CHAPTER FIVE
WEDDING DAY
Diana looked at herself in the mirror.She was attired in an ivory satin creation;tiny jewels and flowers were weaved into the high coils of her raven hair;traditional pearls hung about her throat and dangled from her ears;today was her wedding day.
"Doesn't she look gorgeous?",enthused Donna Troy-Rayner,who was radiant in blue despite looking older than her immortal sister.In fact most of the former titans were all in their late thirties and forties.It was only Kara,due to her Kryptonian heritage,and Diana who still maintained deceptively youthful looks.
Kara nodded."Pity she has to wear the glasses.But today is your day to shine,Miss Prince."
Cassandra Sandmark picked up the bouquet of roses and lilies."Here is your bouquet,Diana.Diana?"
The bride-to-be turned from her contemplation of her reflection.She looked startled,as one jerked out of a trance."You said something?"
"It's time to go.Here's your flowers.You look pale,Diana.Are you okay?"
Diana took the bouquet."I.......yes.I must be a bit nervous."
Donna patted her arm."It's alright to feel anxious.I've been through it before.In fact, twice,if we count me and Kyle.And that was more nerve wracking than Terry.Once you have that ring on your finger you'll be fine. Come on,girls we need to go.The car is waiting."
Diana said slowly,"I'll be there in a minute."
The three women nodded.Kara said,"We'll be downstairs."
Once alone,Diana sank upon the stool before the dressing table.She bent her head to her hands.Hera,what was wrong with her?Why was she feeling so....numb?Today she was marrying Rober DeCourtenay after five years of courtship.He was waiting for her in the church across town with the cream of society on the guest list.His mother,their rich relations and friends,dignitaries like the mayor and air force personnel;her own mother and sisters could not be there for obvious reasons.Diana Prince was only a school mistress;she had no ties to the Amazon nation.Still her friends would be there....Julia,Bruce and Selina, J'onn, Cassie, Wally, Clark....
The thought of Clark brought a lump to her throat.She had not seen him for weeks.
"Diana!Come on!We'll be late!"
Donna's voice made her rise.She took in a deep breath, pulled down her veil and went down to the awaiting brides- maids.
********************
The bridal party rolled up into the courtyard of the church. From the line of cars parked outside on the road,and the waiting chauffeurs one could see that most of the guests were inside the building.Donna had ridden with the bride in the silver Mercedes; Kara and Cassie were in an accompanying SUV driven by one Kyle Raynor.Donna alighted and helped her sister out.Kyle dropped off his two passengers and went to find a parking space.
Kara said urgently,"It's a few minutes past the hour.Come on.We need to go into the vestry."
Donna looked up."The wedding planner and the minister are waving at us from that side door......."
Diana stood staring up at the church.She barely heard what was being said.She felt her sister's hand on her arm.
"Come on,Diana...."
The bride-to-be suddenly looked at her sister and two friends and announced,"I can't do this."
They looked at her startled.Kara blinked."What?"
"I can't do this today."
Donna said soothingly,"Sweetie,it's okay to be scared.You can do it.Just take deep breaths."
Diana said sadly,"I cannot do it today..or tomorrow.......or any other day."
"What!?Diana,are you crazy?There is a full church of people in there expecting to see a wedding......"
Kara shook her head wryly."What a time to get cold feet. When half of Boston's old money and press is here."
Cassie intervened impatiently,"Donna,clearly something has changed.Take Diana around the back and talk to her.I'll try to stall for time.Kara,you go make some excuse to the minster and the wedding planner...."
"What do I say?"
"Tell them her dress is torn.....she's indisposed.....make something up....."
Donna took her sister by the arm and dragged her around the church where there was a graveyard and garden in order to try to discuss the bombshell she had just dropped.
Meanwhile Cassie stood waiting for Kara to come back.The kryptonian beauty came back with a sigh,"I told them she's broken her heel and we're trying to glue it together."
Cassie shrugged."It'll have to do.I don't understand this...."
Kara half smiled to herself."I do...."
Before she could ask her what she meant,Kyle appeared.He asked,"Why are we standing out here?"
Cassie said."Diana is getting cold feet..."
"What?You're kidding!"
Kara said mildly,"I think she's going to jilt him."
Cassie frowned,"We don't know that.Donna's trying to find out why she is changing her mind...."
Kyle rubbed his head.He and Donna had been married for some seven years and he had had nightmares on their wedding day that she would have changed her mind.He felt a wave of sympathy for DeCourtenay as he saw that a the guy was going to be jilted."This is not good.I thought she loved the guy."
Cassie said,"She did.......She does.........I don't know what's gotten into her........"
Kara interrupted,"Some sense,that's what!"
Kyle glanced at her."You know something we don't know?"
Kara shrugged."What could I know."
Cassie said urgently,"I know who can talk some sense into her.Kyle,go get Clark."
****************
Clark was sitting in a pew with an elderly but still sharp Julia Kapatelis.He was aware of something going on.He saw the anxious look of the wedding planner,the resigned patience of the minister, the irritation on Mrs DeCourtenay's face and the concern in the groom's eyes.There was an announcement that the bride was delayed.There was some murmuring and looking around;but the planner made a wise move in getting the live string quartet to play to distract the guests.
He saw Kyle come in and scan the crowd.He was bending over Wally.Clark could hear his whisper over the strains of the violins and chello.
"Wally,where is Kent?We got a bit of a situation here."
Clark got up and excused himself."Julia,I need some fresh air.I'll be back."
Julia nodded."Certainly my dear."
Clark came up to Kyle."You want me?"
Kyle looked up in relief."Clark!Oh man!You have to get out here now.Let's go."
Once they were outside,Clark saw his cousin and Cassie leaning against the bonnet of the silver Mercedes.They saw him and beckoned.Clark looked at the worried faces."What's going on?"
******************
Diana and Donna were sitting on a bench under a tree before a series of tombstones.Donna was trying to get her sister to explain herself but Diana was being vague and circumspect.
"How can you be so indifferent to all this?You are going to break his heart,Diana!"
She said low,"I know that.I am not that foolish or heartless. You think I am happy to do this?"
"But why!?You were all set and happy up until ten minutes ago to marry Robert.What changed?"
"Nothing!I.....nothing......I just cannot marry him."
"Nothing?Were you amusing yourself at his expense all this time?"
"Hera,no!I would never...!You know that!I can't explain...."
"Did you ever love him?"
"I thought I did......I.......,"she trailed off as she saw Clark Kent come up the gravel path.
Donna stood up in relief."Thank god!Clark,will you talk some sense into her?God knows I've tried."
Clark nodded silently and tilted his head for her to leave them. Donna retreated.
Diana looked up at him in silence.
"May I sit down?,"he asked after a few seconds.
She answered,"If you want."
He sat down beside her."So what's all this about?"
"Haven't they told you?"
"Yes,But I want you to tell me."
"You want an excuse?An explanation?I have none."
"I'm not here to judge you,Diana."
"What are you here for then?"
"To try to understand."
"What?That I am a horrid person to do this to a man who deserves better?"
"No.But you are not the kind of woman to evade the truth either,Diana."
She seemed to struggle inwardly for a moment,then she said dully,"I guess I wanted to belong in the patriarch's world.To stop being alone.To have someone love me.........I never intended to set out to hurt anyone.......I honestly felt I could do this until I stood before the church and it hit me..........I did not want to be Mrs Robert DeCourtenay......I do not belong in his world..."
He reached out and squeezed her hand."I'm sorry,Diana.But it is a very human thing to err.We've all at some point made mistakes."
Diana looked down at his hand covering hers and muttered,"I deceived myself, that is all.Me.Isn't that ironic?The once goddess of truth.I don't deserve to even carry Gaea's gift."
Clark said gravely,"You are being too harsh on yourself.Truth isn't always easy to understand.You know that as well as I do."
She sighed wearily and removed her hand gently from under his own."Perhaps.Do you think he will ever forgive me for what I am about to do?"
He nodded."I am sure of it."
"How can you be certain?"
"Recall,I had an engagement called off........"
"Oh,Lois broke your engagement.....but still you got back together......."
"No, I meant Lori Lemaris."
"Oh right."She had some knowledge of Clark's old college flame.
"I was stunned.Hurt.But I understood and got over it.Robert will no doubt too.We men are not so delicate creatures that we will curl up and die for lack of love.I did not know it then but in hindsight a mermaid from Atlantis would not have been the right partner for Superman or Clark Kent.It was fortunate she broke my heart else I'd never have met Lois."
Diana's eyes lifted to his as she digested this slowly."No.You are fortunate to have had that kind of love.Not everyone can meet their soulmate."
"Nor have them."
They stared at each other for a instant.
Diana repeated quietly,"Nor have them."
She got up,put her bouquet on the bench and pulled off her veil.She dropped it near the flowers."I need to go in and talk to Robert."
He got up."Do you want me any help?"
"Superman can't rescue me today.I must face him and everyone else.What a nice scandal for the tabloids."
"They'll talk about you for a week or so.By next Saturday you'll be stale news,"he commented lightly.
She took in a deep breath."Here I go."
He watched her go with a pensive expression in his blue eyes.He looked down at the veil and bouquet and murmured,"Bruce,you were right.She can take care of herself."
**************
Diana Prince walked along the corridor of the school that she has been teaching for some years and for the first time felt all eyes looking at her as if judging her.She heard whispers and saw pupils who looked up to her give her looks of disbelief and fellow teachers shake their heads mournfully.The truth was that Robert had been a favourite son of Boston and well admired and favoured by Washington and no one could understand why she refused him nor forgive her for making him and his family fodder for the gossip magazines,tabloids and bloggers.The Captain had been silent and pale when Diana had broken the news to him and Diana had never felt as terrible in her life as in that one moment.
Diana had underestimated the media and she did not think they would follow her to school and dish dirt on her.She had just ran the gautlet of paparrazi outisde in the street and now she had to face her pupils and fellow teachers.And from their faces she could see disappointment and pity.
Diana held her chin high and headed for her destination:the Principal's office.In her hand was a letter.It was her resignation from the school.
************************
J'onn looked at Wonder Woman as she stood staring out the observation deck of the JLA satellite.
"So what are you going to do now?"
Diana shrugged."Diana Prince is going to lie low.I have also handed in my notice to my landlord.Donna and Kyle have offered me a place to stay but I don't feel I want to go here....and then there is the Embassy.Mala has always been saying she does not know why I stay in a cramped apartment when I could be staying with her and my sisters in the Embassy in Washington.But I wanted to be independent of my mother and sisters and try to see the world from the gorund level as opposed to from above.I can't go there either........."
J'onn came up to stand behind her."So where will you go?"
She turned to look at him bleakly."Can I stay here?"
"Of course,Diana.You need not ask.Your quarters have never been touched."
She smiled wistfully."It will have to do until I decide what I want to do."
"Have you told your mother what happened?"
Diana sighed."Not yet.But I am sure by now she must know.I will go to Themyscira for a little break if you don't mind........"
"As long as you are not leaving us......."
"No,nothing like that.But I need some time to reorganize myself."
"Take whatever you need,Princess."
***************************
Diana had flown into Themyscira and the first thing she had to do was seek out her mother to break the news to her.Hippolyta was surprised to see her as she expected she would be on her honeymoon and just the look on Diana's face made her suspect all was not well.They both went back to the Queen's main rooms and here Diana told her everything.Hippolyta listened silently,not punctuating with a word.Her face was grave as she watched her daughter pace as she spoke.
Diana stopped and faced her mother."Well,have you nothing to say?"
Hippolyta looked at her daughter and could not miss the trace of bitterness in her tone.She walked over to where she stood and took her hands."Daughter,I am truly sorry."
Diana looked startled.This was not what she expected.Perhaps a look of triumph.Of cynicism.This softness was uncharacteristic. "You mean you are not going to say I told you so?"
"Why should I do that?"
"You never wanted me to marry him."
"Perhaps,but did I stop you?"
"No.No you didn't,"she conceded wearily.She sank upon the window seat and leaned her cheek on her hand.
"Then tell me what made you change your mind?"
"It felt wrong.....It was all built on untruths....I had to misrepresent myself to his mother, to his friends.........hide my heritage......Even you and my sisters could not be there for my own wedding.I stood before that church and saw all the fancy cars and the press and knew all of Boston was inside and it made me feel as if I was so alone.I didn't belong there.I know that sounds ironic when I am royalty by birth and spent half my life being waited on and living in marbled halls but ...all those things they value it means nothing to me. I am happiest when I am teaching.....or on the island in my tunics and sandals or helping my allies on the League save lives."
Hippolyta said,"Tha's all well and good,Diana,but you would have known this long before you accepted his troth.The question is why the realization and why now?"
Diana flushed."What do you mean?"
The Queen sat beside her and said,"Diana I am over three thousand years old.I have learned much over time about life and love and I know the heart is the most difficult thing to read or control.Why did you really refuse to go through with the marriage?"
Diana blinked."Mother,I............."
"How is Kal-El taking this?"
Diana stiffened."What does this have to do with him?"
The Queen tilted the stubborn chin."Do not fob me off with that look,Diana.You forget I know you."
Diana protested,"He did not have anything to do with this.I was the one who......
Hippolyta raised a disbelieving brow.
Diana said gruffly."I ....He has been very supportive.As always."
"Supportive.Is that all?"
"Mother,please,let us not go down this road."
Hippolyta said bluntly,"Diana you have to face your feelings for Kal-El."
"Mother,Clark is still struggling with past ghosts .....and a memory I cannot replace......I am not ready to battle Lois and all she meant to him.I did not give up Robert in hopes that I will have a chance with Clark neither."
"So what will you do?"
"Do what I have always done.Be content with my purpose and mission.If you and my sisters can do it after Heracles.....after all that pain....then certainly I can."
Hippolyta's face softened with admiration.She kissed Diana's brow."I know how hard this must be for you.It is what I wanted to shield you from but that would have been unrealistc and unfair to the world.You must fight your own battles;be it love or war.But know your sisters and I will always be here come what may."
