The winter wind whipped around the corner stirring up the once settled snow and whipping the falling snowflakes into miniature missiles. It was only 3 o'clock in the afternoon but the storm had turned the day so dark that it seemed more like 3 am. The storm made it hard to tell which way was up. It was impossible to see even a few feet in front of you and it was so cold, that it was doubtful that even hell could survive the cold.

Arianna wrapped her coat tighter around her and pulled her scarf up over her mouth and nose like a balaclava. Only her eyes were exposed to the weather as she stepped from the comfort of her office building. Unfortunately, she had no choice but to brave the storm. The underground and the roads were at a standstill. By foot was the only way to travel and even that was doubtful. For every step she took forward, it seemed to her that she was blown ten steps backwards. But, Arianna was already late for her wedding rehearsals and she had promised Aaric that she would be on time. For a change. It was not that she was inconsiderate, but no matter how hard she tried, Arianna just didn't have Aaric's discipline or pomposity to be perfectly on time, down to the minute; all the time.

Her eyes were stinging and watering and she'd only be out in the storm for a minute. It was normally only a five minute walk to the Church but today, it looked like it would take quite a bit longer.

"Great, Aaric is going to kill me. That is, if this storm doesn't", Arianna spoke out loud to herself and the wind. Anything to help keep her spirits up against this beast of nature.

Arianna recalled reading somewhere that rain on a wedding day was actually good luck but she couldn't recall any mention of the meaning of a snowstorm. As she fought against the wind, she prayed for a clearer, warmer day for tomorrow for her wedding to Aaric.

Arianna ducked into a building entrance for a brief respite from the wind. With chattering teeth and shaking hands she pulled her mobile out to call Aaric to let him know that she was on her way and wouldn't be too much longer. Aaric had called her on her mobile phone as she was packing up at the office reminding her that the rehearsal was due to start already and that everyone had already arrived at the church. Father Gwynne was also waiting. They were all waiting. Just awaiting the bride.

"Damn. No signal," fumed Arianna. "The storm must have cut the reception," she complained out loud again to the storm.

She pulled her clothing tighter around her in preparation for stepping back out into the wrath of Mother Nature. She knew she could not delay and wait out the storm as too many people were waiting on her. Had she had left on time, she too would be safely in the warmth and comfort of St. Barnabas' Church. Besides, the storm would seem like a sun shower compared to the wrath of her fiancé and her family if she didn't get there soon. He wasn't a mean man, far from it. In fact, Aaric was a very generous, caring person outside of business, it was just that he was very time conscious. He could not abide by lateness in any form from any one.

It was only three more blocks but with the wind forcing her backwards as quickly as she could walk forwards, it might as well be three continents away.

Inside the church, the candles flickered from the draught inside the building from the howling winds outside. The church was made of thick granite stone and had withstood far worse that this storm. Inside, all were safe and warm.

Aaric punched redial on his mobile phone yet again. "Damn. Still no service. I hope Arianna is not much longer," he fumed.

"Don't you mean, Aaric, that you hope that Arianna's okay?" questioned Carolina, the chief bridesmaid.

Carolina and Arianna had been friends since pre-school and although Arianna was not the most punctual of people, it was unlike her to be this late. It'd been nearly 30 mins since Arianna had phoned her to say she was leaving the office. On a good day, the walk would take only 5-10 minutes. Even in this weather, it shouldn't be this long.

Finally, Arianna was nearing the church. It was only just around the corner and a few doors down. She hoped that the wind would die off once she turned the corner. She was looking forward to seeing her family and friends. It was quite exciting really when she thought about it. Finally, she was getting married. She'd been looking forward to this day for so long. Her only regret was that her grandmother would not be at the wedding. She had not lived long enough to see Arianna's special day. A tear came to Arianna's eye as she though about her Nanna and her mind wandered back to that bittersweet day.

Arianna had always been close to her Nanna and the day of her passing had been one the saddest and also the happiest days of Arianna's life. Arianna wondered about the way of life and how great happiness and great sadness could co-exist in the same timeframe. As she thought back, Arianna willed a smile to cross her face. She wasn't going to allow herself to cry. Not today, of all days. Besides, she thought that she had cried all the tears she had inside her already.

She recalled with fondness the love she felt for her Nanna and remembered her final words to Arianna. In her final days, she had very little strength left in her but with an emphatic and animated passion she stressed to Arianna that Arianna promise her that she live her life by the words she was about to here. Her Nanna told Arianna that no matter what else in life, she must live her life with passion and love, to never forsake passion for love and to never confuse love with passion, for love could only exist when fired with passion. Arianna made the solemn promise to her Nan to live her life by that creed. Besides, Arianna thought, that would be easy for wasn't she already living her live that way. She had Aaric in her life and they were in love. Passionately in love. It was only that morning of that fateful day that Aaric has asked her to be his wife. Arianna had been so happy. How could life get any better? Even when she got the call to see her Nan urgently before it was too late, Arianna was still happy. Her love for Aaric had taken the edge off the pain of her Nan's death. Even though she was sad at her Nan's passing, she still had an underlying happiness and her love for Aaric allowed her love for her Nan to shine through even in such a sad time.

Her only regret was that after making her promise to her Nan she had not had time to tell her Nan about Aaric's proposal and that she was already living the creed. But, her Nan passed away before she had the chance to share her happiness with her. This was one of the most painful things in Arianna's life for she had been so close to her Nan and they had shared so much and so many secrets.

The corner was now in sight even through the bighting snow and sleet. She'd be so glad to turn the corner for the respite from the wind as much as nearing her target and seeing her beloved and cherished fiancé, family and friends. Just as she was to turn the corner the furry of the gods burst forth even more vicious, if that was at all possible. The snow flew every which way blinding Arianna and clouding everything. It was hard to know which way was up let alone forward. With a whisper of pray to God or Spirit or the universe or whatever it was called nowadays and with a sense of relief, Arianna felt her away around the bend, almost by Braille.

"Ouch!"

Arianna crashed to a thud into something hard and landed unceremoniously on her butt on the hard, wet, frozen ground. As she fought for clarity she noticed a deafening silence. She realised that the wind must have died down and was no longer roaring in her ears.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me, Miss?"

A gloved hand reached down to Arianna and was gracefully guiding her to her feet.

"Are you all right, Miss?" the voice emanated from the hand.

"Is there any thing I can do to make you more comfortable, Miss, and to extend my sincerest apologies?"

Arianna, recovering more slowly than she thought she should be, finally managed to reconnect her brain to her body and kick them back into gear. The voice filtered through to Arianna's brain and she realised that she needed to respond to it. No. To him. It was obvious it was a him from the rich, yet honey-toned timbre of the voice.

She raised her eyes to look up to see what had hit her and prepared her mouth to take him to task for his oafishness. However, she found herself staring at the most gorgeous face and hypnotic eyes she'd ever seen. Her mouth remained gaped as she was now struck dumb.

"Miss?" he queried.

"Are you alright, Miss?" Concern was filtering through into his voice now.

"Should I take you to see the doc, Miss?"

"Here, let me help you out of this storm. The church is just here. Father Gwynnis will provide us warmth and shelter..."

"Father Gwynnis..." mumbled Arianna.