The day of a girl's wedding is supposed to be the happiest day of her life.
When the day came, the sky was a deep blue with only a few puffy white clouds scattered here and there. The birds were singing merrily, the weather was warm with a gentle breeze and nothing was going wrong.
Nothing, that is, aside from everything this day was.
Daphne Jewelweed was being led by a decent sized group of brigands, through a lovely field of flowers. She had managed to rebel against the fancy white dress and veil Harold was attempting to force her to wear.
He conceded, saying a bride should be allowed to be as comfortable as possible on her wedding day. She said nothing in response. In fact, she'd said nothing since his news, aside from refusing to wear the dress.
She had tried to escape multiple times when she was first brought to the encampment. Each time, the sheer number of brigands set all about, made it impossible for her to figure a way out. There was but one she could tell was sympathetic to her situation, and Daph did not want to get Tudy in trouble.
Still, she tried more times to escape within the three days after the news, than she had since arriving. Harold had seen it coming, and posted brigands all around the cabin in which Daph was staying. It was hopeless, but she didn't allow herself time to accept that.
Now, as she was being marched toward Harold, the hopelessness sank in.
"Please...make anything happen. Let me die. Make him die. Something. Don't let this happen!"
Daph was begging and pleading, and looking around like a cornered animal. No opportunities. No weak links in the brigands around her, or the ones posted along the path.
Finally, they stopped before Judge Reed. He droned on for what seemed both like years and seconds, to Daphne. She caught very little of the words, as she was focused too intently on not crying. She did catch the part where, instead of her own vows, the Justice of the Peace went into her uncle's testimony of her wild nature and how marriage would "tame this vixen".
Her ears pricked at Judge Reed pronouncing them man and wife, naming her Petunia Daphne Brushwood, and she looked up as Harold stepped nearer.
"If you touch me, I'll bite off the nearest facial feature," Daphne hissed, and he simply nodded and stepped back. His smile did not waver. She wished he would be furious. "Soon," was all he said.
The corrupt Justice of the Peace sputtered at Daphne's words, but calmed when Harold allowed it. He still glared at Daphne. She did not notice.
"The rings, sir?" Harold put a ring on his own finger and held up his hand.
"Petty wouldn't wear a ring right now, Judge Reed. I have one for her when she finally settles down."
"Bloody right I won't wear your ring. Never again."
There was silence for a few moments, as there were no happy family members or friends. Only Judge Reed and Harold seemed in good spirits. "Congratulations, Mister Brushwood. Though I can't for the life of me understand why you should choose such a woman!" He clapped Harold on his back, and Harold simply grinned as though he were a besotted, newly wed groom.
There was a large meal. Not quite a feast, but it must have been to the brigands. There was enough laid out for all of them.
Daphne ate nothing. She said nothing. As soon as possible, she retreated to her bed and lay there the entire night, silently staring at the wall.
