Chapter Two
Disclaimer: I own nothing 'cept for my own crapola.
A/N: Here's chappie two!
Dong, dong, ding, ding, dong...
The sounds of church bells and organs filled the air as the procession began
Patricia watched from the hall for her cue to enter, watching as her two other friends, Diedre and Kate, the maids of honor, walked slowly down the isle. Most of the people sitting in the pews were from Tavington's side of the family. She knew that her parents were down in Delaware, living out the last of their days. Patricia felt a little bad she hadn't told them she had even met William, let alone marry him, but there was a large chance they wouldn't be able to make the trip if she had.
Anyway, they were patriots. They wouldn't approve of him, and he would probably feel the same about them.
She looked at Tavington, standing at the alter, his face set straight, but she knew him well enough to look beyond that mask and see he was out of his mind with nervousness. A bead of sweat rolled down his cheekbone and was caught by a small kerchief tied around his neck. His leg was jiggling in anticipation. O'Hara, the best man, stood right behind him, comforting him.
She saw William whisper something to him, and the ex-general mouthed something back.
It was her time.
She slipped the veil over her head and stood there, waiting.
Lark took her by the elbow and led her down. Flowers adorned the isle itself, and petals littered her path. A warm breeze blew in from a drafty window, sending them scattering around her feet, and her veil blew up, allowing Tavington a moment's glimpse of his wife.
He gazed at her from his spot, his heart thudding rapidly in his chest as he watched her walk towards him... Jesus Christ, she was beautiful.
He faced her, seeing traces of her face behind the veil. Her long white dress, courtesy of himself, blew gently with the breeze emitted from the doors and windows. The sweetness of the air around was an indescribable, flowery scent. He looked at her and could swear he saw a grin.
The minister, and old, near-sighted man, had the church and the couple say a quick opening prayer, before reciting the words that had been imprinted in his mind from countless weddings before. The sacred words flowed from his lips, the words that bound people together for the rest of their lives.
"We are here today to celebrate the joining of Patricia Dawn Kellings and William Adian Tavington in holy matrimony."
The couple listened, both understanding the importance of this ritual, waiting.
Finally, after about an hour of sitting, standing and kneeling, the end drew near.
"William, do you take Patricia Dawn to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, to honor and cherish her, until death do you part?"
William stared at the woman he loved so much, in front of him.
"I do."
"Patricia, do you take William Adian to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love him, to honor him and cherish him, until death do you part?"
A pause, as Patricia silently wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I do."
The minister closed the Bible with a resounding thud. No one in the pews said a word.
"Very well," he said, "By the power invested in me and the church, I now pronounce youman and wife. You may ki-"
A loud crashing of glass and gunshots tore through the silence, as the stained-glass windows were kicked in from all sides.