A/N: Welcome to the 21st chapter! I would like to tell you that I will use this "~" in front of pastor's words when I change paragraphs. I hope you will enjoy the second part!
Chapter 21: The royal wedding! (part 2)
Everything is ready for the young couple's wedding. The great hall and its decoration, the guests and of course the groom and the bride. They all are gathered for the ceremony and wait for the biggest event. Zen stands with he flower bouquet and waits for his love to come and Shirayuki walks by her father's side heading to the great hall.
- Dad, I'm nervous, she says worried.
- Don't worry my little girl, everything is fine. I was feeling like that too at my wedding, he smiles at her.
They continue walking until they reach they reach the great hall. The pianist plays the characteristic music as Shirayuki walks down the aisle. All the guests, along with the royal families, look at her in amazement and admit that she is the most beautiful bride. Zen stares at her in shock and surprise, his jaws have indeed fallen on the floor.
Wow! Will I marry this pretty woman? I must be very lucky for meeting her in the first place. She looks perfect and I'm just here not knowing if I match with her. I didn't know that she would be such a beautiful bride. Oh, and that wedding dress, it suits her nicely! Oh my God, I can't even believe that Shirayuki will be my wife from now on... It is a miracle. Yes, a miracle!
King Mitsuo hands his daughter over Zen and tells him "Please take good care of her!" and the young prince responds determined "I will!". He gives to Shirayuki the lovely flower bouquet and both stand in front of the pastor while the sunlight makes their faces to brighten.
I can't believe it! The ceremony starts and we stand side by side to be pronounced as husband and wife. He looks so handsome, this wedding suit fits him perfectly and I just want to kiss him for being so cute! Everyone is here and I feel like crying, the tears of happiness. I love him so much and I'm sure he will be awesome as a husband too...
- Welcome family, friends and loved ones, the pastor starts speaking. We are gathered here today, surrounded by the beauty of creation and nurtured by the sights and sounds of nature to celebrate the wedding of their highnesses, Princess Shirayuki and Prince Zen. You have come here from nearby and from far away to share in this commitment now they make to one another, to offer your love and support to their union, and to allow them to start their married life together surrounded by the dearest and most important to them.
~Princess Shirayuki and Prince Zen, thank you for your presence here today. They ask for your blessing , encouragement and lifelong support for their decision to be married. They also remember other loved ones who cannot be here to share this moment with them today. Those people too, they hold dear in their hearts.
~Princess Shirayuki and Prince Zen, marriage is the promise between two people who love each other, who trust that love, who honour one another as individuals in that togetherness and who wish to spend the rest of their lives together. It enables the two separate souls to share their desires, their longings, dreams and memories, their joys and sorrows and to help each other through all uncertainties of life. A strong marriage also nurtures each of you as separate individuals and allows you to maintain your unique identity and grow in your own way through the years ahead. It is safe haven for each of you to become your best self while together you become better than ever could be alone.
~You are adding to your life not only the affection of each other, but also the companionship and blessing of a deep trust. To make this relationship work, therefore, takes more than love. It takes trust, to know in your hearts that you want only the best for each other. It takes dedication, to stay open to one another, to learn and grow, even when it is difficult to do so. And it takes faith, to go forward together without knowing what the future holds for you both.
~Your highnesses, Shirayuki and Prince Zen, please join hands, look at one another now and remember this moment in time.
~Prince Zen, please take her highness' hand and repeat after me.
Zen takes her hand into his and looks at her beautiful and cute green eyes with love that can give him wings to fly.
- Shirayuki, I take you as you are, loving who you are now and who you are yet to become. I promise from this day forward to be grateful for our love and life, to be generous with my time, my energy and my affection, to be patient with you and with myself, to fill our life with adventure and our home with laughter, to encourage you to grow as an individual and inspire you to do so, to love completely. These things I pledge before you, our friends and our family.
While Zen was talking, he felt like crying because he meant every word he said. He promised to himself that he'd protect her no matter what. Now, it is Shirayuki's turn to hold her lover's hand in her own and she does so happily as she looks into his royal blue eyes that look like the ocean and the love rises inside her heart.
- Zen, I take you as you are, loving who you are now and who you are yet to become. I promise from this day forward to be grateful for our love and life, to be generous with my time, my energy and my affection, to be patient with you and with myself, to fill our life with adventure and our home with laughter, to encourage you to grow as an individual and inspire you to do so, to love you completely. These things I pledge before you, our friends and our family.
- Prince Zen, do you take Princess Shirayuki to be your wife?, the pastor asks Zen.
- I do, he answers happy.
- Princess Shirayuki, do you take Prince Zen to be your husband?, now the pastor turns to look Shirayuki.
- I do, she responds excited.
- Please present the rings, the pastor says. Your wedding ring is a symbol of your promise to one another. The ring, an unbroken, never ending circle, is a symbol of committed, unending love. Prince Zen, as you place this ring on Princess Shirayuki's finger, repeat after me.
Zen does as he is told and says the words the pastor indicates.
- This ring symbolizes my love for you and the commitments we made today.
- Princess Shirayuki, as you place this ring on Prince Zen's finger, repeat after me.
Shirayuki does the same and vocalizes the words with great love.
- This ring symbolizes my love for you and the commitments we made today.
- Your majesties, you have come here today of your own free will and the presence of family and friends, have declared your love and commitment to each other. You have given and received a ring as a symbol of your promises. By the power of your love and commitment to each other, and the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now share your first kiss as husband and wife.
Zen brings his wife closer and kisses her lightly but lovely on her lips. The guests applaud cheerfully while Shirayuki puts her arms around Zen's neck and kisses him back.
- Congratulations! Friends and family, I now present to you the newly married couple.
Everyone in the great hall along with he pastor hails and the young couple shares one more kiss. The royal families head to their children and hug them. They congratulate them gladly and then all the guests go to the hall where the dancing party will take place.
- We will come in about twenty minutes. We go to our room to take a breath, they excuse themselves to their parents.
- Okay but don't be late, the two Queens say.
- We won't, Shirayuki answers.
Zen and Shirayuki go to the room the maids prepared for them. Once they come inside, they hug and kiss one another passionately now that they're married.
- Can you believe that now we're married? Because I can't, Shirayuki express her thouggts and feelings.
- Neither can I, Zen agrees with her.
Shirayuki stands by the window with the sunset's colors shade her face and Zen holds her from behind into a tight hug.
- I love you, honey!
- I love you too, sweetheart!, Shirayuki put her hands on his own.
- Shirayuki, you are very beautiful as a bride. I mean the dress, the hairstyle and the makeup, they make you look like an angel that came to save me.
- Thank you, Zen. You look very handsome too in that suit. Actually, you are that angel. Zen, you saved me!
Love is in the air and they can feel it. They are both angels that have opened the wings of happiness and fly in heavens. Their heart will explode from the many emotions, that's what it feels. Who would say that someday they would live together with a ring on their finger and a love that never would die...
The twenty minutes passed and they go down to the hall. A cheerful music plays while the butlers bring the wedding cake in front of them. The newly weds hold together the knife and cut a piece of cake. Zen takes a bit from the cake with the spoon and feeds Shirayuki. Shirayuki does the same with her husband and then they drink champagne with crossing arms.
The next stage is the dance of the married couple. Zen puts his arms around Shirayuki's hips and Shirayuki puts hers around Zen's neck. They start dancing at the music's rhythm with big smiles.
Perfect by Ed Sheeran
I found a love for me
Darling, just dive right in
and follow my lead
I found a girl beautiful and sweet
Oh, I never knew you were the someone
waiting for me
'Cause we were just kids
when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
But darling just kiss me slow
Your heart is all I own
And in your eyes you're holding mine
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark
With you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass
Listening to our favourite song
When you said you looked a mess
I whispered underneath my breath
but you heard it
"Darling, you look perfect tonight!"
Well, I found a woman
stronger than anyone I know
She shares my dreams
I hope that someday I'll share her home
Well, I found a lover
to carry more than just my secrets
To carry love, to carry children of our own.
Well, we are still kids
but we're so in love.
Fighting against all odds.
I know we'll be alright this time.
Darling, just hold my hand.
Be my girl, I'll be your man.
I see my future in your eyes.
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark
With you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass
Listening to our favourite song
When I saw you in that dress
Looking so beautiful
I don't deserve this
Darling, you look perfect tonight!
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark
With you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass
Listening to our favourite
I have faith in what I see
Now I know I have met an angel in person
And she looks perfect
I don't deserve this
You look perfect tonight!
Zen and Shirayuki dance all around the dance floor and he whispers in Shirayuki's ear "I dedicate this song to you, my baby angel!". She blushes and Zen thinks she's so cute when she does that. The song describes exactly their life, feelings and wishes. Shirayuki picked an extremely romantic and happy song for both of them.
The song comes to its end and everyone applauds. The newly weds sit to their chairs to eat and the maids bring their food. Everybody has fun and the excitement is spread all over the hall. The night has already fall and the stars sparkle on the dark pretty sky.
- Congratulations, you two!, Mitsuhide and approaches them.
- Thank you, guys!, Zen says.
- And that song, it was exactly like your own story, Kiki points out.
- Yes, I chose it because it was so nice, Shirayuki smiles.
The married couple stands up and goes to greet the other guests. Duke Vincent of Zaera Kingdom and Baron Lucas from Ekrimor Kingdom congratulate them and wish for many offspring. Marquoness Serena from Peobia Kingdom and Viscountess Helena of Nolux Kingdom bow their heads and shake Princess Shirayuki's and Prince Zen's hand. They have to greet many other guests and in the end they sit down on their table exhausted.
- I didn't expect to be so many of them, Shirayuki says tired.
- I agree. Well, do you want to go out to the balcony to get some fresh air, my princess?, Zen suggests.
- Fine with me.
They walk out of the hall and they feel the cool air touching their faces and refreshing them. The moon reflects in their eyes and makes them more wonderful. They hold hands and see the amazing view of the royal gardens from the balcony.
- Your majesty, can you come here for a bit? Someone is calling for you, the butler announces.
- Okay. I will be back soon, Shirayuki.
Shirayuki stands there looking at the starry sky while thinking of today's events. She feels so exhilarated that she wants to scream! Suddenly, she hears a voice behind her.
- Do you like the view of stars?, a maid asks her.
- Yes, a lot, Shirayuki answers unsuspected.
- Well, enjoy it Princess because it will be your last one.
The maid takes out a pocketknife and push Shirayuki into a corner and closes her mouth with her hand to not let Shirayuki yell. She struggles to escape but that maid is stronger than her. After a minute, the maid frees Shirayuki's mouth.
- Who are you? What do you want from me?, Shirayuki speaks scared while the pocketknife is straight to her neck.
- I'm Cynthia and I've come here to kill you. It shouldn't be you that would marry Prince Zen but me. I love him way more than you do and I'm ready to do anything to make him mine.
- You're crazy. If you really loved him then you wouldn't do such a thing. He will never love you because he loves me.
- No, you are a witch and he is under some spell of yours. But now that I'll kill you, he'll be cured and love me, Cynthia's evil laughter is heard in Shirayuki's ears.
The spiteful maid presses her pocketknife into Shirayuki's neck and she thinks that this is the end. She didn't enjoy the happiness that Zen would give her, his beautiful smiles. She didn't want to not see anymore his cute face and his adorable blue eyes. Zen's white hair reminded her of the snow that falls on the ground and makes everything white.
Flashback*
- Zen, look at the white snow! It covers everything, it is on the flowers too, little Shirayuki tells. I wonder if the plants will be okay with that cold around them, she says worried.
- Don't worry, Shirayuki. I'll protect them, little Zen promises.
He wears his boots and runs out of the castle heading to the garden. He make on his own a small shelter for the flowers with little sticks and then comes inside the castle.
- Now they will be safe, he states proudly.
- Thank you Zen, you really helped them!, Shirayuki says gladly. Do you know that your hair reminds me of the snow?
- Do you think so? It reminds me of the milk, he smiles.
- No, it is like the snow.
They fight over what his hair look like when Zen sneezes. Both of the two five-year-old kids laugh loudly and Shirayuki asks him concerned.
- Did you get a cold when you were outside?
- It seems to be, he rubs his nose.
Shirayuki suggests to go and drink a hot chocolate to make Zen feel better. He thanks her and when he was alright, they went to the garden and had a snowfight. They felt so lucky to have each other into their lives!
End of flashback*
Shirayuki remembers all the happy memories she created along with her husband and feels sad that they didn't get to live their days as married together. It is such a pity to lose her life now that a new brighter one began.
- Get away from my wife, Zen takes out his sword and aims to the maid. If you dare to hurt her more, you will be in big troubles.
- Your highness, you protect that witch because she has bewitched you. You don't really love her..., Cynthia explains her sick ideas. Please, let me kill her and the spell will break. Please, let me show how much I love you.
- I said to get away from her. You're insane and you don't love me, you are obsessed with me. Now, drop the pocketknife and come this way slowly.
The guards stand behind Zen ready to carry out any order. Cynthia drops her pocketknife but quickly hits Shirayuki on her face. The guards go to arrest her but she backs off while Zen runs towards his beloved injured love. The maid doesn't wish to get caught so she tries to escape. One of the guards takes violently her arm and she kicks him when the other guards run behind her. Cynthia moves but she loses her balance and falls down the balcony. Her screams are heard in everybody's head until nothing sounds. The height was big so she didn't have any chances to live after that fall.
Shirayuki hides her fearful face in Zen's hug and cries loudly with sobs. Everything happened in a blink of an eye and no one from the guests or the royal family figured something out. Three maids come to help their pretty princess and cure the small cut on her neck while her parents wonder what happened to their little girl.
- Calm down, everything is fine and under control. Her life isn't in danger anymore, Zen tries to quieten Shirayuki's and his parents.
- Thank you, my boy, for saving her, King Mitsuo hugs his son-in-law. You protected her as you had promised me... You really are the most proper husband for my daughter. Again, thank you.
- I did what I should. I love her too much to let something happen to her!
Shirayuki walks towards her brave and gentle childhood friend and hugs him.
- Zen, thank you so much for coming. I would have been killed if you hadn't saved me.
She kisses him with love and her green eyes are still wet from crying. She felt so grateful for meeting, marrying, loving and having him by her side. Her first love protected her from the evil and now they can continue, or better start, their new life. Nothing could stop them from being together, they had just proved it. Everyone sees the strong bond of love the two childhood friends share. It is something unique, something that not anyone can have and Zen and Shirayuki have won it.
The ball is continued with greater enthusiasm now that the newly weds have proved that they meant to be with one another. Oh dear God, they are so pure and nice together, they match like two drops of water but not on the outside, their characters are perfect and their love is sure to last foerever.
- Zen, where are we going for our honeymoon? We haven't arrange anything yet, Shirayuki expresses her thoughts.
- Don't worry, Shirayuki. Just consider it as a surprise!, he says mysteriously and with a grin on his face.
- What is it? I can't wait, she becomes impatient.
- Just wait and see, sweetheart, Zen winks.
- Okay I'll wait, darling!, Shirayuki kisses him on his cheek.
- Oh come here, Zen pulls her closer and gives her a passionate kiss on the lips.
After an hour, everyone has left and the couple head to their chamber to spend their first night together as married people. They hold hands and have fun with their other half in their arms. Their kisses are very touchy and this night would be indelible in Zen's and Shirayuki's minds for so, so long...!
Hello! I know that I didn't update a day after the first part, as promised, but this one is a very long chapter (the longest I've ever written so far!) so I couldn't help. Besides that, I hope you enjoyed it and I will wait for your thoughts/reviews... As for their first night, I'll leave it on your imaginations! I have already thought about it and it's great... While I was writing it, I was screaming in my pillow from that much cuteness *still fangirls* *cough* *cough* Anyway, I wish you have a bright day!
See you next time...