Last night I stared at the moon, and it stared back at me. The rich light it cast filled my eyes, not blinding, though leaving me in a state of relaxed incapacitation. The invading shadows stole away my fingertips as I held them at arm’s length. Somewhere in between these extremes I focused on a dreamy margin where upon my imagination on the eve of this wedding day began to flower.

Stubbornly, sleep tugged at me drawing me away from my contented fixation until I relented, not altogether unwantingly, to the hand of a pixie who briskly hurried me away on the path of a moonbeam.

In the beginning, all was a blur. But soon the shimmering colors and nondescript shapes took form as we slowed and began to take focus somewhere between fantasy and serenity.

As to what unfolded on my journey, I can only describe a moment frozen in time, spent not in the future, nor in the past, but existing wholly in all ages as much as in a single moment.

As to what unfolded at my destination, I can describe a place of wonder where skipping satyrs piped among sylvan forests, and unicorns grazed gently on grassy meadows. Therein I came to know the tale of Delphineous and Jezebel.

Delphineous of the House of Sepulcher was a stately sprite, handsome and dashing, who loved Jezebel of the House of Electric, a lovely nymph, radiant and kind. Jezebel returned his love, and they were of the same heart.

The wisdom of both houses embraced their love and declared, "May they be married in the shadow of our two houses; and between them let happiness rain from the sky as they are united in our company…"

In preparation for this momentously joyous event, two rings were forged, one in the House of Sepulcher as a gift from Delphineous to Jezebel, and the other in the House of Electric as a gift from Jezebel to Delphineous.

In the House of Sepulcher, molten earth which represented a sense of place that was their home provided the luster that graced the band. Hammered onto the surface of the band were artistic designs and forms that individually represented the many qualities of strength, virtue, and spirit that resided in Delphineous. When completed, the ring was hailed by the House of Sepulcher as the finest possible gift unto the Lady Jezebel of Electric.

In the House of Electric, fire which represented the passion for life that was the pathway to happiness provided the luster that graced the band. Cooled by the wind were the myriad images and icons that represented the many qualities of health, purity, and beauty that resided in Jezebel. When completed, the ring was hailed by the House of Electric as the finest possible gift unto the Lord Delphineous of Sepulcher.

Yea, did I witness the coming of the day when the lovers would be married in the majesty of the crested peaks and towering ramparts of these mountains for all to behold. Those of both houses came and stood hand in hand among the galleries to witness the glorious ceremony that would consecrate the union, and culminate in the giving of these two great rings.

But lo, when it came time to slide the rings upon the finger of the other, Delphineous and Jezebel were shocked to find each ring, each a gift unto the other, to be ill-fitted. Aghast was the gallery at this transpiration, and perplexed were the architects of these rings for each precious band had been so carefully crafted.

At the beck of the gallery, the wisdoms were asked to reveal the solution. "It is a riddle," they said, "a riddle that only the lovers can solve…"

Then did Delphineous and Jezebel look deep into one another’s eyes, passing the complexion of the surface, to the very soul of the other. At once, and in turn, did they take the gift of the other and place it on the finger of the giver, and it was found to be a perfect fit.

"But how?" exclaimed the gallery, and again the wisdoms spoke. "It is not in the qualities of one’s partner where love thrives, but rather in its absence. The individual virtues of Delphineous and Jezebel are not conferred upon one another in marriage as these rings they offered. Rather, each retains their qualities only as accompaniment to their marriage. The higher ground of marriage is reached where love exists unconditionally, where no qualities of the individuals come to bare, and love for the other saturates the entire spectrum of attributes."

So it was that Delphineous and Jezebel found true love. In the moment of recognition I again felt the hand of a pixie take my own, and as swift and suddenly as before, I was whisked away from this fantastical realm.

Awaking not to a staring moon, but an altogether more familiar world where I found the sun, bright and bold, shining upon me, shining on the day of Linda and Nathan’s wedding. And hark, what should I find beneath this rim of sunlight, sprinkled with a fine coating of pixie dust, but these rings. Two rings, precious and dear, to be worn forever by Linda and Nathan, another perfect fit.