Wedding Foes

Rain's eyes trailed after the Prince as he hurried in through a door at the periphery of the castle.

He'd turned to look in her direction once, but she wasn't sure if he'd really seen her, for his gaze was distant and scarily blank.

Impulsive, she made to run down the stairs and go after him, but was blocked by the guards who rushed to stand in her way.

"What are you doing?" she glared.

Lucas came to her side and urged, "My lady, please begin with the procession. The prince will be with you shortly."

Rain didn't wish to listen to this stubborn man who'd crashed her hopes and informed that the prince wouldn't be returning for his wedding. She scrutinized the barricade before her and said quietly, "I do not think the prince will be in good condition to attend this ceremony, Lucas. Take these people away. I'll only listen to what the prince has to say."

Lucas expression had fallen terribly. His olive skin was on the verge of flushing from distress. It was true he didn't expect the prince to return today. In fact, he was yet to understand why such a heedless woman caught an eye as perceptive as his. But he worried that if there was to be any mishap, the prince will surely have the head of his trusted right-hand man, than hers.

The prince even regarded this woman enough to return at all costs.

"He's injured, Lucas. Didn't you see?" Rain stomped her feet towards him. She was even more distressed than the prince's right-hand.

"My lady, I assure you that the prince is in healthy state," Lucas denied through gritted teeth, "Please refrain from saying those words, my lady. Otherwise, you'll implicate his highness."

As Rain cast him a stunned look, he suddenly dropped to a knee and pleaded, "My lady, there are many waiting in ambush for the prince to make a blunder. Most of the esteemed within the halls aren't merely here to bask in the festivity. If anything goes amiss, the prince will have more harm coming his way. Please begin the procession. You'll have to save him face and consider some reverend guests inside, else they feel offended and begin to find fault."

In the end, the princess hesitantly proceeded into the wedding halls. Perhaps Lucas's words did make her worry.

Despite her despaired spirit, she held her shoulders high and ambled towards the aisle with the elegance of a princess. Her comely features were accentuated with an eloquent smile and a bold gaze.

At the very least, rumors won't carry that she wasn't happy getting engaged to the feared prince of Eragon.

Even when the father she despised so, took her arms to lead her in consent of giving her hand in marriage, she still fought to keep that glamour.

The orchestra played louder as they ascended the aisle in which there was no groom or a relative of his to receive her hand.

The miserly king Elric and the bride stood facing the crowd awkwardly. Despite the heartwarming music rendition that filled the air, the silence of those many eyes bore through them inquisitively.

In time, the guests began to whisper to each other_ pointing, gasping and been overly expressive. One could now barely hear the fine tuning of the music tones.

"Where is the prince? Have you done something outrageous to make him despise you?! That unruly character of yours! Do you have to make it known that you are a bastard picked from the slum?!"

Standing next to Rain, King Elric could no longer withstand the embarrassment and began to snarl into her ears.