"Every little girl dreams of her wedding day."
'But not all dreams come true.' Rosaline thought this as she waited for the doors to open so her wedding march could begin. Her dream was no different from any other princess. She wanted to live happily ever after with the one she loved. The doors opened. She stepped out of the threshold and slid gracefully into the room. Every head turned; thousands of smiling faces were focused on her. And so, the doll princess began her march.
Step. Pause. 'This is not my dream.'
Step. Pause. 'This is my kingdom's dream."
Step. Pause. "This is my parents' dream."
Step. Pause. Step. 'This was never my dream." Rosaline slipped silently into place beside her soon-to-be husband, a sad smile painted carefully on her delicate rose petal lips. A single tear slid down her ivory cheek. Prince Charming saw the tear and mistook it as a tear of happiness. His smile broadened. "Soon." he mouthed to her and she suppressed a shudder. Turning slightly, Rosaline fixed her gaze forward as the preacher began the ritual that would bind her to this prince...forever.
The ceremony seemed to drag on forever. The preacher talked about love and God, and how this union was blessed. Rosaline's mind began to wander. Beautiful pictures painted themselves perfectly in her mind and she smiled as she secretly admired them. She was dimly aware that the prince had caught her smile and was smiling proudly. 'Wouldn't it be nice if my true love came to rescue me right now?' Rosaline thought as the preacher drawled on. Hearing her name called, Rosaline abruptly pulled out of her wonderful fantasy and caught onto what the preacher was saying. "Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?" "I do." the words came without her ever thinking them. It seemed her mind was free to wander but her body was stuck in reality. "And do you, Prince Charming, take Princess Rosaline to be your lawfully wedded wife?" "I do." the prince said, giving her the same smile that had won her parents over. Rosaline smiled back, but she didn't feel it. Her body was moving of its own will. "Then if there are no objections, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the--"
Suddenly, the doors burst open and several armed men stormed into the room. The guards waiting by the walls of the room rushed forth to meet them. One man seemed to slip through all the chaos and appeared before her in the second she took to blink. "I'm sorry I'm late. I was delayed." he told her as he reached for her. "Who are you?" she heard herself whisper and saw the surprise followed by worry cross the young man's face. "Rose...don't you remember me? It's Quin. Your--" "You insolent dog! How dare you try to steal my wife!" the prince barked before the young man could finish. "Never fear, my love. I shall protect you." he declared boldly, brandishing his rapier. Quin blinked at the slender sword and laughed as he drew a beautiful katana. The prince's face paled slightly but he quickly recovered and called Quin a fool for thinking he could defeat the great and noble Prince Charming! Or so he would've said, but Quin was in a bit of a hurry and knocked the foolish prince over the head with the hilt of his sword. Prince Charming went down with an ungraceful thud.
"Come, Rose. It's time to go." Quin said as he offered a hand to her. Rosaline shook her head. "I don't know you..." she whispered, her head starting to throb from all the confusion. Quin sighed and sheathed his sword. "Your real husband's going to kill me for this but..." He smiled impishly as he pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers in a deep kiss. Immediately, Rosaline felt as if she'd been the one hit over the head with Quin's sword. Her body fell limp against his and her head lolled back as darkness swept through her mind. Quin scooped the unconscious princess up and carried her through the dying chaos and out to his horse. He settled her on the saddle first, then mounted up behind her and urged the horse forward. The horse galloped on, leaving behind the ruined wedding ceremony and its guests, and stealing the bride away.
