30 Worlds: Megaforce, Episode XVI: "True Love's First Kiss"
BOOK ONE*CHAPTER THREE
Outside the church as her bridesmaids entered, Sofia saw King Roland walk up to her. "Father, I'm nervous," Sofia said. "Perhaps even more so than when Mom married you and brought me to the castle to live with her for the first time."
"Sofia, it's perfectly natural for you to be nervous like this," Roland said. "After all, you're getting married. The decision to get married is amongst the most difficult decisions can make in their life."
"I know that, Father," Sofia said. "However, the decision was not a difficult one to make as far as I was concerned. William is an amazing man."
"No, the nervousness is because I am worried that the A.I.C. may try to do something to sabotage the ceremony. After all, if I don't get married, my Key power will not be strong enough to help defeat them," Sofia continued.
"Don't be worried," Roland said. "Your friends in the Scarlett Army will make sure that nothing will happen. So, just enjoy your big day." Roland leaned in to kiss Sofia on the forehead, then folded Sofia's veil over her face. "It's time," Roland said.
Sofia smiled under her veil as the doors into the church opened. The audience stood from their seats as Roland led Sofia down the aisle.
"She's beautiful," Phineas said. "You're one lucky man, William." William sighed as he looked at Sofia's veil-covered face, then smiled back at Phineas. "That I am, Phineas," William said. "That I am."
Sofia smiled at William as she continued to walk down to the altar. Roland put Sofia's hand in William's, then moved to sit down next to Miranda. The priest then gestured for everyone to be seated. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join William III, Prince of Cinnabar and Sofia I, Princess of Enchancia, in the bonds of matrimony," the priest began.
"No vows that people can make are as sacred or inviolable as those of marriage. They are meant to combine two as one for all of eternity," the priest continued. "With that being said, the happy couple have prepared their own vows."
William turned back to Phineas, who handed William an Ambassador data pad. "In preparing for this ceremony, I looked for some words that I felt could reflect the love, honor and respect I feel for you, Sofia," William said before tapping a few keys on the pad. A poem appeared on the screen.
"I found a poem entitled 'Will I Think of You?,' which was written on my adopted homeworld by a now-deceased poet/actor named Leonard Nimoy. With your kind indulgence, I shall read it for you," William continued. He then put on a pair of reading glasses, cleared his throat and began to read.
Will I Think of You?
Only
When I die,
And realize that I am born again
For dying is a beginning
And I have died thousands of times
Sometimes several times a day
I am learning that from each death
Comes a new vision of life
A new sense of the miracle of being and creation
For fear is worse than dying
Fear prevents discovery
And destroys the creative flow of god-man's soul
And when I let my old self, hardened and rigid, die,
I am reborn, vital, open and fresh
And this discovery, this victory over the fear of death
Came when I thought I was dead and found you
So, each time when I arise
Out of the ashes of my fear
I will gratefully think of you.
William handed the data pad back to Phineas, removed his reading glasses, then turned back to face Sofia. "That poem expresses better than any other collection of words that has existed or that will ever exist my feelings for you, Sofia," William said.
"I thought that I would never find the kind of happiness I have with you right now. But, when I met you, I realized that my old, pragmatic self had fallen away and was replaced by a young, vital life force that was ready to truly live life. I owe you all that I am a thousand times over," William said. "I love you, Sofia the First, and I always will."
Sofia smiled before she put a white lace-gloved hand on William's cheek. "I had known love before I met you, but only through second-hand experience," Sofia said. "However, when I finally met you and got to know you, I knew that you were going to be the man with whom I would spend the rest of my life."
"You have proved to be as strong and loyal as any man I could ever have hoped to know. I promise to give you all that I am for the rest of my natural-born life," Sofia said.
"May I have the rings, please?" the priest said. Phineas handed William a small gold ring, while Scarlett handed Sofia a silver ring of the exact size and circumference. "William, as you place the ring on Sofia's finger, please repeat after me: 'With this ring, I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow.'"
William took the ring and placed the ring on Sofia's finger and repeated: "With this ring, I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow."
Sofia then took the ring in her hand and placed it on William's finger. "With this ring, I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow," Sofia said. The priest, satisfied with the exchange, then declared, "Prince William of Cinnabar, Princess Sofia of Enchancia, under the authority vested in me by the laws and traditions of the Realm, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
William lifted Sofia's veil, revealing her face—tear-streaks starting to mar the carefully applied makeup on her face. "I love you, Sofia my wife," William said. "And I love you, William my husband," Sofia said.
It was then that William and Sofia shared their first kiss as husband and wife. The gathered audience stood and applauded the successful completion of the wedding ceremony.
::TBC::