.•° ✿ °•.
"No sooner met but they looked, no sooner looked but they loved, no sooner loved but they sighed, no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason, no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy; and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage." the priest paused, eyes scanning the crowd, "The heartfelt words written by the renowned William Shakespear, speak of a love unmatched, a love that is so great that it can withstand any and all adversity. Today, we gather to see through a love that is just so; ever growing and boundlessly infinite as the sea." the priest smiled, before turning his attention to George and I "Do you each pledge to love each other wholly and without jealousy? To cherish, love, and respect each other, for all of your time on this earth?"
"We do." George and I nodded in unison.
"You may now exchange your vows." the priest smiled, "Your Majesty,"
"It is no easy feat to sum how I feel for you in a mere few minutes, my Rose," George began, "In fact, it is nearly impossible to sum them at all using words, they often fall utterly short of the task. When I met you, you were a mysterious female soldier, someone with a personality bigger and more upfront than even my own. And as I've said time and time again, you intrigued me. And the more I got to know the woman that you are, the more captivated I became. You helped me to become a better man, gave my life passion, a reason for which to live. And the fact that I'm about to wed you, is nearly as crazy to me as the fact that I ended up with a woman so amazing as you, who helps me, who makes me laugh, and who shows me love no matter the circumstances. I love you, my dear."
"And Rose," the priest nodded to me.
"Before I knew you, I was a mindless husk of a person. I didn't care for my wellbeing or anything, for that matter. I'd been hurt, and I'd lost any reasons I might have once had to live. And suddenly, there you were, an arrogant, flirtatious, and exceedingly strange man, who seemed enamoured with me, and yet I could not possibly begin to discern why. And though my feelings for you were there, I pushed them away." I breathed in, "You helped me through my worst times, and still, I could not accept the fact that someone was at last breaking down my walls that had kept everything out for so long. Until I received a letter, one that encouraged me to find that person who would give my life that spark, that purpose. And instantly, I knew it was you. I'm sure there isn't a thing on this earth that I could do to thank you for everything you've done for me. You've given me a home, a family, love and a reason to live. I love you so much."
"Your Majesty, please repeat after me: I George, promise to love and support you, Rosalie and live each day with kindness, understanding, truth, humour, and passion. With this ring, I thee wed."
"I George, promise to love and support you, Rosalie and live each day with kindness, understanding, truth, humour, and passion. With this ring, I thee wed." he repeated, slipping Anne's ring over my finger.
"And Rosalie, please repeat after me: I Rosalie, promise to love and support you, George and live each day with kindness, understanding, truth, humour, and passion. With this ring, I thee wed."
"I Rosalie, promise to love and support you, George and live each day with kindness, understanding, truth, humour, and passion. With this ring, I thee wed." I said, slipping a gold band over George's finger.
"I now pronounce you, husband and wife." the priest closed his book, turning to me, "And I hereby pronounce you, Rosalie, Queen of Great Britain." he said, before facing George, "You may now kiss the bride."
George wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me close and kissing me, as the guests applauded. My becoming the Queen was a thought that was almost nonexistent in my mind, as I kissed my husband. I was at last married to the man I love, and that joyous thought was the only thing that consumed my mind. George and I signed various documents, before heading, arm in arm, back to the palace, followed by the rest of the guests, slowly trickling in and filling the ballroom. They assumed seats strewn about the room, as George and I headed for the table at the front-most part of the room. Once everyone had at last been settled, Samuel stood, clearing his throat, and silencing the room.
"I've known the King for only a short few years, and Rose for even less. And if you'd have told me two years ago that in time, they would be here, married, I'd likely of thought you were crazy. But fate, and destiny, they're like that sometimes... Crazy. But they're never wrong. When the two of your first met, you couldn't stand each other. You couldn't have been more different from each other if you tried, which only furthered your distaste. But now, it's plain to see that it's precisely those differences that make you strong. Where one of you is weak, the other is strong. It is for that reason, that the two of you will prosper as a married couple. Because in the face of adversity, your love flourishes, it strengthens, and I've complete confidence that as times goes on, it will continue to do so." Samuel smiled, raising a glass, "To the King, and his Rose!"
The guests all raised their glasses in response, some shouting in agreement, others drinking. George grasped my hand, squeezing it affectionately, before pulling me up. I cocked an eyebrow at him.
"You've forgotten, my dear, our first dance as a couple." he smirked.
"So I have." I sighed, as he led me onto the dance floor and the orchestra cued up a song.
My heart panged as the familiar tune began. The one that had played the very first time I'd ever danced with George. I never even knew I remembered it until now, hearing it for the first time in years.
"I hoped you would have recognized it." he smiled, taking note of my widened eyes, "I requested they play it for us."
"I love this dance." I remarked absentmindedly, remembering our conversation from that evening, causing George's head to snap up as a nostalgic look crossed his face "It is your turn to speak, my dear. I talked about the dance, now you ought to remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples." I persisted.
"I'm perfectly happy to oblige, please tell me of what you would most like to hear." he whispered.
"That reply will do for present." I said, feeling the tears pricking my eyes.
But for the first time in my life, the tears weren't sad ones. In fact, I felt happier than I ever had before, so much so that I was beginning to weep as George and I twirled about the ballroom, slowly being joined by other couples.
"So, care to make the acquaintances of my siblings?" he smiled.
"I suppose there's no time like the present," I shrugged, "And you put up with Lucien's hostility so..."
"I'm sure you'll find them as annoying as I do." he chuckled, leading me by the hand to a table, where a few distinguished guests sat about a table.
As we approached, they all shot me distasteful glances, though some of those looks appeared as though they were directed at George.
"Matilda," George nodded to his sister, "Augusta. Edward. Henry. Loiusa. Elizabeth. Thank you for attending. Though I see you've not brought your families. Or made an effort to meet my new wife."
"It's customary for us to attend the wedding of our brother, but there was no need to bring our families. It's not as though this is a momentous occasion of any sort." one woman said.
"And as for your new... Wife." a man spat the title, "We've never mingled with the enemy nor the commonwealth before, and don't intend to now."
"Excuse me?" George said, "Care to repeat that? Or perhaps-"
"George." I raised my hand to silence him, before turning on his siblings, "My name is Rosalie, but I'm sure you already knew that, as it's likely come up during your spiteful conversation. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I only wanted to inform you that no matter how you may feel about me, it won't change how George and I feel about each other, nor the fact that he and I are now married. So perhaps, instead of whining like the pompous royal snobs that you all are, you can embrace reality, and start treating me, and everyone for that matter, with a trifle more decency." I concluded, grabbing George's hand, "I've found you all and your company every bit as pleasurable as George described it. Adieu."
I laughed as George and I put as much distance as possible between us and his siblings, who all had disgusted grimaces plastered across their miserable faces. And yet their hateful words did not bother me. In fact, George coming out of family raised with such ideals, and still loving me anyways, just further proved how strong our connection was.
"Have you seen Fran?" Alice suddenly appeared at our side, "There's something I ought to tell her."
"No, I haven't. Sorry." I shrugged, as the eager girl rushed off in another direction.
"So?" I turned to George, "What do you want to do?"
"I'll tell you," he lowered his voice to a whisper, bringing his lips to my ear, "What I really want to do. I want it to be our wedding night so that I can finally-"
"Not here." I pulled away, "Don't even think things like that in public."
"You can't tell me you don't?" he smirked.
"I-It matters not what I think." I stammered, looking around frantically, "Ah, there's Dot."
"Is it time?" he asked.
"It is." I nodded.
I entwined my fingers in George's, making my way to the girl, who stared out the window in a trance.
"Dot, there's something we've been meaning to ask you." I said, and she looked up at me with inquisitive eyes, "Outside."
In a few moments, the three of us had made it into the gardens, that at this point were clear of guests. I knelt down in front of Dot, and George placed a hand on my shoulder, giving me the documents.
"Dot." I began pensively, "I know what you've had to go through, because I went through it as a child. And when I lived through that ordeal, there was one thing I wanted more than anything, and that was a family. But I thought I'd never have one, I'd lost the only one I'd ever had. But that wasn't true. Because I came here, and met George, and you, and everyone else. You all became my family. Dot, you're my family, and I'm - We're - yours. But George and I... We thought we ought to ask if you wanted to make it official." I pulled out the document, handing it to her.
She skimmed over it, looking up, and between George and I with widened eyes as she processed what we were offering her. And suddenly, she burst into tears, and threw herself onto me, enveloping me in a warm embrace as she sobbed.
"Thank you. Thank you!" she repeated again and again, as George knelt down, and the three of us sunk into a loving embrace, "Thank you."
°•. ✿ .•°