A Wedding for the Strong Willed

As I looked in the mirror I was horrified. I was disgusted, I always envisioned my wedding day as something that was to be forced upon me, and I wasn't wrong. But the white dress and my hair did not sit right with me.

"I appreciate the work" I tell the seamstress as shyly perks her head up as I close my eyes. Envisioning the dress I always wanted. My cleavage push up by the dress. The netting of the gown black, showing a nice mix of the black at the top of the dress and white continuing at the bottom. As the tail fans out towards the bottom, leaving a small train. "I think I like this a lot better!" I compliment as her eyes widen in amazement.

"Wow!" She exclaims as her eyes are still wide.

"For both my sake and yours" I say turning to her, "let's just say you designed this dress" I think as she nods in agreement with me.

"It's time!" Someone says as I turn around. "You don't dare to get married to my brother in that dress!" Emilia remarks as I smile.

"You are absolutely right" I agree with her as she smiles as wide as a champion, "I don't wish to wed you brother at all" I insult William as I smile.

Turning away from Emilia and placing my crown on my head. The crown of my people.

"Now, don't you think it's time to get going" I antagonize Emilia as she huffs and I follow her.

I knew nothing of marriage within the kingdom. Only few people in my kingdom wed, those that were undoubtedly in love. The only people entitled to wed were the royals, but my mother married my father because she was deeply in love with him, and that has never wavered. People in my kingdom fear marriage, not for the commitment, but for the price. In our ceremonies the bride and groom were bonded together, so they could feel one another's pain. Proving that if you loved someone you would never hurt them. This was why the people within the kingdom didn't really marry, and those who did had to be made sure they wanted, wholeheartedly, to take the vow. Most feared the pain, and I feared the pain it would cause him. A stranger, the man I was suppose to hate was about to feel every bit he inflicted on me, and still I feared for him.

As the music started to play, out of the wooden pipes and I stayed calm and collected. Looking down the aisle as I started to walk. I ignored the gazes and bewildered scoffs as I glided down the aisle. I could see only the few people who were needed to make this a marriage were here, the council, the priest, who wore a veil, and the royal family.

Suddenly I come to a stop. Realizing the aisle ended, as I stand across from the Prince as I sigh under my breath. Clutching to the bouquet in my hands.

"This marriage has been approved by the council, sire?" The priest ask, looking to William.

"No!" He says as silence spreads through the room like wildfire. "We have no other choice!" He continues as he grabs my hand in his. "Look at me" he whispers, my eyes gazing to him. "You will be my wife" he reminds me as I nod my head.

"And you are to be my husband" mimicking him, "I hope you know the responsibility that comes with that stature" I warn him as he signals the priest.

"Under the law of both parties" the priest announces as he looks to William, "Under the Church." He says as the priest then looks to me, freezing on me. "And...and" he stutters as I nod my head to him. "And the people of the Dern" the priest says as I wonder why he doesn't look to me. As the priest takes a dagger in his hand, covered with diamonds as I start to shiver at the thought of the oath.

"Will you, William?" The priest ask the Prince, "Take this woman to death, to life and to fight. Standing by her side in battle, feeling her pain and pledging yourself to her for eternity?" The veiled priest ask Prince William as I wait.

The silence was my saviour, as I begged he would say no. Bringing my eyes to his, as our eyes meet those dreadful words come out of his mouth, "Yes" he pledges as I hold back my tears.

"Will you, Gehenna?" The priest start, his voice quivering as I tried to stay calm. Reminding myself I had no other choice. "Take this man to death, to life, and to fight? Standing by his side in battle, feeling his pain and pledging yourself to him for all eternity?" The priest ask as I waste no time.

Hoping the faster the words emerge from my mouth the less they will hurt me. "Yes" I agree as I take a deep breath, my heart tightening as the priest cuts my palm, down the middle and doing the same to William.

"By the Dern's law you are now united, now binded for all eternity" the priest declares as before he can finish speaking, his back turned Prince William rushes his lips to mine, his hand slipping to my lower back as I pull away.

"Your now my wife" he whispers in my ear.

"Not by choice!" I remind him as I push him away from me. The priest bring out the Afburg branch as I smile.

"May the bride and the groom please take a branch?" The priest ask as I willingly oblige and I watch William's hesitation as he does it anyways. Taking a branch.

I knew the results. No children would spawn from this marriage because this union would be nothing but unhappy. I have just bound myself to a irritable arse, and nothing more, not a lover, a husband, a king, none of that.

But as the branch of the Afburg tree starts shaking a small light glimmers and I anticipated the empty branch, the thought bringing a smile to my face.

"What?" I say aloud as the light dims and there it was, one branch, standing victorious to the others, as it was the only one standing.

"One child shall result in this union" the priest announces as he steps off the podium as I turn to see the council, disgust painted on their face.

"We shall never have a offspring of a Dern be part of the royal family!" One detest as I glare at them.

"Your wrong!" I protest as the head councilman stands to me.

"I suggest you bow before speaking upon the council!" The man threatens as I scoff.

"You lie!" I say, "I'm married to the prince, clearly you failed your mission without even starting!" I mock his ego as the councilman pulls his sword to my throat.

"You shall bow, now!" He commands me as I laugh. "Last warning!" He warns as I smirk