Love at First Song
Chapter One: The Wedding
Giselle yawned and stretched, slowly awakening from another pleasant night of sleep in her newly restored tree-house bunk. The morning before it had been ravaged by a savage troll, but the beast had been vanquished by a noble prince – Edward.
She sighed at the thought of him. He was so handsome and brave.
"Oh, Pip, isn't he wonderful?" she had gushed to her chipmunk friend upon return to her tree house later that day. "He looks so very much like my prince" – here she gestured to the model standing in the corner – "… I just can't believe it!"
Pip nodded, rather absent-mindedly.
"He has the dark hair and everything. And – oh! – such a beautiful voice. What a song! I know I was made to finish his heart's duet," Giselle continued, unhindered. "And he's so strong! He even helped me fix my window."
She looked with something akin to disdain – though the creatures of Andalasia never experienced truly unhappy feelings – at the previously broken glass by her bed. She had been standing there, chattering away to all her forest friends, when a hungry troll had the audacity to reach in and try to grab her! Thankfully, he was flung off into some far-off land and Giselle and Edward were thus prepared to begin their happily ever after. After, anyway, the preparations for the wedding.
"I can't wait for tomorrow," she told Pip.
"You're growin' up so fast, sweetheart," the normally tough little rodent had commented tearfully.
"I suppose I am," Giselle mused.
"All ready to be a bride," Pip sighed, pacing around the floor of the tree house. "And go off to live in that big castle."
"It must be very lovely if Edward lives there."
"I just hope it has a few nice trees," Pip quipped, almost mournfully. "Since I won't be staying inside and all."
"Oh, but of course you will!" Giselle cried, surprised. "Why shouldn't you?"
Pip moaned, rather melodramatically.
"I dunno, Giselle… what if he doesn't like me?"
Giselle frowned. Clearly this wasn't possible. "But everybody likes you, Pip!"
Pip hopped up onto his little perch and patted Giselle's cheek lovingly.
"Not everyone's as nice as you, sweetheart."
What an odd concept. Wrinkling her nose, Giselle turned to the window. The sun was rising in a burst of orange. It was beautiful. Her mouth went slack as she watched the color of the sky fade to its normal blue tone.
"It's time," she gasped.
"Oh," Pip said, tensing. "I'll go get the other animals."
"All right," Giselle said, quickly undressing. "Do tell them to please hurry!"
She turned her dress over in her hands. It was pure white, detailed with lace, spider webs, delicate thread, and meticulous stitching. She had worked lovingly on it ever since she had dreamed of finding true love.
Soon, choruses of "Giselle! Giselle! It's the big day!" filled the tree house, as well as their speakers – many small forest animals ranging from rabbits to owls to deer and more.
"I know," she replied excitedly, twirling in her dress. "What do you think?"
The animals appreciatively ooohed and aaahed.
"Oh my goodness," Faith the fawn said, trotting over to nudge Giselle gently. "The carriage is here!"
"The carriage," Giselle murmured, hurriedly slipping on her shoes. "Oh my! Come on, everyone! Nathaniel is here to take us off to the wedding!"
A trail of the animals followed Giselle to the white carriage.
"M'lady," Nathaniel said politely, greeting her and helping her into the carriage. "What a pleasure it is to see you."
He said some unpleasant things under his breath as he turned away. This girl was going to ruin everything between him and Edward. And more importantly, between him and Queen Narissa.
"This is so exciting," gasped Giselle, smiling brightly as she spread her skirts around her in order to sit comfortably. "I can't believe I've finally met my true love."
"You said it, princess," Pip said, though he didn't exactly seem euphoric.
It seemed such a long time that Giselle was waiting to get out. She occupied herself by looking out the window at the colorful forest passing by. It was neatly shaped, with the carriage path running smoothly through it. She was not usually one to appreciate design, but as there was nothing else to do, she might as well.
Suddenly, the carriage lurched to a stop.
"We're here!" one of the birds chirped.
"Oh my."
In a flurry of action, the animals finished getting Giselle ready – putting a beautiful tiara atop her lovely auburn curls, straightening out her many skirts, and all giving her a kiss for good luck. That was the most important.
As Nathaniel opened the door, Giselle thanked him and leapt out, with the animals still putting on the final touches. Pip bounded after her but found the door slammed rudely in his face.
"Why I oughta…" he said finally, after waiting a moment there. "We're goin' around."
While he and the animals tried to find a way to penetrate the castle's thick walls, Giselle was rushing to get inside the main building when an old woman suddenly blocked her way.
After an awkward moment of trying to avoid her, Giselle quickly pushed her way past.
"I'm sorry," she called back after. "But I really have somewhere I need to be!"
The old hag muttered a spell and transformed… but Giselle did not see this.
Huffing and puffing, Pip scrambled up the ivy that twined up the castle wall. He was really getting too old for this, but Giselle needed him. All he had to do was get over the wall, find where to unlock the gate, and let all the animals in… As he paused at the top of the wall, gasping for breath, he decided it would be better to find Edward and let him unlock the gate.
"Birds!" he called, watching them flit effortlessly into the courtyard. "Go get the Prince!"
Chirping their agreement, he sat down and watched the birds go off to do their task. He grunted as he descended the other side of the wall, talking to himself and acting rather jealous of the birds' ability to fly.
Pip panted and trailed after the white running mass ahead of him that seemed to be Giselle. Something, for a moment, blocked the way, but it had disappeared just as quickly as it came. He ran on.
"Giselle!" he yelled, trying to get her to slow down. "It's okay! We got plenty o' time!"
The beautiful young woman paused briefly to look back at her tiny counterpart.
"Oh, but it's all so exciting! I can't wait another moment to wed my true love!"
"I know, I know," Pip sighed, leaning down to grab a breath of air. "But can't you at least let me catch up?"
"Sorry," Giselle said, scooping him up. "I didn't mean to make you run such a long way."
"It's all right, sweetheart. Just carry me the resta the way, wouldya?"
Giselle beamed and obliged.
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A short while later, Giselle, Edward, Nathaniel, and all the forest animals were gathered in a large cathedral just outside of the castle. It led there from a small, winding trail that could be easily traversed in just moments. It seemed as though the whole kingdom was there, but its queen was noticeably absent.
Prince Edward and Giselle had joined hands before the minister and were prepared to recite their vows. Both had looks of sheer bliss on their faces.
"Do you, Prince Edward, take this woman, Giselle, to be your wife; do you promise to love her as long as you both shall live?"
There was no question about health, financial status, or faithfulness. None of these things was an issue in Andalasia.
"I do," he replied, beaming.
"Do you, Giselle, take this man, Prince Edward, to be your husband; do you promise to love him as long as you both shall live?"
"I do!"
"I now pronounce you Prince and wife." He looked knowingly at Edward. "You may kiss the bride."
Tension buzzed through the room and time seemed to stand still.
Edward swept Giselle off her feet and bent to place a gentle kiss on her tender lips… true love's kiss. The air was filled with magic, and the sound of cheers and whistles. As the couple stood and waved to the attendees, they noticed the sound of tiny sniffling.
Pip.
"Oh, Pip, don't cry!" Giselle begged. "This is a happy day!"
"I know!" Pip cried, embarrassed. "It's just so… waaaah!"
He continued to bawl as Giselle and Edward skipped down the aisle amid a rain of rose petals. They were going to the castle ballroom for the wedding reception. The whole kingdom would be there…
…except for Narissa, who was plotting in her bedroom…
