The strains of the organ echoed through the crowded cathedral as Prince Edward stood at the altar, waiting for his bride. John was at his side, and his eyes were scarcely less troubled than his friend's. Princess Kate, her face whiter than her gown, was walking slowly down the aisle on her father's arm. Edward was not even looking at her but staring off into the distance.
As she reached him, he took her hand, cold and trembling as it was, and led her to the altar. Motionless, as though in a trance, he stood there, as the priest spoke the benediction… words that were meant in blessing but which sounded to him like a curse.
At the back of the room, a trumpet suddenly sounded… not the loud brass trumpets all were accustomed to, but a light, silvery, fairy sound.
Suddenly, suddenly it happens and the dream comes true...
A few turned to glare in annoyance at the offender who sat in the back row, smiling as if very pleased with herself. But their attention was quickly drawn away for there, in the doorway, stood another bride. She glanced nervously down the aisle, almost as if frightened, but at a nod from the stranger who had blown the trumpet, she began slowly down the aisle. The congregation had turned and was staring at her, wondering what may possibly be happening. Up at the front of the sanctuary, John turned, and his eyes grew wide in surprise.
"Sir," he whispered, nudging Edward's arm. "Sir!"
Edward turned and a change came over his face. From horror and dismay to pure joy. It seemed to him as if an angel stood there in the aisle... his beautiful love all arrayed in white and shining with the sunbeams just behind her. Leaving his bride at the altar, he advanced down the aisle to meet her. And as he took her in his arms, the congregation stood with a gasp.
Oblivious to all around him, Edward held her close, so close, as if daring the world to try and take her from him again. She belonged to him, and he to her, and they would never be parted again.
It all happened so fast. The rush of emotions that swept over the Princess Kate overwhelmed her. As she saw her bridegroom rush to meet the stranger with love shining in his eyes, she felt the world suddenly spinning around her. As she collapsed, she felt strong arms around her. Opening her eyes, she looked up into the face of her rescuer and, just as it had before, her heart stopped beating. It was him… the man whose name she had never known but whom she had loved for so long! And he was looking down at her with something in his eyes that she had never seen in the eyes of the man to whom she was betrothed. Could it be? Love.
As he turned from the half-conscious bride in the arms of the Duke of Montague, John looked up. There, in the doorway, more beautiful than ever before and smiling at him so radiantly, stood the maid of honor. His Lady Caroline.
So, not saying "the end" quite yet, bear with me here... was just wondering if anyone would be interested in a sequel? Nothing big or dramatic, just daily life with my beloved characters, since I can't bear the thought of being done with them... =P Let me know! (It would be after Sarah's Story, of course...)