February 4th, Sunday, 11:00 AM
Mr. and Mrs. Harper, Brad and Hannah, and their daughter Eleanor arrive at the bridal shop. Ms. Simon greets them and leads them to a room. "Welcome back, Ms. Harper and Mr. and Mrs. Harper." She says. "I'm Ms. Simon and I'll be helping you today. What kind of dresses are you interested in?"
"Perhaps something form fitting?" Hannah says. "I think Eleanor would look beautiful in a form fitting dress, mermaid style maybe."
Eleanor nods. "Yes I think I'd like something like that."
Moments later Ms. Simon returns with five mermaid style dresses. She hangs them on the rack and Eleanor and her mom go behind the curtain. Hannah helps her daughter put the dress on, and laces up the corset back. This dress has a sweetheart neckline and lots of sparkly gems embellished around the waist.
Eleanor steps out and her family gasps softly. She walks to the mirror to look at herself.
"That's gorgeous, honey." Her mother says.
"What do you think, dad?" Eleanor asks.
"It's beautiful, dear." He smiles.
"I'd like to try on some more." Nora says and goes back behind the curtain. After trying on four more dresses, she takes a hard look in the mirror with the fifth dress on. It's very form fitting, making her waist look so tiny. The straps are off the shoulder, showcasing her dainty shoulders. It's so long in the back, almost giving a mermaid effect. And it has gems embellished everywhere from top to bottom. She can't say no to this dress.
"I love that one. You look like a princess." Her mom says.
Ms. Simon returns with a bridal tiara, walking over and helping Eleanor place it on her head.
"This one is perfect. I think I want this one."
"Let us pay for it, Eleanor." Her father says.
"No need to daddy, Hannibal has no problem, he says he will spare no expense. Save the money and buy a nice suit and dress for yourselves. Get your hair done, mother. You were always so careful with money growing up, this is the time to go all out!" Nora says, growing even more excited.
"Will do, my dear." Her mother says.
_________________________________________________________
February 25th, Sunday, 3:45 PM
Eleanor is in her dressing room, set up for her in a classroom of the church she is to be married in in fifteen minutes. She's wearing her dress, has her shoes one, her hair done, her makeup done, all that's left to do is put on her veil. But she is anxious. She is having second thoughts. What if she shouldn't do this. Her thoughts are interrupted by the door opening, her mother walks in. "Are you ready, my dear? We must get to the ceremony." She walks up to her and picks up her veil and tiara, placing it on her daughter's head. Eleanor stands, taking her mother's hand. They leave the dressing room and walk to the sanctuary which takes ten minutes because of how large and grand the church is. They stand behind the doors. They can hear the ceremony music playing. The bridal party walk first. Then the mother of the bride. The flower girl is next, Chanel's little sister. Now it is Eleanor's turn. The doors open. Her father hands her the bouquet and takes her hand. They walk down the aisle slowly, surrounded by friends and family watching a huge moment of her life. The wedding is beautiful. The sanctuary is decorated with gorgeous flowers, satin ribbons and lit candles. And Hannibal stands at the end of the walkway, waiting, wearing a handsome black tuxedo. When they get to the end, she hands her bouquet to Lydia and her father lets go of her hand, shares an embrace with Hannibal to symbolizes giving his blessing and Eleanor takes Hannibal's hand, walking up the small flight of steps to the alter. They face each other, sides to the crowd. The minister begins the ceremony.
Hannibal requested it to be simple. "We gather here today to witness the joining of Miss Eleanor Louise Harper and Dr. Hannibal Lecter the Eighth. Dr. Lecter would like to start by reciting a poem he has dedicated to his bride."
Hannibal drops to one knee, holding Eleanor's hands and looking up at his beautiful bride. He recites Love Sonnet 18 by Shakespeare.
"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee."
He stands and she is in tears, but remains holding her composure. He pulls his handkerchief out and wipes her cheeks. The minister continues. "We will now witness the groom and bride share their vows. Dr. Lecter if you will repeat after me....... I, Hannibal Lecter, take you Eleanor Harper to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love."
He repeats.
"I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever."
"I will trust you and honor you, I will laugh with you and cry with you."
"I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. What may come I will always be there."
"As I have given you my hand to hold so I give you my life to keep so help me God."
Hannibal takes the wedding band and slips it on his bride's finger. It's Eleanor's turn now.
"Miss Harper if you'll repeat after me......I, Eleanor Harper, take you Hannibal Lecter, to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love."
She repeats.
"I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever."
"I will trust you and honor you, I will laugh with you and cry with you."
"I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy."
"What may come I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold so I give you my life to keep so help me God."
Eleanor slips the wedding band on her groom's finger.
"If anyone at this time has anything to say, speak now or forever hold your peace." The minister says. Silence. Eleanor thanks god in the back of her mind that Will Graham hasn't shown up yet. "Very well. Without further ado, by the power vested in me by the grace of God, I now pronounce you - Husband and Wife."
Cheering and clapping ensues. Eleanor takes his wife's face in his hands and kisses her passionately. The organ plays a happy tune. They pull apart with smiles on their faces and Lydia hands the bouquet back to her friend. Those second thoughts are gone. They are gleaming in this moment. They walk back down the aisle now as husband and wife.
[A/N: Here it is everyone, the big day. Keep in mind that I went to a few weddings when I was a kid so I don't remember exactly how they go. I did my best and I hope you enjoy it. I might end this story soon and begin a new one that will continue it like I did with my Star Wars fic. Thanks so much for 5k reads!]
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Friend Of A Cannibal
RomanceHannibal Lecter finds himself falling for his patient. He can't resist her and she can't resist him. But they're not so different. Maybe a little romance is what the doctor needs. And maybe, just maybe, there's still a little humanity left inside hi...
