Chapter Text
Despite the bitter cold outside, the church was unbearably stuffy due to the thousands of candles burning along the walls and the huge crowd of townspeople, dressed to the nines today for a particularly important occasion. And what an occasion it was! Their beautiful young Queen Anna is finally getting married! Ah, what a happy day!..
“Do you think he’s young?”
“Is he good-looking?”
“They say he's tall and fair-haired...”
“They say he's very rich!”
“Oh, yes, I heard that he sent as many as five chests of gold nuggets and eight chests of silver as a wedding gift. And this diamond necklace that he gave her...!”
“So they’ve never met before?”
“Oh, I hope he’s kind...”
“I heard he’s only a couple of years older than her, so at least she won’t have to share a bed with an old man...”
“But what about this boy, Christopher?”
“Kristoff? It seems they parted as friends. Anyway, he's just a peasant, and that was over a year ago...”
“Oh, who would have thought that our proud queen would eventually agree to marry for convenience!..”
The buzzing voices of the gossips fell silent when the sound of a carriage was heard outside, and a minute later the herald announced that the groom had arrived. A general sigh of amazement escaped from those gathered when an elegant male silhouette appeared in the open doors of the temple.
A cool gust of wind rushed into the hall after him, successfully expelling the heavy smell of incense, perfume and sweat to replace it with frosty freshness. It was as if winter itself had stepped inside.
Somewhere above the choir, an organ began to play quietly, signaling the start of the ceremony.
“Oh my God, is that him?!”
“Wow…”
The muffled whispers resumed with renewed vigor as the man walked down the central aisle between the benches. And all because he, confirming the most ridiculous rumors and conjectures, actually turned out to be incredibly, insanely, simply inhumanly beautiful.
Slender and tall (though not as tall as he was usually described), the queen's future husband walked to the altar with appropriate leisure and grace. He seemed completely oblivious to the excitement surrounding him.
He looked like he couldn't have been more than twenty-five. His flawless, soft-looking skin was so pale that it could have seemed strange and unpleasant if not for the healthy blush spreading with a delicate peach color over the smooth-shaven cheeks and chiseled cheekbones of the young man. A slightly upturned thin nose, thick eyebrows, a clearly defined chin and a mop of artistically disheveled platinum-silver hair complemented the already stunning picture.
Not too muscular, but not thin either, he seemed the embodiment of the ideal male physique: with fairly broad shoulders, narrow hips and a slender waist, developed legs and strong, but not rough wrists, turning into equally graceful hands and long musical fingers worthy of a true monarch.
A light blue three-piece suit with a turquoise tie fit his stately figure like a glove, its color favorably emphasizing the deep bright blue eyes of the young Duke. A transparent snow rose shone on the lapel of his jacket, shimmering in the light of the lamps along with thousands of barely visible frosty patterns running along the expensive fabric of his wedding costume.
It seemed that it was impossible to imagine anyone more beautiful in the whole world than this young man, but then the organ melody changed the mood again, from quiet turning into bright and solemn, and the bride stepped under the arches of the temple.
“Ah!..”
Oohs, sighs, and even a few loud, jealous grinding of teeth, all of this were drowned out by the thick echo of trumpets as Anna of Arendelle, like it befits her status, walked down the altar alone. And if the elven appearance of her groom was not enough for any of those present to faint with delight, they could do it right now from the dazzling beauty of the queen.
“Did these two really just meet today?” one same incredulous thought flashed through the heads of the crowd.
As soon as the bride stepped on the carpet, the groom involuntarily moved towards her, but stopped himself in time. His stoic façade wavered and shattered, replaced by a stunned and undeniably happy expression as he stared into the face of the young woman walking towards him.
As befits tradition, her dress was innocently white. Woven from the most delicate silk and the finest lace, it looked almost magical and favorably emphasized the feminine figure of its owner, tightly fitting her small but high breasts and leaving her round shoulders with a pale scattering of freckles completely open.
The crinoline, resembling a snow-white cloud, swayed slightly in time with the queen’s steps. A thin diamond necklace in the shape of snowflakes framed her neck, further emphasizing the fragility of her collarbones. Her bright copper hair, the only sparkle of fire in the middle of this winter look, was styled today in a simple braid, pulled loosely in front over her right shoulder. Like the dress, there were tiny grains of frost tangled in the woman’s curls.
Her young, unveiled face, facing the groom, was like a precious pearl protruding from a shell. It almost shone in the haze of the veil fluttering behind her.
“You are stunning!” the Duke exhaled, stretching out his hands to her. His gentle and melodic voice matched his appearance.
“Thank you. You too,” the queen returned the compliment, placing her tiny fingers in his open palms.
Their equally blue eyes found each other again, sending a thousand more silent words of admiration to their interlocutor, causing both to blush cutely.
The guests sitting in the front rows let out a romantic sigh. Some particularly sensitive persons were already pressing handkerchiefs to their eyes, hiding tears of tenderness. The archbishop waiting at the altar had to clear his throat twice before the couple standing before him finally turned their attention to him.
Smiling, he raised his hands and spoke in a well-trained voice:
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony...”
The ceremony proceeded smoothly as planned. After the due introduction and short prayer, it was time to exchange vows.
“Einar Gustav Jorgen Holmi of the North, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together according to God's law in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour and keep her in sickness and in health and forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
“I will.”
“Anna Benedicta Lagertha Fredrica Susanna of Arendelle, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband…”
When it came to the last words, it might have seemed to some that for a single brief moment the queen hesitated. She looked so intently into the face of her companion under the crown, as if she was trying to find something else there, invisible to the eye. However, this moment passed, and she said firmly:
“I will.”
“Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?”
To the surprise of many, this person turned out to be Queen Anna's former suitor, Kristoff. Unlike the couple before the altar, he was visibly nervous and sweating under his luxurious suit, in which he looked a little ridiculous. However, he clearly said all the necessary words, following the priest's instructions.
When the time came to exchange rings, he made a subtle sign to Olaf, who immediately jumped forward with his usual enthusiasm, holding in his branchy hands a velvet pillow with pair of royal jewelry.
Taking the smaller ring in his hands, Duke Einar said:
“With this ring, I thee wed...”
Queen Anne's fingers closed around the second ring as she repeated the phrase after him.
“With my body, I thee honour...”
Their palms gently squeezed each other, while their eyes couldn’t stop looking for something in the depths of the pupils opposite, and their lips uttered the last words of the sacred oath.
“And all my worldly goods with thee I share...”
Smiling at each other, they took turns exchanging rings, finally sealing their bond in front of Heaven and everyone present.
“In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”