played the Cracker Jack box joke on the wedding ring, and everyone got a good laugh. Our pastor, Josh Davis, officiated a wonderful ceremony. However, at the end, came the event that will live in our memories forever.

After all the I-doing, food eating, cake cutting, dancing, throwing, and catching, the final surprise of the evening was in the farewell toast. The maid of honor Anna (bride's 12 year old sister), the bride's best friend and roommate Lindsay, and the best man David were to give the bride and groom a farewell toast.

As MC of the toast, I took the DJs microphone and made introductions. Everyone is still impressed with Anna's toast. She had remarkably mature things to wish for the happy couple. Lindsay's toast was great and heartfelt also, and few feminine eyes were left dry for her last words. Lastly, came the toast of the best man.

In his walk to the front, David staggered a bit in his steps and then came forward with a humbled look about him. We, his friends, could not discern if this normally prudent man was feeling his champagne a bit, or if perhaps he was burying a part of himself inside what may have totaled too many drinks. "David never drinks," I thought.

At her conclusion, Lindsay returned the microphone to me. "Thanks, Lindsay," I said, thanking the best friend of the bride for her wishes. "Everyone," I continued, "now the best man will express his sentiments—what I believe we all feel." After talking to David before, he seemed happy that Jeremiah had found such a wonderful bride as Amy to be his. In fact, David wouldn't stop going on about how great Amy was, but there was still something not quite right about his current appearance.

As he approached the microphone, he seemed straightened enough. "I'm imagining things." I thought to myself, but then David Drake took the microphone and spoke what was on his mind.

"Jeremiah," he began—his words slightly paused, and obviously well thought-out. "Tonight, you've married the most wonderful..." Another pause as he turned his face toward the bride, "beautiful, woman. You two are going to be so happy...", and another pause. The moment lingered long, as he averted the direction of his gaze. At last he shouted, "I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!" His champagne glass was sent crashing to the floor, greatly unsettling the calm of the surrounding, evening air.

"David. You need to settle down, man." I offered.

"Hey, what's going on?" Tim, recently back from his Army duty in Germany stepped up, in an attempt to steady his good friend, but this was not the David we had grown to know.

Without a word, a determined David threw both Tim and I backward off the stage, and then we saw what he was making his way toward. He had hidden a rapier beside the stage where no one would look. He was just waiting for his time, and now he was going to strike.

"I'm in love with Amy, and she will be MINE!" David announced. The words were punctuated by the shrill grinding noise of the sword being drawn outside the safety of its sheath. He pointed it straight at his blade's target, Jeremiah, sitting across the stage with his new bride at his side. Against the greatest sense of betrayal, Jeremiah rose to his feet. He was brave, but he was unsure of what action he would take against an expertly trained man with sword in hand. It was then I saw the second weapon beside me. There were two swords!

Grabbing the second unclaimed rapier from beside the stage, I called out from the corner, "Wait! Jeremiah!" And I held the sword out. Jeremiah saw me, and light returned to his eyes. His hope was restored, but it was obvious that the distance was too great. Between me and Jeremiah, David was steadily advancing, and his face was lit with the satisfaction of a conquering general of war before his final siege. His footsteps were sure and slow, as he savored the visage of his target.

Jeremiah, had no time to think, and so he acted quickly. David drew back his arm to make his strike, and at that moment Jeremiah dove beneath the swing of the blade, rolling beneath his attacker to grab the saving rapier. Jeremiah's Army training had made him fast, but he was alarmed by the speed of David's reaction. No sooner had Jeremiah grabbed the sword, than David had adjusted his powerful stance and was striking again. Jeremiah swung his sword, still in scabbard, and blocked the strike over his head in time. The surrounding guests of the wedding cheered in excitement, but were still frozen in their places. What help would be sufficient at this moment? No one knew. It was to Jeremiah to face his duelist, man to man. Gaining his feet, he managed to push David back away from him before another swing. Jeremiah slashed wildly at the air as he gained his posture for the duel.

"David! I trusted you, and you betrayed me. You were the best man!"

The swords crashed again, as David spoke the words in a calm, determined tone, "I am ‘the best man.'"

David was quick and sure of his rapier, and his advancing strikes conveyed it. Jeremiah's parries slimly managed to keep David's crashing swings away, one after the other. A block; a quick parry; a quickly-placed step by David, and again a crashing blow met with a successful parry at the last moment. Jeremiah's luck with the unfamiliar blade continued. The pair encircled each other, studying footwork, posture, and focus, as the guests gasped at the swinging blades, again and again.

"You've gotten better Jeremiah, I'll give you that." David offered, but the smile on his young, assured face quickly turned to a smirk. "It's too bad I'm going to have to gut you like the pig you are, right in front of Amy!"

"Never!" Jeremiah shouted, and David's ploy to steal his attention had obviously succeeded. Jeremiah parried, and parried again, but he was expending so much energy in his fervor, that David's calm and skill had gained the upper hand. Jeremiah's blade was low, and David swung high at the fragile exposed neck flesh. A parry or block would not be possible. Jeremiah threw his head back, bending his torso backwards to avoid the blade. Gasps were heard around, and hands clutched, as Jeremiah bent himself backwards. Amy screamed, as her beloved groom suddenly avoided the mortal strike!

As he returned to ready posture, those around cheered! David stepped back, as if realizing the moment, or as if recoiling from the palatable fervor Jeremiah had regained at his bride's call in desperation. Jeremiah was another man entirely now, and his sword flashed with his new determination. This time David would parry, block, block, parry. It was not enough. Jeremiah would not be stopped in his fiery advance. David's arm raised, and Jeremiah struck. The final blow was sent upward, through the ribs of the master that had first made the challenge. At that, the contest ended.

The groom and his once-best man—two who had supported each other as best friends for more than a decade—were locked closely as the duel concluded. David struggled against the wound, but Jeremiah's rapier had struck true, and the blade had cleanly pierced through the other side. Finally he loosened his grip on his last breath. "It looks like you... are the best man," he said, and he slid from the blade to the floor.

Those around were saddened, but cheered for Jeremiah's bravery. Amy fell into her triumphant lover's arms, and the newly-forged couple embraced each other as the calm of the evening was restored around them. Away, they would run, to more adventures together.

This was a night we will all remember. Best wishes, Jeremiah & Amy Beene.