Chapel

Richard entered in the chapel and looked at the altar. He knelt and crossed. Then he started praying silently

My Lord...I beg you to forgive my sins. I know I am unworthy of your mercy. But I promise you to serve You with faith, and not to commit such big sins again...

He whispered. Then closed his eyes and muttered some prayers

Aurora entered to chapel and heard Richard's prays, firstly she didnt want to disturb him but them she hear he was asking a mercy for his sins.
So,what great sins have you made my lord?Killed a person? Or? You just get human pleasure, your Majesty,and be in pleasure-isnt a sin. I am not your sister, Richard, I am just your lover. smiled Aurora and looked at the king

Richard was lost in his prayers. As he heard a female voice whispering something, he turned suddenly his head

Aurora! What are you doing here? Please...

He could hardly whisper, looking at her with surprised eyes

Charlotte entered the chapel. still holding Anthony's hand. Inside the candles glowed giving off a hundred points of glowing light. At the front an old priest was finishing his prayers, genuflecting at the altar. "Excuse me, Father.. I wonder if you would bless us, with the sacrament of marriage." She cast a nervous glance at Anthony. "It would mean so much to us." To her surprise the priest nodded and motioned them to come to the altar where he prepared his Bible.

We entered the chapel, I didn't see anyone till Charlotte saw the priest. I was a little bit nervous, although I was more happy than nervous. I was about to marry a woman whom I loved very much, something that I thought would never happen to me.
I held Charlotte's hand and faced her, "I hope your prepared for all this." I said and smiled as we waited for the priest to prepare himself to marry us.

She smiled and nodded. "I am," she replied. She felt like she had butterflies in her stomach and she smiled to think of the son or daughter she had growing within her. The priest returned and made the sign of the cross over them and asked them to join hands. Then he recited the vows and Charlotte repeated them in a sweet and trembling voice: "I, Charlotte, take you, Anthony, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness." She looked into his eyes and smiled, a tear falling down her cheek.

I smiled and then turned towards her. "Charlotte, your everything I could ever ask for in a woman. I, Anthony take you Charlotte, as my wedded wife to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness." I said looking into her eyes knowing I had found my match.
The priest pronounced us husband and wife and I kissed her, I kissed her for the first time as my wife.

Charlotte's heart was brimming over with joy, and as she kissed her husband she felt at last a completeness she never thought possible. She smiled as the priest blessed them once more and wished them well before going to his rooms.
"I love you so much, Anthony," she whispered in the solitude of the chapel. "There is someone I want you to meet, she's the closest I have to family here. But for now we should enjoy our time together." She liked the idea of having a secret, and now she had two.

As the priest us and our marriage, I could not stop smiling. "I love you my wife." I said and kissed her again. "I would be glad to meet anyone you wish." I held her hand and arm under mine as we walked out of the chapel. I stopped, at the doors. "This is a new beginning for us I promise." I said smiling and kissing her.

It still seemed surreal that she was now a wife, but now she could not imagine a life where she was not with Anthony. "I am so happy my love. We shall call on my benefactress tomorrow, she's.. well she's the Countess of Venice," she said sheepishly not wanting Anthony to be nervous about meeting her. They stopped as they reached the chapel doors. "Yes, this is a new beginning, and I'm glad you're the one I'm sharing the adventure with." She sighed happily as he kissed her.

I knew once his majesty learned about this he would be surprised. Hopefully he would give us his blessing. I then wondered if she knew of my reputation. I swallowed hard and tried to pay attention to what she was saying. "Well I think this is cause for celebration. Where shall we go?" I pondered

She laughed. "I hadn't thought of celebrating. I suppose you would want a drink," she teased. She noticed he looked a bit worried. "What is it? Is something wrong?" She placed her hand on his arm.

"Yes, of course a drink would be nice." I said as we walked the grounds. I looked at her as my mind wondered. "It's nothing my love." I wrapped my arm around her nervous if I should tell her rather than risk her running into one of my past conquests.

She looked at him and smiled. "I know where there is some delicious ale served nice and cold. Come with me," she said, leading him back to the palace. "You should rest, my love. You've been through a lot since you've come here."

I held her hand tightly, "I'm not tired. For if I close my eyes I fear this may be a dream and when I wake, you may not be real." I said honestly.

Charlotte smiled and kissed him. "I assure you, I'm very real, and I belong only to you." She thought of how easily she'd won him, that she could just as easily lose him. She pulled him close to her and rested her head on his chest.

They arrived to a tiny quaint chapel, a few miles from the palace. They walked in and there were candles lit everywhere. And even though she would like her family there she didn't want to wait any longer. Amelia looked at Fernando This is perfect. What do you think?

Fernando looks around and admires the quaintness of the chapel, Candles are lit everywhere and a priest walks out. He immediately notices that it will be a Protestant ceremony but he doesnt mind as long as it pleases her. This is beautiful. I love it. Fernando grabs a few of his valets to use them as witnesses. He takes a deep breath and looks to Amelia, Are You ready?

Amelia looked down and sighed, she wished she were dressed more formal although, that didn't matter now.
She looked at him "Yes, im ready" she replied with her nerves still trying to take over her. She placed her un steady hand in his and looked at the priest prepared to say and do as she was told.

Fernando and Amelia slowly make their way up to the altar, to be joined together for life and love. Although this isnt a way for a King to be married, it seemed the only possible way to do it as their marriage contract was put off by her father. He looks to her and whisper, I am not familiar with a Protestant ceremony as I am Catholic.

She looked at him Well its the same without the host and wine. However, if you wish, we may have catholic ceremony if it pleases you. she said just ready for the ceremony to begin.

No this is fine. Fernando says, smiling brightly. He looks to the priest who starts off with a blessing. As the priest speaks, Fernando looks at Amelia and can sense her nervousness but he gently caresses her hand in hopes to calm her nerves. The priest asks if Fernando wishes to marry Amelia and he says, I do. Fernando then recites his vows, I, Fernando Benedetti, King of Italy, do here by take Amelia, Duchess of Cleves, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, for sickness and in health, till death do us part.

She faces him with her hands still in his and smiled as he said his vows. She then repeated the same words in return and squeezed his hands as the priest pronounced them husband and wife.

The priest announces Fernando and Amelia husband and wife. This day has been quite an adventure for Fernando. He only thought that he was only going to meet his bride but instead, he married her. You are so beautiful, Fernando says in an airy voice as he leans in to kiss her, this time with a bit more passion.