In the Shadows

Chapter 13: The Wedding

Alexandra's POV

I could not even leave the throne room, every noble had to stop and thank me for what I did, for how brave I was. I could not handle it anymore, I practically ran out of the room as soon as I got the chance. I immediately went to the stables to get my horse so I could leave.

"Alex," I heard a voice behind me say. I knew who it was before I even turned around.

"Aaron," I breathed as I looked at him. Before I could say anything he pulled me into a hug. I immediately felt better, safer, happier.

"Alex please tell me what is going on," he said as he stepped back, but he kept his hands around my arms.

"I... I cannot, have Cecil explain; I do not have the time," I replied.

"You are engaged," he stated and I looked at the ground, so he knew at least that much.

"I have to go, they will be expecting me back," I said as I turned away from him.

I heard him take a large breath. "At least tell me you do not want it." I grabbed the reins of my horse and turned back around to walk out, but when I got to Aaron I kissed him, he kissed me back. He pulled me closer and I pulled him closer to me. I knew it would be the last time I would kiss him so I was going to enjoy every second of it, but too soon for me I stepped back.

"I will always love you, Aaron, always and nothing will ever change that; but we cannot be together," I said as I touched the side of his face he closed his eyes. "I am so sorry," I whispered before I lead my horse away before he could say anything, tears slid down my face. It broke my heart to leave him there, whatever I still held onto after Alexander's death I just lost.

As soon as I got back to my estate I pulled Luca aside without even saying anything to the others. 

"Listen and listen well, my heart will always belong to another, I will always love Aaron until the day I die, but that does not mean I will not be a good wife to you. I will support you and care for you and... and give you heirs, but I can never love you," I stated.

"How much is it killing you to say all of this?" he asked without meeting my eyes.

"Too much to put into words," I replied.

"The man I met today, he is the one you love," he commented finally bringing his eyes to meet mine.

"Yes," I replied and I turned and went to my room. When the king went to see me after we won at the castle he told me my wedding was to be in three days.

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Christine was helping me get ready for my wedding. First we put on the dress and then she did my hair. 

"You look amazing Alex," she said, but I did not reply. I barely spoke that day. "You will have to act like the happiest woman in the world when we enter that room." I nodded so that she knew I understood. I heard the door open and I turned to see Liz.

"Wow, Alex you look astonishing," she commented.

"Thank you," I replied quietly.

"You are going to love me in about three seconds," she stated.

"Oh? Why is that?" I asked and even Christine seemed interested.

"You are not going to marry," she said.

"They have had the wedding postponed?" I asked.

"No, you will not be getting married to Luca. I spoke with the family of the boy to whom I was engaged, they agreed for him to marry a noble girl I was to provide a list of all girls who are eligible, you will be excluded from it. Anyway I spoke to Luca afterwards and he agreed with me, him marrying the princess instead of a noble would be far better," she explained.

"You are taking my place?" I asked and she nodded. I ran over and threw my arms around her. She hugged me back. "But why?"

"You love Aaron, besides Luca seems to be nice and he will be a nice match," she replied and I hugged her again. "Now off with the dress, no one but Luca and the priest knows about this."

"Then we must hurry it will start at anytime," Christine said as she came over to the both of us. Christine helped me take my dress off while Liz took hers off. Once we were undressed Christine helped Liz put on the wedding gown and I changed into my clothes from the guild. I was glad that I had brought them with me and within minutes we were ready.

"Now you look amazing Liz," I said.

"I do, don't I?" she smiled. We heard the knock on the door telling us it was time.

"There is going to be several people who are going to be upset by this," Christine commented.

"I do not care," Liz and I said at the same time. We laughed and once we calmed down we left the room. The doors to the sanctuary were closed. I hugged her one last time. 

"I can never thank you enough," I said.

She just smiled at me for a minute. "Just be happy and marry Aaron." I laughed a little. 

"Ready?" Christine asked and Liz nodded. I hid on the wall as the doors opened. I looked up into the rafters of the sanctuary and decided I would go up there, so before the door closed I slipped, unnoticed, inside and made it into the rafters, but when I got there I saw that I was not the only person up there.

I knew the body too well to not know that it was Aaron hiding up there. I moved silently over to him an when I got close enough I tapped his shoulder, he jumped a little and began to fall backwards. I quickly grabbed onto his arm and pulled him back up.

"I guess I got better," I whispered.

"Alex?" he asked as I smiled brightly.

"But how?" he asked.

"We better go outside," I whispered before I moved towards the door and he was right behind me. We made it out without anyone seeing us.

"So what do you want to know?" I asked.

"Everything since I saw you in France," he replied as we walked out of the church. So I told him all that transpired.

"I am going to kill that Spanish bastard," he growled. We had sit down in the grass so we could be more comfortable.

"Aaron it is alright," I said as I laid a hand on his leg and he placed his hand over mine. "So what happened with you?" And he told me all that he did in France and then what happened when he got back here.

"So she was the one who told you?" I asked.

"Yes and she made it sound as if the engagement was your idea," he replied.

"Oh Aaron I am so sorry," I said as I moved to put my head into his lap.

"It is all okay now," he replied as he stroked my head. I felt peaceful and safe, that was until I heard my mother yelling my name. We both quickly stood up.

"What is going on? Why are you not married?" she asked.

"Because she did not want to be," Aaron replied as he stepped in front of me. My mother outright slapped him across the face.

"You have no right to talk, you corrupted my daughter and after we took in your family too," she said. She had gone too far.

"That is it!" I yelled as I moved in front of Aaron. "You no longer have any control of my life. You are no longer my mother. It is with grace in my heart that I will be allowing you to stay in the estate, but you no longer have the power to make decisions, all decisions will be made by Aaron, Jared, or myself and you will have no say in that matter. I will no longer allow you to toy with my life."

"You do not have the power to do so," she said.

"I am the lady of the estate, I own it, you own nothing; I have all the power I need," I replied. "And Aaron did not corrupt me, he saved me; if you spent five minutes to really get to know me you would have seen that, but all you want is power and more title; you care for nothing else."

"Alex," she said.

"No, I am done listening to you and my decision is final," I replied. I turned as I grabbed Aaron's hand and we walked away.