Ensnared in the brambles of love.

Chapter 1: A fresh start

the strong autumn wind swept over northen denmark, tousleing lilians mop of fire red hair as well as the gracefull arms of the willow tree that hovered over her. Lilian lay motionless,her mind swelled with thoughts as she intensely staired through the branchs into the clouded sky. she knew she had reponsobilities to fifill for her father before church but she was so comfortable and content she just couldn't seem to convince herself to budge. the loud clang of the church bell reached her ears it startled her enough to make her jump into a sitting up position. Lifting her self Lilian began to walk at a brisk pace back to the chapel pulling and tugging her hair into a tight and straightened bun along the way, she knew the earful she would get from her father if she came in disrespectfully late......again. her father was the paster of there small town and had been a widower since Lilian was very young as much as she tried to comfort and please her heartbroken father she always managed to run into trouble. Lilian scrambled up the cobblestone walkway and up the stairs swinging the giant oak doors open making a grand entrance. the room fell silent for a quick second but then her father continued speaking. Every head turned and many disapproving glares shot her way as she collapsed in her seat. luckily she had snatched the ever vacant seat next to Adrian a low statused girl only a year or so older than herself. over the years the they had become close companions sharing many stories and secrets with another. Adrian leaned toward Lilian and began whispering ever so quietly into her ear "whatever is your excuse this time" Lilian was hesitant to respond but after checking that no one was watching replied "the same reason i'm late every other time" then the two girls glanced at each other with cheeky grins and chuckled. they then began to listen to the sermon. pastor Laustson was highly respected man but yet of little wealth and everyone looked up to him and took his sermons very seriously. "today i would like to speak of gods unfailing mercy and grace even though we may often stumble upon trouble he will always be there waiting with open arms to forgive and wash away our many and even what seems like unforgivable sins" Pastor Laustson continued about forgivness, sometimes Lilian felt as though her father directed his teachings at her wanting her to understand a certain lesson without having to constantly repeat himself on the subject. After Pastor Laustson had spoke for half hour there was a baptism ,several people shared there story and publicly confessed there faith. Just Like after every baptism the people of the congregation are given the opportunity to spontaneously get baptized if there heart had been touched and changed that day,But today the baptism was different. Lilian now felt like it was time for her to confess her faith and show her father what she truly felt about his teachings and to let him know that she was ready to grow up and make him proud. As Lilian stood up and walked smoothly down the aisle to the pool in which her father stood her fathers face lite with a joyful smile his lip quivered as a tear streamed down his rough face. Choking back a sob Pastor Laustson helped Lilian into the pool and began to ask her the question that would symbolize the beginning of her walk through life with her father In heaven right beside her. After Exhaling a deep breath Lilian confessed with great enthusiasm her faith in Jesus Christ. Once again all eyes lay on her except this time there were soft looks and gental smiles. Shortly after that the service ended people began to come up and congratulate her as well as the other people who had that day been baptized, including Adrian. Adrian had been baptized just a year early and had been for the last while trying to convince Lilian to do the same. " oh little lil I'm so proud of you" squealed Adrain giving her a enormous bear hug making her arms numb "perhaps your father will now let you come out to public with me this coming season. I mean for goodness sake lil your eighteen" .Lilian Knew that Adrain had been disappointed that she had to go out last season alone but she really wasn't sure if she wanted to be out this coming season or the next for that matter. They began to walk outside to the willow tree there favourite place to discuss what they viewed as the important matters at hand "I know your excited but don't get your hopes up just yet"said Lilian " besides my father needs me and I have to prove that I didn't get baptized just so that I could get out this season" Adrian's eyebrows furrowed she paused and looked straight at Lilian "I surly hope that isn't the reasoning behind your baptism today" Adrian said sternly. "Now Adrian I don't know how you can think i would be so rotten as to do something as vulgar and ridiculous as such" snapped Lilian in a disgusted tone "you know i would never do something as so serious as getting baptized unless i truly meant it, how sick and ashamed I would feel with myself if I would do such a horrid act". They arrived at the tree and Adrain leaned against it with her crossed arms with an expression of guilt on her face she felt sorry for questioning her friend "I know darling but when you said..." Lilian cut her off before she could finish "hut tut tut" sputtered Lilian "I know what I said and i only said that because that is how my father thinks" Lilian looked down at the ground and sat down " he thinks me like my mother, willing to do anything to get married just so I won't become a poor old maid!" then Lilian paused trying not to show her sadness to her friend even though she trusted Adrian she didn't want her pity "but what he doesn't know I'd I refuse to be anything like her". Now Adrian knew about lilians mother dieing at the young age of six and twenty, the whole town knew about that but what she did not know was the story of her parents meeting and very little information about lilians mother other than her death "I know it's probably a painful subject but what do you know of your mother and her story I'm afraid I've heard little of her please inform me of what you know" replied Adrian gently as she began to slowly lower herself down beside Lilian. "don't get to comfortable I know very little of her myself except that she was quick and willing to accept a proposal from anyone who shot one her way, so my father proposed in pity and to make sure she was kept safe from a scandal" "now Lilian that's not a fair statement you barely knew you're mother where do you hear such nonsense" huffed Adrian. Knowing herself that the source of information wasn't reliable and wouldn't be convincing to Adrian she answered the question felling slightly embarrassed "the maids. I over heard them in the kitchen nattering of her their the only ones who speak of her and I don't have the heart to ask about it to father" adrian began shaking her shame finger at Lilian "now lil how can you possibly believe that preposterous idol gossip now you and I both know those ladies have nothing better to do but spew there brusque opinions of others". The two friends sat there discussing this for the majority of that after noon. after hearing enough of about the situation Adrian began trying to convince Lilian of confronting her father about it " if your so curious about your mother then the only thing left to to is ask your father for the truth, even if that means hearing what the maids said all over again at least you know the truth". Lilian Stood up dusted off her dress and nodded at Adrian she now knew what she had to.