Author's Note:
So this is likely to be the last chapter of this story… Enjoy!
The wedding reception as held that summer evening in one of the palace garden's courtyards. The area was lit by small candles in elegant crystal bubbles, which hung from the walls and lattices in the courtyard. A polished marble dance floor was in the centre of the area and a stage of minstrels were preparing their instruments and warming up.
Artie and Adel stood at the entrance of the courtyard, greeting the wedding guests that had come to the reception while a steady mountain of wedding gifts was forming.
Finally once everyone was seated at the round tables around the courtyard, Artie and Adel seated themselves at the head table with their family. Adel had her parents and younger sisters, and Artie had his aunt and Shrek's family.
Lillian stood in her seat and lightly tapped her crystal glass. Once the courtyard was silent the aged woman began to speak.
"Now before we dig into what the chefs have cooked up for our dinner, I would like to propose a toast to the newlyweds, Arthur and Adel; may they live happily together for many years to come… To Arthur and Adel." She raised her glass.
"To Arthur and Adel!"
The waiters then scuttled about the courtyard to serve the appetizers to each guest and refill their goblets with drink.
Once the guests had finished off their desserts the minstrels were prepared to begin their music pieces.
The leader of the minstrels cleared his throat. "And now… as part of wedding tradition, it would be a pleasure to assign the first dance of the evening to the newlyweds."
The young groom gently escorted his young bride out onto the polished marble dance floor. A single violin began the piece of music and the married couple drifted across the dance floor bathed in candlelight spotlights. The soft strumming of a lute and the gentle plunking of a harp soon joined the violin.
The newlyweds were completely absorbed in the dance, their eyes locked and their smiles gentle.
After a few moments the couple tenderly locked lips then bowed cordially to their guests, allowing them to engage in the dance as well.
Fredrick led his wife out onto the dance floor, followed by the bridesmaids and their escorts. Then came Madame Christine and Raul, Siobhan and her beau from Scotland joined the dancers. Siobhan's older brothers, all who had acquired a date for the wedding, also joined in the dance. Shrek and Fiona, Iris and Lucius, Harriet and Liam, and Harold and Lucillius soon joined the bunch. Kathryn decided to dance with Donkey and all five of the Dronkeys at the sidelines.
Finally the song ended and the partners bowed to each other and then applauded the minstrels' talent.
"And now." The lead minstrel called out. "The traditional father-daughter dance for this evening, lead by our new Queen Adel Pendragon and her father King Fredrick Marksworth."
Adel smiled, hearing her new title for the first time since she had acquired it, separating from her husband as the dance floor cleared once again, leaving only her and her father. Fredrick smiled down at his eldest daughter and they began dancing to the almost bittersweet tune produced by the minstrels.
"I'm so proud of you, Adel." Fredrick whispered down to his daughter. "You've done both kingdoms proudly by overcoming the barriers between them and following your heart."
Adel looked up and smiled at her father. "I couldn't have done it without you, father."
Adel and Fredrick nodded cordially to the guests and more father-daughter couples walked out onto the floor: Siobhan with her father, the King of Scotland; Shrek with his only daughter, Kathryn; Donkey with Éclair and Cocoa; and Sir Timotheus with his young daughter, Lucillius. Iris and Harriet joined their older sister and father in a group dance.
The summer evening seemed shorter than it was, and soon the guests were retiring to their beds for the evening. As the last few guests left the courtyard Artie and Adel stood at the front entrance of the palace.
"What are we going to do with all of the gifts?" Adel enquired with a smirk, glancing at the mountain of beautifully wrapped presents.
"I'm sure the children will opt to helping us open them in the morning." Artie smiled. "Now come on, we'd best be getting to bed."
Adel giggled as her husband gently escorted her back into the palace towards their new room.
The young man carried his wife into their new room, bridal style, and she smiled gently up at him.
"I've never been more happier in my life, Artie."
"Neither have I, Adel." He planted a gentle kiss on her cheek before setting her down on her feet.
Adel gently lifted the crown of Far Far Away from her head and placed it on its stand in the room.
She then walked out onto the balcony and looked out at the millions of stars embedded like twinkling diamonds on their midnight blue canvas.
A gentle breeze caressed her freckled face as she looked out on her new home.
Artie stood beside Adel; setting his left hand down on her right. The golden wedding band on his hand shone in the pale moonlight and Adel gently leaned against his arm.
"I love you, Artie…" She smiled.
"And I love you, Adel." Artie kissed his wife on the forehead where the cross of oil had been anointed by the archbishop.
They stood there on the marble balcony, bathed in the moonlight, arms around each other.
Adel smiled and looked up at her husband. "I'd like to propose a toast of my own…"
"Without any wine?" Artie enquired.
Adel nodded. She inhaled and looked up at her husband. Her bright blue eyes met his pale green eyes and she smiled warmly. "To a new beginning."
Artie smiled down at his wife. "To a new beginning."
With that vow, the young couple locked lips tenderly, ensuring that the promise would be kept, and then decided to retire for the night.
Author's Note:
Well, that ends that story… thank you all for the lovely reviews and stay tuned –if you please- for more fanfics that I'll soon be writing.
Manga Girl # 6