It was a curious thing, truly, that the eyes of so many could be upon him in that singular moment and yet he so hardly seemed to notice them all at once. He was decidedly used to being watched in every sense. He was used to holding Court and having the gazes of his subjects upon him each time he so much as breathed and too- in the wake of his engagement to Sebastian- he was used to the eyes of the world determined to capture a glimpse of them whenever they might be able too. The world at large so seemingly having formed a fascination of sorts with the pair. Here and now however, in this very moment, on this very day, it was the gaze of one alone that seemed to hold his attention. Sebastian the singular focus off his attention. Dorian so very overcome with that tangle of emotion he hardly knew which to feel first. How glorious his fiance looked so standing there at the end of that aisle and before that alter. Waiting for him and him alone. How many women about the world were surely weeping today for the loss of the vampires bachelor-hood! Dorian near amused at that singular thought that seemed to pass through the expanse of his mind in those moments in which he reached that alter and Sebastian's hand was so extended towards him in a gesture so seemingly simple and yet one that, today, might mean so very much more.

How he longed to take his lovers hand and yet, he knew well those expected customs. The Fae King allowing his silvered gaze to glance briefly away from Sebastian for but the first time and toward the Fae beside him whose hand rested upon his shoulder. This singular moment far more significant then it perhaps surely appeared. It had assured his lover over and over that Matteo would not dare do something to brash as to deny them that union here and now before the eyes of the world. Surely, were the French Fae truly displeased with such a match in any sense his disdain would long ago have been brought to fruition. Dorian assured that after those very words that had been exchanged within the car only a short time ago were further evidence of Matteo's agreement to their union and yet- for but a fleeting moment the Monarch found himself almost anxious to hear those words of acceptance leave his Father's lips. As was the very tradition of their religion the Frenchman so represented all their families today. Sebastian's Mother and Father, as well as the vampires siblings and indeed his own Mother and half-siblings so incapable of being here. Matteo entirely capable of refusing that union on any of their behalves. Those words of the Pope querying that very thing seeming to result in a silence that was surely no more than a few seconds and yet how it might feel as if it went for an eternity! Matteo so at last uttering that solem assurance, here and now, in the eyes of God himself, he was wholly willing to permit that marriage and too- accept Sebastian as his own in a fashion.

Dorian so readily released a breath he had not at all been aware he had been holding. That sensation of warmth seeming to spread throughout his figure once more, that delight once more so readily clear upon his features as his head dipped ever so slightly to his Father before the Frenchman returned to his seat and Dorian so eagerly allowed his hand to fit within Sebastian's own at last. That soft squeeze of reassurance he so offered his lover almost dutifully returned. The Monarch wholly aware, in some sense, how very meaningful those words of acceptance had surely been to Sebastian in turn. After all, his lover so constantly seemed to fret over Matteo's behaviour toward him. Not that he found he truly blamed the vampire in any sense. Matteo so having a habit of deliberately leaving the man uneasy. Yet, surely, that very acceptance before the Pope himself and the world at large might settle Sebastian's worries. Dorian so willingly allowed him to be led forward then to kneel beside Sebastian and allow that mass to begin. The Monarch positively assured he heard not a word of that sermon! His mind so positively filled with a myriad of other thoughts and a determination to remember his own words. The Fae distinctly aware of Sebastian's presence beside him, that desire to reach for the man wholly overwhelming and yet too- that very respect for those traditions and the order of things so assured he remained where he knelt until the Pope so at last called for them to stand once more and begin those formal proceedings. His right hand finding its place in Sebastian's own as custom dictated.

Dorian had surely attended but a hundred weddings in his time. He had heard those words over and over he had seen that affection (in most cases) in the bride and groom as they stood before that alter and too- he had heard the emotion that tainted their voices as those words were offered and yet- how foolish he had thought them to be so overcome with emotion. How little he had understood and yet how readily he did now. He had but two words to speak and yet even he could hear that depth of emotion that seemed to lace them as they were offered. It had taken him near six hundred years to find the man who stood before him now. Dorian assured he remembered each and every year of that loneliness and solitude that existed before Sebastian. How much he surely owed him! Dorian certain he had never loved anyone or anything near so much as he did the vampire. Sebastian his very soulmate. Those emotions fluttering thickly within his chest once more as the Pope offered those same words to Sebastian then. The vampires reply holding no hesitation as that near beaming grin upon his own lips only widened all the more.

The Pope's words so readily begun to echo within that glorious basilica once more before Alexander and Giles in turn were summoned forward with those rings for the blessing. Dorian so allowing his gaze too linger upon that ring he had worn since the night Sebastian had presented it to him. Tonight the very first night he had ever taken it off and though surely it had been a decidedly necessary removal his hand had felt its loss all the same. His fingers having become truly used to brushing along its polished surface and the simple, slight weight of it. His gaze remained upon Alexander then as the Hunter came to stand beside him and offer him that ring to take. Dorian so neatly removing it from that box with a dip of his head in both respect and thanks to his Godfather before turning to face Sebastian once more. His hand reached easily for Sebastian's left then- and, as he had done once before- the Monarch so easily slid that now blessed ring in to place. The Fae King taken once more by how decidedly perfect that ring looked in such a place and how officially his own Sebastian had become in that moment. How ancient such a thought surely was of him to have and yet, even despite his efforts to eternally appear gracious the Monarch could hardly help how wholly possessive he was off his lover and too- how very much the sight of that ring so meant to him hear and now. Dorian so readying himself to offer those vows he had practised but over and over for this very moment. His gaze met Sebastian's own once more. Those traditional Italian vows spoken to his lover alone and within his own native language.

"Io, Dorian Valerio, prendi te, Sebastian Felix, come mio marito e prometti di essere sempre fedele a te, nella gioia e nel dolore, nella salute e nella malattia e di amarti e ogni giorno ti onoro per il resto della mia vita "

(I, Dorian Valerio, take you, Sebastian Felix, 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 every day honor you
for the rest of my life.)

How readily that emotion seemed to find his voice once more, those tones laced thickly with that clear expression of feeling and utter happiness that seemed to find him then. This very moment meant so decidedly much. Dorian quite assured he could feel that wetness threaten his eyes and yet he so refused to taint that moment in any sense as those vows were spoken. The Monarch meaning each and every word of them. That promise the most significant he had made in all his life and one he intended to keep for all eternity. Giles so stepping forward then to offer Sebastian his own ring in turn.

His Royal Majesty

Dorian Aragona

The King of Italy