Chapter 20: Promises, Oaths and Pledges.
Last minute visitors were arriving. Kings, Queens, Princes, Princesses Dukes, Duchesses, Marquesses, Marchionesses, Earls, Countesses, Viscounts, Viscountesses, Barons, Baronesses, Lords and Ladies.
The wedding and the crowning ceremony is to take place at the Royal Church. Afterwards, a reception will follow. Everything is having its last touch. Even the couples themselves are looking at themselves for the last time. Their hearts were pounding like never before. They're too elevated, waiting desperately and impatiently to see each other.
The bride had been told to move to the closest hall, so her travel to the Church would be shorter. Her heart was unstoppably striking. Her groom was also in another hall for the same reason. He was, even more, sweatier and more impatient. He is just wanting to see his bride badly. He hadn't seen her in one week. And it's driving him crazy. Definitely, he had to control his temper and have forbearance as his woman was on a two-year mission. But fifteen minutes feels like an eternity.
In the Royal Church was been filled with guests now. The Church had three different halls: the entrance hall, the middle hall and the main hall. It was built like that for security reasons. It has a large balcony inside the Church. On the left balcony will be occupied by the choirs and orchestras and on the right will be occupied by the Royal Family of Clarines.
Ten minutes. All the visitors are now in the Church. Now it's time for the royal family to show up. Which they did. Royals are always to be late, fashionably late.
Her Majesty the Queen Mother sits firstly. Secondly, the Queen. And thirdly, the King.
Five minutes. All the head liturgist and Priests are currently walking inside. All Gates were shut down immediately after they entered. No one can't leave nor come inside. Except for the couples, of course.
Three minutes. The groom is still waiting at the hall. Waiting, for the orchestra to play then he enters. He's been trying to control his emotions. The Prince wore a deep blue and a white attire; embroidered with gold and a bit of silver, and his Royal Orders of Chivalry also embroidered on his attire. His hair carefully brushed and gelled; a golden diadem placed on his head.
The bride is also in the middle hall. Breathing in and out trying not to think about anything just Zen. Her first cousin, Hiroyuki has been trying to cheer her up by saying all kinds of things to her. Like, how he wishes to stop the wedding because his beautiful Scarlet is marrying a platinum blond.
Hiroyuki whispered, "Look, sweetheart, just in case you happen to get pregnant, can you tell your unborn baby to have red hair. Having a silver in the red family is going have us look pink sometime in the future. And you know pink ain't my favorite color. Also, having a silver hair is definitely..."
"-Thank you very much for the advice. I will see to it." Shirayuki whispered back, cutting her cousin off.
"You're welcome." He leaned in and kissed Shirayuki's cheek. Shirayuki just looked at him, shook her head and smiled.
Zero minutes. The wedding bells stopped ringing. The orchestra immediately started playing. The choirmaster was carefully instructing both the choir group and the orchestra.
Many voices were singing. It's time for the male to walk down his halfway aisle. He started walking. His hands at his front. Gently walking, trying to avoid stares. He quickly averted his eyes as he saw Mitsuhide and Obi, smiling broadly him. He just wanted to avoid them for now, because if he looks at them for long, he might end up disgracing himself. He walked his final steps as a free man.
Switch. The women were now singing. Time for the bride to walk. Everyone stood up, excluding the Royal Family, definitely. Her hand in the palm of his cousin while the other was holding the beautiful flowers. She was smiling beautifully. Her first cousin had murmured something, making her smile more.
The couples' eyes fell onto each other. They kept looking at each other. Shirayuki felt a bit shy and looked away. She saw Kiki standing, smiling genuinely. Kiki was representing the Earl house of Seiran. On the other side, Shirayuki saw Mitsuhide and Obi. Mitsuhide looked like he was about cry while Obi had widened-eyes.
Zen was just looking at his walking bride. He was scanning her closely. He then wondered if he was in really going to marry her. Her beauty in the lacy dress, her long sleeves, long veil and train, her hairstyle. Everything about Shirayuki was out shining. Shirayuki was secretly alluring him.
Zen felt teary. He couldn't take it anymore. He was so moved. He lightly snuffed and gently moved his blue eyes, hoping the tempering waters would vanish. Which it didn't take long before they did.
Shirayuki reached her destination. She gave her flowers to one of the flower girls and her cousin released his hand. Shirayuki looked at Zen and walked towards him. Zen was still looking at her.
"You look. You look very very very... You are... Your..." Zen stammered, whispering as the music still continued. He was just short of words. She was enticing him by her innocent and shy beauty.
"Thank you very much. So do you." She replied back smiling at him. Zen melted.
The music stopped. The couple turned to face the Archbishop. The audience sat down. Zen was glancing at Shirayuki here and there, thinking she wouldn't notice.
"Beloved, we are gathered here in the face of this congregation to join together this man and this woman in Sacred Matrimony. Commended in Sacred Writ to be honorable among all men; thus is not by any to be enterprised, not taken in hand, inadvisedly, lightly or wantonly: but reverently, discreetly, soberly, and in the fear of Divinity, duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.
From this estate, these two persons present come to be joined.
Therefore if any man can shrew any just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace."
The Archbishop waited if anyone has an objection. As nobody objected he turned back to face Zen and Shirayuki, saying this to them:
"I require and charge you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgement when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any hindrance, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in Matrimony, ye do not confess it."
The archbishop turns and says to Zen,
"Zen, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together according to the Holy Writ in the Holy of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health? and forsaken all other, keep thee only unto her so long as ye shall live?"
"I will"
"Shirayuki, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together according to the Holy Writ in the Holy of Matrimony? Wilt thou love him comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health? and forsaken all other, keep thee only unto him so long as ye shall live?"
"I will"
"Please, permit me to have your hand?" The archbishop whispered, asking Shirayuki.
Shirayuki gently gives her right hand to the archbishop. He carefully puts Shirayuki's hand into Zen's right palm. They rotated their postures a bit, now facing each other. Zen quietly squeezed a bit, making Shirayuki smile.
"Please, repeat after me." The archbishop said to Zen.
"I, Zen, take thee, Shirayuki, to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse: for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish, till death do part, according to the Holy Writ's Holy law: and thereto give thee troth."
"Please, change sides and repeat after me." The archbishop said to Shirayuki.
"I, Shirayuki, take thee, Zen, to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse: for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; to love and to cherish, till death do part, according to the Holy Writ's Holy law: and thereto give thee troth."
Zen and Shirayuki knelt in front of the altar. A paper was set in front of them. Their marriage certificate. Zen signed first and then Shirayuki. And they rose up. They hold their right hands again.
The Archbishop raised his hands and blessed:
"Those whom the Holy Law hath join together let no man put asunder."
He then puts his hands down and addresses to the congregation:
"Forasmuch as Zen and Shirayuki have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and by joining of hands; I pronounce that they be man and wife together."
Zen and Shirayuki lose hands. The orchestra and the choir started singing and playing. Everybody sang along.
After singing, Shirayuki shifted a bit to make way for Zen as he is to take an oath as he proceeds his will as a Grand Prince.
The archbishop took an old book: an enchiridion. He opened it to a page; oath of the Grand Princes. Zen laid his right palm onto the book.
"Brethren, will you grant and keep and by your oath confirm to the people of Clarines the laws and customs given to them by the previous princes, your ancestors and especially the laws, customs, and liberties granted to the clergy and people."
"I grant and promise them."
"Brethren, will you in all your judgements, so far as in you lies, preserve to this holy Writ, and to the people and clergy, entire peace and Concord before the Holy Writ?"
"I will preserve them."
"Brethren, will you so far as in your lies, cause justice to be rendered rightly, impartially, and wisely, in compassion and in truth?"
"I will do so."
"Brethren, do you grant to be held and observed the just laws and customs that the community of your realm shall determine, and will you, so far as in your lies, defend and strengthen them to the honour of Writ?"
"I grant and promise them."
After Zen was done he sightly moved and Shirayuki walked to face the Enchiridion. Then another page was set for her; oath of the Grand Princesses. She also gently puts her palm onto the middle of the book.
"Sistren, will you grant and keep and by your oath confirm to the people of Clarines the laws and customs given to them by the previous princesses, your ancestors and especially the laws, customs, and liberties granted to the clergy and people."
"I grant and promise them."
"Sistren, will you in all your judgements, so far as in you lies, preserve to this Holy Writ, and to the people and clergy, entire peace and Concord before the Holy Writ?"
"I will preserve them."
"Sistren, will you so far as in your lies, cause justice to be rendered rightly, impartially, and wisely, in compassion and in truth?"
"I will do so."
"Sistren, do you grant to be held and observed the just laws and customs that the community of your realm shall determine, and will you, so far as in your lies, defend and strengthen them to the honour of Writ?"
"I grant and promise them."
Shirayuki gently took my hands off from the Enchiridion. He closed the book.
"Please, kneel"
Shirayuki knelt down. She put her hands in front of her.
"Thou hast taken a pledge. A symbol of justice wilt be on you."
Shirayuki looked a bit up and saw the Queen walking towards her. The archbishop gave her way.
Queen Haki stood opposite Shirayuki and said to her:
"Thou hath promised to the Holy Writ and to the Enchiridion. Wilt now be given a symbol of your oath."
Queen Haki gently removed the cloth that was covering the diamond Grand Princess tiara. She took it into her hands and placed the tiara onto Shirayuki's head. It was successfully done and she left.
Zen also knelt beside Shirayuki, instructed by the archbishop.
"Ye hath now taketh promises, oaths and pledges. I now bless you with eternal existence."
The archbishop blessed them. Zen and Shirayuki stood up and faces the audience. Shirayuki could already feel the weight of the tiara weighing her down. But she had practiced it in Lady Adela's lessons, so she's hoping nothing will happen.
The choir and the orchestra started singing and playing. Everybody stood up. They walked out from the altar. The little flower girl gave Shirayuki her flowers. They walked out from the main hall and were now at the middle hall. They took another path leading back to the Royal Castle.
The liturgists left in a row behind them, with a different song. The royal family left by taking the balcony exit hall. Then the audience.
Then the bells started ringing again.
"So tell me, what am I going to referred now?" Shirayuki asked as soon as the flower girls, giving them her flowers and the page boys also left, leaving them alone.
"Hmm. Let me try and remember." Zen put his hand on his chins playfully trying to remember. "Aha! Now I know. Her Royal Highness The Grand Princess of Clarines, Duchess of the West, Countess of the East and future Princess of the North.
Unless you get tired of these, you can just use Her Royal Highness The Grand Princess of Clarines.
But unfortunately, I'm going to have to call you by another name." Zen leaned in letting foreheads touch.
"Your love potion names, you mean."
"You know me too well. Too bad we couldn't kiss during our own wedding. So what about we drag that moment here." Shirayuki laughed a bit, putting her hands on Zen's neck and they kissed.
Someone intentionally cleared their throat. Zen and Shirayuki immediately broke apart. And saw who spoilt their beautiful moment.
Great! Why them? They both thought. It couldn't be anyone but the King, the Queen, and the Queen Mother, with few guards. Zen exhaled. Shirayuki looked away blushing lightly of embarrassment.
"Sorry to interrupt your moment of face licking and throat swallowing, but they're some people who would like to meet you." King Izana said wily.
Zen knew what his brother meant by that. Years ago when his brother had married lady Haki, Zen had interrupted them too, but they were not kissing just talking. So this was just payback for something Zen 'unintentionally' did.
The King started walking on his heels back while the Queen followed. The Queen Mother was just standing smiling at them. He shook her head and left.
Zen watched his brother as the King looked at him from his corner of his eyes. Zen knew what that meant. It's just a dramatic, indirect way of saying 'Congratulation'
Zen planted a kiss on Shirayuki's forehead. "Come on, let's go greet the people of Clarines."
*
A/N:
Hai!
So what do you think about the wedding? Did you enjoy it?
How about your comments about Shirayuki's first cousin. So it's been confirmed, he doesn't have something for Zen, because he thinks he might turn his family into pink hairs.
I haven't ever been to and never going to be at a royal wedding. So this was the most difficult chapter EVER.
The ending when Shirayuki said "love potion names", if wanna know what she's talking about, you can check out chapter 4: Secret Evening Meetings.
Hope you enjoyed;)