Lost Love

All she wanted was to make sure her daughter will not have to go through the same thing she did.

"Perfect," she murmured, combing back Elise's dark hair, "You look amazing."

"Yes, mother." The girl, barely older than seventeen stood before a mirror. Her tresses were braided at both sides, flowing to the back then tumbling down, wave after wave of chocolate.

"Don't you forget to smile later, Elise. You need to look picture perfect."

"Yes, mother." was the reply, a note full of sadness and longing.

Her mother took a step back and examined her handiwork. The beautiful square neckline complimented Elise's pretty face and the green of the dress accompanied the young green eyes of the girl. She was tall for her age; slender but busty and with a voice as beautiful as a nightingale, Sir James Arburman will be pleased. Elise felt her mother's stare burning into her very soul, she knew what her mother was thinking: You cannot escape your fate this time.

Her mother left the room, reminding her that the wedding starts in fifteen minutes before locking the door and shutting the windows. There was no running away now. Elise glanced at the mirror, her green eyes catching the sunlight peeping through the closed curtains. In the dim light, she recalled the joyous times she spent with Kirr. How he would lead her to the meadows to catch fireflies at night. How he would place his hand on the small of her back, burning her skin with such an intensity that Elise swears left a mark. How her soul knew she belonged to him and the curve of his body felt like home. She wept, knowing that in Sir Arburman's castle, there would be no where to run. Where her body will be savagely torn apart and how she could never be free again. As minutes passed, she could feel the anxiety eating away at her bones, taking over, decaying. Before she knew it, her weeping turned into screaming.Screaming a broken song. Screaming for the love that was lost. Screaming, screaming, hoping that Kirr could hear her wherever he was now.

Footsteps hammered the stairs and with frantic movements, the door was opened. Louise Fitzgerald swept in with a cloth in hand, placing it over her daughter's mouth, knife drawing near Elise's throat.

"You'd better keep quiet or else I will cut you," she threatened, "We need his money, we need it now. You'd better not spoil it for us."

Elise whimpered, shivering from the blast of energy that came from sorrows. Finally, after her mother relaxed, she whispered, " No, mother. I will fight. I will fight you until the day I die. I will fight against my husband, I will fight against you and whoever you marry me to, until I am reunited with my one true love."

Mrs Fitzgerald glared at her, fury swept over her face, "Kirr is dead. He is not coming back. You will marry and live with it."

Delivering a slap to Elise's pretty face, she stormed out, angry and upset that her daughter did not understand. It has always been this way. Louise had tried to warn Elise, telling her that she must marry a noble, not to fall in love with commoners. She tried to teach Elise what she was taught, tried to make sure she did not follow her down the same path but follow Elise did. Louise was heart broken for her daughter, "One day, she will understand," she comforted herself, "One day."