Thread: The Truce (Nekrosilisk88 & darkangel76)

Estella felt her heart grow heavier with each step she took, her fate approaching and her father somehow growing more and more distant. Though her tiny hands were clutching Horace's arm, it seemed to only grow colder and soon, the arm she'd be holding wouldn't be his, but... this lycan's instead. She swallowed hard as everything became more real, a hard truth that was suddenly staring her directly in the face. The bitter cold only grew as Horace let go and moved away from her, leaving her to stand next to the man that would be her future husband. Horace looked upon his daughter, his own heart just as heavy as Estella's. He knew this was the only way to create balance. Even if the bond was short-lived, it would create peace for a time and that was enough. He knew this and he knew his daughter understood it as well. His hope was that somehow the bond would come to surpass that, but he'd overheard the venomous words that lycan had spat. They'd angered him as they'd dripped over his tongue and spilled out into the chilly air. How that man could speak to his daughter in such a way was abominable. But tearing out limbs wouldn't solve anything when his people and theirs were working toward reconciling their differences. So, at that, he looked down at the hard stone floor and waited for the ceremony to proceed. Meanwhile, Claudius began making his way up the steps of the cathedral, his cheeks rosy pink from an obvious feed, until he finally reached the door. He gently pushed the door open and peered inside only to see Estella at the front of the main room and standing next to that odious lycan who was about to become her mate. It disgusted him, but he couldn't show his true feelings on the matter. He was a respected vampire, almost as old as Horace himself, nearly an elder. But that didn't change his feelings on the matter. He'd disagreed on this union since it's inception, though he knew he had to keep his thoughts to himself as best he coulddifficult as that was. And now, seeing Estella where she stood, it was like a thousand stakes in the heart. But now wasn't the time. The situation was delicate... Estella looked over at her soon-to-be husband and tried her best to smile for him, hoping that somehow it would quell his apprehensions. He'd already made it clear he didn't want her, but perhaps he could at least be... civil? A loveless marriage could at least have that, could it not? Oh, she hoped so. The thought of such loneliness for eternity made her insides turn about and twist into knots. Just then, the minister began to speak and Estella found herself falling in line, speaking when she was supposed to, kneeling, nodding. Then, came the final part, the part that sealed it all. It wasn't the ring on her finger, but the public display she and her now husband needed to show those witnessing this unionthe kiss. Swallowing, she barely heard the words. You may kiss your bride. Estella just looked up at Jameson and blinked. Biting down slightly on her lip, she sucked in a sharp breath. She was unsure of what to do or what he'd do. Would he? She didn't know. He hated her, didn't want her. And so with bated breath, she stood there in silence.