Chapter 9 - The Wedding Ceremony

                                    

                                          
"All rise," the Priest told them, motioning up with his arms and there was some clatter as the cathedral full of people stood to their feet. "Dearly beloved, we have gathered together in the house of the Church so that in the presence of the Church's minister and the sovereign people of Norway your intention to enter into a Marriage contract may be strengthened by the Lord with a sacred seal. And so, in the presence of the Church, I ask you to state your intentions. Paulo and Eva, have you come here today with the intention to enter into Marriage?"
She continued looking down and reluctantly said, "I have" at the same time that he did. His reply sounded just as half-hearted as hers.
The priest reached out and took their right hands, joining them together and Eva looked over at the priest, keeping her eyes focused on him and trying to block out the cameras and eyes focused on her, feeling her heart rate picking up and getting light headed. She wished this would just get over already.
The Priest asked, "Do you Paulo Santiago Aragon take Eva Elise Glucksburg to be your wife? Do you vow before God to be faithful to her, resisting temptation and forsaking all others? Do you vow to stand by her side in sickness and in health and to protect and honor her all the days of your life?"
There was a long pause and she finally raised her eyes up to look at him. He was standing there wearing a golden bejeweled crown in a black and white tuxedo with a sash of royal pendants across his chest and a gold rope around his shoulder. She noticed that his suit accentuated his broad shoulders, and his brown hair that normally fell over his forehead was slicked back and his bright hazel eyes were locked onto hers. 
He turned towards the priest and she took in the sight of his chiseled jaw line, his angled masculine nose that was just the right size for his face, and his smooth flawless skin. He was so handsome it was almost uncomfortable to look at him too long and she found herself wondering if he might be the most handsome man on earth. He was so gorgeous, but he wasn't in love with her and never would be, so it didn't matter what he looked like. 
She realized he still hadn't answered the priest's question and she wondered if he was having second thoughts. If so that would be perfect because she could get out of this arranged marriage without any of the blame. Her heart was racing and she held her breath.
He turned and looked down at her, studying her face and thinking before he finally said, "I do."
There were a few sighs of relief heard from the audience, most likely from their parents. Eva was probably the only one not relieved as she let out the breath she had been holding in.
The Priest asked Eva the same question and she stood there, her mind quickly racing through her options and she imagined how it would play out if she said no and made a run for it. Every scenario in her head other than saying yes didn't end well. 
She looked over at the faces of her parents and his parents before looking back at the priest and quietly saying "I do."
At that point the Priest had them exchange wedding rings. Paulo placed Eva's ring on her finger and said in a monotone voice, "Eva, receive this ring as a sign of my vow of fidelity before God and of our eternal union. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Then Eva took a deep breath in and let it out before placing Paulo's ring on his finger saying, "Paulo, receive this ring as a sign of my vow of fidelity before God and of our eternal union. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
The priest looked at them and said, "The vows and exchanging of rings you have made today before God and these witnesses have created an eternal union, a bond that can never be broken. You are no longer two people, but are now joined as one flesh to live the rest of this earthly life together from this day forward until death do you part."