Author's Note:

I am so sorry that this chapter sucks. I've had the worst writer's block and I went home for the weekend so I haven't had time to update. The next chapter will be better, I swear. It will make up for this shitty chapter.

But please leave reviews and thank you for reading! I should update in two/three days, don't worry!


Chapter Twelve – Unwanted Vows

I stood up from my seat in the carriage once I felt it make a complete stop. I stepped out of the carriage and a French guard grabbed my arm to help me land onto the ground gracefully. I curtsied and gave him my thanks and he bowed before walking away. I looked up and took in the huge castle that was standing in front of me.

I heard the doors of the castle open, "Aurora!" I looked up and saw Margret running out towards me. She curtsied in front of me, "My grace, you are home."

She grabbed my arm and pulled me up the stairs towards the door, we walked into the castle and I looked around taking in the appearance. Everything looked different from last time I saw it, even though it's only been a few months.

"Where is Prince Phillip?" Margret asked and I halted in place and she jerked back since she still had my hand tangled through hers. She mumbled an apology and I brushed it off.

I stared down at her and tried to give her a small smile, "Could you please travel news to the villages that everyone is invited to my coronation today. Phillip is back in Germany at the moment, but he will be here by tonight. Also, I want to get a formal invitation to every villager inviting them to celebrate Phillip and mine's wedding tonight. It will be at 6 p.m. in the ballroom."

Her eyes grew wide as I demanded my orders, "But Princess, are you positive that you should be rushing your marriage. You just got home. You should learn the techniques of ruling the kingdom by yourself before inviting the Prince to co-rule."

I put my hand up signaling her to be quiet, "Get the news to the townspeople."

I walked away from her and made my way to my bedroom and walked into it. I walked over to my bureau which still had all of my belongings from my birthday on it. I saw the crown my mother tried giving to me on my birthday, which I denied. I picked it up in my hands and squeezed it tightly in my palm, leaving a mark. I could feel the tiny jewels digging into my palm and I wouldn't be surprised if it cut skin with how tight I was holding it. I swung my arm, letting go of the crown and letting it fly across the room smacking against the wall. It slammed against the drywall, breaking a hole into it. I turned around to my bureau and swiped my arm across it, flinging everything unto the floor.

The door swung open and Margret looked at me and my eyes were blood red and I was sobbing uncontrollably. "Oh dear, what is wrong?" She asked taking a step into the room but I folded my hands on the back of my head.

"Get out!" I screamed and bellowed over and gripped my stomach to try and control my breathing. "Now!" I shouted again and waved my arm dramatically and she backed out of the room and shut the door behind her. I fell onto my knees and looked up and stared at the ceiling, I didn't want to stay in this castle.

I was staring at the white gown that was clinging to my body, looking at my reflection in the mirror. Today, I was getting married. Actually in less than an hour I was going to be getting married. My coronation went rather well, the villagers were ecstatic to see that I was home. Phillip came back about an hour ago, but I haven't seen him, for it is said to be bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.

I straightened out my dress and picked up the tiara that was sitting on my bureau and placed it gently on the top of my head. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying desperately to shake the nerves away. I heard my door swing open and I whipped around quickly, I took a step back and leaned against the bureau when I saw that it was only Bash.

"What are you doing in here?" I questioned, taking a deep breath and walking over to him. Inspecting him thoroughly.

He shut the door behind him and leaned up against it, crossing his arms. "Why are you doing this?" He questioned and I arched an eyebrow.

"You are damn well aware of why I must go through with this," I made my way over to him, picking up my dress so it wasn't dragging against the floor. "Bash, please do not make this into such a big deal. We were both fully aware that this day would come at some point. It just came a little sooner than either of us could imagine."

He shook his head angrily, "You came into my home last night begging me not to let you marry him. That is what I am trying to do. I want to keep my promise. So let's go, we will run away and live on our own," He smiled desperately.

I let my shoulders sink forward, "Look at what happened last time that we did that. You almost died, countless number of times. I have this entire kingdom to myself because my fiancé killed my parents because I ran away with some bastard of France. I cannot leave this marriage. I will be marrying Phillip, we will be having heirs to this throne. We can never be together," I crossed my arms across my chest and looked away from him.

"So after all of this time that we spent together, that is it? You are officially giving up and throwing in the towel? What happened to us against the world," He shouted and extended his hand forward. I took a step away from him and looked down. "You never really cared about me? This was just part of your game all along," He looked disgusted with me. He was so angry and the hate in his eyes was like nothing I've ever seen before. His normal bright green eyes that were filled with passion and love were overcome by darkness and betrayal.

I went to grab his arm but he yanked it away before I could form a grip, "I am sorry. I never wanted any of this, you know that. You have known me longer than anyone else, you know that I never wanted to marry someone so wicked and vile."

He looked away from me, "I do not know who you are anymore. This girl standing in front of me," He placed his eyes back on me once again. "You are not the same Aurora that I fell in love with. This woman before me is everything that I hate."

"Do not say that," I placed my hand over my stomach and clenched onto my dress tightly. "Bash, do not say that. You are only upset and you feel betrayed. You do not hate me, you can't. I am still the same girl that you fell in love with," I walked over to him and pulled his face down to look at me. I grabbed his hand and placed it on my heart, "Do you feel that? That is the heart that loves you whole-heartedly. I swear to you, I am the same girl. I swear," I pleaded but he pulled his hand away quickly and I stumbled backwards. He turned around and placed his hand on the doorknob and I could feel tears stinging my eyes, "Bash. Please don't leave me," He looked over at me one last time before opening the door fully. "If you walk out of this room, do not expect me to forgive you. You are a liar," I shrieked, straining my vocal chords.

He shook his head as he chuckled darkly to himself, "This time. I am the one who will be saying the final goodbye. You have done it so many times in the past, but always came back after realizing your mistake. But when I leave this room, I will know that it is what is right. I will not be coming back. I will not even think of coming back, do you understand?" Tears started to roll down my cheeks and I couldn't hold back the sobs anymore. "I am completely done with you and never want to see you again after tonight."

I took a step forward but he put his hand out signaling me to stop, "I can't lose you. Do not leave me! If you leave, I will forget you. I will forget every single thing that we ever had. Our first kiss, our first sleep over. Our first time," I said more quietly. "I will forget everything."

He nodded his head, "As you wish, my grace." He bowed his head and took a step out of the room, "Goodbye Aurora."

I heard the door shut completely and I felt my entire body turn numb. My legs felt like jelly and I wasn't sure how much longer they could support my weight. The entire room began to spin and I grabbed onto the bureau to hold myself up.

"I hate you," I screamed at the closed door and fell onto the ground and curled up into a ball and leaned against the bureau. I gripped onto my stomach and tried to regain control of my breathing, I punched the ground a few times. "Screw you," I tried to yell but it came out as a whisper, I couldn't get my voice to go any louder.

I stood up at the altar, Phillip was standing across from me. I looked up at him and he gave me a warm smile, at which I tried to return. Every smile I gave today was fake. So fake. This was the last place I wanted to be and I was doing the last thing I ever wanted to do. When I was a young girl, when I thought of marriage I thought of someone who you truly loved. I knew that it was only a fairytale. "Princesses and Princes don't have that privilege," My mother used to tell me. But she could have fooled anyone. She was in love with my father. They were so unbelievably in love. It always gave me hope. But here I was, standing beside my abusive, manipulative fiancé. Who I was forced into marrying or else he would kill everyone I cared about and turn me into some slave.

"Aurora, do you take Prince Phillip to be your loftily wedded husband?" I stared at Phillip, his eyes were glued to mine and I swallowed hard. "I do," I mumbled lowly.

"You may kiss the bride," Phillip pulled me into him and grabbed me in his arms. He dipped me down and kissed my lips and I kissed him back immediately.

Married and Queen, two of the things I ran from finally caught up to me.