Chapter 7

Despite heavy protection and surveillance on the abbey where Alyss was to marry it was not difficult to swindle, deceive and to make my way into the building with stealth. The trick with stealth is not to always hide and to disguise; it is to look as though you have a purpose. Walking brazenly past people, asking for directions and answering questions with complete confidence makes people assume that you do have a purpose and right to be there, that you are allowed to be there.

Guests were seated, the royals had been escorted in by serious looking guards, Prince Leopold was breaking out in a light sweat and then the organs were brought to life. Bridesmaids and Groomsmen began the wedding march. I shut my eyes, scared that when I saw Alyss she would instantly resurrect my heart beat into a stuttering drumming wreck. I heard an appreciative intake of many breathes and I opened my eyes, and they found her even though I had tried not to look. My heart ached and pain seared through me. I had never seen her look so strikingly beautiful. Her skin and hair were set gloriously against the white of the wedding dress which flowed out from her womanly figure and trailed behind her. Alyss had a solemn smile on her lips and she walked with her shoulders back and her chin up. Alyss was walking down the aisle ready to commit to someone, and knowing that, and seeing her actually doing it caused me physical pain. I had always known that we could never be together, but nothing had said it like this did.

I tried to master my emotions, I tried to be detached, but every step she made was as though she was stepping directly onto my heart. I could not tear my eyes away from her. I could not move. She made her final step, the man who had escorted her stopped too, he half turned to her and kissed her gently on the cheek, Alyss smiled and I could see real love there. The man quietly took his seat. Alyss turned to the Prince, and suddenly I wondered if I was wrong about her feelings for this man. At the Masquerade I had seen affection and fondness, but something in her look made me question whether I had been right, did she really love him?

Alyss and Prince Leopold turned to the archbishop. Prince Leopold's gaze constantly flickered back to his fiancée but Alyss' eyes remained firmly on the head of the church. I wanted her to look my way. I wanted her to see me and to be with me. But Alyss did not look towards me; the Archbishop paused and then spoke again, this time a little louder. 'If there is anyone here who objects to this union let him speak now or forever hold his peace.' I wanted to shout 'I object.' I wanted to march out from my hiding place under the balcony and to grab Alyss' hand, to tear her away from Prince Leopold and for her to be mine. I did none. I remained still. No one said a word, no one so much as coughed. The Archbishop gave a small smile and I could have sworn that Alyss let out a breath as though she had been holding it in anticipation. Or perhaps I had been wishful thinking.

I had wanted to shout out, but I needed to know if Alyss was really going to it, whether she was really going to marry this man. I needed to know if she really loved him. Alyss started taking her vowels repeating after the Archbishop. She did not quaver; she spoke every word clearly and precisely and with the perfect volume. Prince Leopold beamed happily at Alyss all the while that she made her vowels. She finished speaking. Alyss loved him. She loved Prince Leopold.