Hetalia Wedding Chapter 8

The Wedding

The sound of the door opening alerted the bridal party where the groomsmen were supporting a nervous groom, eyes closed. Before any of the bridesmaids could react Felicia got up and collided into his person, sobbing and clinging to him in an iron grip. He wrapped his arms around her, telling how sorry he was. Lovina opened her mouth, but Louise clamped it shut with a hard glare. It wasn’t her place to speak.
“Ludwig, what happened?” Her grip warned him the bride would break something if he said the wrong thing, “We were supposed to start almost three hours ago!” The groom grimaced, but kept his eyes closed. It was annoying her, “Ludwig, look at me.”
Austria’s hand covered Germany’s eyes with a sound slap, “I’m sorry Miss Felicia, but I will not permit this tradition to be broken.” He pulled out a handkerchief and blindfolded the groom.
“You’re too superstitious, Roderich.” Ludwig grunted.
“Will you answer my questions already? Where have you been? Why are you wearing Gilbert’s suit? Why are they holding you like that?” Roderick and Kiku flanked his sides. Feliciano was behind holding on his coat for extra support. Maria immediately pulled her chair over and they seated Ludwig. The elder sister then left looking for her other brother.
“Miss Felicia, if you would permit me,” Japan presented his camera, “This should explain everything.”
“No! Don’t show her those!” Amazing how Germany knew without looking what Japan was up to. A horrible silence drew on while Felicia looked through the pictures. Unseen by the groom, the Sister Nation thinned her lips in a strained line and flashed one picture at her sister, speaking in her tongue.
“I didn’t tell them anything.”
“Lovi…someone is going to get punched in a minute, so tell me the truth!” Felicia screamed. Lovina murmured Romano was in charge of that branch of the business. “Where’s Romano?” No one honestly seemed to know. Her anger dissipated for the moment as her concern focused on Germany. She could see the way he sat he was exhausted. “I don’t want you to do this if you can’t even walk on your own, Tesorino.”
“Nein!” He stood up, “if every bone in my body was broken I would refuse. I will not leave today until you are my wife and I have my first dance with you!” His response brought a smile. He was set on this, stubborn German. Felicia agreed without any other choice and took his hand. “We’re ready!” The Registrar jumped from his dosing and declared that was good. Germany went first, the blindfold removed, to sign the wedding license. All other documentation was provided before and seemed they filled out any paperwork while he was absent. Following his signature and verbal agreement, Austria appeared to sign as a witness then herded the man so he couldn’t see Felicia. She followed suit, they were now legally married.
The men hurried out to the religious ceremony. Austria notified the priest they could begin now. The Father started the procession and they gawked at who was carrying the cross.
The guests sighed in relief when the priest came down the aisle, no more waiting. “It took them long enough.” England whispered to his sister who agreed.
Behind them Switzerland and Liechtenstein sat, the young woman pulled on her brother’s sleeve. “Big brother, it is Herr Prussia.” The other guests had noticed too and were more than confused at what was going on. Lili still waved when the retired Nation passed and he returned the gesture, grinning when her brother pulled her hand down.
After the religious procession, Germany remained at the end of the aisle while the groomsmen and bridesmaids went down to flank the altar. Italy with Lovina, Japan with Sakura and Austria escorted Louise and Francoise. It didn’t make any sense. A religious procession could survive without an alter boy. For one of the groomsmen, the best man at that, to give up his role to Italy and be an alter boy didn’t make sense. Now there was speculation there was a little argument between the German brothers.
The truth became clear when the bride and groom came down the aisle and Germany’s tux was a little short on the sleeves as well as his pant line. His tux must’ve had some sort of accident. He also seemed to shuffle down as if his legs were numb.
The bride was beautiful, her hair was pinned up and her dress was a strapless princess-line gown with an embroidered strap of dark blue along the top of the bodice continuing to the corset. The surprise was the colored detailed expanded down the back of the dress. “You look radiant.” Ludwig managed to whisper after staring at her in awe. The veil masked her expression, but a squeeze from the hand on his arm meant she heard him. When they reached the altar he lifted the veil, the traces of red around her eyes were still there, but she was happy.
They shared a smile.
The ceremony was cut down to a quick bible reading, Germany saw from the corner of his eye Gilbert stepping on his own robe. Ludwig understood and placed one foot on the hem of her dress. Unknown to him, Felicia flashed a playful smile. She knew about this little German custom, they wouldn’t be kneeling, so he was going for the next best thing. She would get him back.
The priest asked for the rings and a minute was spent with Italy checking his pant’s pockets. Then remembered they were in his front coat pocket and handed them over, “False alarm.” A collection of chuckles emitted from the remark, everything seemed to be going wrong today it was expected.
Germany went first and slipped the wedding band on her finger, “I, Ludwig, take you, Felicia, as my wife and promise to be faithful to you always. In joy and in pain, in health and in sickness, and to love you and everyday honor you, for the rest of my life.”      
Felicia followed after, “I, Felicia, take you, Ludwig, as my husband and promise to be faithful to you always. In joy and in pain, in health and in sickness, and to love you and everyday honor you, for the rest of my life.”
“By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Instead Felicia jumped on his feet and planted a kiss on his lips, taking him by surprise. “Or the bride can kiss you.”
The guests started to laugh especially Gilbert, “I guess we know who’ll be the dominant one in this marriage, right West?”
Ludwig wasn’t as amused his feet were killing him and she stomped on them in heels! “Felicia that really hurt.”
“Don’t step on my dress then.” His wife giggled and stepped off his throbbing feet. They kissed again this time both reciprocated and there was a round of applause.