Chapter 11

Next morning at the crack of dawn, when everyone else is asleep, Richard gets up and leaves the palace. It takes him a while to reach town and by the time he gets there the streets are full of people buying and selling things. Katei leaves the mansion as usual on this day and walks into town. She wonders around for a while and then stops in the middle of the street where people are crossing her path. Richard is stood on the other side of this crowd. Richard spots Katie on the other side of it. He walks quickly towards her. Katie sees him walking towards her and walks towards him. A minute later they reach each other. They stand there like that for a minute.

“Hello” Katie says, “I thought I’d find you here”.

“Hello to you to, why did you think that?” he asks.

“This is where we first met, you saved me from being arrested” she says.

“Care to walk with me?” Richard asks. Katie nods. They walk. They walk for a few minutes in silence, each one unsure of what to say.

“You know you’re the only person I would give up my throne for” he says.

“So I’ve heard, but you don’t have to” Katie says. Richard is confused.

“What are you talking about?” he asks.

“According to the Baron, around eleven Anne went into the ballroom, gave your parents your message and was told she has to leave today or be banished, she might be gone by now” Katie says. Richard stops and looks at Katie.

“I didn’t know that” he says.

“Well now you do, so let’s go back” she says.

“But what about you things?” Richard asks. Katie points to basket. Then she takes his hand and they walk back to the palace.

Many months later, the wedding day arrives. The morning is spent getting everything ready. Katie is getting ready in her room. Alice is helping her. Alice is one of her bridesmaids and is wearing a sleeveless lilac full length dress. Katie is very nervous, she’s been waiting for this day for a few months and she can’t believe it’s arrived. Alice does her best to help Katie relax. When she’s ready they go to where the open top carriage is waiting to take them to the church. Geraldeen and Esmeralda are waiting by the carriage wearing identical dresses to Alice. The four of them climb into the carriage, the driver snaps the reigns and they set off.

Meanwhile at the church everyone is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Bride. Richard is just as nervous as Katie. He is stood at the altar with John, his best man, stood next to him. The church is packed with not only family and friends of the bride but the servants of the palace. The King and Queen are sat on one side and the Baroness is sat on the other side. The Baron is stood by the doors waiting for Katie. The carriage pulls up at the church. The bridesmaids climb out first and then the bride. Katie spots the Baron waiting for her by the door

“Katie, your parents would be proud of you if they could see you now” he says.

He holds his arm out for her. She takes it. The bridesmaids walk in first, up the aisle and stand by the King and Queen. Music starts playing and everyone turns around to see the bride. Katie walks in. She is wearing a strapless, full length ivory dress with a large skirt. Her locket is around her neck. On her head is a tiara with the veil attached to it. It is currently covering her face. Slowly they walk down the aisle.

They reach the altar. She stands to face Richard while the Baron takes his place by the Baronesses side. The music stops and there is silence. The priest says the normal words that are said at a wedding. Eventually it gets to the vows. First is Richard.

“I Richard Hawkiyes, take you Katie Desmond, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish ‘till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness” he says. Next is Katie.

“I Katie Desmond, take you Richard Hawkiyes, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish ‘till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness” she says.

They exchange rings.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride” the priest says. He lifts Katie’s veil and they kiss. Everyone cheers. Richard holds out his arm for Katie and she takes it. They walk down the aisle to the church doors. They stop outside the doors so that Katie can throw her bouquet. Esmeralda catches it. They then climb into the carriage and leave for the reception back at the palace. Everyone else follows. At the palace a meal is eaten. Then Katie and Richard cut the Cake. After that is the dancing. Katie and Richard share their first dance as a married couple. Then is the bride and father dance in which Katie dances with the Baron. Later that evening Katie and Richard leave in the carriage for their honeymoon while waving goodbye to everyone. Many years later Katie and Richard are crowned King and Queen. She becomes known as Queen Katie the kind because of the way she treated everyone equally no matter how rich or poor they are. The two of them live the rest of their lives happily together. What did you think I was going to write, “Happily ever after?”

The End

The moral of this story is (yes there’s a moral) that if you want something, don’t dream about it or wish for it to happen, do it.