For all the chapters of this story, I do not own ff8 characters. This is my first fanfic and English is not my mother tongue so please be kind.
The war between the kingdom of Galbadia and the kingdom of Centra had ended. Once almighty and splendour Centra was now reduced to pieces of islands with only a lighthouse left on one of them. Thanks to an army led by Laguna Loire and his two second officers in command, Kiros and Ward, the nations of Esthar and Trabia were freed from the Centran hold.
This day wasn't an ordinary one. In order to celebrate the victory a wedding had been planned in Deling City. Men and women were preparing food, manufacturing furniture and decorating rooms for the evening party, while children were playing around trying not to be catch by parents.
Inside Manor Caraway little hands were in frenzy, organising everything to be on time. The bride was also getting ready.
"The dress fits you so well, my lady. Look like it was waiting for you all this time!" said one of the girls helping Julia Heartilly to get dressed.
She looked at the reflection in the mirror. She saw a raven hair girl in a white long dress embroided with angels' wings. The top had thin straps. She was also wearing short gloves.
"You must feel so happy to wed a man such as General Caraway" added the girl.
"Well, I... guess I should be" answered Julia in a very low voice still looking at her image. "To tell the truth, I hardly get over the idea I am getting married ... with this man." She said sadly and sighed.
"Well, you'd better get used it!" said a voice.
Julia turned toward the door. The lady who came in was easily turning fifty. Thin and tall her behaviour betrayed years of experience at the court of Galbadia. Her face lines were rude, but in her heart she was soft and gentle. She wasn't Julia's mother, but she raised her as her own daughter. She walked straight to Julia.
"Leave us alone" she ordered the girls. She turned around the maiden girl while the maids were leaving.
"Look at you! You are so beautiful. I am so happy for you" She said dreamily holding her tight in her arms.
Julia broke the embrace. She looked at the woman and said in an unsure voice.
"Oh mother, I am not sure this is what I want. I mean... I am afraid of doing something wrong by wedding him. And becoming the Queen of Galbadia is a hard task, what if I...
"Don't worry! Remember what you did for the people of Timber: thanks to you the town was safe. You'll be alright, the people here already loves you. Moreover General Caraway really loves you. He is the perfect match for you!"
"Oh Hyne! Why did I accept his proposal? She blurted out not realizing she spoke aloud what she was thinking.
"Because you had no choice! It was him or the enemy." Her mother stated. As she said that she turned to a chair and took the veil. The lady looked at Julia and sighed. She knew Julia was marrying him for the sake of Timber. Shaking her thoughts away she wanted to put the veil on Julia's head when she stopped her.
"Please, mother I need to be alone for a while." She pleaded. "The girls will help me with this" she said, pointing at the veil.
"As you wish my dear." She sighed. She looked at her and caressed her daughter's face with the back of her hand; then she left the room. Julia followed the lady with her eyes. Once the door closed she stared at her in the mirror; trying to convince herself of her destiny.
"I, Lady Julia Heartilly princess of Timber, am wedding General James Nicholas Caraway, king of Galbadia. I am Julia Heartilly Caraway, Queen of Galbadia, Julia Heartilly... Ca...Caraway." She couldn't hold it anymore and started to sob. She put her head in her hands and got off the platform she was standing on to reach a sofa where she hid her face and cried out loud.
"I should have told her I decided to marry him for the sake of someone else. All this would have never happened if I did so. Oh, it hurts!
Gathering herself she rose up her head and wiped out the tears from her face. She walked to the mirror and saw she had red eyes with traces of black mascara running down her cheeks.
"Oh, why does it have to be me?" she sobbed again.
During this time she didn't hear someone came in. A guy suited in his ceremonial Galbadian uniform was standing at the door, staring at her. As he approached her he put a gloved hand on her shoulder. She turned and threw herself in the man's arms, surprised to see him.
"Laguna" she whispered. She felt desperate and reassured by his presence. She was daring to stay like this forever.
"Shh, he said patting her hair; you're going to mess you up!"
"I ...don't care!" She replied in his ear holding him tighter.
"The queen of Galbadia mustn't cry." He broke the embrace, and looked deeply in her eyes with his green ones. She was lost in his gaze, unable to say a word for a few seconds; then she blurted out.
"Why does it have to be him, the king of Galbadia, why not you? Oh, Laguna, you will always be my one and true love!
He took her arm and closed the gap between them with a kiss on her forehead.
"I know, but you're getting married with him. Listen, I want you to be happy. Don't blame him for being what he is. Though you don't love him, try to like him. Both of you have a hard task to undertake; you will need each other strength and support. You are the hope of thousands people, you have to honour them of the choice he made to marry you!"
She sobbed and gasped. Trying to comfort her he gave he kissed her head, cuddling her in his strong arms. She then understood that they'd never be together again. She wished he had kissed her the same way he did before. Then a knock at the door warned them time has come to separate. A maid came in.
"Sorry my lady but we have to get you all set, the ceremony will be starting soon!"
Laguna put one knee down and took her hand to kiss it.
"I wish you success and happiness my lady." He stood up and bowed once more then left. She returned him a puzzled look. Now he wasn't her lover anymore, but just a knight, the commander of the guard of honour. Now he would do anything to protect her because she was his Queen and it was his duty to do so.
Two hours later, they were married and introduced to the crowd as the new sovereigns of Galbadia. Young ladies dressed in long white gowns with flowers crowns on their head came ahead of the couple. Walking to the wedding open carriage, they were throwing flowers making a soft path for the couple.
The soldier stood on each side of it making a row-line of honour.
"At my order, draw your sword!" screamed Laguna watching the couple coming closer. She looked at him with teary eyes. She wanted to escape, run into his arms, but he didn't return her gaze. The royal couple reached the coach under a roof of bright steel blades.
The coach was driven by four white horses. Julia and her husband were waving at the crowd. As she saw happy faces, she thought about what Laguna told her two hours ago. It was true, she had to honour them, nevermind if she wasn't married to the one she loved; she had to be full of joy for them. She smiled for the first time of the day.