Strangers at the Altar

~ Chapter One ~ 

Lily's breath hitched as one of the maids tightened the bow around her waist. She kept her gaze on her hands and bit her lip.

"You look beautiful, miss." one of the maids whispered to her before walking off. Lily nodded slightly not having seen herself in the mirror. More nervous than anything. She saw the lace on the dress, and it was tight and perfect on her figure but she was nervous about seeing someone else rather than her.

She heard the door open and shut and felt her mothers presence.

"You need to smile, dear." her mother said, trying to sound warm but sending shivers down Lily's spine.

Lily nodded, and looked up at the mirror, staring at her mother rather than the figure standing before her.

She saw her mother nod her head towards her and she sighed, before glancing at herself.

A small gasp escapes her lips, and her eyes widen.

The dress looked like it was made for a princess. Her laced sleeves stopped at her collarbones, and it curved around her waist before flowing out at the hips. White flower petals were sewed neatly around her waist where the ribboned bow was tied neatly in the back.

This person standing before her wasn't her. It was someone completely different. She barely recognized her features. Her make-up done just like an empress, her hair tied back tightly as it lay rested against her shoulders.

"We'll have to change that." her mother tisked as she moved Lily's hair aside.

Her cheeks flushed and she felt like crying.

"Mama..." Her voice cracked just a little as she looked at her mother, teary-eyed.

Her mother sighed and looked at Lily. "We already discussed this. This is for the better. For both his family and ours."

She nodded and dropped her head again, looking at her hands, "Yes, mother." she said quietly.

"Lily, you know that this is for the better." her mother rested a hand on Lily's cheek, raising her head to meet her gaze.

"I know." Lily touched her mothers hand softly before turning away from her. "The ceremony's starting." she murmured as she heard the bells ringing from the churches.

"Lily I-" her mother started, as Lily walked towards the table to place the earrings in her ears.

She paused and waited for her mothers words, wishing that they'd be ones promising to stop this all. Or to help her, somehow.

"Just...don't disappoint your father..." her mothers words periced her heart and sent her stumbling just a little.

"Yes mother." she spoke quietly, not daring to look at her. She heard her mother sigh again before swift movements and a door shuts.

It takes a while before she realizes that she's not breathing normally. She lossens her chest and squeezes her eyes shut, "It's okay..." she says to herself, though it's not okay. It'll never be okay. It never was okay.

~ * ~ * ~

Lily walked through the halls, heading towards the reception, where she could hear the laughter and chatter from the guests. She felt the butterflies flutter in her stomach and she wondered if she'd pass out.

She saw a small group of women and men standing, either redoing their ties or fixing their hair.

She unclenched her jaw and shut her eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Here we go. " she whispered to herself.

"Lily! You're gorgeous!" Fiona, her best friend gushes as she walks over, sending Lily's eyes open.

She's embraced by Fiona's arms and is squeezed tightly. "We'll get through this together." she murmurs against her ear.

Lily nods and lets out a breath of air.

"Are you ready?" she asks taking a step back and looking up and down, checking out her dress.

Lily flushes and twists her hands together. "Readier than I'll ever be." she sighs.

She sees the look of pity course through her friend and immediately hates it. She's always hated being pitied on. As if being looked on like she was nothing, a worthless child.

"Let's get you out there," Fiona says at last, giving her another tight hug, before looking around to make sure there was no other things messed up.

She nods and runs her hands down her dress, along the creases and curves of her body. She looks at the bridesmaids and groomsmen as they begin to come together. The doors open and they all start to walk out, leaving Lily standing near the wall, waiting for her father to come for her.

The longer it took, kept her heart racing and she felt as if crying all over again for fear that her father never cared.

"Come...please come..." she murmurs to herself, as she sees Fiona and the best man go next.

Just then, she hears her father before she sees him.

"There you are, beautiful girl."

Turning around, she forces a fake smile, feeling a breath of air escape her a bit startled and less anxious.

"Father." she said softly, taking his arm.

"You look lovely dear." he kissed her forehead gently and together they both walked out of the door as music played. She steps onto the carpet where pink rose petals lay. Her heart beat quickly as she looked at the people around them in the aisles and then landing on the man standing in the middle, staring at her. Blue eyes startling hers.

Her breath hitched at the sight of him.

He was more handsome than she expected. She was thinking that she was marrying an older man. A general or something. She braced herself before feeling the kiss of her father before he left her on the stairs.