Time went by so fast that, New Spain felt as if she had seen it through a lens instead of living it. Her dress was ready, along with the reception for her wedding with Spain. She was already wearing her wedding dress waiting in her older sister's Argentina's room. She looked at herself in the mirror; her hair was in a tight bun with so many small curls on her hair. New Spain sighed, her almond shaped eyes had eyeliner on her eyes, and her curly eyelashes looked a bit longer. She placed a hand on her cheek, feeling the smoothness of her skin.
'Piel de niƱa,' Spain murmured into New Spain's ear. A darker shade of red was seen in New Spain's rosy cheeks.
"Was someone imagining her honey moon?" Argentina teased.
"N-no I was just thinking," New Spain trembled.
"Mmm-hmm," The girls sighed.
They all looked beautiful in their maid of honor dresses. New Spain ignored their snobbish comments and teasing. Can't they tell she was in mourning? She was saying good-bye to her freedom, and night of running around in the fields barefoot.
"Oh my, look at the time! We are going to be late!" Jamaica exclaimed finishing her hair.
Once again time seemed to speed up, right before New Spain was another scene in a screen. Before she knew it she was at the Church being ushered down the aisle by Cuba. She wanted to pulled out of Cuba's hand and run straight back and have just one more moment of being a child. Play with her dolls, roll around in the mud, but she did not.
"Be strong, my dear little sister," Cuba nudged at New Spain.
New Spain looked up at Cuba.
"I know exactly what you want to do, but now it is too late for that. Try to be strong, be the best wife there is, understand?" Cuba quietly asked.
New Spain only nodded her head in response. They were right in front of Holy Roman Empire and he asked:
"Who is it that brings this woman to this man?"
"I do, I do on behalf of her family, friends and the world," Cuba responded.
Cuba steps back and roughly tugs New Spain's grip from his arm and hands her over to Spain. Cuba takes his seat, leaving her in Spain's hands.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite Antonio Fernandez Carriedo and Esperanza Guadalupe Reyes Castillo in marriage.
Should there be anyone who has cause why this couple should not be united in marriage, they must speak now or forever hold their peace," Holy Roman Empire spoke to the audience.
New Spain felt as if her heart was filled with pain. Hearing these words being said and she could also tell that someone else was feeling the same thing. She could see him now, mixed between stopping the wedding and taking her away and fear of his own lack of bravery. Yes, she was thinking about Canada, he was seated on the third row closest to the isle. No one stood up and declared that both New Spain and Spain should get married for any reason.
"Now then, Antonio Fernandez Carriedo and Esperanza Guadalupe Reyes Castillo, life is given to each of us as individuals, and yet we must learn to live together. Love is given to us by our family or by our friends. We learn to love by being loved. Learning to love and living together is one of the greatest challenges of life - and is the shared goal of a married life," Holy Roman Empire declared.
New Spain felt as if her heart was going to burst out at any moment and end her life, in this church just like so many people were sacrificed to the sun god; she was being sacrificed to the land of the sun.
"Antonio, do you take Esperanza to be your Wife?" Holy Rome asked.
"I do," Spain smirked.
"Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her?" Holy Rome asked.
"I do," Spain smiled feeling the smooth skin of New Spain's hands.
"Esperanza, do you take Antonio to be your Husband?" Holy Rome asked.
"I do," New Spain sighed. She can feel it the last bits of her happiness just flying away.
"Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him?" Holy Rome asked.
That question seemed almost impossible to keep. Her heart felt as if it was in her stomach.
"I-I do," New Spain stuttered.
Holy Rome raised an eyebrow of suspicion at New Spain, but quickly went on with the ceremony.
"Wedding rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace and the unbroken circle of love, signifying to all the union of this man and this woman in marriage," Holy Rome reminded both New Spain and Spain.
"I Antonio Fernandez Carriedo, take thee , Esperanza Guadalupe Reyes Castillo to be my Wife- to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forevermore," Spain said as he placed the wedding ring on New Spain's slender finger.
"I Esperanza Guadalupe Reyes Castillo, take thee, Antonio Fernandez Carriedo to be my Husband- to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forevermore," New Spain repeated placing the ring on Spain's finger.
"Antonio Fernandez Carriedo and Esperanza Guadalupe Reyes Castillo as the two of you come into this marriage uniting you as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive, do not hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together - as from this day forward you shall be each other's home, comfort and refuge, your marriage strengthened by your love and respect for each other.
A marriage ceremony represents one of life's greatest commitments. But it also is a declaration of love. I wish to read to you what Paul wrote of love in a letter to the Corinthians. I believe it is a true model of love and it is a model of love I hope you pursue in your marriage:
"Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud.
Love is never haughty or selfish or rude.
Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable or touchy. Love does not hold grudges and will hardly notice when others do it wrong.
Love is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.
If you love someone, you will be loyal to them no matter what the costs. You will always believe in them, always expect the best in them, and will always stand your ground in defending them," Holy Rome read.
"Dear Heavenly Father, our hearts are filled with great happiness on Antonio and Esperanza's wedding day, as they come before you pledging their hearts and lives to one another. Grant that they may ever be true and loving, living together in such a way as to never bring shame or heartbreak into their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and understanding; rid them of all pretense or jealousy. Help them to remember to be each other's sweetheart, helpmate, best friend and guide, so that together they may meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. And with the passage of time, may they find great contentment in the rich joy of senior companionship. May the home they are creating today truly be a place of love and harmony, where Your Spirit is always present. Bless this marriage we pray and walk beside Antonio and Esperanza throughout all of their lives together. We ask these things in Jesus name; Amen.
Antonio and Esperanza, the two separate candles symbolize your separate lives, separate families and separate sets of friends. I ask that each of you take on of the lit candles and that together you light the center candle.
The individual candles represent your lives before today. Lighting the center candle represents that your two lives are now joined to one light, and represents the joining together of your two families and sets of friends to one.
I now declare you to be Husband and Wife. Whom God hath joined together, let no one put asunder." Holy Rome declared.
New Spain looked into Spain's eyes so filled with a new shimmer.
"Congratulations, you may kiss your bride," Holy Rome hesitated.
Spain dipped New Spain and kissed her passionately. New Spain shut her eyes, it would be over soon. Three minutes went by but Spain wasn't done yet.
"Mmm-hmm," Holy Rome cleared his throat, "I said kiss, not destroy."
"Oh, sorry, I guess we are just so excited," Spain blushed.
"It is my privilege to present to you Mr. & Mrs. Fernandez Carriedo," Holy Rome affirmed.
'Yes, and you have also declared my misery to the world,' New Spain thought to herself.
As you well know the newlyweds walked down the aisle, only to be ambushed by their guest cheering:
"Beso! Kiss! Kuss! Un bisou!"
Spain who was always in for pleasing his friends, swooped New Spain off her feet and passionately kissed her. New Spain was in shock that she forgot to close her eyes, allowing them to wonder. She slowly began to close her eyes and painfully place her hands on Spain's hair. When the kiss was over they both made their way into their carriage and made their way to the reception.
