Chapter 3

I struggled to break free of Shane's grip, but he only held on tighter when I did. I knew I'd be hearing no end of this once we got to his house, and I knew Papa wasn't joking when he said what he did to Brendan about never getting out of poverty. I'd finally had enough.

"Let me go!" I yowled in pain, my teeth clenched. Shane didn't speak, but he glared back at me with a paralyzing gaze. I looked down at my feet, slowing down the pace of my walk. He then jerked my arm so much I fell forward onto the ground, carrying him to his knees. He let go of my arm and stood up. I stayed on the ground rubbing my wrist. Shane kicked the side of my leg.

"Get up." He said sharply. I didn't move. He kicked my side, harder this time. "I said get up!" By now tears were forming in my eyes. I looked up at him, then at Momma and Papa. Momma was looking away, but Papa was very cross with me. Shane prepared to kick me again, but this time I saw my chance. I stood up, taking a few steps away from them. As Shane came closer, I made a run for it. I ran as fast as I could, going anywhere that was away from them as they chased me. I jumped through a split tree, ducked under a fallen log, ran through a stream of water coming from the river skirting the edge of the village, and finally was far enough ahead of them that I was able to hide up in a large pine tree, going as far up as I could so they wouldn't hear my heavy breathing.

I heard running footsteps behind me. Apparently they'd split up, because I only saw Shane and Momma standing there when the footsteps ended. Then Papa came running with Shane's parents at his heels. They were talking, but I couldn't understand what they were saying from being so high up. Then I noticed that between Shane's mother and father there stood an exhausted-looking Brendan. "Brendan!" I said in a low tone. Papa turned to Brendan, who tried to run, but Shane and his father grabbed onto his arms. Papa was now talking loud enough that I could hear him.

"Where did you hide her?" Papa asked. Brendan, looking bewildered, answered,

"I don't know what you're talking about. I was still on my way home when you came up and dragged me here." Then Papa did something that made me gasp, and nearly fall backward. He struck Brendan across the mouth. So hard, in fact, that Shane lost his grip.
I'd gasped a little to loudly for my own good, though. Papa looked up and must've seen me through the pine needles. Then came the worst part. Shane came up to get me, and I had no where to run to. I tried to climb down the other side, but he just followed me. When I finally reached the ground, I stepped on a sharp twig, stopping for just long enough that Shane gripped my arm firmly with both of his hands, and dragged me back over to where Papa was waiting.

"Leave Brendan alone!" I yelled as soon as Papa came up to me. "He had nothing to do with my hiding, just let him go!" Papa looked over to Brendan, nodded, and Shane's father let him go. He didn't leave until Momma glared nastily at him.

"Liliana, you've not only disobeyed me and Shane, but you've also lead along another boy who you still try to go after and protect." He looked over to Brendan's fading figure, running off toward his home. "You shall be punished and it shall be severe. You are not to leave home until the day of your wedding. The only exception is this: If Shane himself comes and escorts you to his house, and then escorts you back." He looked sharply at me. Tears flooded into my eyes and every limb in my body went limp. Sobs were coming willingly from my throat, and I let out loud wails of distress. Papa took hold of my arm and Shane and his parents left, while Momma and Papa brought me back home.

Once inside, I ran straight to my room. I let myself fall onto my warm blanket, crying out at every memory that came into my mind. I thought about the highlights of each season..

Last summer, when Brendan took me to see the volbeat dancing swiftly through the sky..

That winter, when the whole Tribe got together to watch the first snowfall, and Brendan and I shared our first kiss..

This spring, when we had-

I stopped that thought short. Then there was a knock on the door. "Liliana, supper." Momma said.

"I'm not hungry." I answered quietly. Momma sighed and left. I was sort of glad she came in. That last memory wasn't as happy as I'd wished it could've been.

I stayed in my room the rest of the night, and then I didn't leave it except for at mealtimes. That carried on for about a month, before Shane began coming to get me.

"Liliana, are you ready yet?" Momma asked.

"Not yet. Uh! Momma, can you please help me with this zipper?" It was two weeks before my wedding day now. I was trying on my dress, having a really hard time.

"What did you do? This zipper is all messed up.." Momma said. "Mmm... There!" She stood back and looked at me, tears in her eyes. "oh, Liliana, you look so beautiful in that dress!"

"Thank you, Momma." I gave a little bow. Now that I knew the dress fit, I was to return home with Momma, leaving it there to be hemmed. Papa had just allowed me to leave home for one hour every day unguarded, so I decided to take that time now. "Momma, I'm going to have my free hour now, okay?"

"Yes, go, enjoy the day." She said with a smile. I immediately ran in the direction of the Garsion Clan. I'd been refreshing my memory on the Tribal Laws, and had found a loophole in the betrothal problem.

"Liliana! I thought you were bound to your house?" Said Brendan.

"Papa's allowed me one hour of free time every day now. Plus, even if I didn't have the free time, I'd still be rushing here." Brendan looked surprised at this.

"Why? What's up?" He asked.

"I'm not sure if you'll like it, but there is a way out of my betrothing." I said.

"Really? What is it?"

"Now, don't get too excited. It's.. risky.." I was trying to make my fear sound like excitement, but it wasn't working well. "If we.. repeat what happened in the spring-without the last part," I added, noticing Brendan's expression. "Everything should work out."

"Lil.. I- I don't know." He sounded doubtful.

"Well, I hate to have told you so late.. If we do this, we need to do it today. Otherwise there won't be enough time to prove that.." I trailed off.

"Liliana, you know how much I love you, and you know I'd do anything for you to be mine." He said. "But, I just need to know, are you sure this is what you want?"

"Yes, I'm positive." I answered shakily.

"Well," He said. "We still have a while. Do you want to do anything else first? I mean, this is a big deal."

"I'm afraid we can't wait. I've had this feeling of being watched for the past few days, that's why I didn't come sooner. I don't have that feeling now, so I think we need to act while we can." I said." I know the perfect place, away from everything, once you're ready."

"I'm ready." He answered. "Let's go." I lead the way to a place near a cliff. No one had ever been there before, as far as I knew. It was hidden by yards of bushes thorny patches.

"So," I sighed. "I guess we start, now, huh?"

"Yeah.." Brendan looked at me. He seemed to be remembering the last time.. the time it all went wrong.

I put my arms around him, trying to find some comfort before a long time of sickness and agony.

"So.. How do we.. you know, start?" I murmured. Then, Brendan moved in close, gently kissing my lips, and moving his hands down my body.

"Like this." He whispered. I let myself move in closer to him, feeling a passion I'd never known before.
I was resting my head on Brendan's chest, listening to his steady breathing.

"Do you think it worked?" I asked.

"I'm not sure, but I hope so." Brendan said.

"I think we need to get back soon. I'm not sure how much longer I've got on my hour." I said, sitting up. "Besides, if I'm missing too long, they'll get suspicious." Brendan sat up, too, and we began dressing.