Wedding of the Century

The church bells ring early morning signifying the day of the wedding. Everyone in town is busy setting up everything according to plan. The Cathedral of Rimes is the venue of the wedding. The nuptials are preoccupied with preparing themselves. Princess Ariana looks stunning on her white wedding gown. The gown has flowers designs of crystals and silk. It is sleeveless and reveals her distinguishable collar bones. Her hairstyle and veil complement the dress having the same flowers of crystals and silk. The only thing missing on her stunningly exquisite look is a smile. She stares blankly on the clouds hoping that the person she truly loves comes to rescue her or crash the wedding.

Prince Julien, meanwhile, finishes. He wears a simple suit with a white tailcoat. A carnation serves as his boutonniere. Its petals reveal its freshness. He is a picture of royalty. A man who can win over the hearts of all the women in the kingdom with just a glance. After finishing, he visits Gianni. He is just going to say hello and go with him to the cathedral. Gianni is also finishing, but he refuses the prince's offer to ride with him. It is strange for him to ride with the groom, as they no longer have any relations.

Not letting him have his way, Prince Julien grabs him as he is about to turn away. He quickly drags him to the carriage ultimately riding with him until they arrive at the cathedral.

All the guests are present at the scene. Julien walks to the altar where the king and queen waits at the side. Gabriel walks with the prince, while Gianni looks for a seat with the other physicians. They are standing by in the case of emergencies. They all wait for Princess Ariana's and King Gregor's arrival.

Suddenly, the orchestra starts playing. The serence sound of the flute and strings resonate throughout the entire cathedral signaling the start of the bridal march. Those who are on the march start their walk. Finally, the bride and her guardians walk to the altar. Ariana is with her father and her cousin, a general in the Inglaterran army. Her long silver veil tails her. It is so long that the tail of the veil is still at the entrance, even if she is halfway to the altar.

The bride is unhappy. As she reaches the altar, Prince Julien, King Charlemagne, and Queen Sophia, exchanges their courtesies to the guardians of the bride. Julien then gets Ariana and has her sit on the chair adorned with red roses.

Prince Marcus's chair is adorned with carnations. The altar is exquisite in every way. Carnations and red roses dance in a colorful combination. The two are the symbol of the respective kingdoms, their colorful ensemble means the union of two souls who represent the two nations.

The presiding bishop then begins the ceremony and everything goes normally. The part of exchanging vow then comes. They both have a long time answering.

"I…" Prince Julien blanks out in the middle of his answer. The bishop asks him twice, then thrice, and in the fourth time he answers, "I will."

"I…I…I…I…" Ariana keeps stuttering on her response, "I will."

"You may now kiss the bride," they are about to have their first kiss, but both show their reluctance to kiss the other. Their hesitation sparks suspicion within their parents, as they hear their gritting teeth and impatience. Prince Julien fixes the situation and grabs Princess Ariana by her nape. He swings her down the side and kisses her. Ariana plays along and holds Julien's shoulders, holding the kiss long.

Gianni and Prince Louis refuses to look at the scene. They both turn around and pretend to not see the event as it unfolds. At last, the future of the kingdoms is ceremonially established.

After the wedding, the entire Capital celebrates. There is music and dance in every corner of every street. Petals of carnations and roses scatter throughout the entire city. The people of the city of Rimes surround the entire Cathedral. They cheer at the two newlyweds as they exit the sacred building. As they head back to the Capital, the people greet them with cheers and waves as they pass on the long road. The entire stretch from the city of Rimes to Tracy line with people with flowers, carnations and roses.

It is high noon when the wedding reception starts. Everyone in the royal family gives their addresses, even Prince Louis who is utterly unhappy with the marriage says his felicitations. Gianni, who is not invited to the reception, returns to his quarters. He drunks himself with physician work, looking at medical records and the results of clinical trials.

Suddenly, the Chief Royal Physicians calls on every able doctor at once. Gianni immediately answers the summons. They all gather at the medical ward.

"I think you all know what the wedding symbolizes," the chief doctor opens the floor. "As many of you may not have known, Essenia is marching a large army towards our kingdom. War is imminent. Therefore, as royal physicians, it is our duty to head out into the battlefield and reduce the amount of casualties as much as possible."

"The seven generals," he continues, "have asked for our help in the southwestern forts. Currently, the forts are rundown and need sanitation. It is the job of royal physicians to lead our kingdom's response in this national emergency. Thus, I have called all of you here to read out your appointments, as is declared by His Majesty, the king."

"The first position is to be the Head Army Physician. For the position, the king has appointed me to serve in the front lines. My assistant shall be Gianni Saint-Amour."

The revelation marks an unfathomable feeling of aghast on Gianni's face. War terrifies him so much. Cold sweat drips from his forehead down to his cheeks, as he nervously steps forward. With no other choice, he accepts the appointment and receives the king's mandate.

"Though you have only a few weeks of experience as a royal physician, the king sees great potential in you." The chief physician commends Gianni as he gives him a pat in the back. "You should be proud in serving your kingdom."

Gianni's thoughts are in a maelstrom. His gut curdles and his tongue dries completely. His eyes completely dilate as his knees begin to tremble.

The chief doctore continues his announcement, and by the end of their session, ten other doctors are also to march to the southwestern forts. At once, they all return to their chambers to prepare for their unprecedented journey near the enemy front.

Meanwhile, the wedding reception finally ends. As a royal custom, the newlyweds are to spend their first night in a palace to the southeast of the Capital. Their things are already moved to the location, only they have to go their. Prince Julien bids Gabriel to wait at the carriage, as he goes to see how Gianni fares.

He goes to his room and quietly knocks. He does not receive any response, so he opens the door finding Gianni in a completely distraught state. He sits on the floor leaning his head against the bed.

"Gianni," he rushes to his side placing his right hand on his cheek. He looks really flushed and he is hot as if he has a fever, "you feel feverish, are you all right?"

"Oh, Your Highness," Gianni responds, "congratulations on your wedding. I'm fine, thank you for asking."

"Why do you look like something terrible happened?"

"I'm being sent to one of the southwestern forts to reinforce them," Gianni sorrowfully replies. He places his hands to cover his eyes. "I have to leave tonight."

Julien is shocked at the news. He sits beside Gianni and puts his arm around him giving him a side embrace.

"When you are at the fort," Prince Julien says as he comforts him, patting his head, "just wait for me." He moves closer, putting his head on Gianni's shoulder. Gianni feels his warmth. A comforting warmth that is enveloping him, removing the fright and sorrow that he feels on the inside. A warmth that he needs and wants. A warmth that he would always want to surround him. "Je serai là."

Those words immediately removes all the worry inside Gianni's heart. Je serai là, is a sentence only lovers would say to each other. It explicitly means, "I will be there." When two lovers are separated by fate and obstacles, this line would always bring them back.

The next moments, Gianni lets all of his worries go away. He returns the embrace. He eventually falls asleep on the prince's arms. Julien caresses his hair as he lets the distraught physician rest. Still, the ensuing war greatly wounds Julien.

This war, I've dragged Gianni into it. This is all of my fault. If only I hadn't revealed his true identity, then he would not be put in great danger. I'm so stupid. His minds fills with destructive thoughts. He blames himself for the position that Gianni is in, a position that might make him disappear for all eternity. I have to somehow think things through. What can I do to make sure that he will be safe through the duration of this war? I need help from her.

"Gianni, wake up," Julien nudges his cheek. "Wake up sleepy head. I have to go."

"Your Highness? Oh, I'm sorry I fell asleep without your permission."

"It's all right, you can sleep any time in my arms."

"Thank you for taking away at least a part of my worries, Your Highness. As a royal physician, I have failed in upholding my duty, by letting cowardice take over."

"Be a coward, Gianni." The prince holds him ever tightly. "Be a coward and survive. You don't need to fight. Just be safe. You can run away from all of it. Be safe and be alive. Promise me."

"I will, Your Highness."

"Promise me, Gianni."

"I promise, Your Highness."

A long embrace follows. Eventually, they break, finally bidding their goodbyes. The prince returns to the carriage, where Princess Ariana, Gabriel, and the coachman are wondering greatly due to his lateness.

"Did something happen?" Ariana inquires. "You look distraught."

"Gianni has been assigned to the southwestern fortresses."

"What?" Gabriel exclaims. "Then, that means…"

"He is going to be on the kingdom's first line of defense."

Meanwhile, Gianni finishes packing all of his things. His time in his room as a royal physician is very brief. He can remember it as if it was just yesterday that he moved into his current quarters. Now he is being transported into a fort of unsanitation and savagery. As he rides with the caravan taking him to the forts, Prince Julien's words echo inside his head, "Je serai là."