The sun was at the highest point, the soft bells from the church rang in the distance. The air was warm and clung to the village people's skin alike, waving fans to cool their quickly dampening skin. Princess Florence stood just right at the entrance, attempting to fill her lungs with greedy gulps of breath. Soft strings of violin is being plucked, signaling the start of their nuptials.
"Elijah! This is no time for playing!" A voice scolded as the sound of pattering feet was echoing through the hall followed by childlike giggling. Florence whips her head around, her breath catching in her throat when she spots the mother scolding her child for running off. It was the same mother and child from her dream. "Camille, give me one second..." she says, grabbing the end of her dress before making her way to the mother and child duo.
"Elijah, we should have been seated already. The nuptials have started." The mother fussed, straightening out her son's clothes as she picked off invisible lint. "Surely your new queen will be understanding of your lateness." Princess Florence said from behind the mother. "Oh! Oh! Your majesty! I do apologize!" The mother scrambled to bow, gripping her son's hand. "Truly it is fine." Florence dismissed with her hand, her eyes bouncing to the boy she saved in her dream.
"Why hello there, Elijah." Florence says, dropping down to his height. The little blonde boy bowed, his head tucking to his chest before looking back at the princess. "Mary. I must request a favor from you." Princess Florence says, standing back to her feet to look at the mother. "H-how did you know my name?" She breathes out in astonishment, staring at the future queen. "Do not worry about that. I would like your family and yourself to be seated against the wall of the garden. The flowers will obstruct your view if you were to sit anywhere else." She lied pathetically, looking at the mother expectantly. "Yes your majesty..." she says softly, picking up the three year old and scampering away to the garden.
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Florence nodded her head before making her way back to Camille, smiling apologetically. The lead lady in waiting watched the interaction between the princess and poor village woman with interested. "Your majesty, I can assure wherever the guest sit they will be able to see the nuptials." Camille says, smoothing over the ends of Florence's dress. "Better safe than sorry." She says, holding the bouquet up as she heard the six string ensemble announcing the commencement of the wedding. The double doors in front of her were yanked open, the warm air rushing to meet with Florence's skin. She could heard seats scraping, signaling that the guest were standing.
Inhaling deeply, Florence began to walk down the aisle. Her hand gripped Camille's arm nervously as they made their way down the aisle. She could hear the soft murmurs about her dress, causing a small smile to tug on her lips. Once she reached Prince Enzo, she relinquished her hold on Camille's arm to take his hand. Handing her bouquet to her lady in waiting, Florence and Enzo joined hands. As the ceremony went on, Florence's eyes bounced around nervously from under her veil. Everything seemed to be going smoothly so far. "The Prince has decided to speak his vows." The priest announced, closing the Bible to give the Prince an appointed look.
"With this ring, I give you my heart. From this day forward, you shall never walk alone. May my heart be shelter to your feelings, my arms be the haven from the storm that rages outside our kingdom. I present you this ring — a ring to mark the remembrance of this moment of love in this hour. I am yours as you are mine." Enzo said, sliding the ring onto her finger. The ring was a gold band with a pearl in the center, small pearls and diamonds surrounded it as vines wrapped and housed the small stones. The words from the note echoed in her head, her eyes staring at the ring lovingly before looking at Enzo. "With this ring, I vow to honor and love you from this point forward. May this ring be a symbol of my eternal and everlasting love for you. Know that I'm forever behind you and by your side." She says, sliding the band onto his finger as she never broke eye contact with him.
"By the power invested in me, by the spirits of the son, the Holy Ghost and before the eyes of the lord — I pronounce you man and wife. Long Live Queen Florence and King Enzo." The priest concluded. Enzo stepped forward, removing the veil from her face. His eyes roamed her face, cupping her cheeks with both hands before planting a loving kiss to her lips. Breaking the kiss, Florence shakily grabbed Enzo's hand as turned to face her new subjects, the cheers were deafening as the crowd moved to their feet and cheered.
But the moment of celebration was just that — a moment.