Chapter 14

In all the time that Aaron had spent in Arendelle he'd only set foot in the chapel once but, even though that had been a cursory inspection for security purposes, he still found himself impressed by the small structure. With a vaulted ceiling that reached high above the floor and numerous stained glass windows along the walls to let in the sun it was somewhat daunting when considering its size. Numerous pews, many of which were already full, sat on either side of the velvet aisle that ran along the center of the building from the door to the small landing on which he stood. To top it all off there was a balcony above the pulpit upon which a choir stood, though they weren't singing at the moment.

All in all it was a lovely building, perfect for hosting a wedding, and normally he would have commented as such to Kristoff if he didn't look so trepidatious. Standing upon the landing, his eyes kept flicking around the room before darting down as though he was hoping someone would come save him. Aaron was going to try and calm him down but then the bishop caught his attention and pulled him over for a word.

Kristoff was nervously staring down at his feet but looked up when he stepped beside him, muttering, "Alright, I just got word from the bishop. She's on her way. Should be here in a matter of minutes." Aaron'd expected for him to be elated by this news but if anything he looked queasy. "You alright?" he asked, glancing around to make sure that no one else noticed his pallor appearance.

"Yeah, fine," Kristoff replied in an unconvincing voice. Then, after a pause, he turned to Aaron and said, "Are you sure this suit looks good?"

Rolling his eyes, he gave a weary sigh. "For the last time, Kristoff, you look fine. Just stop messing with the collar."

Ordinarily he would have tried to appear more positive but his frustration was hardly misplaced, having stemmed from the fact that he'd spent a good part of the morning trying to convince him that he didn't appear foolish. Kristoff was convinced that his attire made him look absurd while Aaron, on the other hand, found that it actually made him look kind of dashing. Wearing a white coat and matching pants, they gave him sort of a regal appearance that he didn't normally possess, further illustrated by the emerald tie around his neck and ebony boots on his feet. To top it off, and for the sake of color, he also wore a violet sash that went over his right shoulder.

Meanwhile, Aaron found that he was actually quite fond of his clothes. They were similar to Kristoff's in most way except that instead of white they were jet black and were accompanied by a cloak hanging from his shoulders and his sword belted to his side as always. He'd also originally been given a lavender sash to wear as well except it had been changed to an indigo one at the last minute in an apparent effort to make him and Elsa match, which suited him just fine. Anything to connect him to the queen in peoples' minds seemed like a wonderful idea.

Not that that helped Kristoff much, who was shooting furtive glances at the crown that was resting upon a cushion beside the pulpit. It was a relatively simple design, with only a single emerald set in the center and forged from silver rather than gold, and yet it still held all the power and authority of a prince of Arendelle, which didn't seem to sit well with him. And, sure enough, he confirmed it by muttering, "Not looking forward to having to wear that thing."

"So marrying Anna makes you a prince. Suck it up," Aaron whispered back, watching as the last stranglers made their way to their seats.

"Hypocrite."

"Hey, you're the one who proposed, not me."

"Yeah, well, let's just say I didn't think that part all the way through when I did. Now I get why you were panicking about Elsa being a queen."

"Okay, just relax," he hissed, giving Kristoff a steady look. "It's going to be fine. Look how many people have turned up to support your soon-to-be union."

That had been intended to be a calming remark yet it clearly had the opposite effect when he looked out over the crowd. "There are a lot of them. Way more than I expected to show up."

"What'd you expect. You did send invitations to five different kingdoms after all."

"We did…" His voice trailed off as he watched all the people in the chapel, most of whom were ignoring them though a few were watching. After a few seconds he let out a huff. "Knew I should have just taken Anna to my family and gotten us married there. Wouldn't have had to do it in front of this crowd and there wouldn't have been any of this prince nonsense."

There had been talk early on of heading into the mountains to visit the trolls and getting them married there but that idea had quickly been squelched when questions came up as to whether or not the other kingdoms would recognize it as an official marriage. Still, that didn't stop Kristoff from bringing it up every so often over the months in an ultimately futile attempt to change the venue. Eventually it got to the point that Elsa had to ask Anna to take him aside and tell him that it was never going to happen.

"A little late to be gripping about that, don't you think?" Aaron asked with a smirk, shaking his head.

"I know, I know," he replied, squeezing his eyes shut and pinching the bridge of his nose. "I just can't help worrying that something's going to go wrong." Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "You have the rings, right?"

"Shoot, I knew I forgot something," Aaron said before laughing when Kristoff whirled to give him a panicked look. "Kidding. They're right here." Holding out his hand, he opened it to reveal the pair of golden bands. "Do you really think I would forget something like that?"

He looked like he was about to give a harsh rebuttal, probably something to the effect of that not being funny, but before he could Aaron noticed someone by the door give a wave and the choir began to sing. An excited murmur spread through the crowd as they all rose to their feet, turning towards the closed doors. The moment they'd been waiting for was finally at hand.

Pulling himself up into a more dignified pose, Aaron gave himself one last look-over, dusting some fluff off his shoulder, before giving a satisfied nod. He was ready. The same could not be said for Kristoff, however.

The moment the choir began to sing he seized up, his eyes widening as though he'd just witnessed a grisly murder. Stiff as a board and barely breathing, he leaned over and whispered, "Aaron, do something."

"What?" Aaron asked, shooting him a worried look.

"Do something. I'm freaking out right now. I… I'm not sure I can go through with this."

"Alright, hold up," he replied, thinking fast. Raising a hand, he waved it back and forth until one of the doormen noticed him and paused when he held up a finger. Once he had them stopped he quickly spun Kristoff away from the crowd and stepped in front of him, placing both hands on his shoulders. A confused buzz now emanated from the congregation, puzzled by the delay, and a few glanced back at the landing. But Aaron ignored all of them, keeping his focus on Kristoff. "Now, look at me, Kristoff. Forget about all this. Forget about the crowd, forget about becoming a prince, forgot about getting married, just forget about all of it. Do you love Anna?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"With all of your heart?"

"Yes."

"And will you do everything in your power to make her happy?"

"Of course."

Aaron gave him a long, hard look before breaking out in a grin. "Then you can do this. Just hold onto that and you'll get through it. And, don't forget, if you make it through today your reward will be getting to spend a lifetime of happiness with the woman you love. Does that sound like it's worth it?"

After thinking about that for a moment it was Kristoff's turn to smile. "When you put it like that, yeah, it really does."

"Good. And also, if you get the feeling that you need someone to slap some sense into you I'll be right over here."

That got a small chuckle as he shook his head. "Knew I made the right move when I made you my best man."

"Eh, you don't really need me," Aaron replied, adjusting his tie and straightening his jacket for the pretext of fixing Kristoff's appearance. "All you have to do is remember who you're doing this for. Now, how about we don't keep your bride waiting any longer than we have to."

"Agreed."

Giving Kristoff an encouraging grin accompanied by a solid clap on the shoulder, he looked towards the doorman and gave them a nod while waiting for Kristoff to turn around before taking his place by his side. They both exchanged a final glance before the doors swung open and the choir started to sing again. The murmurs in the crowd quickly died away once more as all attention shifted back towards the entrance.

First to come in was a small contingent of the Arendellian royal guard, dressed in their finest livery. Each had been hand picked by Aaron himself to escort the bride to the chapel and they now came to a halt along either side of the door, standing at attention as they made way for the only person who could be contrived as being more important than Anna today. The queen.

Striding through the door with measured purpose, Elsa had a proud smile on her face as she ascended the aisle, surveying the crowd around her as she went. Fortunately all eyes were on her or else someone might have noticed the fact that Aaron visibly blanched as soon as he saw the twilight dress she was wearing. He was able to compose himself by the time she reached the head of the chapel but his eyes still lingered on the violet ice wrapped around her, marveling at how it caught the light while framing her form perfectly. No wonder they had me switch my sash.

Leisurely climbing the stairs onto the small stage, she first glanced at him to give him a polite nod before turning to face Kristoff. As her back was to the congregation only the bishop might have noticed the private smile she gave Aaron, one so warm that it sent an excited thrill rippling through him. With her attention on the groom, she simply said, "I only have one request to make."

"Anything," Kristoff replied with a smile.

Elsa stared at him for a second or two before stepping off to the other side of the stage, quietly whispering as she did so. "Make her happy."

Her words hung in Aaron's mind for a moment as he looked over at her, a growing warmth rising within him. She really does love Anna, doesn't she? Seeing her love her sister so much gave him such a strong feeling of adoration that it was all he could do not to take her into his arms and give her an impassioned kiss, which wasn't made any easier when her striking eyes found his once more. They continued to gaze upon one another, with neither blinking as they explored each other's eyes, until a muffled excitement rushed through the crowd and they looked up to see that the bride had arrived.

Wearing a glowing white dress and a trailing veil that shimmered like falling snow, Anna stood in the entrance to the chapel. Her hands were tightly wrapped around a bouquet of violet flowers and a delicate tiara in her hair helped to contribute to what Aaron might have called the most heavenly sight ever, if he weren't madly in love with Elsa. She had on the biggest smile he'd ever seen and her eyes were already wet with tears of joy but she only had eyes for one man as she took a step forward, then another as she made her way up the aisle.

While most people watched her advance with bated breath he found that he had a strong urge to sneak a glance at Kristoff and felt his lips lift in a grin as soon as he did. Whatever fears or uncertainties Kristoff might have had instantly vanished the second he laid eyes on Anna, leaving only a man who was desperately waiting for his beloved to reach him. In that moment, as he watched Anna approach, he looked like the most content man in the world. As though he already had everything he would ever need to be happy.

Eventually, after a slow yet eager march down the aisle, she reached the stairs leading onto the stage and took them one at a time, lifting her dress slightly as she did so. Arriving at the top, Anna paused to hand her bouquet off to Elsa and share a tender smile with her sister before stepping alongside Kristoff, looking up at him as she did so. The pair partook in a long, lingering look that told of a love that spanned a thousand words and then turned to the bishop before them.

Giving both of them an encouraging smile, the man then looked out over the congregation and said, "You may be seated." Once everyone had taken their seats he returned his attention to the couple. "Friends, family, and honored guests, we have gathered here today in sight of God to bear witness to the union of these two young people as they embark together down the path of holy matrimony..." And thus the ceremony began, with a hushed silence having fallen over the room as they all listened to the bishop's words.

It was a lengthy sermon, with the bishop speaking of the joys and perils they would face together and how they would prevail as everyone looked on. Not that anyone minded its length. To say that Anna looked content was a serious understatement to describe the expression of pure bliss upon her face while Kristoff hadn't stopped smiling since the moment he first laid eyes on her. As for Elsa, Aaron wasn't sure whether or not she had been watching him at one point. When he glanced over at her he could have sworn that her eyes were on him but they flashed back to the happy couple as soon as he did so. Since then he'd glance over every now and then but her eyes remained fixed on Anna.

As time went on, though, it eventually came time for Kristoff to be crowned a prince. Traditionally the wedding preceded the crowning ceremony but they'd decided to go with something a little less conventional, reversing the order so that the last thing people remembered would be the wedding. So, after getting an encouraging look from his bride, he took a step forward and bowed his head as the bishop recited something in what Aaron assumed was latin. Gradually he held the crown aloft before placing it upon Kristoff's head. It almost looked like he breathed a sigh of relief when it was in place and he was still grinning when he turned to acknowledge the crowds' polite applause. However, that quickly faded as they refocused on the real reason they were there.

After a while Aaron began to tune out the bishop's words, choosing to focus on the happy couple instead. And if there was a word to describe how they looked it was happy. The way they looked at each other, how they basked in each other's presents, he wondered if there was anyone in the world who was as content as they were in that moment. If fact, it almost looked like they never wanted it to end. That time would come to a halt and they could remain in this blissful state for the rest of eternity.

But, as it always would, the ceremony began to reach its end as the bishop looked out to the crowd and said, "If there are any among you who object to the union of these two in holy matrimony then step forward now or forever hold your peace." Silenced reigned in the room as everyone glanced around only to have none stand. When no one spoke up after a minute or so he looked at Aaron and asked "Do you have the rings?"

Nodding, he stepped alongside Kristoff and opened his hand to reveal the golden rings, first handing the smaller one to Kristoff and then giving the other to Anna. Both accepted them with muted thanks and gracious smiles as he retook his place before looking at one another, their smiles growing.

As was customary Kristoff was the first to act, reaching out and gently taking her left hand in his while speaking in a deep, reverent voice. "Anna, there are an infinite number of reasons why I love you," he said as he slowly slid the ring onto her finger. "You always see the good in everything, you're constantly making me laugh and you never fail to make me smile. I don't know how I ever lived before I met you. So, if you'll have me, I promise to be yours now and forever, in sickness and in health, in both good times and bad, until death do us part."

Anna was nearly in tears by the time he was finished, her eyes almost brimming over with elated tears as she glanced at the bishop. When the man nodded for her to proceed she tried to say her beloved's name but all that came out was a choked croak that caused a quiet laugh to ripple through the room before fading back to silence as she cleared her throat and quickly wiped her eyes. After giving a nervous titter of her own she tried again. "Kritsoff… I can't begin to tell you how much you mean to me. You make me feel so loved and safe and when I'm in your arms I… I feel like the most special woman in the world. I will never be so grateful for anything as for the day when I first met you. So, if you'll have me, I promise to be yours now and forever, in sick…" Pausing, she took a deep breath. "In sickness and in health, in both good times and bad, until death do us part." As she spoke she put his ring in place, her fingers lingering on his.

After giving each other another smile they looked over at the bishop, who was watching Anna with an amused look on his face. "Do you wish to proceed or do you need a moment?" he asked her.

"No, I'm… I'm fine," she replied with a tight voice, spinning her hand emphatically. "Can we just move things along?"

That got another laugh and even made the bishop gave a chuckle as he looked at Kristoff. "Very well, you heard her," he said amusedly before growing serious again. "Do you, Kristoff, take this woman to be your partner in love and life? Will you honor and cherish her for as long as you both shall live?"

Looking at Anna, his voice was soft as he whispered, "I do."

Nodding, the bishop looked back at Anna. "And do you, Anna, take this man to be your partner in love and life? Will you honor and cherish him for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," she said hurriedly, staring at Kristoff with a strong craving in her eye. It was clear that there was something she was dying to do.

"Then, by the power vested in me by the grace of God, here in this hallowed place for all to see I hereby pronounce you husband and wife." To Kristoff he said, "You may now kiss the bride."

As soon as he finished speaking Anna flung herself at Kristoff, her arms twining around his neck as her lips sought out his. At first her sudden movement seemed to catch him off-guard but he quickly recovered, holding her in a tender embrace as the members of the congregation rose to their feet to cheer and applaud. Laughing at Anna's apparent enthusiasm, Aaron joined in the applause as he watched the couple revel in their first moments of marriage.