War's Love

Here Comes the Bride

I hope Rickard won't pull a crazy stunt. He was right, I don't have to marry Ares, but at what cost would I defy a God? The answer would always end the same, no one gets away from defying a God. 

I sighed with relief that Rickard left. I owed him for protecting me two years ago, but he didn't need to defend my honor. I would have...I would have...no I was too weak to even defend myself back then. I shouldn't think about this right now, it carried no weight any longer.

"Eleza, it's time," May called and you could hear her lament. 

I drew in a deep sharp breath and headed out of my room. May followed behind me and I went down the stairs to see my father and Oriana starting to tear up. 

My father came to greet me at the bottom of the stairs and I hugged him. I had to be strong for them and now I was leaving them for good. I will never be the same girl they knew, I'm not sure I ever was. "You are as beautiful as your mother was on her wedding day," His eyes glittered with reluctance to let me go. He placed a kiss on my forehead and then he let go. 

I smiled at him. I had to show them I can do this.  I won't back out now I've come to far to stop. Ares, I hope you are prepared for having me around because you may rue the day you wed me. 

Oriana opened the door and the whole village was watching me make my way to the cathedral. 

My chest was still racing from the memory of the mysterious boy. I guess there's no point in waiting, but I'll find him instead. 

As I passed by many of the villagers were shocked at the sight of me, I guess they never heard of "a diamond in the rough". 

I wanted to run away from Acrin so many times, but after this I had no obligations to my family or this village. I will no longer have the shoreline or the wiles of my adventures in the woods. 

I wondered what kind of man Ares was? I had no idea what he would be like. I only had rumors to go off of. People say he enjoys massacre and mayhem that he loves war, but I don't believe anyone enjoys watching or being a part of the slaughter. What kind of person could be so callous and unfeeling? Apparently, Everyone had decided Ares was that person, but I will not judge him for that until I confirm it with my own eyes. 

Still on my way to the cathedral, I spotted Rickard outside near the cathedral doors. He couldn't take his eyes off me. He never could. When we were kids, he would struggle to keep up with me. I was too whimsical for him and he was too popular with the girls in Acrin. I was the only one who never looked at him like a piece of eye candy, but I had to say he did turn out to be a charmer. 

Rickard was soft on the eyes and his eyes glimmered like chocolates that were rare in Acrin. His blonde hair was like golden sunshine and he had a beautiful smile. He had a good muscular build due to his sword training with his father and he even had callused hands. Rickard was handsome, but he was nothing compared to the mystique of the boy who saved me first. 

As I drew closer to the doors, my heart only pounded faster. I am not turning away. I will marry Ares. I smiled to everyone around me and I paused in front of the cathedral doors. I wanted to just go in, but a part of me felt like I should turn away. I swallowed a lump that had formed in my throat and opened the door. 

I went inside and shut them behind me, so that Ares and I were alone in here. 

I never noticed how beautiful the cathedral was. Its high rise ceiling and infrastructure was something of an artist's handiwork. Everything was chiseled out in white stone and my breathing hitched as I walked into the empty room.

He wasn't here yet. Maybe I was early, no he said nightfall. It was nearly that time from what I could tell before I waltzed in here. I took an breath and hoped that he wasn't too old for me. 

I wanted to call out to him and see if he would come, but that seemed rude no matter how I put it.

A crow cawed and flew just to perch on a high beam ahead of me close to the ceiling. I was intrigued by the sight of the bird and I held out my arm. The crow swooped down and landed on my arm only lightly scratching my arm. I brushed my  fingers gently near its neck and he leered toward me for more.

"He likes you," I heard a voice. I almost jumped at the sound of it and the crow flew toward the alter where a young man stood. "It's been awhile, Elezana," 

My heart stopped when I noticed who he was. It can't be...

Cliffhanger. Any guesses? Ares is here and the next chapter is all his. So what will Eleza do? Ares stands before her and she has to make up her mind about him. It's coming and soon. Will she be happy or angry with her choice to marry him? Enjoy it until I write the next chapter. I'm ready to give you one of the story's main two characters. This is where everything is going to get seriously interesting. Thanks for reading it.