9 months later
I stood in front of the mirrors, examining my reflection. I was dressed in a floor length white dress with the sleeves on the side and the whole dress was embroidered with pearls and opals. Donata wobbled around in her little pink dress which matched the flower petals in the basket she held. Meg, Naiomi, and Jaclyn were all standing around me, helping me with my veil, which fell to the floor. Meg was my maid of honour and Naiomi and Jaclyn were my bridesmaids. I was exited yet nervous. This was the day that I was to be bound in holy matrimony to Erik. Jaclyn was talking to Donata who did speak a few words (Here vocabulary consisted of the words piano, opera, yes, no, okay, sing, food, Mommy, Daddy, Auntie, Jaclyn, and Naiomi (which she pronounced Niemi)) Jaclyn said to the girl,
"The singing is going to start and then you walk down throwing the petals like we showed you, and I will be right behind you, okay, Donata?"
"Yes. Okay Auntie Jaclyn," said Donata, a smile on the tiny girl's face. Then the Music started and she marched out of the room and walked throwing the petals as far as her chubby little fingers could throw them. Jaclyn followed her, then Naiomi, then Meg, and finally, myself. I saw Erik smiling at his daughter throwing the soft pink petals and chuckling lightly. Then his eyes fell on me and there was a whole new expression. Love. Nothing but love. I saw Donata reach the altar and run up to her daddy and hug him around his left leg, her head hardly coming up to his knees. He stroked the 9-month old's hair and stared at me. I reached the altar and took his hand, and he whispered to Donata to get off and hold his hand and walk up, which she did, and he walked me up before the priest and he nodded, and we parted, Donata following Erik to one side of the altar as my bridesmaids and I went to the other side. The ceramony went on, and we were asked to stand and join hands. The preist said to the croud,
"If anyone has a reason that these two should not be wed, speak now, or forever hold your peace,"
Someone stood up. I recognized that face from so long ago. It was Raoul. I was scared. He took a deep breath and said,
"These two should not be wed because...That is not his daughter!" Everyone gasped. "Thats right! It's mine!" and with that Donata yelled pointing to Erik,
"YOU NOT MY DADDY! THAT MY DADDY!"
and the croud fell silent. Not a person moved. Not a sound was heard.
"Raoul, you were not invited to this wedding. Don't you dare think that mine and Erik's daughter has anything to do with you. If you get near her as you did me, I shall harm you in ways you could not me," I told him with all the courage that I could muster. Raoul looked at the little girl, then to me, and then to Erik, and walked out of the church. He said as he went,
"I will be back for my daughter, Little Lotte," And he was gone. The ceramony was completed and we went out of the church with Donata running alongside Erik, and he held her hand, afraid. We sat in the carrage and rode back to the manor, where we would drop off Donata and gather our things to go on our honeymoon. I was afraid after Raoul's sudden appearance, so I told Erik and we stopped before we got to the mansion and hired a bodygaurd for the girls while Erik and I were gone. We hoped Donata would be safe. I really hoped so.