Maria could hear the sound of bells pealing madly as she felt her shimmering veil being lifted onto her head. And they weren't just any bells. They were wedding bells. Wedding bells meant for her.
She walked carefully down the stairs to where the Reverend Mother and the other Sisters were waiting and knelt before them. Though she may have given up her life at the Abbey, Maria had not lost her faith, and she was determined for her wedding to reflect that. Just as the Reverend Mother had said; loving Georg didn't mean she couldn't, or didn't still love God.
The bells still rang as loudly as ever as Maria passed out the door and toward the chapel, with all the nuns following in her wake; as though she was leading a parade. And in a sense, she was.
As they inched ever closer, she could hear the loud strains of an organ. When they arrived at the gate, Maria stood back, allowing the Reverend Mother to unlock them. And who should be waiting right behind the gate? None other than Liesl, Marta and Gretl, all looking beautiful in their white dresses, with wreaths perched atop their heads and the younger two holding dainty wicker baskets full of flower petals.
Liesl passed her the bouquet and Maria smiled, inhaling the sweet smell of roses and edelweiss as the sixteen year old gathered up her train. She turned back and smiled through the gate at the Reverend Mother and the Sisters. They were the only home, the only family she had had for the past four years. And even though she now saw the children and Georg as her family, the Abbey would forever hold a special place in her heart.
Liesl hurried the girls off down the aisle and, after exchanging a smile with her soon-to-be mother, headed off down the aisle herself.
With one final, deep breath, Maria gripped her bouquet even tighter and looked up, ready to walk down the aisle.
The second they locked eyes, their gazes never moved. It seemed to Georg that she only got more beautiful as the days flew by. And now dressed in her beautiful satin gown with a laurel wreath atop her head, she looked like his saviour; the angel he needed to kiss his cares away.
He was dressed in his full navy attire, adorned with medals; his buttons so shiny he could see his face in them; his hat tucked under his arm. He hadn't worn this since Agathe was alive. Wearing it now, he felt ready to turn over a new leaf.
He watched as Maria slowly glided up the aisle. Her head was held high; he could see that she was ready to take this step.
The bells were still ringing in her ears as Maria took slow, even steps towards her Captain. 'A bell is no bell 'til you ring it,' she thought as she walked. More than anything he wished she could tear off her veil, drop her bouquet and run like she'd never run before; run full-tilt up the aisle and be with him that very second. But she knew she couldn't. In just a few moments, she would be with Georg and wouldn't have to put up with anymore waiting.
As she continued, she heard a chorus of voices that could only belong to the nuns begin singing. A song about her! If she hadn't been so focused on walking down the aisle correctly, she would've laughed. Instead the corners of her mouth turned up into a smile. 'A song is no song 'til you sing it' she decided.
Georg looked up as she continued her journey down aisle, smiling briefly during the nuns' song about his bride. He was sure he couldn't be the only one that felt it was taking forever. But he knew you had to be patient with these things. He didn't move his gaze to look at his daughter until she had almost finished climbing the stairs, by which time he had to reach out his hand for Maria to take.
Maria took Georg's outstretched hand and let him lead her up to the altar, with Liesl and Max following behind. They all knelt before the bishop and after handing her bouquet to Liesl, approached the altar to exchange their wedding vows.
"Dearly beloved," began the bishop "We are gathered here today to join Captain Georg von Trapp and Maria Rainer in holy matrimony." He turned to Georg as the ring-bearer approached the altar.
"Georg von Trapp," he said. "Do you take this woman to be you lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, in sickness and health for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Georg said confidently, taking the ring from the pillow and sliding it onto Maria's fingers. It made her whole hand tingle and she became so caught up in the moment, she only half-heard what the bishop was saying.
"I do," she said dreamily, as she gazed into Georg's eyes. A split second later, she realised she wasn't holding the ring and she hastily retrieved it from the pillow and slid it onto Georg's finger.
The bishop nodded. "Then by the power vested in me by the church and our Lord Jesus Christ, I pronounce this couple husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Maria's eyes shone like starlight as she leaned in to kiss her husband. Her husband.
This feeling was more than wonderful. It was pure magic. For both of them.
After the ceremony had concluded the von Trapps and their guests headed off to the reception. Max, Liesl, Marta and Gretl accompanied Maria and Georg, since they were all part of the wedding party, while Franz would drive Louisa, Brigitta and the boys, along with Frau Schmidt to the restaurant.
Georg kept a tight grasp on his wife's hand the entire journey there. "The worst is over you know," he whispered in her ear at a quiet moment when the girls were occupied.
Maria wasn't quite sure that was the case. If her last high-society dinner party was anything to go by, who knows what could happen? Nevertheless, she smiled at Georg, gazing into his eyes; because she knew that no matter what happened, if he was right there next to her it would all be okay. In fact, it would be better than okay; it would be marvellous.
Upon their arrival at the restaurant, Frau Schmidt and Franz entered the building, while Louisa, Brigitta and the boys were left in the company of the rest of their family. Naturally, all the children were swarming all over their new mother, showering her with hugs and kisses. Even Liesl, who was trying her best to be very grown-up about the entire event found herself giving in and was joining her siblings in officially welcoming Maria into their family.
The butterflies had returned to Maria stomach as she and Georg were about to enter the dining room. She felt her knees go weak as she heard the muffled announcement of 'Captain and Baroness von Trapp', and Georg had to pull his hand away and wrap it around her waist instead, almost assisting her in taking her first step into the room.
The sheer size of the room was what Maria noticed first; the ballroom back at the villa was large, but this room was something else altogether. She suspected the foyer, the ballroom and the courtyard could have fit easily into this room and there would still be space left over.
The second thing that caught her attention was how many people were there. Back at the Abbey during the ceremony she hadn't noticed anyone except Georg. Now she was able to see just how many people who had come to the wedding. Werner and Johanna were there with Rupert and Martina, Elisabeth and Karl were there with their children, and there were several other people she recognised from the Huber's ball but whose names failed her. However the majority of the people in the room were complete strangers; and yet they were smiling at her as if she were an old friend.
She let Georg lead her up to the high table, where Liesl and Max were already seated, with two chairs separating them. Slowly, Georg pulled her chair out and Maria took her seat between him and Liesl. Sitting next to Liesl were Marta and Gretl and on the next table, which was placed at a right angle to the high table were Brigitta, Louisa and the boys. Georg had insisted that this was the layout that would be used. It wasn't exactly orthodox, but his new wife was the furthest thing from conventional possible, and he knew his family wouldn't have it any other way.
After the meal, Georg gently took Maria's hand and led her onto the dance floor for their first dance as a married couple. As they waltzed lazily around the room, the rest of the guest left their seats to join them, but Maria barely noticed. Her gaze was fixed on Georg's face and tears were welling in her eyes.
She saw Georg was smiling, but his eyes seemed to be looking out over the top of her head.
"What's so funny?" she asked him.
"Look," he indicated with a slight nod. Maria turned her head and had to stop herself from bursting into laughter at the sight that met her eyes. Liesl and Friedrich were playfully slow-dancing, while Louisa, Marta and Gretl were doing a ring-around-the-rosies type dance. Brigitta had stolen away to a corner of the room and had her head buried in a book. Kurt was standing awkwardly up near the high table rubbing his stomach.
"I could get used to this," she said, turning back to him.
"I certainly hope so," said Georg as he kissed her forehead.
When the reception ended, all the wedding guests exited the restaurant to see the newlyweds off on their honeymoon. Maria still didn't know where Georg was taking her, but she couldn't stop beaming as Georg led her towards the waiting car. He opened the door and she slipped inside.
The second Georg entered the back seat, his mouth was on hers. Maria wrapped her arm around his neck, causing her white fur hat to fall off her head and onto the seat. But she didn't care. Normally she would have been uncomfortable in an outfit like the emerald green suit dress she was wearing, but here with Georg she didn't notice at all.
The car sped off down the road and Georg broke the kiss. Maria shot him a questioning gaze. "I need to show you something," he explained, extracting two tickets from his jacket pocket and handing them to her.
When Maria saw the destination she gasped. "Paris," she cried. "We're going to Paris?"
"Mmm hmm," Georg said, allowing her to lean into his embrace. "Happy wedding day, Baroness von Trapp."
Maria looked up at her husband and smiled. 'Love isn't love 'til you give it away' she decided.
And she had given her love away to just the right person.
Well this is it my friends. It's all over (I feel a little sad truthfully). I hope you have all got as much enjoyment from reading this as I got from writing it. (And yes, I just had to put in some more 'Darling Lili' references). Thank you so much for the comments/favourites/follows etc. They make my day. And though it may be over, never fear; for as long as I am writing fanfiction I will be writing 'Sound of Music' fanfiction. And now I guess there's only one thing left to say:
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen goodbye.