Chapter 21
Belle took a deep breath. She was standing just inside the foyer, facing the large front doors that led outside. She knew Adam was on the other side of those doors, down a long aisle, waiting for her. Waiting to start their lives together as husband and wife.
"You look beautiful, my dear," Mrs. Potts complimented from behind her. It was at least the tenth time she had said those exact words to Belle since they had started getting ready that morning.
Belle looked down at her white dress. The bodice was made of layers of lace, carefully placed over each other to make an intricate pattern. A single layer of lace continued over each shoulder. The bottom of the dress splayed out at Belle's hips, the fabric cascading down. When she moved, the dress looked as if it had a life of its own, dancing and swaying. A long, lace train flowed behind her. Around her neck Belle wore a rose necklace and she had a veil flowing down her back from a crown made of roses on her head. Belle had never felt more beautiful.
"Thank you," Belle said in reply to Mrs. Pott's compliment.
"Are you ready?"
Belle nodded. Mrs. Potts handed her a bouquet of red roses, wrapped in a white ribbon. Two servants opened the doors wide. Belle looked out. There was a sea of people standing around with an aisle created between them. A red cloth had been laid out for Belle to walk on. She could see Adam standing at the end of the aisle next to Père Robert. She smiled at Adam and he smiled back. She saw him wipe a tear from his eye.
As Belle walked out of the castle, the warm sunshine hit her immediately. She turned her face up towards the sun, silently thanking mother nature for giving them such a perfect day. As she continued walking towards the steps, all heads turned towards her. She heard gasps from the crowd and she could hear murmurings of her beauty. Belle felt bashful that they were all staring at her, but she continued on. She wanted nothing more than to get to Adam.
With the train of her dress cascading behind her, Belle made her way down the steps. She stopped at the bottom and took a deep breath before slowly making her way down the aisle. A string quartet played in the background. Belle saw the faces of so many people in the village she knew and all of her students. One of her youngest students, a girl who was only five years old, waved at her. Belle waved back. Finally, she made it to the end of the aisle. Adam was waiting for her, the largest smile on his face. She took her place in front of Père Robert so she was facing Adam. He immediately took her hand.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here on this beautiful day to witness the marriage of Prince Adam and Belle," Père Robert began. "I have been lucky enough to have known Belle since she was a young child and I can say that there is no one more kind, more lovely, or more deserving of love than Mademoiselle Belle."
Adam squeezed Belle's hand in agreement. He could not stop looking into her eyes.
"And the prince has shown to all of us that you can change if you are willing to," Père Robert continued. "These two come together today to enter into the bonds of holy matrimony. As husband and wife, Prince Adam and Belle must be open and vulnerable and must have the courage to take risks, which I think Mademoiselle Belle has already proven."
The crowd, including Adam and Belle, laughed.
"At this point in the ceremony, Mademoiselle Belle would like to recite a short verse from the play Romeo and Juliette."
Adam laughed out loud at the little surprise. He still teased Belle about Romeo and Juliet being her favorite book. Although he loved hearing her recite it to him, he still would not admit that he liked the play. Belle must have told Père Robert to add the reading into the ceremony. Adam was not angry. In fact, he thought it was special. After all, Belle reciting Romeo and Juliet to him the first time after he had been attacked by wolves was what prompted him to show her the library. Without that, there was no telling if they would have ended up bonding the way they did.
"My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep," Belle recited. "The more I give to thee, the more I have. For both are infinite."
Adam smiled. He knew it was one of her favorite quotes. He desperately wanted to lean in and kiss her, but knew it wasn't the right time.
"I'd like to say something," Adam announced with a smirk. Belle looked at him, surprised. Although he had not planned it, Adam wanted to say something just as meaningful to her. "This is from King Arthur and the Round Table." He cleared his throat and winked at her. Only the two of them knew the significance of the King Arthur book. "I would die for you one hundred times over. As long as I live, my feelings for you will never fade."
A tear rolled down Belle's cheek. Adam brushed it away with his thumb.
"I love you," he mouthed without actually saying a word. He could feel his own eyes welling up.
"Those were beautiful remarks," Père Robert said. "Before we begin the exchanging of vows, some of Mademoiselle Belle's students asked if they could say something."
Père Robert stepped aside. Three of Belle's students stepped up. Belle had more tears in her eyes. She was not expecting that. The three children read from a book Belle recognized from the library. She barely registered what they were saying. She was just so proud that they were reading. The three of them hadn't been able to read before they came to her. Adam squeezed her hands again. He could see the pride in her eyes. He felt the same pride in her.
"Thank you children," Père Robert said when the children were through. Everyone clapped their hands. The students went back to their seats and the priest turned his attention back to Adam and Belle. "If we may have the rings please."
Lumiere stepped up from beside Adam and presented two rings on a red, velvet pillow. Both rings looked like simple, gold bands, but the bands were engraved with the most beautiful flowers and stems and leaves. It fit with Belle's engagement ring perfectly. Père Robert handed Adam the ring for Belle and handed Belle's ring to Adam.
"Your highness, Will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"
"I will," Adam answered. He slipped the ring onto Belle's finger.
"And Belle," Père Robert continued. "Will you have this man to be your husband, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor, and keep him in sickness and in healthy, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"
"I will," Belle replied. She took Adam's ring and placed it on his finger.
"Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."
Adam leaned in and they kissed lightly. It took all of Adam's restraint not to kiss her passionately, but that would be improper. The guests erupted in cheers, the loudest ones coming from the staff of the castle. Adam took Belle's hand. Together they walked back down the aisle while guests threw rose petals over their heads. Belle could not wipe the smile off her face. She had never been happier.
Once inside the castle, the doors closed behind them. Belle and Adam were alone for the first time.
"You are so beautiful, my wife" Adam said, looking her up and down. He licked his lips.
"And you are very handsome, my husband."
Adam pulled her towards him. His lips crashed down on hers. She responded with equal enthusiasm. Belle dropped her bouquet of roses as her arms looped around his neck. He pulled her in closer, wrapping his arms around her small waist.
"I've been wanting to do that since I saw you walk down that aisle," Adam panted, their lips barely separated. He kissed her again.
"We must invite our guests to the ballroom," Belle managed to say even though her head felt like it was swimming. Having coherent thoughts after kissing Adam was very difficult.
"Do we have to?" Adam asked, almost whining.
Belle smiled. She stood on her tiptoes so she could whisper in his ear. "We'll have all night."
She stepped away from Adam before he could reply. He was left standing, his mouth open in surprise.
Hours later, the ballroom was full of music, laughter, and chatter. Mrs. Potts and the rest of the staff had just finished clearing the food. It was the most delicious meal any of them had ever tasted. And the cake was everything Belle and Adam wanted. Every layer was different, the top two layers having a raspberry and lemon filling. The seven layer cake was not only exquisite to look at, but simply divine to eat. Mrs. Potts had really outdone herself.
Adam was on one side of the room, speaking to a villager who had concerns about the lack of rain the area had been experiencing. Although Adam did really care for the farmer's plight, he was not really paying attention. He was too busy staring at Belle. She was sitting amongst a group of her students on the floor, sharing a new book with them. Adam could not help but laugh. He had never known a bride to sit on the floor in her wedding dress before. But that was one of the many reasons he loved her. She often did the unexpected. From across the room, Lumiere walked over to Adam.
"Excuse me, sir, but the first dance is about to begin."
"Thank you, Lumiere." Adam turned to the man he had been speaking to. "Perhaps we can continue this conversation some other time. If you'll excuse me, I need to go dance with my new bride."
Adam walked across the dance floor. People stopped him to say how beautiful the wedding was and how happy they were that they had been invited to the wedding, but Adam barely listened. He only had eyes for Belle. When he reached her, she looked up at him with her brown, doe eyes.
"Teaching on your wedding day?" Adam asked.
"We asked Mademoiselle Belle to read us a story," one of the young girls answered.
"And of course I couldn't say no," Belle replied.
"Well, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to steal her away," Adam explained. "It's almost time for our first dance."
The girls giggled.
"I'll finish the story when school starts up again next week," Belle assured them all.
"You look so beautiful, Mademoiselle Belle," one of the older girls complimented.
"It's Madame Belle now," Genevieve, the older woman who had been attending Belle's classes corrected, walking up to them.
"Can we call you Princess Belle? After all, you are a Princess now," a girl asked.
Belle smiled and patted her on the head. "I think Madame Belle will do."
"Girls, let's let the princess go back to her prince," Genevieve suggested.
Adam reached out his hand. Belle took it and Adam helped her to her feet. She smoothed out her dress and handed the book to Genevieve. Genevieve smiled at her the way, Belle imagined, a mother might smile at her daughter on her wedding day. Belle smiled back before she and Adam walked hand in hand to the middle of the ballroom.
"Your students love you," Adam said.
"And I love them."
"Perhaps if I had a teacher who looked like you, I would have liked school better."
Adam smirked. Belle rolled her eyes. She loved how they could tease each other. The crowd all took their seats at their tables. The orchestra began to play the same song Belle and Adam had danced to when he had been a beast; the same song they danced to when Adam proposed. It was their song.
Adam placed his hand on Belle's waist while she put her hand on his shoulder. In perfect unison, they began to waltz. Although they were surrounded by hundreds of people, it felt like they were the only two people in the world. Never breaking eye contact, they swayed and moved with the music. When the song was over, Adam leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips.
Author's Note: Phew…I've been nervous about writing this one for a while. I hope I didn't disappoint with the wedding ceremony. I decided to take a more "modern" spin in on it (despite the fact that I know that's not how it would be back in the day in France). Thanks so much for reading!