Author's Note
Hi all, I am so thankful for all the positive reviews in regards to my last chapter. I am so thankful for all of your comments and I apologise for the delay in this chapter being uploaded. I was having quite bad writer's block and then when I was able to get the wheels turning, I then became quite ill which I needed rest but I am all better now and ready for this chapter to go up!
Their relationship will become a lot more intimate and close throughout the story. There are some demons in Christian's past which will be uncovered shortly but want to bring that up organically. I did see a review from someone asking about a confusion in regards to how Christian was announced in the previous chapter. He is a Prince from the House of Grey and Trevelyan is his middle name and most royals are announced in these situations with their full names including middle names. I wanted to just set that straight so the confusion is gone.
I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
CPOV
The Wedding
I don't know what's going on with me. I haven't seen Anastasia since when I lost it after our TV interview. I don't know what happened. As soon as I saw that dick's eye lay on her, I just saw red. I don't get it. I just felt like all this anger come out. Even just thinking about it gets my blood boil.
Today is the wedding and I'm worried that I may have scared Anastasia off after I walked out. I had to seriously stop myself from grabbing her and kissing her when I got so close to her. I don't like what is going on with me right now. I had tried to see if I could take her aside for two minutes to apologise at the Rehearsal but when I got there, they said she would be coming after I rehearsed my part but that I wouldn't be able to see her.
I'm dressed in my wedding regalia. I basically look like something from a Disney movie. Gold tassels hang from my shoulders, white gloves adorn my hands. I can't believe this is happening today. I am getting married...
APOV
Well this is it. The day where I save my Dad from bankruptcy. I guarantee though he won't congratulate me and or say 'Well done darling.' I'm in my to die for dress. It's a bardot style with long, sheer sleeves. I didn't want to look like a total Princess so I haven't gone for the big ball gown but just little volume in the skirt. I like that my waist is completely cinched by the layers of tulle wrapped around it. I'm wearing a long dramatic cathedral length train that has beautiful crystal on the edges to give that twinkle in the light. I really do feel pretty but then the thought that this wedding is a sham dulls the moment. However I want to see if I can try and make the best of this. Ok so I may not love the man I am marrying but he seems nice. He was nice towards me during the TV interview.
I haven't seen Christian since his storming out after the TV interview. I was told I couldn't see him yesterday at the rehearsal as he was not allowed to see me in my dress. I wanted to say 'Well it's not bad luck if the bride and groom don't know each other' but then I'm sure, I will have blown the fairy tale impression and everyone will know the secret.
"Everyone is seated at the Cathedral. It's time." Taylor announces as he walks in.
CPOV
Ok - well it seems that it is all going ahead otherwise I wouldn't be standing at the end of the aisle waiting for her. I see my parents have just been seated at their thrones and Anastasia's father will be seated once he walks her down and hands her to me.
I literally feel like my stomach is churning over once the Bridal march starts. Everyone stands and I see all the heads turning towards the back of the cathedral waiting for her. I keep looking forward, nervous to see her for the first time. I can't believe I'm nervous. I sound like a hormonal teenage boy who is on their first date!
"Oh wow. She's a beauty..." I hear someone behind me say. I turn and I'm in instant awe when I see her. She looks stunning in her dress and her hair is like wavy but like old Hollywood wavy with a big hairpiece just above her left ear. Maybe this arrangement isn't so bad? It's not like I have been given someone completely unbearable to live with, I mean look at her!
She stops just before meeting me at the steps to curtsey to my parents. She then turns and comes up the steps with her father. I bow to her and her father and hold out my left hand. Her father passes her hand over not gently but quite abruptly.
"She's yours to deal with for now." He mutters under his breath as if she was something he owned. I cannot believe he would say something like that about his daughter. I look at her and behind her veil, I see those beautiful blue eyes that mesmerised me only a week ago.
"Sorry about him." She apologises quietly so no-one else can hear us.
"I'm sorry about the other day." I state.
"Don't worry about it. Let's talk about it later. They'll have people trying to read our lips." She warns me.
"Ok - let me just say one thing though." I ask her.
"Yes Christian?" She looks up at me so innocently.
"You look amazing." I smile after telling her. I see her blush and it pleases me that I affect her like this.
"Thank you. You look dashing." She smiles and we exchange a little giggle. She holds her bouquet to her face to cover her giggles. We straighten out once we see the Archbishop coming to us as the march finishes.
"We are here to witness what not very many of us see in our lifetime, a fairy-tale wedding between a prince and a princess. We witness this magical romance bloom and bestow our great nation. Do you both stand here today, willing to be entered into matrimony with each other."
"We do." We answer in unison.
"Prince Christian - please take Princess Anastasia's left hand as we begin your vow to her." She holds out the hand to me and I hold it with my right hand as I face her.
"Now - repeat after me. I, Christian Trevelyan from the House of Grey of Bellvue."
"...I, Christian Trevelyan from the House of Grey of Bellvue..."
"Take thee Anastasia Rose from the House of Steele of Portland."
"...Take thee Anastasia Rose from the House of Steele of Portland..."
"To be my lawful wedded wife."
"...To be my lawful wedded wife."
"To have and to hold from this day forward."
"...To have and to hold from this day forward..."
"For better for worse."
"...For better for worse."
"For richer for poorer."
"...For richer for poorer..."
"In sickness and in health."
"...In sickness and in health..."
"To love and to cherish."
"...To love and to cherish..."
"Until parted by death."
"...Until parted by death."
"Now Princess Anastasia - take Prince Christian's left hand as we begin your vow to him." I hold mine out just as she did with hers and she takes like I did with hers. She repeats her vows confidently like as if she was marrying me forever.
"Now that Their Royal Highnesses have made their vows to one another, the wedding rings, the symbol of everlasting love are exchanged. Prince Christian, please take Princess Anastasia's left hand and place her wedding ring on her ring finger."
Taylor comes behind me and gives me Ana's ring. I found another ring from my grandfather's collection. Nothing too extravagant. A dainty eternity ring with pave diamonds all around it. I thought it would go with her engagement perfectly. I hold my hand out and she places hers in mine. I place the ring on and I feel like electricity running through my fingers to hers.
"Again - repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed..."
"...With this ring, I thee wed..."
"With my body, I thee worship."
"...With my body, I thee worship..."
"And with my wordily goods, I thee share."
"...And with my wordily goods, I thee share."
"Princess Anastasia - please take Prince Christian's left hand and place his wedding ring on his ring finger." She takes my ring from Taylor and places it on my ring finger. I like it - just a classic white gold ring. She repeats the same statement.
"Princess Anastasia - are you willing to take your place as Princess of Bellvue, supporting our King and his Queen, your Prince and the people of Bellvue in their best interests?"
She nods. "I am willing." We both turn to face my father and mother. I bow my head whilst Anastasia curtseys. "I vow to your Majesties that I will do my best by yourselves and by the people of Bellvue. I will respect the people of Bellvue. I will celebrate the people of Bellvue. I will support the people of Bellvue. I commit myself to Bellvue." She vows to my parents. Both my parents stand and my father motions with his hand for her to stand back up from her curtsey as he accepts her vow.
"Their Royal Highnesses have made their vows to each other and Anastasia of Portland is now, Princess Anastasia Rose, House of Grey of Bellvue. Princess Anastasia and Prince Christian are now husband and wife!" The cathedral erupts in claps and cheers. I look at Ana and hold her right hand as in reassurance. She squeezes it back acknowledging my gesture. "Your Royal Highnesses, please follow me as we sign your wedding register." We follow the archbishop into a separate room where we meet the registrar. We both sign the register legally stating our marriage and my father and her father witness by signing it also.
"As you both know - it is tradition that the bride and groom have a few minutes alone before you come back into the cathedral to leave. Your guests will be entertained by our choir singing so once they are finished singing, that is your cue to come out. Also, you will need to pull the Princess' veil back as this is a sign you have sealed your marriage with a kiss." Our fathers and the archbishop leave and just like that, we are alone.
"Wow..." Anastasia breathes out.
"You ok? You're holding up, ok?" I ask her, secretly hoping she tells me that she is.
"Yes, it's just so overwhelming." She says breathily.
"I understand. Can I apologise now for the other day?" I look at her sheepishly and she throws me a small smile.
"Yes you may." She grants me.
"I am sorry about that. I don't understand these feelings myself and I am trying to figure this out. I never felt that angry before, especially over a girl."
"Did you reach a conclusion to your reaction?" She asks.
"Not really, I don't know. I just got so angry seeing him look at you."
"Christian - he wasn't looking at me in any horrible way." I scoff at her answer. "Now you're scoffing at me?!" she exclaims shocked. Oh crap!
"I'm sorry but he did, Ana. He wanted you. I know he did." I state to her as if it's law.
"Oh really? How do you know?" She retorts back. "How did you know that he wanted me?"
For the first time, I am actually speechless. I have nothing smart or quick to answer back with. I'm shocked that she's shut me up.
"Exactly, Christian. Do I detect a hint of jealousy?" She plays.
"Jealous - me? Why would I be jealous?!" I exclaim.
"You tell me. Maybe you want me but you don't want another man to have his way with me..." She gets closer to me until we're face to face.
"Well - you need not worry. We're married now and don't forget the cheating clause so that interviewer wouldn't be able to have his way with me." In my head, I breathe out a sigh of relief from her assurance.
"I definitely haven't forgotten the cheating clause, Ana. We might need to come to our own arrangement regarding that side of our married life however. I don't think I can go without years of no sex."
"Well this is your opportunity." She breathily tells me.
"Seriously?"
"Well like you said, you don't think you can go without sex and I am your wife." She holds up her hand showing her ring.
"So you're saying you'd be okay to have sex with me?" Say yes! Say yes!
"This may not be a typical marriage, Christian but after we divorce, I'm not really going to be the hot ticket for someone to marry so why shouldn't I experience some things that all brides do..." I'm shocked by her forwardness.
"Well I'm sure that can be arranged." I flirt back.
We are standing so close to each other, I can feel the heat of her breath with her veil only separating us. I step back.
"I think this would be the best time to lift your veil." I grab the bottom and I pull it over head. She looks down but then looks up at me with her face uncovered and I can see her face so clearly. Her beautiful blue eyes sparkling and smiling along with her mouth.
"What are you doing to me, Anastasia?" I whisper.
"I could say the same thing to you." She whispers back as if I have taken her breath.
There's a knock on the door signalling that they're coming to the end of song. I hold my hand out to her and she places hers in mine. I bring her hand to my lips, without removing my eyes from hers. I kiss her hand slowly and I can see her take in a breath.
"Let's see where this journey takes us, Princess..."
"Looking forward to it, your Royal Highness." She retorts back.
