No Other Choice

Ellie's POV

I woke up slowly. Everything was a blur. The ceiling came first. I felt weak as I tried to sit up but realized the weights on both my wrists.

I looked at it and realized my hands were chained, tied to the bedpost.

Lying on the bed, the whole room felt dizzy as I tried to recall what happened.

The escape. Yes!

I wanted to escape. We were so close to it. We had already walked out of the palace gate. Then…

Oh no!

Where's Cleo’s aunt? What really happened?

And then nothing. My memory was fighting the battle of recalling every detail. I needed to get out there. But how could I? Couldn't even stand up from my bed

The door swung open. Both parents walked in, my mother's expression cutting sharper than my father's.

“Ellie, what did you plan to do? You thought we were dumb and couldn't discover your plan?.”

“My Princess Ellie.” My father, the most gentle man I've known, came to sit beside me.

“You shouldn't have done that, we've talked about it. The groom is waiting,” he said, stroking my hair gently.

“Can someone get me out of this chain?” I screamed out loud as I pulled the chain to and fro. Not caring that both my parents were present.

“We will, Ellie, only if you agree to behave, you'll go down there and get married, the people are already waiting.” My mother's words came out sharp. “I told you not to mess this up. If I wasn't so observant, you'd have run away and leave us to handle the mess you created. Like I warned you yesterday, you're going to walk down that aisle today.”

I didn't expect her to be happy about it, after I tried to escape from my own wedding.

“I'm not getting married to anybody,” I struggled with the chains and tears in my eyes. “Just let me be.”

“Dad, please, I don't want to get married, not now,” I looked into my father's eyes, who turned his face away immediately.

“This is the only way Ellie. There's no other way,” My Dad responded.

What does that mean?

“No other way Dad? What do you mean?” I asked, curiously. “Was there really more to this and that I didn't know about?”

I looked to my mum for answers. She turned her face away, already fed up.

This is not what I planned. Can't they just understand that I don't want this marriage..?

“Ellie, you're going to go down there and get married, or we will throw Cleo and her aunt into the Dungeon, and you know what that means.”

Not a threat. A promise. And my father never made promises he didn't keep.

Just then, the guards brought in Cleo and her aunt, beaten and chained.

“No!” I screamed, “What did you do to them? They did nothing wrong.”

“What they did was enough to hang them to be killed, trying to sneak a princess out on her wedding day? Do you know the shame you would have brought to us and this country as a whole?”

“Okay, Okay, I'll go down and get married to whoever I'm getting married to.” I looked at Cleo and her Aunt and took a deep breath. I didn't want to think twice about it.

I don't mind saving Cleo and her aunt, they risked their lives for me and I'll do the same.

“And you're going to behave yourself, right?” My mum asked.

“Can I go already?” I lifted my wrists slightly, the chains pulling back against me.

“Ellie, you're going to be fine, just do what you're told,” my dad, still with his soothing voice said to me.

“You're always the one spoiling her,” my mum shot at my Dad. “Follow me, let's go and get you ready” Without any words, I followed her and nodded at Cleo while going out.

My mum didn't speak to me while they prepared me. Not once. She only stared at me. I was never really close to her. Only my Dad. Sometimes her expression said she preferred having a male child over a rebellious female.

My Dad was only my support system. And this time I couldn't fathom why he really wanted to marry me off. Not even to a Prince. He didn't quite seem happy about it. I could tell something was off, but figuring it out wasn't easy.

I sat in front of the mirror and watched hands that weren't mine fix my hair, adjust my veil, smooth the dress over my shoulders. The girl looking back at me was dressed as a bride. That's not me. Not Ellie. Not what she wants.

I thought about Cleo and her aunt. The way they looked when they dragged them in. I had done that. My choice had done that.

I couldn't let anyone get in trouble because they risked their lives trying to save me.

I took a deep breath

At least I know they're safe now. I'd just do what needs to be done. That was getting married.