To Love Someone

chapter 3

            

      What was supposed to be a happy day in April's life turned out to be the worst. She was dressed in a shimmery white gown, that fitted her curves. Her long black hair was braided and pinned up. Her maids gushed over how pretty she looked, and all she could think about was what fate had in store for her.

And all the way to the chapel, she tried to accept her fate, and talked herself out of the anger she was feeling.At the chapel, she held her fathers arm and they made the march down the aisle. The chapel was filled to capacity, they had all come to see her doom, she thought bitterly. She could see the prince where he stood up front beside his warriors. One of them whispered something to him, and he smirked.

    All the anger she had surpressed and talked herself out of came rushing back up. What did he have to be smiling about. Her father left her and went back to stand Noella. Her dear sweet sister, she hadn't seen her since the unfortunate incident. The priest began the prayers in Latin, and gestured for them to come forward and kneel.

   The prince knelt and bowed his head, but she stood where she was. "Princess?" the priest said. Dejectedly, she stomped forward and knelt, but she refused to bow her head.

"Princess, please bow your head," the priest begged,his voice low. And when she refused, her father came over, and with his hand, pressed down her head and held it in place so she was bowing. She heard the Scottish warriors laugh.

"Continue," her father commanded the priest.

"Quod sanctificatum est matrimonium, in nomine, Domini nostri lesu."

He sanctified them and anointed them, and gave them a silver chalice to drink from. She sobbed as the priest pronounced them husband and wife.

         The ceremony was over quickly, and after a short dinner, it was time for the bride and groom to retire to their bed chamber. Not that Ian was anticipating it, he just wanted it over and done quickly so he could get back to Alba. He didn't feel comfortable in Mercia.

  April was taken away to prepare for her wedding night, while the King led Ian,the priest and a few nobles to the bridal chamber. Ryan wasn't invited,but of course, he followed.

  The priest made the sign of the cross and blessed and sanctified the chamber. "deum benedicite hoc matrimonium, in nomine domini nostri christus dominus noster lesuo."

   It was time for the princess to come out, but when she failed to appear, the King sent a guard to fetch her. He arrived moments later with the princess slung over his shoulder. She was screaming and crying at the top of her lungs and pounding at his back.

And when he dropped her, she spat on his face.  "Thank you my princess," the guard wiped his face and retreated.

"Out," Ian commanded, "All of you, get out."

  They all shuffled out, Ryan was the last to leave, and as he closed the door, he winked at Ian.

He sighed and toed off his boots, his shirt followed next, leaving him in his trousers, and as he walked towards the bed, April said,

"do not come near me you monster," but he continued to walk to her, "I said don't come near me! Or are you deaf? Stay away, or so help me God I will kill you."

  She backed away till her thighs hit the bed and she flopped on it. He didn't stop till he was in front of her. She stared up at him defiantly. Suddenly, he climbed up the bed and she was forced to lay back to avoid skin contact with him, his arms were on either side of her head. He leaned down till their faces were inches apart.

           April brought out the dagger she had hidden in the folds of her gown and held it to his neck. He only looked down at it, "it would take more than a dagger to kill me, lass."

"Not if I stab you in the right place," she spat. He only raised a brow, grabbed a pillow and rolled away. He lay on his side and went to sleep. She sat up quickly and, with the tip of the dagger trailed a line down his back slowly, he twitched.

"Stop it, you are tickling me."

  She held the dagger to his throat again, "I could kill you right now."

"Get some sleep wife, we have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow."

She waited moments before she asked, "aren't you afraid I will stab you in your sleep?"

No answer, so she asked, "are you asleep, husband?" And his soft snores filled the room. She shifted to the far end of the bed and placed the dagger under her pillow before going to sleep.

                   **********

         

         April woke up the next day and was glad that her husband's face was not the first thing she saw. She dressed in a simple rose colored gown and had breakfast with her sister and father. They escorted her out to the courtyard where she expected to see a coach, but all she saw were horses saddled.

   Confused, she went over to where Ian stood saddling his black stallion. "Pray tell husband, how do you suppose I travel?"

"Horseback," he simply said.

She laughed and signalled to the stable boy to bring about the coach.

"Traveling by the coach will take double the time, and attract unnecessary attention, which, I do not want." He handed her the reins to a white mare.

"I do not know how to ride."

"Fine, then you can ride with Ryan," he said not sparing her a glance.

"I will not, and do not ask me to ride with one of your savage brutes." He simply picked her up and placed her on his horse and swung himself up behind her.

They were about leaving when she stopped them, "wait, my maid, I want her to come with us."

He was about to say no,when she looked up at him and added "please, it would be wrong to be the only female in the company of many men."

What she said made sense, so he agreed and Marge was sent for. She bid her father and sister goodbye, and off they went. She was leaving her life behind everything she had ever known and loved was to be left behind, and she was to start a new one with a man she barely knew, a man who was not even a Christian.

  The first sentence in Latin means : this marriage is sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus.
  While the second means : God bless this marriage, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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