Love's Surprise

Part 3

I am finally there beside the man that is my end. Silent tears mark my face as I go through the motions of sealing my fate. I cannot bear to look at the man as he takes my hands in his and we are bound together. I hear my own voice saying the well-rehearsed words and internally I am screaming in agony. The ceremony is almost done, and I know what comes next. I hear my father's booming voice, "I know pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride."

I dare not look up as he gently lifts the vale from my face. I feel his fingertips gently pull my chin up, and I close my eyes waiting for him to kiss me. "Open your eyes love." I frown, why does he sound familiar? Perhaps I've met him before, but I can't place it. So I open my eyes, and before me is not the man I imagined would be there. It is my Kane. I immediately throw my arms around him and kiss him with all my heart. I cannot believe this, and surely it is but a dream. I will hold on as long as I can before it ends. There is a loud cheering that makes me realize this is real.

"How are you here my love? Am I not to marry Prince Adam after all?" He smiles and motions for me to follow him out of the grand hall. I follow him in a haze, but this time it is one of joy. I do not yet understand how my luck changed, but I will not question this good fortune. We run through the castle as various people throw confetti. Suddenly there is the bright sunlight upon my face as a carriage sits waiting for our escape. Once we are finally alone I look at him with querying eyes. "Will you tell me now how you managed to replace the prince I was to marry?"

He laughs and I relish the sound. "I did not replace the prince my love. I was the prince all along. My true name is Adam. I did not wish to marry a woman I did not know nor love. So I pretended to be someone else in order to get close to my betrothed." I feel an anger rising in me, "You lied to me up until the moment we were wed! I was in such despair thinking that I would not be able to start my life with you as we had planned!" He pulls me close and kisses my hair. "Love I needed to see just how devoted you were to me. If you would truly attempt to run away to be with me as Kane then I knew you truly loved me for more than my kingdom's power. I did not wish to cause you such pain, but for the sake of my own certainty it was necessary."

My anger quells and I realize that he is still the man I love, and even though he lied to me he has made me the happiest woman alive. I need only one more thing before this day ends. "That is well enough, but you must promise to never lie to me again." He smiles and nods. Then I kiss him as if the very breathe in my lungs came from his mouth. My Kane, no my Adam, held me close as we rode towards our bright future.