Finally, an update:) Actually, it's probably the last chapter. I'm afraid this muse went on strike.
Chapter 13: My happiness or yours?
Celeste made a perfect bride. Her white dress was spotless, her hands holding the bouquet of lilies steady and straight, the smile across her face warm and affectionate under her sheer veil. But her blue eyes were sad, and only Connor could tell that she was thinking of her father who wouldn't be able to see her.
Once Celeste finally joined Connor, however, she looked rather concerned as she glanced beside him. While the priest intoned the beginning of the wedding ceremony, she leaned slightly towards Connor. "Where's Elrin?"
Connor glanced beside him in alarm, then shook his head and shrugged. "Don't worry about it, love. I'm sure he just went to go tell your father that the wedding began."
Celeste turned her head towards Connor, and her eyes went wide. "He's barred from being told anything about the wedding." She said in a loud tone of voice. "Besides, the dungeon is locked."
The priest stopped his intonation. "Is there a problem, dearie?" He asked in a wavery voice.
Elyon quickly walked over to join her daughter and shook her head. "No, no. Continue." She said quickly.
The priest shrugged. "If there is anyone here who has cause for these two to remain unmarried, speak now or forever hold your peace." He said loudly enough for the whole room to hear.
"I object." A familar voice said from the back of the room. Cedric strolled in confidently. "On the grounds that no child of mine will ever marry a Guardian's cursed spawn."
Elrin slid down a tapestry and produced a knife, which he held to Connor's throat. "Sorry about this." He said cheerfully. "But I think Celeste needs to stay with her father, now that she knows who he is."
Celeste's mouth fell open, and she nervously walked towards Elyon. But then her eyes fell on the frightened faces around the room, and her own Connor's nervous expression.
Eyes flashing with anger, she turned around and walked towards Cedric. "It's not fair!" She shouted at her father. "You don't have the right to do this!"
Cedric glanced at Celeste. "What don't I have the right to do?" He asked mildly, watching the chaotic scene he had spawned with a content expression.
"The right to ruin my life and try to hurt everyone I care about!" She cried. Her hands clutched her father's jacket. "I thought you would love me. I thought you would understand why I choose to marry Connor, but you haven't! And now I think you have a choice to make, Father." She let go of his jacket and stepped back. "My happiness, or yours?"
"My happiness or yours?" Cedric repeated a bit stupidly. "What do you mean?"
"Just what I said." Celeste replied. She drew out a dagger from some hidden pocket and placed the tip against her belly. "Your happiness means you win this battle--you kill Connor and I don't marry him. But you lose a daughter. My happiness means that I marry Connor, but you get a week's headstart to run and I make the guards promise to not kill you. You'll be free--which means you win again. It's a win-win situation, Father."
Cedric looked around the room and finally looked at Elrin. "Lower the dagger. For the love of all that's good, Celeste, don't hurt yourself. We'll leave." He said coldly. "But only for now. Soon we'll return, and then no amount of begging or threats on your part could make us stop our plans."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Celeste said quietly. She watched her father and brother rush out of the palace, looking so much alike. "Goodbye, Father."
