Chapter 10

Hi,

I am back. I will try to update at least once a month. I appreciate all the reviews, and I ask all my readers to leave me a review even if it is only a couple of words. I believe my writer's block is gone.

I did some research about wedding celebrations in the 1600's and 1700's, I have incorporated as much as I could. I hope I am painting an accurate picture.

Vonny25

Adelyn and Phillippe were sitting by the Christmas tree holding hands. The country house was full of life with everyone celebrating Christmas. Even Athos and his son were visiting for the holidays. After everyone was sitting at the table D'Artagnan said, "On this Christmas night I would like to thank the Lord for becoming one of us. He understands our trials and tribulations, as he is one of us. I would like to thank him for all the blessings that he has bestowed upon us this year, especially for the engagement of my son Phillippe with Adelyn. May he grant us health and happiness, and permit us to enjoy each other's company while we celebrate his birth."

Margie, who now was the housekeeper, and cook, started bringing out the Christmas dinner with the help of Adelyn, and Christine. After dinner, it was time for caroling, and opening presents. Philippe gave Adelyn a carved jewelry box with her name on it. She hugged him, and said, "It is beautiful Phillippe. Thank you so much! He smiled, and said, "I am glad you like it my love, but you might want to open it." Adelyn opened the jewelry box, and found a beautiful ruby necklace, that used to belong to Anne. The young woman's face reflected surprise, and happiness. Phillippe helped her to put it on, and told her, "The necklace compliments your beauty perfectly."

Raoul found a way of getting Christine out of the house, and presented her with an engagement ring while asking her to marry him. Christine accepted, and after kissing passionately, they return to the celebration. Of course Raoul, and his fathers had obtained permission from Giana, and the three D'Artagnan males, for Raoul to marry Christine.

When the young couple returned, Athos noticed that Christine was wearing the engagement ring that used to belong to his wife. He said, "I would like to announce the engagement of my son to Christine, may their love last forever." D'Artagnan said, "This calls for a toss," he opened a bottle of Champagne, and all had encouraging words to say to the newly engaged couple.

The months went by fast, and before long the planting season was over. Phillippe, his father, his cousins, and the farm hands had worked hard, and all the fields were planted. This year a small parcel had been planted with flowers that would be used for the upcoming wedding in the D'Artagnan family. The majority of the flowers were orange hawkweed; they would be used for the bride.

It was the evening before the wedding. Anne and D'Artagnan were sitting at the balcony of D'Artagnan's bedroom. Anne saw Phillippe leaving the barn with his horse, she asked, "Where is Phillippe going?" D'Artagnan said, "He is going to deliver a branch of hawthorn to Adelyn's cottage." When he saw the puzzled expression of the Queen mother, he explained, "We have farmhands from different regions of France, and they all have made sure to tell Phillippe what needs to be done for a wedding." Anne smiled, and thought that should make the wedding interesting.

Phillippe was nervously galloping back to his home after leaving a hawthorn branch at the door of Adelyn's cottage to symbolize that she was his promised. He was very nervous, and hoped all would work out well for the wedding. When he entered the house he found his parents waiting for him with orange blossom tea, and pastries at the sitting room. He kissed the hand of his mother, and inclined his head towards his father.

Phillippe sat with them, and said, "I am so nervous, what if I forget to do something, and I bring bad luck upon my marriage." His father told him "I think that to many people have been giving you advice on what should be done during a wedding." His mother said, "There are many traditions that are followed for Royal weddings, and I did everything I was told, my marriage was still a nightmare. I don't think that traditions have anything to do with the quality of the marriage."

Phillippe thought about it, and said, "I am worrying to much about things that are not truly important. I know if the Peronet's were here, they would tell me they are just superstitions, and that the happiness of the marriage depends on the spouses truly loving each other as Jesus loves us. That is the way they always acted toward each other." Anne said, "Since your father, and I could not raise you, I am glad that such good people did." Phillipe smiled at his mother, and added some wine to his orange blossom tea.

As they were getting ready to go to bed, Anne kissed Phillippe's cheek, and told him, "You'll see everything will turn out alright, don't worry about it." D'Artagnan patted him on the back, and said "Try to get some sleep son, everything is under control, you need to be rested for tomorrow." The young man smiled at his parents, and wished them a goodnight before he retired to his room. He felt very lucky to have them in his life.

The next morning found Phillippe, and Adelyn, each in their own home taking the customary orange blossom baths, her to wash away the evil spirits, and his to wash away his old life. The end results were the same they both were clean, and smelled wonderful.

At around mid-day Phillipe, his grandparents, and his parents left the country house in a carriage. A little later they arrived at Adelyn's house, who looked beautiful in her dress. The dress had a bodice that was made in white with a floral pattern that was an extremely light shade of blue, the sleeves were puffy, and white with accents of floral blue medallions, and ribbons. The sides of her skirt were baby blue, and accented her hips, the rest of the skirt was of the same material as the bodice. The bride was waiting nervously for Phillippe.

Phillippe got out of the carriage, he was dressed in baby blue breeches, with a white shirt, and a blue jerkin and doublet, gray shoes and hat, as well as white stockings. He went to the door where his cousin Michelle joined him as he was the best man. They knocked at the door, Adelyn and her father opened the door. Serge threw the shoes of Adelyn at Phillippe to symbolize that he had no more control over her, and he was passing such control over to Phillippe. The groom helped his bride to put her shoes on, and guided her to the carriage.

Once they go to the outskirts of town, a procession was formed. Adelyn and her father were at the head of the procession, and Phillippe and his mother were at the end of the procession. Along the way, their friends, farmhands, and other villagers joined the procession to the church. It was a festive occasion.

Before they entered the church, Phillippe removed his hat, and his mother helped him to adorn his head with a floral crown like the one of Adelyn. Adelyn's crown was made of orange hawkweed, white hawthorn flowers, and red hawthorn berries. Her crown was placed over her blue lace veil. Her bouquet was made of orange hawkweed flowers, and it symbolized her purity. At the foot of the altar Serge gave Adelyn to Phillippe.

Aramis celebrated the wedding of the couple, it was a moving ceremony that left few dry eyes. At the end of the ceremony Jean sang the Ave Maria, with his beautiful voice. Afterwards all headed towards the D'Artagnan property where they would celebrate the marriage of the young couple. Athos, Raoul, and even Portho's attended the wedding, they waited for Aramis before heading to the party.

Adelyn and Phillippe headed the procession on their way back, and directed their guest towards an area that had some trees for shade, and open space for music and dancing. According to the local tradition, the newlyweds made noise, and sang annoying songs to start the marriage celebration.

Once all the guest arrived it was time for the traditional family dance. Anne was extremely happy to dance with her son on such a happy occasion. She thought the wedding was very different from the more formal ones among the nobility, but the bride, and groomed looked happier. Certainly much happier that what she had been at her own wedding. It was great to have Phillippe in her life, she thought he was an extremely handsome, good natured, and smart young man. Adelyn was lucky to have him.

After the family dance, the guests were invited to feast on the 6 roasted pigs and 4 roasted lambs that have been recently removed from the fire. The guest could put their pieces of pork on the trencher's which were flat round pieces of bread used as a plate, and could be eaten at the end of the meal. They also had barrels of wine from their winey available, and each guest was gifted a wooden cup, that Phillippe had made for the occasion, it had taken him many months. His cousin Genevieve, and the son of a farm hand that was about 10 helped him, as they wanted to learn the basics of carving.

The people sat on fallen tree trunks, that had been placed in that particular clearing for the occasion. The tree trunks were decorated with flowers. Anne and D'Artagnan sat together, he said, "If you prefer we could sit in the carriage." Anne said, "And miss all the fun, I don't think so. I never knew that by living in the palace I was missing so much. I wish I had not been born noble." D'Artagnan smiled at her, and said "Then probably we would have not met, as we are from different countries." She smiled back at him, and said, "Why do you have to be so realistic." He responded by taking her hand in his, and dancing with her, they both were laughing after a while.

Phillippe, and Adelyn were having the time of their life at the wedding. They eat, and danced, and mingled with the guest thanking them for their presence. Before sunset it was time to eat the traditional wedding cake called croquembouche, it looked like a pyramid, it was formed of cream puffs held together by caramelized sugar, and then decorated with spun sugar. The bride and groomed broke the first 2 pieces, followed by the family, and then the rest of the guest in no particular order.

At sunset everyone went home. Porthos, Aramis, Athos, and Raul were staying at the cottage of D'Artagnan parents. His parents had agreed to stay at his country house to make the situation easier for him and Anne. While Raul was spending some time with Christine, the 3 old friends were catching up over wine and cheese.

Aramis said, "This is one of the saddest days of my life." Porthos looked puzzled, and said, "I don't understand, is not a wedding a happy occasion?" Aramis said, "Yes, under normal circumstances, but with Phillippe married, the hopes of getting rid of King Louis peacefully are very low. I am afraid the country will end up in a revolution." Athos shook his head, and said, "You think too much Aramis, Louis might not be a great King, but France has had worse."

Right after the party, Adelyn, and Phillippe left to a small cabin in the Pyrenees. It was about an hour and half away from the farm. D'Artagnan had decided to buy the cabin to give to Phillippe as a wedding present. They would spend the first month of their marriage there, as they had no family to visit for their honeymoon, as other young couples did. During that time, they would also drink a wine that had honey in it. The cousins of Phillippe would make sure that they got to their destination safely.