Chapter 12
The weeks between Elise’s return and the wedding were some of the longest of Frederick’s life.
They were also some of the best.
He and Elise had dinner together almost every evening. They often had breakfast together, and occasionally lunch when his schedule allowed.
She’d been learning her way around the palace and learning what kinds of things were required of the queen - besides giving birth to both an heir and a spare. Most of the things required would come naturally to her anyway.
Being kind. Supporting charitable causes. Advocating for the less fortunate.
Now he stood in the ante room with one of his brothers near the nave and waited for his wife who was now going to be his bride.
The officiant walked into the room and bowed at the waist. “Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness - it’s time for you to enter. The queen will be arriving momentarily.”
Frederick acknowledged him with a nod. “Thank you.” His brother fell in a step behind him as they left the ante room.
The cathedral didn’t rival others in size, but it was beautiful nonetheless.
And full.
Every dignitary and VIP from Southern Santiero was in attendance.
Quite a few from Eastern Novigradia were as well, including most of the royal family.
Other countries sent representatives as well, though most were on the lower end of the VIPs considered "acceptable" - an undersecretary of some department or a relative of the royal family, some more distantly related than others.
He tried not to be offended. He would personally attend many of the royal weddings if it was deemed appropriate for any VIP from his country to receive an invitation.
Giving himself a mental shake, but definitely not a physical one, he tried to focus on the event in front of them.
In just a moment, Elise would walk down the aisle with her father.
They'd pledge new vows, ones more... real.
They'd exchange rings. He hadn't given her an engagement ring until two days earlier when he officially proposed.
She hadn't worn it in public yet, so no one outside the family had even seen it.
Not that all of his family was in attendance.
He still hadn't heard from his sister.
Unless she'd managed to sneak into the country without anyone knowing, she wouldn't be there.
The possibility did exist that she'd entered and his staff had chosen not to inform him.
All of her possible passports were flagged so palace staff would be notified and all had strict instructions to let him know immediately.
If they didn't defy those orders for what they considered the "greater good" or some nonsense.
Once again, he had to shake himself out of his melancholy thoughts and focus on the present.
Music had been playing softly in the background but the volume increased as did the number of instruments playing. A fuller sound filled the nave as one of Elise's friends started down the aisle in front of her.
Frederick smiled and nodded her direction. She smiled back. He'd met her the night before, but her name had completely slipped his mind.
Perhaps it was the nerves rolling around inside.
The music changed again and all of those in attendance stood and turned to watch Elise enter.
His breath caught in his throat as he got his first glimpse.
The designer she'd chosen was the best in Southern Santiero - or so he understood. He wasn't completely in the dark about women's fashion, but he couldn't pick out one designer over another without someone helping him.
She wore a veil covering her face and another, much longer one, trailing behind. Elise and her father reached the end of the aisle where Frederick waited.
He took a step forward and turned to face the officiant.
"Who gives this woman to this man?" His voice boomed through the sound system, though it wasn't truly needed. The acoustics were excellent.
"On behalf of her family, we give our blessing on Elise's marriage to King Frederick," her father said. It wasn't quite the change of "ownership" of centuries past, but they didn't come right out and say that Elise didn't need anyone's permission or blessing to make her own choices.
It was a step in that direction at least.
Elise's father lifted her veil and folded it back over the top of her head. Elise's friend helped straighten it out.
It was the first clear look anyone had at the tiara she'd chosen to wear. He'd never forget the look on her face as she looked around the vault where the Crown Jewels were stored.
This one wasn't the biggest or most ostentatious, but more simple - in a way that suited Elise.
More importantly, it was one Frederick's father had commissioned for Frederick's mother for their coronation.
Elise hadn't realized that when she chose it, but once his mother approved, it was a way to honor the late king who didn't live to see any of his children marry.
As her father moved out of the way, Frederick took Elise's hand and helped steady her as they walked up the steps at the front of the nave.
Elise handed her bouquet to her attendant and turned to face him, both of her hands sliding into his.
The officiant droned on about love and the sanctity of marriage and how it represented the image of Christ's relationship with the church.
Frederick focused solely on Elise, looking straight into her eyes and seeing a peace that made him feel completely at peace as well.
Somehow, they managed to communicate without speaking. Her sparkling blue eyes flitted one direction as a perfectly shaped eyebrow lifted slightly. He'd never noticed someone's eyebrows before, but he'd never studied his wife's face as he married her.
He raised an eyebrow of his own, making sure it was the one closer to the officiant rather than the one those in the view of the guests.
The corners of her mouth twitched making it impossible for Frederick to stop a grin from crossing his face.
Before they could connect further, the time came to make their vows, real ones this time.
Love. Honor. Cherish.
"Will you take this woman to be your wife, to keep yourself only unto her, until death do you part?"
Until death.
Should the worst happen, especially while they were relatively young, there was no expectation that either one of them would remain alone.
Frederick didn't let the implications sink in. Instead, he continued to look straight into Elise's eyes. "I will."
The same question was asked of Elise.
A tear spilled from those sparkling eyes. "I will."
There could be no "all my worldly goods I endow" - not when one was king, but he slid a gold band next to the engagement ring.
"With this ring, I thee wed. As a symbol of my love and commitment, I give you this ring, a circle unbroken, a token of my everlasting trust and devotion. Wear it as a sign of what we have promised this day."
Elise slid a ring on his finger and repeated the same words.
As a local children's choir sang a hymn, they were led to a small room off to the side. While there, they signed the formal marriage certificate and had their clothes straightened and Elise’s hair and make-up touched up.
Once they finished the paperwork, they returned to the nave where the officiant made the announcement.
"Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Honored Guests... it's my great honor to introduce for the first time... King Frederick and Queen Elise."
Those gathered stood up and cheered, though they weren't overly rambunctious as they did so. As they walked up the aisle with her hand securely tucked inside his elbow, those gathered bowed or curtsied.
When they emerged outside of the cathedral, the volume of the cheers from the crowds gathered increased. They stopped and waved before going down the steps and into the waiting carriage.
Twenty minutes later, they were on the balcony of the palace waving at the thousands outside the gates.
As the chants for a kiss increased, Frederick turned to Elise and did as requested.
He kissed his wife.
Elise was no stranger to the spotlight, but standing on the balcony of the palace with half the country cheering for her and Frederick was a whole different kind of attention.
She didn’t know exactly how they were arriving, but their guests should be entering the palace for the reception dinner and dancing that would go well into the night.
After a few more minutes, they turned and went back inside.
Frederick’s family had joined them - at least his mother and brothers. She knew it bothered him that his sister hadn’t been there.
Elise had spent a fair bit of time with her new mother-in-law the last few days. The Queen Mother seemed like a lovely lady, which matched everything Elise had heard about her. Frederick had told her that his mum wasn’t around often, but he wondered if that would change once they had children.
Elise pushed the thought of children out of her mind.
When they returned inside the palace, she found herself whisked away to the room set aside as her dressing room for the day.
Once there, the stylist she’d been working with as well as the designer of her dress helped her change into a different gown for the reception.
Though still a white evening gown, this one was less cumbersome but full enough it would be fun and look fantastic on the dance floor.
After her hair and make-up were checked, Elise met Frederick outside the room.
“You’re still wearing the tiara.” He sounded confused.
Was she not supposed to be? “Is that okay?” She pointed over her shoulder to the room she’d come from. “The stylist left it. I assumed it was okay.”
“It’s fine.” He shook himself slightly. “I don’t know why I expected it to come off. I guess since you were changing clothes, I thought they’d update your hair as well.” Frederick took her hand. “I can’t say I’m overly familiar with acceptable practices for women’s fashion.”
"I can't either, at least not for an event like this. I can handle a red carpet, but a royal wedding - where I'm the bride - is far outside of my experience."
They reached the doors that would open into the banquet hall. Elise once again slid her hand into the crook of Frederick's elbow.
"Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Honored Guests, please welcome King Frederick and Queen Elise." The unseen speaker's voice had a sort of James Earl Jones quality to it.
Their guests stood and politely applauded as they entered the room and made their way to the head table on the dais at the front of the room - or at least the side of the room designated as the front for this event.
Frederick held her chair and seated her.
Once he took his seat, everyone else did too.
Elise had helped choose the menu, but at the moment couldn't remember anything on it.
Rather than their wedding party sitting at the head table with them, their families did. Frederick's mother sat next to her and her mother sat on the other side of him.
The Queen Mother slid her hand over Elise's under the table. "Take a breath. You are the perfect person for my son. I know it's a lot to take in, but you will grow into this just as you grew into your roles on television and in movies."
"Thank you," Elise whispered back, a bit of relief sweeping over her as she realized the other woman also wore a tiara. A glance out at the guests showed several more - including Queen Catherine of Eastern Novigradia.
Frederick, as king, was the first one served for each course - and the first one to finish. When he finished, everyone else did, too.
Elise had eaten dinner with him a number of times before and had never known him to be an overly slow eater, but he seemed to be taking his time.
Once again, the Queen Mother spoke quietly.
"He learned that from his father. They both eat slowly since when they announce they're finished, everyone else must be too.
But if he ate at his normal speed, he would be finished about the time the last person received theirs and they would have no time to eat. "
With a nod, Elise tucked that tidbit away. Would it be the same if she was at an event without Frederick? She would do the same thing if that were to be the case.
After they finished the main course, there were a few speeches given. Elise was glad she hadn't been told they would need to give one.
It surprised her when Frederick stood up with his champagne glass in his hand. "Queen Elise and I would like to thank all of you for joining us today as we celebrate our marriage."
That made sense so it surprised her when he turned to look at her.
"To Elise. When Catherine asked if you could join me on that flight home, I never could have imagined where we would end up so soon after.
I will always be grateful to you for coming to see me that day, and you offered a solution that never would have occurred to me.
There is no one I would rather have join me on this journey through life.
" He turned to the room as a whole. "To Queen Elise, may she become as beloved to our people as she is to me. "
Elise could feel her face color as everyone echoed his sentiment.
"To Queen Elise."
The words spoken by so many at the same time almost blew her away.
Frederick sat back down as clinks started to fill the room. She could tell from the way his eyes were shifting that he wasn't quite certain what it meant.
She did her best to keep anyone from hearing her - or reading her lips. "It means kiss me," she told him.
Understanding replaced the confusion on his face. With a grin, he leaned over and gave her a soft kiss. As he pulled back, he whispered his thanks.
By then the tables had been cleared by wait staff who managed to maneuver the room as close to silently and invisibly as she'd ever seen.
Elise made a mental note to ensure they were properly thanked and rewarded for their exemplary service.
Same with those in the kitchens. They'd all outdone themselves.
Frederick must have noticed some sort of signal because he pushed back from the table and helped her stand.
"We would be honored if you would join us in the ballroom for dessert and dancing." With that, he took her hand and they left the banquet hall with their families and wedding party. They gathered in one of the sitting rooms as they waited for the rest of the guests to make it to the ballroom.
Once again, her make-up and hair were fixed.
But when she turned around, Frederick was gone.