Chapter Eighteen: Happy Endings All Around
Jeremie knelt before the ornate throne. The hall was empty except for the king, Jeremie, and Aelita, who was on her knees behind the prince. The king was surveying them with a suspicious air that did little to improve the spirits of the pair.
The French prince cleared his throat to speak. "Father, you have decreed that I should marry the princess of Japan to preserve our nations and unite us in the convenant of matrimony." (Doesn't that sound all official?)
"Yes, I have. Do you object to this?"
Jeremie froze like a child with his hand in the cookie jar. Saying no was treason against the crown, punishible by death or exile, depending upon what mood his father was in at the time. To say yes would be to deny Aelita and what his heart truely wanted.
"I do." Jeremie felt his heart hit his stomach, then realized that he had not spoken. The voice had come from none other than Aelita herself. The prince turned and saw that she was gazing evenly at the king, unflinching.
"Who are you to speak so," the king demanded. "You are no more than a servant!"
"I agree with her, Father," Jeremie said in a low voice, gathering his courage. "I do not want to marry Yumi."
There was a long pause while the king decided what to make of this. His answer came with a sigh and a shake of his head. "It matters little to me whom you marry, just that you produce an heir to carry on the crown."
"So it is not important if the mother is of noble birth," Jeremie pressed in a hopeful voice.
"I suppose not. It would be....simpler if she was, but these things cannot be changed, I suppose. Do you wish me to send word to Japan that you desire to call of the betrothal?"
"Most certainly!" Jeremie nodded vigorously, and Aelita stepped forward to take his hand. The king smiled.
"I see. Very well, I shall notify the princess's father of this....developement. I assume Yumi has already agreed to break it as well?"
Jeremie and Aelita exchanged smiles. "She has, sire," Aelita said. "And I think she may be having a similar discussion with her own father very soon."
The king looked bemused at the thought. "Interesting. Thank you for speaking to me about this matter. And be happy,
children."
-----
Yumi poked her head around the corner. "All clear!" She and Ulrich sprinted down the final corridor and slammed the chapel doors shut behind them.
Yumi had never entered the chapel before. It was a large, ornate room with high ceilings painted with murals of cherubim and seraphim soaring among the clouds. Long pews lined the center aisle and lead the way to the alter. A large cross hung on the wall above the pulpit. Off to one side was an organ, to the other a piano. The floor was white and black marble, shined to a perfection by diligent servants.
In the first pew an old man sat with his head in the King James Bible. He looked up when the doors shut and saw the pair.
"Ah, you must be the Japanese princess I have heard so much about," he observed in a kind voice. "I hear you have been quite the troublemaker these past days."
Yumi looked down in embarassment. "I suppose I have, Reverend," she admitted.
The man laughed. "What is youth without mischif every now and then?" The question was rhetorical. "Now, what is it that you came to see me about? These day it seems like they only come to me on Sundays and when someone is on their deathbed."
There was a long pause. "We want to be married," Ulrich said in a rush. "Will you do it?"
The reverend eyed him suspiciously. "Would you be the guard I've heard so much about?"
Ulrich looked flustered. "Yes, I suppose I am..."
The man's face creased into a smile. "Then come. It is high time you to married."
-----
The caravan of carraiges rumbled into the palace courtyard. The French king was already there waiting as his Japanese counterpart emerged from his private carraige.
"Welcome," the French king intoned, smiling. "I have news that may trouble you."
-----
Odd burst through the chapel doors, letting them slam into the walls for effect and standing in the doorway with arms thrown wide and legs apart.
Yumi and Ulrich drew apart from the kiss to look at the panicked guard. The priest peered around them to see what the commotion was.
"We have a problem," Odd gasped. "A big one."
-----
Jeremie knelt before his father and the Japanese king. A temporary throne had been placed next to his father's to seat the foreign guest.
The king's eyes glared down and him, and the French prince willed himself not to flinch under the stern gaze. He could see where Yumi got her personality from, even though she wasn't on the best terms with her father. They had the same withering gaze.
A page entered through the main doorway and cleared his throat, announcing in a booming voice that Princess Yumi had arrived.
Ulrich and Odd led the way in, followed closely by Yumi with Aelita and Naomi in the back. The page spoke again,
this time announcing Princess Sissy. The younger girl swept in as well.
Ulrich, Odd, Aelita and Naomi had hit their knees as soon as they saw the kings, but Yumi was still standing. Her dark eyes were so wide with shock and horror that she almost ceased to look Asian. Sissy gave an audible gasp that echoed dully through the vast room, making it clear that she too was shocked by their father's arrival.
The French king looked uncharacteristically grim as he surveyed the dumbstruck daughters.
"F-Father," Yumi stuttered, clearly at a loss for words. "You're here....In France....What a surprise...."
"I enjoy surprising others," her father informed her matter-of-factly. "I do not, however, enjoy being surprised." If it was possible Yumi went even more pale. "Tell me, daughter, have you enjoyed your time here in France?"
Yumi nodded numbly. "Yes, sire."
"Good. Are you and the prince prepared to be married then?" Yumi saw the French kking stiffen and realized that he father knew. This was a test, a ploy to see if she would try to decieve him.
But before Yumi could give her answer, Jeremie rose. His face was flushed and he looked scared out of his mind, but he stodd tall before the kings. "No, sire, we are not."
Yumi was almost pleased to see her father hesitate. He had not been prepared for Jeremie to answer.
"And why is that," he asked finally.
"Because we aren't in love," Yumi announced, stepping forward past Ulrich and Odd to stand with Jeremie. It was now or never, sink or swim, do or die.
Her father rose, enraged. "What on earth does love have to do with it? You are a Princess of Japan and you will do what is right for your country!"
"For my country," Yumi retorted. "My country? More like what is right for you! This wasn't about joining Japan and France, it was about marrying off your 'black sheep' daughter to the only ones who would have her! The day you let me take the throne would be the day that the sky fell! I don't care about being proper, or being Queen or any of those things! I just want to be loved for who I am, that's all I ever wanted!"
The king's face was growing red now with anger. "You would break a vow of honor between our two nations?!"
"They already have," The French king said gently from behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "My son has chosen another to be his bride, and if I am not mistaken, your daughter haa already been married to the one that she loves."
The king looked stunned. He sank backwards onto the throne and spoke in a more quiet voice. "Is this true?"
"Yes," Yumi said. "I have married, Ulrich, one of my guards." The king looked even more outraged, but Yumi continued as through she didn't notice. "Let Sissy be your sucessor, she'd make a much better ruler than me anyway. Ulrich and I are content with being nobles and counselors is Sissy should ever need us."
"And you allowed them to do this?" This question was directed at the French king, who sighed and sat down as well.
"I saw no point in forcing them to be unhappy, and they probably would have done what they wanted to anyway. It was easier to simply give my blessing to them all."
The Japanese king considered, and then nodded. "Very well. Be happy, daughter. And Sissy?"
The younger gilr stepped forward. "Yes father?"
"I have recieved a marraige offer from Count Herb regarding you. Do you accept?"
"I would be delighted," Sissy said with vigor.
The room erupted into cheers. Yumi and Ulrich embraced and Jeremie grabbed Aelita's hand. Odd and Naomi were dancing around in a circle giggling and making fools of themselves.
Odd stopped and dropped to one knee. "Since everyone else is getting married, how about us?"
Naomi squealed and threw her arms around him.
-----OWARI-----
"And that's all there is, there isn't anymore."
Can anyone tell me where that quote is from?
Anyway, this fic is finished! Winner Take All will be up soon, I promise!
Au Revoir, Ja'ne, Sayonara and all that jazz!
Ransomed Heart
Jeremie knelt before the ornate throne. The hall was empty except for the king, Jeremie, and Aelita, who was on her knees behind the prince. The king was surveying them with a suspicious air that did little to improve the spirits of the pair.
The French prince cleared his throat to speak. "Father, you have decreed that I should marry the princess of Japan to preserve our nations and unite us in the convenant of matrimony." (Doesn't that sound all official?)
"Yes, I have. Do you object to this?"
Jeremie froze like a child with his hand in the cookie jar. Saying no was treason against the crown, punishible by death or exile, depending upon what mood his father was in at the time. To say yes would be to deny Aelita and what his heart truely wanted.
"I do." Jeremie felt his heart hit his stomach, then realized that he had not spoken. The voice had come from none other than Aelita herself. The prince turned and saw that she was gazing evenly at the king, unflinching.
"Who are you to speak so," the king demanded. "You are no more than a servant!"
"I agree with her, Father," Jeremie said in a low voice, gathering his courage. "I do not want to marry Yumi."
There was a long pause while the king decided what to make of this. His answer came with a sigh and a shake of his head. "It matters little to me whom you marry, just that you produce an heir to carry on the crown."
"So it is not important if the mother is of noble birth," Jeremie pressed in a hopeful voice.
"I suppose not. It would be....simpler if she was, but these things cannot be changed, I suppose. Do you wish me to send word to Japan that you desire to call of the betrothal?"
"Most certainly!" Jeremie nodded vigorously, and Aelita stepped forward to take his hand. The king smiled.
"I see. Very well, I shall notify the princess's father of this....developement. I assume Yumi has already agreed to break it as well?"
Jeremie and Aelita exchanged smiles. "She has, sire," Aelita said. "And I think she may be having a similar discussion with her own father very soon."
The king looked bemused at the thought. "Interesting. Thank you for speaking to me about this matter. And be happy,
children."
-----
Yumi poked her head around the corner. "All clear!" She and Ulrich sprinted down the final corridor and slammed the chapel doors shut behind them.
Yumi had never entered the chapel before. It was a large, ornate room with high ceilings painted with murals of cherubim and seraphim soaring among the clouds. Long pews lined the center aisle and lead the way to the alter. A large cross hung on the wall above the pulpit. Off to one side was an organ, to the other a piano. The floor was white and black marble, shined to a perfection by diligent servants.
In the first pew an old man sat with his head in the King James Bible. He looked up when the doors shut and saw the pair.
"Ah, you must be the Japanese princess I have heard so much about," he observed in a kind voice. "I hear you have been quite the troublemaker these past days."
Yumi looked down in embarassment. "I suppose I have, Reverend," she admitted.
The man laughed. "What is youth without mischif every now and then?" The question was rhetorical. "Now, what is it that you came to see me about? These day it seems like they only come to me on Sundays and when someone is on their deathbed."
There was a long pause. "We want to be married," Ulrich said in a rush. "Will you do it?"
The reverend eyed him suspiciously. "Would you be the guard I've heard so much about?"
Ulrich looked flustered. "Yes, I suppose I am..."
The man's face creased into a smile. "Then come. It is high time you to married."
-----
The caravan of carraiges rumbled into the palace courtyard. The French king was already there waiting as his Japanese counterpart emerged from his private carraige.
"Welcome," the French king intoned, smiling. "I have news that may trouble you."
-----
Odd burst through the chapel doors, letting them slam into the walls for effect and standing in the doorway with arms thrown wide and legs apart.
Yumi and Ulrich drew apart from the kiss to look at the panicked guard. The priest peered around them to see what the commotion was.
"We have a problem," Odd gasped. "A big one."
-----
Jeremie knelt before his father and the Japanese king. A temporary throne had been placed next to his father's to seat the foreign guest.
The king's eyes glared down and him, and the French prince willed himself not to flinch under the stern gaze. He could see where Yumi got her personality from, even though she wasn't on the best terms with her father. They had the same withering gaze.
A page entered through the main doorway and cleared his throat, announcing in a booming voice that Princess Yumi had arrived.
Ulrich and Odd led the way in, followed closely by Yumi with Aelita and Naomi in the back. The page spoke again,
this time announcing Princess Sissy. The younger girl swept in as well.
Ulrich, Odd, Aelita and Naomi had hit their knees as soon as they saw the kings, but Yumi was still standing. Her dark eyes were so wide with shock and horror that she almost ceased to look Asian. Sissy gave an audible gasp that echoed dully through the vast room, making it clear that she too was shocked by their father's arrival.
The French king looked uncharacteristically grim as he surveyed the dumbstruck daughters.
"F-Father," Yumi stuttered, clearly at a loss for words. "You're here....In France....What a surprise...."
"I enjoy surprising others," her father informed her matter-of-factly. "I do not, however, enjoy being surprised." If it was possible Yumi went even more pale. "Tell me, daughter, have you enjoyed your time here in France?"
Yumi nodded numbly. "Yes, sire."
"Good. Are you and the prince prepared to be married then?" Yumi saw the French kking stiffen and realized that he father knew. This was a test, a ploy to see if she would try to decieve him.
But before Yumi could give her answer, Jeremie rose. His face was flushed and he looked scared out of his mind, but he stodd tall before the kings. "No, sire, we are not."
Yumi was almost pleased to see her father hesitate. He had not been prepared for Jeremie to answer.
"And why is that," he asked finally.
"Because we aren't in love," Yumi announced, stepping forward past Ulrich and Odd to stand with Jeremie. It was now or never, sink or swim, do or die.
Her father rose, enraged. "What on earth does love have to do with it? You are a Princess of Japan and you will do what is right for your country!"
"For my country," Yumi retorted. "My country? More like what is right for you! This wasn't about joining Japan and France, it was about marrying off your 'black sheep' daughter to the only ones who would have her! The day you let me take the throne would be the day that the sky fell! I don't care about being proper, or being Queen or any of those things! I just want to be loved for who I am, that's all I ever wanted!"
The king's face was growing red now with anger. "You would break a vow of honor between our two nations?!"
"They already have," The French king said gently from behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "My son has chosen another to be his bride, and if I am not mistaken, your daughter haa already been married to the one that she loves."
The king looked stunned. He sank backwards onto the throne and spoke in a more quiet voice. "Is this true?"
"Yes," Yumi said. "I have married, Ulrich, one of my guards." The king looked even more outraged, but Yumi continued as through she didn't notice. "Let Sissy be your sucessor, she'd make a much better ruler than me anyway. Ulrich and I are content with being nobles and counselors is Sissy should ever need us."
"And you allowed them to do this?" This question was directed at the French king, who sighed and sat down as well.
"I saw no point in forcing them to be unhappy, and they probably would have done what they wanted to anyway. It was easier to simply give my blessing to them all."
The Japanese king considered, and then nodded. "Very well. Be happy, daughter. And Sissy?"
The younger gilr stepped forward. "Yes father?"
"I have recieved a marraige offer from Count Herb regarding you. Do you accept?"
"I would be delighted," Sissy said with vigor.
The room erupted into cheers. Yumi and Ulrich embraced and Jeremie grabbed Aelita's hand. Odd and Naomi were dancing around in a circle giggling and making fools of themselves.
Odd stopped and dropped to one knee. "Since everyone else is getting married, how about us?"
Naomi squealed and threw her arms around him.
-----OWARI-----
"And that's all there is, there isn't anymore."
Can anyone tell me where that quote is from?
Anyway, this fic is finished! Winner Take All will be up soon, I promise!
Au Revoir, Ja'ne, Sayonara and all that jazz!
Ransomed Heart