Whenever Guba thought of his wedding in the past, he thought of none other than Elyesa as his bride. He thought of her in beautiful, expensive wedding robes with that wonderfully shy smile on her face. He thought of their hands interlocked while they walked around the Bonding Fire. Him, whispering assuring words to her so that her nervousness wouldn't set in, so that she would know that just as he had been with her all these years, he was now going around the fire with her, so that he could finally be with her, through everything and anything.
Together forever.
But the face that looked back at him was a stranger's and his Elyesa had disappeared into God knows where.
Where could she be? Was she alright? Had she ran away? What if she was harming herself because of what was happening to them?
His heart clenched with hurt as it had many times through these past few days already. Like it had when his mother had announced the arrival of the Princess and the fact that his marriage would be taking place in a week.
The words of the Priest seeped into his ears again, like venom. It was time for them to walk around the Bonding Fire.
Walking around a small burning fire was a marriage tradition. There was a spiritual belief surrounding it - the act itself meant that despite whatever happens in the couples' marriage, they would be together. Many believed that once the seventh round was complete, the couples souls were bonded together forever.
The Princess stretched her hand towards him.
He looked down at her outstretched hand, his eyes cold, his heart twisting with pain, souring with sadness.
He was part of the many that believed that walking around the fire bonded people's souls together as one forever.
He gulped, his heart heavy.
Like an herculean task, he raised his hand to hers and took it.
They walked together, hand in hand, around the fire, seven times. The oath of the marriage he whispered to her were dead, contrary to hers which were full of life. If not for the fact that all eyes were on him, that the fate of his kingdom depended on all of this, then he would have dropped this stranger's hand this instant and looked for his woman.
The seventh round was complete.
He dropped his hands from hers, the water the Priest was splashing on them while he blessed them, doing nothing to ease away the heaviness from him.
For the first time in his life, he wished he hadn't been born a Prince.
He shut down his tears. They must not see it!
He could hear the hall filled with chants of his name and the Princess's. His mother was seated at his left, on her throne, by the side of her father. A large accomplished smile was plastered on her face, her hands tight around the armrests of her throne. His father looked equally satisfied, although he still looked as serious as ever.
The King of Rikajra, who was seated by his right, didn't look pleased or angry, just observant.
He didn't look at the princess again, he was sick of seeing her face already. He hated her. He knew she wasn't at fault for anything that was happening but she seemed happy that it was and for that and many more reasons, he hated her.
He hated that she even existed to begin with.
He would never see her as his wife, even if the sky became the ground and the ground became the sky.
He would never.
He felt the Priest marking his forehead with the red sticky paste. He proceeded to do the same to the Princess.
After that, he signalled to them that it was time to walk down the aisle.
That was it, the Wedding Ritual was over, the wedding celebration would begin tonight.
The Princess stretched her hand to him once again, without looking back at her, he took it.
Now was no time to cause a scene.
Then they walked together, hand in hand, down the aisle as he suffered the torture.
"P-please," he heard a voice from a distance, though it was little, it was a voice he knew all too well.
He feet stilled to a spot, his eyes searching.
Elyesa.
"Let me go!"
He turned quickly to where the voice was coming from, his heart racing.
Where was she?! Who dared to hurt her?! Who dared to hurt his woman?!
"I'm begging! P-plee.... Please!"
Her voice was loud enough now. He had never heard her so frightened and loud before. His body shook slightly with fear and rage.
No one was paying him any attention, they all had their eyes on the commotion so they couldn't notice this.
His eyes found her quickly and he held his breath, his rage boiling over quickly, his teeth gritted against one another.
There were guards holding her hostage. One of the guard had said something but Guba had been too angry to understand it, his rage filled eyes were on the guard's raised hand.
His free hand turned into tight fist by his side as he willed his body to make a destructive move.
This foolish guard would definitely lose his head for this.
Then there was a voice, one that put everything to a screeching halt.
The Princess? Why was she standing up for his Elyesa?
"Don't hit her."
She pulled her hand away from his tight hold, ran over to Elyesa, who she pulled away from the guards' grip, then behind her in protection.
"We have a Royal Order. She is not allowed in here," the guard countered back, his tone hard.
Immediately, Rikajra guards rushed over to their princess's side, protecting them both, their swords drawn.
They were always ready for war.
Bloodthirsty beasts!
The guards of Kisha draw their swords too in a defensive response.
"What is happening here?" Guba heard his mother silvery voice from behind him.
"My Queen," the guard fell on one knee in respect. Then he pointed to the Princess, although he was referring to Elyesa who was still breathing heavily in fear behind her. "This intru--"
"I haven't even left my daughter in your care yet and your guards are already threatening her life!" King Rikajra's voice thundered, his question holding many threatening implications.
He was just behind them, everyone turned to face him, clearing away from his path immediately, so that his wrath might not be upon them.
"King Soka--" Guba's father started to say but King Soka cut him off immediately.
"It is never too late for a war."
"Father!" The Princess shouted. "I'm sure this is just a minor misunderstanding. We do not need to shed blood, it is my wedding day for goodness sake!"
There was silence for a while, tension, fear.
"Tell your men to lower their swords, Aalim." King Soka finally gritted.
Aalim, Guba's Father, signalled to the guards and they lowered their weapons. Rikajra's warriors didn't lower their weapons though, not until their King told them to do so.
There was silence for a moment before the Queen spoke up, smiling.
"Might I ask who you are protecting, Princess?"
She nodded, gently pulling Elyesa out from behind her.
"A friend."