The Strength of Love

Chapter Three: The Wedding... Sort of

Annette glowed with radiance. The sun reflected brilliantly off of her auburn curls, making the twisted locks shine like polished copper. As she walked to the intricate melody, she seemed to effortlessly float. At last she reached the end of the carpet of rose petals. There Chandler had been patiently waiting for her, his face the definition of joy. Through the gauzy, lace veil Annette beamed, her eye's shining. Chandler smiled back at her as he took her hand in his, intertwining their fingers. They turned to the front.

The priest smiled and announced in a commanding voice,"If anyone has any objections to why there two should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace." He scanned the crowd, challenging anyone to say something. "No one? Let's proceed then.”

A lone figure stood. "No! Wait!" He faltered as he pleaded in a desperate whisper. "Please, Annette. Please. Don't do this. No. I love you." Chandler scrutinized his bride with a questioning, but trusting gaze. Annette returned the loving glance, then turned to the figure. With blazing blue eyes she hardened her features.

"Aidan." She said in a small voice, her tone colored with sadness. "You're my best friend. Why now? All this time..." Annette’s voice trembled. Yes, he had overreacted to my engagement… but wasn’t that just because he didn’t like Chandler? Why did there have to be more to it?

"I'm sorry."

"It's too late."

"Do you love me?"

"You're like my brother..." Annette paused and Chandler looked at her. The hurt and adoration was apparent. His eyes opened wide and Annette squeezed his hand, flashing a wan smile. "But..." she hesitated, and hope and determination painted across Aidan's face. A single tear, a crystal diamond, rolled down Annette's cheek. Reaching over Chandler wiped it away gently in obvious love. "I don't know." The soft fragrance of the gentle rose petals clouded her mind as shock and pain twisted Chandler's features. Annette shifted her eyes downwards. "I love you, Chandler. But I love you too Aidan." Chandler stiffened, but nodded curtly. He was willing to let the love of his life go if it was what she wanted. Awe transcended Aidan. Annette looked around, then fainted, the sound echoing loudly in the stone hall.

*                                              *                                              *

Annette groggily forced her eyes open. They felt like they had been glued shut. Grimacing she started to push herself into a sitting position. She started to look around, then winced as pain shot through the back of her head. Annette slid against the cool smooth wall to the ground. Flinching, she felt the back of her head, it was heavy and sore. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes. As far as she could tell, she was alone except for a small cot and the screen of a TV. To no one in particular she whispered.

"Where am I? What happened to my wedding?" To Annette's astonishment a soothing, but slightly unnatural, voice replied, the words flowing like sweet honey.

"Darling, you are in the detainment cubicle. But please, don't think of it as imprisonment, more as a.... temporary home." the voice paused. "We need to make sure you have the strength enough for this 'love'. You seemed to have some... indecision about who you were to spend the rest of your life with. We're just making it.... a little easier to choose, here on..." A cheery theme song reverberated brightly in the small room "The STRENGTH OF LOVE!!"

Annette blinked. "Wait. Isn't that the show where-"

"Yes," The voice now sounded quite impatient, although Annette still hadn't found the source and most definitely hadn't planned on provacating it. "Your two... beloveds.... have been placed out in the wilderness. Oh, we're filming them, watching them if you must, so they won't be hurt. Too badly anyway. You will be kept here and will answer questions, or tests. Do well, help Chandler and Aidan. Do badly... well... you'll see. Rest well!"

Annette turned and sobbed. What have I gotten into?