1 The news that shook the family core.

On a bright Sunday morning in a breathtaking Kingdom nestled in the volcanic mountains, Princess Lilly woke up to a usual day and a usual breakfast with her usual class. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until in the middle of her painting class her mother Queen Diana and, her father King Nathaniel busted through the door with fear on their faces. The Princess looked up from her easel to stare at her parents in disbelief. Lilly has never seen this sight of her parents before, her father always had a poker face and never showed any fear, even when he went to the front lines during the war of Maybelle. Her father had led an army to fight keeping the Kingdom of Fey from claiming Maybelle. Not once did her father show fear or an ounce of hesitation.

Her mother Queen Diana was always well reserved and proper, keeping her emotions in check while always putting on a flawless front. Lilly's face dropped as she stared at her parents, her father who stands 6'7" with a masculine build seemed to look small by the fear weighing him down. His usual dark groomed beard looked disheveled and so did the brown hair on his head. His big blue bell eyes looked like they had already lost something precious. She looked over to her mother who also looked no different her usual well-kept blonde hair was now falling out of place. Her big brown eyes were full of tears. For a tall women standing at 5'10" she looked more like a child running from a monster. For Princess Lilly to see her parents in the way really shook her to her core!

"Father, Mother is something the matter?" Princess Lilly asked with worry in her voice. She could hear the fire crackling as she waited for a response. The smell of burning pine filled her nose and she began to look around trying to steady herself, however for some reason the room began to look very interesting to her, the cherry oak wood trim throughout the room complimented by the light honey colored walls, hanging crystal chandelier above the middle of the ceiling and all the artwork that was created throughout the generations that lived in the palace. Not to mention the beautiful coffee colored soft carpet under her feet and throughout the entire room. Her father still standing in the same place when they entered ran to her and clinged to his daughter "I'm sorry my little hummingbird, but I have grave news" her father King Nathaniel replied while trying his hardest to swallow his fears and sorrow. "Sweetheart unless we can marry you to someone else in time I fear you may have to marry Prince Zeal from the Kingdom of Vailtest, he has already threatened war if you don't marry him, He also threatened to marry your little sister Princess Veronica in your place even though she is only 17! He knows he cannot marry your older sister for she is already married and with child." Her mother spoke with tears streaming down her face.

Hearing her mother's words Lilly's heart drops the room began to spin uncontrollably, she felt light headed, nausea began to creep to her stomach, threatening to spill her breakfast. She could have sworn that even the paintings from generations of artists began to move. From the painting of a large ship caught in a dangerous rainstorm and thunder crackling across the sky, the waves towering over threatening to bring the ship to a watery grave, to a portrait of a little girl standing on a wooden swing, that hung from an oak tree with the mother and father watching as the little girl points up in the sky, they all seemed to move in a circular motion haunting her, seemingly coming closer to her until she felt she like she couldn't breathe. Princess Veronica was still just a child, what would happen if Prince Zeal went for her older pregnant sister Princess Seleste? Why was this happening to her? She knew she would have to marry once turning eight-teen but why Prince Zeal? Everyone knew he killed his father King Richard and his brother Prince Gabriel who was next in line for the throne, it was also said he imprisoned his mother Queen Margaret, his sister in law Lady Elizabeth, his niece Sophina and nephew Draven, if he could do that to his own blood, his own family....What would he do to her? Why was he wanting to marry her? More importantly why not choose a different Princess?

Thoughts began to swarm her mind uncontrollably, she began to feel even more nauseous and faint, she was hoping if she had to marry she'd marry her childhood crush Prince Brandon not the tyrant who kills his own family to gain a thrown! "Mother, Father...Why? Why me? Why has he set his sites on me? What will he do to me? Please don't let him take me!" Princess Lilly begged her parents, tears streaming down her face, as desperation began to kick in, she knew all she could do was plead to her parents for mercy. The King feeling his daughters sadness just held her tighter "Don't worry Hummingbird we will figure this out" her father replied with what sounded like determination. She tried to take a breath and get emotionally steady again, but she was feeling very unbalanced on her stool where she sat at her easel. After her parents left Princess Lily still couldn't focus on her classes, fear was engulfing her and taking over her almost like darkness that over takes the Forest of Maybelle at night fall. Her mind began to imagine the absolute worse.

Lilly tried to take a few deep breaths, she was told that Prince Zeal had plans to take her away in 3 weeks time and marry her. Although she still didn't understand why he wanted her, or what was so special about her. she didn't think that she was all that pretty. She had her mom's big brown eyes and button nose, her dad's dark brown hair, she was a little chubby, and stood 5'9 she always thought her sisters were prettier than her, her older sister had Big Blue Bell eyes blonde hair, along with a skinny figure, standing at 5'7. Her little sister stood 5'5 skinny figure, brown eyes and dirty dish water blond hair. They always knew how to do their makeup and hair and make themselves look like porcelain dolls, while wearing dresses that complemented them, Whereas Lilly never really wore makeup, was chubby, had lack of self-confidence and wore loose fitting dresses, barley exposing her skin.

She was socially awkward and wasn't really a social butterfly like her sisters. Lilly tend to stay in her room and listen to music, paint or read books, She only ever had her eyes on one person and that was Prince Brandon. He had dark hair, blue eyes and he grew a beard rather early but styled it well. She was always sure he never knew of her existence but sometimes she'd catch him taking glimpses of her. Especially if she was out on her balcony singing. Lilly loved to sing and she had the voice of an Angel very soft very sweet and could put almost anyone to sleep. Infact singing class was one thing she looked forward to everyday.

You could always catch Lilly singing and dancing gracefully in her room or on her balcony. She always hoped that one day Prince Brandon would notice her and take her away. However when she saw the other girls swooning all over him or see him talking to other girls her heart would break a little more each time and she'd begin to lose faith. After Lilly heard the news and the day just dragged on Lilly excused herself from the table barley touching her dinner. She walked up to her room and made her way to her balcony to look at her flowers she had gardened herself. She sang a sad yet beautiful song, while cutting some of the over grown flowers from her garden. She was unaware that her love was looking up at her listening to her sad song.

"Oh my love, my loving love, hear my cries, hear my prayers, take me away to a beautiful day, Take me away to your favorite place. Before the snow falls down and my final days come to collect the debt of my dying breath, hold me in your arms and pray that I don't fade away." Just as Lilly sang her finale note she was startled by the Prince who had climbed up to her balcony and approached her, Lilly gasped and took a step back, she had no idea when he had climbed up much less how long he had been standing there. "Sorry Princess brown eyes I wasn't trying to scare you, but your song is sad, beautiful but sad. What seems to be troubling you tonight?" The Prince asked while taking her hand and kissing it.

Princess Lilly stared at her Prince for a moment studying his sparkling blue eyes and replied " I was informed today that Prince Zeal plans to be here in three weeks time and make me his bride, I'm scared and I don't want to marry him." She replied looking down at her feet that now seemed interesting. Prince Brandon froze and lowered Princess Lilly's hand when Lilly looked up she saw what she thought were flashes of anger going through his blue eyes and she froze. She never saw that before on his face he was always cool and collected. "You don't have to worry Princess I'm sure your father and mother would never let that happen, I'll be there to back them up." Prince Brandon replied with determination and what looked to be a need to protect her in his eyes. "Go ahead and get some rest Princess." Prince Brandon said as he kissed her hand again. Princess Lilly nodded and headed into her room closing the doors to her balcony and getting ready to turn in for the night.

She thought about the brief conversation she had with her Prince and began to wonder "does Prince Brandon feel the same way about her that she feels for him?" And "what will happen if Zeal gets his way? Will she ever see her family or her Prince again?" Princess Lilly had a hard time sleeping that night, she tossed and turned and just couldn't sleep no matter how hard she tried, the fear of marrying that tyrant shook her to her core. Lilly awoke to the news that her younger sister was getting married today and was told to put on her dress, then assist her sister. Lilly put the dress on and looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a lilac colored floor length lace dress, with sleeves that went down to her elbow. Her hair was done up nicely in a braided bun with little white flowers in her hair. She slipped her white flats on and walked to her sisters room.

Veronica looked nervous but relaxed when she saw her older sister they didn't exchange any words since they both were a ball of nerves. Lilly helped Veronica into her wedding gown. She looked very pretty, with her hair all done up in a wavey waterfall like half ponytail and white flowers in her hair. Her wedding gown complemented her as she wore a to the floor corset styled cream colored ball gown with lace sleeves and white heels. Her vail has small crystals as the trim they made their way to the chapel in the palace with still no words to exchange. Neither knowing what to say to each other. But once they got to the door of the chapel they stopped to look at each other and simultaneously hugging each other and saying they loved each other. The doors opened and everyone was looking at the sisters with sympathy. They pulled away and Lilly walked her sister to her father. So her father could hand Veronica away.

The reason their parents had Princess Veronica married early is simple so they only had one daughter left to protect. It was easier that way since Veronica was already engaged to be married to Prince Mateo from the Kingdom Dahlia in Italy. Which meant Prince Zeal could not touch their youngest daughter. When her parents had given Lilly the news that same day they talked to Prince Mateo's parents to see if they could have the wedding a little earlier. They agreed since there was only a year before the wedding was supposed to happen. They understood the circumstances and didn't have an issue with it since the marriage was going to happen anyway when she turned 18. The wedding was beautiful and small with only the immediate family there. The common folk held a festival for their youngest Princess as a way to congratulate and celebrate the union between two kingdoms. Just as they did for their eldest Princess Seleste.

They had colorful fireworks and lots of food and music. After the marriage Veronica and Mateo left to go to their new Palace that was gifted to them by both sides of the family. Mind you they were moving in a year early so half the staff from both families were divided to go work at the Rose Manor Palace in Italy where Veronica and Mateo would be calling their new home. Once the newly Weds headed off and Veronica's inlaws had left for their own palace. Lilly's father began to work tirelessly to figure out how to get Lilly out of the current situation. Where she didn't have to marry the tyrant Prince. The problem was Lilly wasn't well known and she kept herself cooped up in either her room or the library. She didn't even attend her own coming of age ball when she was 16 so she wasn't able to get a fiance. It was so much easier for them to find fiance's for Lilly's two sisters Seleste and Veronica they were social butterflies and loved talking to people but as for their middle child, No such luck. Lilly was constantly wanting to avoid people, she was socially awkward and lacked any self-confidence. She was pretty shy and was usually a wallflower. So because of that she never had a fiance and not many people knew about her. No one even knew she had feelings for Prince Brandon.

Later that day Lilly was in her fencing class when Prince Brandon asked to speak with her father, " Forgive the intrusion your highness but you're not going to follow through with Princess Lilly marrying this tyrant Prince, are you?" Prince Brandon asked in anger and desperation. "Over my dead body would I ever allow him to take my little girl" The king said in anger as if he was just insulted and called the worst name imaginable "Then what's your plan?" Prince Brandon asked in frustration. The King looked lost he shook his head and looked as if he was grasping at straws in his head and shook his head when it didn't seem to work. He was really good at making strategies and, was the type of King that would fight in a full out blood shedding war for his Queen and his daughters without any hesitation. He knew he had to calm his desperation he still had three weeks to come up with a plan to save his little girl.

Prince Brandon just watched in silence for hours as the King paced back and forth without word, occasionally shaking his head in frustration. The Prince decided to see himself out, upset that the King didn't say much of anything, or really anything at all. He was worried for Lilly, she was his childhood friend and he loved her, he loved her big brown eyes and smile, he always caught his eyes drifting towards her and he would get lost in thought staring at her. He'd day dream while listening to her angelic voice. Secretly he wanted to marry Lilly. But has his hopes been crushed due to this ruthless jerk that threatened Lilly's future? There was too many questions and not enough answers so Prince Brandon went to speak with the Queen to see if there was anything he could do.