~A/N – The long awaited chapter has been updated! Thanks for waiting, hope you guys like this chapter. Sorry it took so long, life got in the way. But I realized, I love this story and really want to see it through to the end! So here we go again! This chapter revolves around Lillian and how she's doing without Harold. I don't want to spoil anything, so let the chapter begin!~

Chapter 8: He's No Harold

"Harold… Please come for me soon… You are the greatest thing that ever happened to me… I love you, and I cannot bare to marry this knight!" Lillian thought to herself as Harold was getting smaller and smaller in the distance, along with her trusty steed. She wiped her tears before any of her father's knights could see; they would only laugh at her.

She sighed and looked forward, still wondering what she could do. She could no longer run away for her father would have a guard stationed at her door at all times. If only she had known what her father had said to Harold, it would make sense that he wasn't chasing after her if she only knew. Lillian looked at her father, who was smiling but not saying a word. How she loathed him! She wished she was never been born a princess if it meant she was to have him as a father.

"You are better off without that little runt," Lillian jumped a little, not expecting the knight whom was riding with her to speak. She turned and glared at him with the intensity of a thousand suns. He chuckled. "Your new husband is a much better catch."

Lillian shook her head, "I fail to see that."

He grunted as Lillian turned back around, "Trust me; he is a very brave knight, very handsome too!" She rolled her eyes. "You'll see when you are wed that he is much better than… what's his name."

Lillian sighed, "Harold," Jarithen came up in the distance and she accidentally let one more tear fall. "His name is Harold."

They got to the palace many hours after Lillian had last seen Harold. She had forgotten how long the journey was until the knight she was riding with started talking about himself and how he thought he was so great. Lillian thought he was a pig.

"This man is nothing like Harold…"

Her mother was waiting for them at the palace door. She smiled as she saw her daughter for the first time in what seemed like ages. Lillian smiled back at her mother, although it was more like a grimace when they got closer. She didn't want to be back here at all; too many painful memories hit her like a ton of bricks.

Queen Gloriana smiled as her daughter got off the horse and almost half ran, half walked over to her. Lillian smiled at her mother with tears in her eyes. They embraced and held each other for a while, the Queen happy that her daughter had returned home. Lillian held her mother all while thinking of Harold, her one true love. Will I ever see Harold again?

She let go of her mother, giving her a nice smile, while her father growled behind her, "Do you have any idea of where I found your daughter?" Lillian glared at her father from the corner of her eyes, only to see him glaring right back at her.

The Queen smiled sweetly at her husband and daughter, "I'm sure, darling, that it doesn't matter. She is home now safe and sound," Of course Gloriana could sense the hostility between her two loved ones. She cleared her throat. "Shall we go inside and talk? It is getting rather hot out here." The King nodded and turned to talk to his men.

Lillian and Gloriana walked with arms linked into the castle. Lillian's heart sank as she realized she would not be seeing Harold tonight, or maybe even the next night. She sighed and let go of her mother's arm. She walked up the stairs toward her room.

"Lilly?" Called her mother, but no answer was forthcoming. "Lillian." She got to her room and shut the door silently behind her, not wanting to deal with the world at that moment.

She sat down on the edge of her bed with a sigh. Her heart was broken, falling apart. Thinking of Harold made her happy and sad at the same time. Happy because she loved him with her whole heart and sad… because she may never get to see him again.

Now her father would force her to marry that knight that came to her door. She didn't even know the name of her future… husband. A tear escaped her eyes. For the first time in her life, Lillian felt weak. She was always the strong one of the family, both in mind and body. Now she just wanted the world to disappear. Or she wanted her father to disappear. Oh how happy of a day that would be when he was not in her life anymore!

Lillian again sighed, and laid down on her bed, hoping she would wake up from her worst nightmare.

Neither the King nor the Queen spoke to each other since they arrived inside the castle. Now they were sitting down for dinner, waiting for their daughter before they began.

The food was all laid out on the table. Food that looked and smelled as appetizing as it would taste. The decorations on the table were beautiful, flowers and candles surrounding the food. It was just right for the King and the royal family.

Lillian walked into the room, head held high and the tear stains seemed to be non-existent on her face. She sat down across the table from her father, her face set in stone. She would not allow him to see the pain in her eyes. She was going to be strong.

The Queen smiled when her daughter sat down, "Ahhh Lillian there you are, I was about to send for you," Lillian smiled at her mother, but didn't say a word. The King stared at his daughter, satisfied that she was finally put in her place. "Well… shall we begin?"

The family started to eat, still not speaking to each other. The Queen looked at her husband and then her daughter. The King was still staring at Lillian while Lillian was into eating her food.

She cleared her throat and they both looked at her, "This has gone on long enough. What is going on?" She asked the question to her husband, but he looked away from her and continued to eat. She looked over at Lillian. This time it was she who was staring. "Tell me. Is this all because she ran away John? Being angry with her will do nothing."

The King growled and said, "That's not the only way she disappointed me! A knight has been chosen to marry her. She is refusing to marry him! I don't know what's going on in her head!" He glared at his daughter, who was glaring back at him. "She was with some man. She ran away to be with some peasant! It is such a disgrace!"

Lillian stood up, "He is Prince Harold of Far, Far Away! He is no peasant Fa-."

The King stood up next, "Do not raise your voice to me again! He is not Prince Harold, he died many years ago! Do not think I am naïve." The Queen sighed to herself as she watched her daughter and husband argue. She didn't know how to intervene, or if she even should.

"Father, he is Prince Harold and I love him! He is the man I want to marry, why will you not allow that to happen?" Lillian's eyes pleaded with her father for him to reconsider, but the look he gave back to her made her lose all hope.

He slammed his hand hard on the table, "Damn it! Because I said so! You will be marrying a knight, not a peasant! You are not to see him again, and if you disobey my direct order, I will kill him," He slammed his hand down once again, equally as hard. "Do you understand me? I will have him killed if you ever see him again!"

Tension started to circle the room as Lillian and The King glared at each other. The Queen sat silently, trying to determine what to do, but before she could say anything, the King yelled, "Damien!"

A young knight walked through the door and bowed at the King, "Yes your majesty?" Lillian looked at the knight. It was the same knight she rode with on their way back to Jarithen. Lillian gasped.

"Meet your future wife. Lillian, this is Damien. The man you will marry in three days," Damien smiled at her. He was handsome, yes, but when he smiled at her, it made her skin crawl. "You will love him and be happy for years to come." His blue eyes locked onto her body, as he began checking her out, her parents being oblivious to that fact. His eyes full of lust and longing. She closed her eyes, wishing she would wake up already!

She opened her eyes and sighed. Her nightmare was still continuing. She took a deep breath and said, "You may order me to marry and order me to never see Harold again. But, my King, you cannot order me to love!" With that said, Lillian pushed past the knight and walked out of the room, a tear escaping as she walked back to her room.

(2 days until the wedding)

"Lillian!" Harold ran to Lillian and smiled ear to ear as he was finally seeing her again. He ran as fast as he could to his true love, just for a chance to hold her in his arms again and show her how much he truly and deeply loved her.

"Harold!" Lillian ran to him, away from her father and all those making her marry the knight that didn't' deserve her. Running as fast as she could to her one true love. The only one in the world that mattered to her. She reached out for him.

Harold reached for her too and they embraced as if they hadn't seen each other in years. They fell to their knees, holding each other dearly and close, never wanting to let go. She started to cry and held on to Harold as if her life depended on it. Harold held her while she cried and he even cried with her. She didn't care if they were holding each other in the middle of the street, she felt as if she and he were the only ones in the world.

He lifted her chin and kissed her passionately and Lillian felt him smile against her lips. Harold put his forehead to hers. Lillian said to him, "Harold, I love you with my whole heart."

He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her on the nose. Harold looked her deep in her eyes, smiling as he said, "I love you with my whole heart Lillian," He hugged her tightly and threw his arms around her small frame. "I'm coming to rescue you Lillian."

She hugged him back, "I'm waiting Harold… I'm waiting for you."

Lillian shot up and was startled awake by the surreal dream she just had. She quickly looked to her right, but Harold wasn't there. She wished she would have looked to her right and seen Harold sleeping next to her. But, as she feared, it had only been a dream. Was Harold really coming to rescue me? She thought as she put a hand on her head.

She stretched as she got out of bed and walked over to her closest when there was a knock at the door.

"Lilly?"

Closing her eyes with a brief sigh, she answered the person at the door. "Come in," She said as her mother walked in with a smile. Lillian smiled back at her, as she sat down in front of her mirror and started to brush her hair.

"Good morning dear!" She quickly came and took the brush away from Lillian and began to lightly brush her golden locks. "Did you sleep well last night?"

She smiled, "Of course."

Her mother smiled wider, "That is wonderful to hear darling," Silence overcame the two of them for a brief moment until the Queen stopped brushing her hair. Lillian looked into her mother's eyes through the mirror and saw her genuine smile. "I really am glad that you are back home Lilly."

Lillian smiled, but didn't say anything as her mother began to brush her hair again. She thought of Harold and what he was doing at that exact moment, if he was awake. He liked to sleep in, but Lillian didn't mind. She just liked when he was next to her. Harold wasn't the tallest or strongest man in the world, but she always felt protected when he was by her side.

Now she was all alone again… No one to protect her.

Harold…

"Lillian? What's the matter?" As Lillian was thinking of Harold, tears began to form in her eyes. She wiped them away.

"Sorry…" She cleared her throat. "Nothing is the matter."

Gloriana gave her daughter a stern look before setting down the brush and taking a seat next to her daughter, "I can always sense when you are lying," Lillian turned toward her mother as she grabbed her hand. The Queen moved a stray hair from her face. "Why did you leave Lillian? Where did you go? Who were you with?"

Lillian sighed and shook her head and tried to hold the tears, "Mother please, I just…" She trailed off, not able to finish her sentence because of the knot in her throat.

"Darling it's okay… You can talk to me." The tears escaped her eyes as she leaned into her mother's shoulder for comfort. Gloriana held her daughter as she cried from the depth of her soul. She rubbed her back to comfort her. Lillian threw her arms around The Queen's neck as she started to cry harder. "Lilly…"

Lillian cried into her mother's shoulder for what seemed like a century, but was really only three minutes. She just couldn't hold it in anymore and was glad she had her mother there to be with her. She wouldn't cry in front of just anyone. But she still didn't like crying, she didn't like her heart breaking either.

She brushed the rest of her tears away from her eyes, Lillian cleared her throat and stopped hugging her mother. The Queen kept one hand on her daughter's back so she would know she is there.

Gloriana cleared her throat too, and wiped another tear from Lillian's eyes, "What is the matter darling?"

Taking a deep breath, Lillian finally spoke, "Father… Is impossible." She stood up and opened the balcony doors to let the fresh air in. The birds were chirping with the crisp of the morning air, the sun was high in the sky, and warmed Lillian's face as she leaned against the cool ledge of her balcony. Her mother followed. Lillian noticed the lily pond and sighed as another tear escaped her eye.

"I miss you Harold…"

Her mother leaned against the ledge as well. The Queen hated seeing her little girl like this, "Yes… Your father can be impossible at times," She brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face. "Do you mean because he wants you to marry that knight?"

Lillian nodded and looked at her mother, "Mother, he is forcing me to marry someone I do not love," She shook her head. "He won't even listen to me! I don't want to marry the knight! I found a man I want to marry, and father won't even listen! I want to marry the man I love." Looking back down toward the lily pond, she was reminded of all the talks she and Harold shared. He was the only one that truly listened to her… The only one she felt truly cared. Her one true love.

Gloriana gasped, "You are in love?" Lillian nodded, but couldn't look away from the lily pond. Her mother put a soothing hand on her back. "Darling, who are you in love with? Are you in love with that man you were talking about at dinner? Prince Harold?" The Princess didn't have to say anything, her mother knew the answer to the questions she asked. She was there yesterday when her father demanded she marry the knight.

The Queen smiled sweetly at her youngest daughter and put her arms around in a warm hug. Lillian accepted the hug and put her arms around her mother. Her mother whispered, "When you fall in love, it will all work out… I'm sure this will all work out for you sweetheart," She looked into Lillian's eyes and kissed her forehead. "He does care about you sweetie. He's not very good about showing it, I know, but he truly does. Would you like me to talk to him for you? Maybe he'd hear me out better than you."

Lillian sighed but smiled at her mother, "No, I want to talk to him about it myself," She went back inside her bedroom and grabbed her crown. Looking into the mirror, she put her crown on top of her head and looked at herself. She had to look confident if she wanted to get through to her father that marrying Harold would be best for not only the kingdom, but for her. If he even truly cared about her. She looked back at her mother one more time and smiled. "Thank you for listening mother. I'm going to go find father."

Lillian found her father in the yard, preparing the wedding it seemed like. He was talking to one of his knights. She overheard them talking about setting up guards around the castle while the wedding is going on so-.

"—So there are no uninvited guests barging in. I want this to be perfect Jeb, no mishaps. Understood?" The King noticed his daughter approaching them and returned the perfect, white scroll his was holding into the hands of his trusted nobleman.

The knight, Jeb, bowed and said, "Yes your majesty." And left the two to be alone, but bowed to Lillian as she came upon them. Lillian smiled at the young knight as he hurried away from the argument that always seemed obvious when the Princess was near her Kingly father. She didn't blame him or anyone else for that matter. She wasn't the one who made it difficult.

The Princess looked at her father for a second, trying to read his mind and see what he was thinking. He just glared at her, showing how much he hated arguing with her as much as she hated arguing with him. He wanted a daughter that obeyed and didn't ask questions, just like her older sisters. But Lillian was different, she was always different.

The King cleared his throat and looked at Lillian, "You look like you have something on your mind," He started to walk and talk to her. "I'm sure I don't need to ask what this is all about."

The princess nodded and said, "Father, I want to talk to you about Prince Harold again. He-."

"That peasant has been lying to you Lillian. Prince Harold is dead and there is nothing that will be able to change that," He crossed his arms behind his back and watched as servants were putting together the finishing touches. "Damien is excited to be my son-in-law. You should be excited to be his wife; he is an exceptional young man. He'll make an excellent king."

Lillian looked at her father, but he would not look at her. His pride over his kingdom overshadowed any emotions he may have had about the matter, "Please listen to me father," The King rolled his eyes but gestured for Lillian to continue. "I believe he is Prince Harold of Far, Far Away. He is the best man that I have ever known. You have wanted me to get married, and now I have found someone I want to spend the rest of my life with. Father, my King, I would like your permission to marry the Prince of Far, Far Away."

The King stopped walking and gave her a confused look, "What part of no don't you understand?" Her jaw dropped. "I am only looking out for the best interest. Someday you will thank me for giving you away to this knight-."

"I do not love this knight father! I refuse to marry anyone I do not love! I love Prince Harold!"

He faced her, "No. You are in love with a peasant pretending to be a Prince so he can get into the royal kingdom-."

"And what if you are wrong?"

He glared at his daughter, "Do not interrupt me again," She nodded, trying to be respectful to her father even though she will never receive any in return. "I am not wrong. I have already chosen a knight for you to marry. Now, I am done hearing of this, the wedding is tomorrow and you need to prepare yourself."

She shook her head. She didn't know what else to say to the King. Lillian was all but defeated in this, but she didn't know what else to do. She just hoped that Harold would come and rescue her before the wedding tomorrow. Wait, tomorrow?

"Wait… Father I thought the wedding was in two more days. You said tomorrow."

He nodded and adjusted the crown on his head, "That's correct. I have moved the wedding to tomorrow," He smiled at her dumbfounded look. "I thought you might be trying to plan some daring escape before the wedding, so I moved it up hoping you wouldn't have time to think of that. Am I correct dear?"

She shook her head again, "Father… I am begging you, do not make me do this."

The King turned his back on the Princess and started to walk away, "Begging is beneath royalty Lillian. And I told you this conversation is over."

Lillian stood there dumbfounded, trying to find the words to tell her father off. But none came as he walked away and went to talk to a different knight about the wedding.

The Princess didn't know what to do. All she could think of was her Harold and how he didn't know the wedding was tomorrow instead of the following day. She hoped he would not be too late.

A tear fell from her eyes as she walked back to her mother. She wiped it away quickly. She had to stay strong. Harold was coming… She just knew it.

"Please hurry Harold…"

(Day of the Wedding)

The wedding bells are ringing and the birds are chirping outside of the church. It's a beautiful sunny day, not a cloud is in the sky. Knights are gathered all along the church, swords held tightly in their hands, ready to protect the wedding at any cost. And there was a calm feeling in the quiet air.

Lillian is waiting at the back of the church with her father. She looked at him in her flowing white dress that he had picked out for her. It fit her perfectly. The beautiful flowers she held were hand-picked by her mother, they were her favorite kind. The mirror to her left did agree that the dress made her look beautiful. But as she looked into her eyes, she saw they were lifeless. "When did I give up?" She shook her head. "Harold will come… He still has time."

She sighed as she looked toward the front of the church, where her fiancé was waiting for her. He was showboating and showing off his muscles to the crowd. Lillian rolled her eyes at him; he was nothing like her Harold.

He looked back at her, with a smile on his face and gave her a wink. She looked away from him and looked at her father once more. He looked nice in his tunic and white cape he wore to all his daughter's weddings. His crown glistened from the chandelier above their head.

He saw that his knight had winked at his daughter and it made him smile all the more, "Soon you will have a husband. I've been waiting for this day probably longer than you have," She narrowed her eyes at the King. He chuckled. "Now the day has finally come where you marry your soul mate."

She shook her head and looked away from him, "Father, this man is not my soul mate. I told you, Harold-."

"And I told you, that conversation was over. I do not want to hear that name ever again," Lillian looked at him again to see him adjusting his crown. "Now… Let's go get you married, shall we?"

He tried to grab her arm, but she moved away from him. The King growled his anger as Lillian again shook her head, "I love Harold. I will always love Harold. There is nothing you can do to stop that. This man is not my soul mate and this man is not who I want to spend the rest of my life with," She got closer to him. "If you make me marry this man, I will do everything in my power to get away from him and everything in my power to get away from you."

Lillian held her head high as her father glared at her. She wasn't going to let him win. She would forever fight him if that's what it took. She would make sure her children knew to follow their heart, no matter what that meant.

The King grabbed her arm harshly, and pulled her close to him. Lillian gasped and winced, her father may be ruthless and cruel, but he never psychically harmed her.

He brought her in close and whispered harshly, "You are acting like an ungrateful bitch. I have found you a husband and I have provided the wedding for you. Do you know how many women would feel lucky to marry Damien?" Squeezing her arm roughly one last time, he let her go and cleared her throat. A knight took a step toward them, but a different knight put his hand in front of him to stop him. They both had helmets on that covered their faces. The King glared at the pair of them.

The knight bowed, "Sorry your majesty, I'll make sure that doesn't happen again," He stood up straight, as did his fellow knight. "Whenever you are ready my Lord, no one will come into the church doors unless you gave permission."

The King nodded at them and they left to go outside the church doors. Lillian looked at the knight that tried to stop the cruel King from harming her, and he looked her in the eyes. His brown eyes reminded her of someone, someone kind and gentle. Someone like Harold. He shut the door behind him and his fellow knight, and again Lillian was alone with her father. She glared at him, holding her head highly and proudly. He would never break her.

The wedding march began playing softly, and everyone in the church stood up and faced the father and daughter pair.

The King looked once more at his daughter, "Come now Lillian, do not embarrass me in front of the entire kingdom," He grabbed her arm, gently, and looped it through his. "It is time."

As Lillian looked at the kingdom, she saw them all smiling and whispering. She looked back one last time to her father's hand on hers. "He still has time to rescue me…" The King started walking, and Lillian had no choice but to follow him, though she made sure they didn't go very fast.

They walked down the aisle as everyone continued to smile and wave at them. Lillian smiled back at her subjects and waved back at them. In particular she smiled at a little girl, who giggled and tore at her mother's dress to tell her the princess had noticed her.

The King leaned in close and whispered to his daughter, "One day, you'll thank me."

She looked at him and whispered back, "Highly doubtful father."

He chuckled, "We shall see." He cleared his throat as they were a foot away from Damien. Damien was standing still, watching their every movement until they had finally reached the step he was on.

Reaching out to grab her hand, he smirked, "Ready?" Lillian looked at his hand a second too long as her father gently nudged her to take it. She smiled and slowly, as if her life depended on it, she took his hand.

The Priest smiled at them, "And who gives this woman to this man?"

Lillian looked at her mother from the front of the church; she was smiling at her with a white handkerchief in her hand. The Queen gave her daughter a reassuring look as the King said, "I, the King of Jarithen, give my daughter to this man."

Her father then went to stand by her mother as she stood next to Damien. Lillian looked at her future husband, who licked his lips at her. A twist in her stomach made her have to throw up after the thought of being near him. She shook her head and looked at the priest, who looked up from his Bible and smiled at her.

He addressed the congregation, "Now, though I'm sure it is not needed, I do still have to ask," He cleared his throat once and paused for a moment. "If there is anyone that objects to these two getting married, speak now or forever hold your peace."

Lillian looked hopefully around the church to see if anyone would object. The congregants looked amongst themselves, but everyone was shrugging and laughing. They doubted anyone would object to their princess's wedding. She looked around once more. There were little kids nudging each other in the pews and their parents stopping them, teenage boys talking amongst themselves, and a young couple talking to each other, but no one was going to stop this wedding.

Sighing and closing her eyes, she thought "Harold…" a tear escaped her eyes. She opens her eyes to watch the tear fall and hit the ground. As is shattered, Lillian had never felt so defeated in her entire life. She was now forced to marry Damien, and no one was going to stop-

Suddenly the door at the back of the church bursts open!

Everyone looks back to see a knight standing there with four knights standing behind him. The knight looks at Lillian and starts to walk toward her. Lillian is shocked to see someone that isn't Harold stopping the wedding. Damien growled and put a hand on the sword he had. No one was going to take what was his.

The King, who is dumbfounded, stands in front of his daughter and shouts, "What is the meaning of this knight?!"

The knight doesn't take his eyes off the Princess. He moves past the king and his shouting. Lillian gasps as she realizes it is the same knight that tried to save her earlier.

His eyes seem to smile as he says, "I object to this marriage my King." Taking off his helmet, his smile widens at Lillian's reaction. A hand covers her mouth as she gasps and drops the flowers in her hands.

Lillian smiles as happy tears fill her eyes, "Harold."

~A/N – BOOM! Worth the wait? What did you think? I tried my hardest to slow down, but I wanted Harold to reveal himself already! AH! I couldn't wait to get to the ending of this chapter! YAY Harold came to the rescue! So sweet! Anyway, the next chapter is "Without Lillian". I'll post it as soon as I can! I promise! I also promise to have a lot more Harold in the next chapter! R&R please and thank you~