His kisses left her breathless, aching for more, that elusive something she could never seem to grasp, nor could she give it a name. She shuddered in anticipation as he carried her to the soft bed, feeling him press his lips firmly back onto her own ...
Maria awoke with a start, blinking bemusedly around at her surroundings for several moments. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she unconsciously lifted her hand to them, and then to her cheek. Although it was merely a dream, a blush still colored her cheeks in remembrance of it, and the young woman shivered the tinest bit. It had been so vivid, so real. She almost expected him to be there next to her, breathing evenly in the darkness of early morning. But as her bright eyes traveled slowly around the plain room once more, reality slowly settled back over her. She was back in the Abbey, staying only during the eve of their wedding. And it's today, she suddenly realized. A thousand sensations suddenly shot through her in a tumultous tumble. She was nervous, yes; the daunting prospect of having to walk up such a long aisle in the cathedral to see Georg again seemed like imminent torture, and yet, excitement and joy spread just as quickly in her veins. She would marry the man whom her heart belonged to, and be by his side - and those of his children - for the rest of their lives. The very thought of Georg and their life together, as well as that of their approaching honeymoon, was enough to send a burst of adrenaline through the former postulant's senses. Exhaling slowly, she rolled over onto her side, eyes fluttering shut once more. As she attempted to drift back into the darkness of sleep, she idly wondered if every bride-to-be felt these racing, pounding feelings when she awakens on the morning of her wedding day.
--------------------------------------
"Just one more button left to fasten, " Sister Margaretta said encouragingly as she finished buttoning up the back of Maria's gown. Taking a step back, the nun smiled kindly at the beautiful girl she had grown to love during her time at the Abbey. Maria never was the epitome of what the Mistresses sought in their charges, but Sister Margaretta always had a special fondness for the former postulant. She's such a special person, a unique and rare jewel, indeed, she thought, watching as Maria incredulously brushed her fingers against the rich fabric and flushed a little, completely unaccustomed to wearing such fine clothing. "You'll need this, Maria, " she said at last, lifting the wreath and veil from where it had been placed on a table.
As Sister Margaretta carefully placed wreath and veil upon her head, Maria gazed at her reflection, wide eyes beholding this vision of herself adorned in bridal finery. Somehow, the presence of the veil seemed to draw her girlhood to a close; after this day, she would be a wife, Georg's wife. The finality of it all closed in upon her; she wanted to weep to ease her nerves, to run straight to the Untersburg and seek solace in the hills, to be comforted in Georg's arms. And yet, a strange sort of calmness enveloped her, a sensation of serenity, peace, and a strong certainty of what was to come.
Perhaps Sister Margaretta sensed Maria's internal resolution of conflict; at any rate, the nun gently touched the young woman's shoulder. "Maria? It's time."
--------------------------------------
The long walk across the Abbey's courtyard wasn't able to dispel her strong sense of calmness, but entering the cathedral instantly restored her nerves, rendering her breathless. She had always thought of the building with great awe, and automatically bowed her head a bit, reverently, as she trailed through the exterior chamber. The rich chimes of the organ brought reality crashing back around her, and as the cast-iron gate was opened, Maria turned her head back slightly toward the nuns. They were her only living family, and just as the innocent daughter shares a final, tremulous smile with her mother, the former postulant shared such a shaky, yet hopeful expression with the Mother Superior.
Liesl, Gretl, and Marta were waiting for her. The little ones' eyes grew huge as they stared at their governess's dress. Both looked as though they wished to say something, but Liesl gently placed her hands on their shoulders, and nudged them toward the aisle. As the two happily traipsed ahead, bearing their baskets with flowers, Maria was only vaguely aware of Liesl handing her the lovely bouquet of Edelweiss, for her eyes had suddenly found the one person she was unable to keep her mind off of, the one person to whom she was about to devote her life and love to. Georg ...
He had been waiting for this moment for what felt like an eternity. The moment she had stepped into his line of vision, a slow smile had begun to grace his lips. A night at the villa with the vacant room just down the hall was torturous. Nothing short of immense willpower kept him from tearing out of the house toward the Abbey. Toward her. As he watched his young bride draw closer, the Captain almost felt his knees buckle. Whatever Herr Webermann had done to that gown was simply - well, simply magical. Maria almost appeared to float in a stately manner down the aisle, from Georg's vantage point, and the subtle swish of fabric against her delicate skin elicited a shiver that shot down his spine. He would be sorely pressed to restrain himself from merely pulling her to him. But tonight, he realized suddenly, he wouldn't have to restrain his pent-up passion any longer.
Somehow, Maria would recall years later the details that all seemed to blur in her vision of that fateful walk, that slow and steady glide up the seemingly sempiternal, red-carpeted aisle. The smiles of her children, standing nearby with Max. The respectful gazes of those who had come to attend the wedding. The formality and solemnity that was embodied within each step she took. And his eyes. Never once did she take her eyes off of his, once they had met. Her nerves were instantly comforted, her trembling heart stilled by his steady gaze. He was hers, and she was his; again, that certainty that buoyed her confidence within the walls of the abbey returned in an overwhelming measure. In the eternity between the first and last step up to where Georg was waiting, never once did her step falter; never did her steadfast faith waver. He took her hand, and together, they approached the archbishop, kneeling to be joined in holy matrimony.
--------------------------------------
"Congratulations, Baron and Baroness von Trapp!" a voice called jovially.
Georg, his arm looped around Maria's waist, turned his head toward the speaker, and chuckled warmly. "Thank you, Max. I was wondering if you had soaked up enough champagne and cake at the reception."
The older man grinned, boldly winking at Maria, who smiled back at him. "Oh, I've soaked up enough for one evening, I believe. In the meantime, I think it's high time that I take seven charming children back to the von Trapp villa, and -- "
"Max, " the Captain admonished with mock-annoyance, noticing that Maria was beginning to blush a little. "It is the children's bedtime, I suppose, " he conceded after a moment, glancing between his watch and his wife. "And time for us to check into our room for the evening. We'll need plenty of rest before heading off to France in the morning."
Maria sighed, rotating the stem of the single blossom of edelweiss she held in her free hand. The wedding had been absolutely perfect; the reception in Salzburg's most beautiful and grandest hotel couldn't have been lovelier. The young woman could have danced in her Captain's arms all night -- but there was the honeymoon to think about. They did need some rest before skipping off to Paris.
In a flurry of hugs, kisses, goodbyes, and promises to bring back presents, the von Trapps bid their children farewell for a month's time, and suddenly, Maria found herself ascending the stairs with Georg at her side. Anxiety overtook her nerves again, and her body involuntarily shivered. There would be no turning back.