Dreams Do Come True - Chapter Ninety Seven

Arthur was caught off guard when someone slammed right into him as he rounded the corner.

Arthur was knocked to the ground, a little stunned. "Oh my, are you alright?" a familiar voice called out to him. He hadn't really noticed who had knocked him down until he looked up to see Willow standing there with a worried look on her face.

"I'm so sorry," she apologized as she reaches down and grabbed Arthur's hand to help him up.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. "I guess you haven't heard. This is very odd," she replied. "Really, what are you doing here?" he asked again. "Your father came to see my father. He has proposed an alliance and marriage proposal between you and me," she began.

"What, I can't believe it, he really did do something. I didn't think it was possible to do anything even though he said he would take care of it. But what about you and you're betrothed?" he asked. "It's not official yet, but my dad had to meet with your grandmother. It's still possible, you know, that is if you will still have me," she whispered.

"I..........don't know what to say, I'm ...........of course I'll have you. I never stopped wanting you," he told her as he wrapped her in his arms.

"What about Lillian?" she asked. "I already talked to her. She's not happy with me. I broke her heart, Willow," he replied. "So, you broke it off with her." Not exactly. Take a walk with me, and I'll explain it all," he told her as he led her toward a small garden.

"It was when I got back. I felt guilty. I had to tell her. She didn't take it too well. But better than I thought she would. She told me that I needed to decide between you and her," he explained.

"So, have you decided?" Willow asked as if she didn't already know the answer.

Arthur just turned to Willow as he let out a small laugh. "I don't even need to answer that. It just depends on if your father will let me marry you or not," he replied. "I have to go to wait for my father. That's where I was heading when I ran you over," she told him. "I'll meet up with you there in a bit," he told her. They parted ways, and she headed into the castle, while Arthur headed to find his father.

Meanwhile, in the throne room, James was having a meeting with Willows's father. "I have asked you here to propose that alliance and for the hand of your daughter to marry my son, Arthur," he told King Louie.

"Yes, we have," he replied as Kristen and William joined them in the throne room. She sat down and motioned for them to continue. "Yes, I think that would be a wise choice. I love my daughter, and in light of what you have told me and what she told me, he is the right choice for her. I would be honored if they get married," he told James. "Very well, let's summon Arthur and see if he agrees to this and will let his current betrothed free of the obligation.

Arthur meets up with his father and his grandmother. "There you are, my grandson," she called out to him.

"Your father and I just finished talking to King Louie, and he has agreed to let you marry Princess Willow. I will release you from your contract with Princess Lillian if you so wish it," she asked.

"Is this for real? They are going to let me marry her?" he asked with a stunned look. "Yes, he is, and it's now all up to you," she replied. "Of course, I'll marry her. That was my wish, to begin with," he told her. "Very well then, we will tell Lillian, and I will make arrangements to make it right with her and her family," she replied. "Now go and find Willow. I'm sure she will want to hear the good news from you," she told him.

Willow was waiting in one of the meeting halls. When the door opened, an unexpected person entered the room that took her off guard. She was expecting her father or Arthur but who stepped in was not someone she wanted to see.

"You little tramp," he screamed at her as he slapped her so hard that it knocked her several feet back. "You thought I wouldn't find out," he scolded her. Fear ran through her as he stepped closer to hit her again.

Arthur entered the room to see Willow holding her red cheek. With her betrothed standing before her. "Get your hands off her," Arthur shouted at the guy. "Oh, you thought you were going to steal her away from me. She's mine, and I can do whatever I want to do with her.

"She is now my betrothed. They have done away with you, you are cruel, and King Louie would not have anyone laying their hands on her. And if you think that you can stop me, well think again. I'll have my father bite you," he told him with anger in his voice. "We will see, if your father comes near me, I'll have him killed and for good this time," he smirked back.

Arthur snapped, kicking the prince in the chest, knocking him, knocking him backward. 

Willow gasped as Arthur kicked him again. The Prince fell onto the floor with a hard thud.

Falling to the ground smacking his head on the floor, the prince cussed at Arthur. "You will pay for this," he yelled at Arthur as he started to pull himself up. Before he could get up, Arthur was on him, peering down at him.

"Go ahead, I would love to see that happen, and I will attend your funeral after," he mocked the prince. "Get off me," he shouted at Arthur. "Not until you agree to leave her alone," he replied. "Fine," he huffed after realizing that he was defeated.

"If  I was you, I would leave and move on with your pitiful life. Find another that would be your pathetic punching bag. It won't be her," he pointed out to the now frightened prince that was cowering on the floor.

After getting up out of the floor with humiliation running all through him, he stood several feet away from Willow. Willow wouldn't move. She stood there, afraid to say or do anything.

"Apologize to Willow for slapping her," Arthur told him as he came closer. "Why should I apologize to her, she's.............," before he could finish, he got a look of pure hate, the look of I can and will kill you from Arthur. "Fine, I will never speak or see you again. It's over with you and me. Hope you are happy with your new boyfriend. I will say nothing more to her," he grumbled. When he was done, he stormed out of the room.

"You will never have to worry about anyone hitting you again. I vow to protect you as long as I live," Arthur told Willow as he stroked her swollen cheek. "I need to talk to Lillian and tell her what I have decided and that she is free from marrying me. My grandmother has set aside for her to have her own estate with her own servants. I will be back in a bit," he told her as he pulled her to his lips, kissing her gently.

Arthur knew where to find Lillian. He headed up to the library, and she was there. "Hi there," Arthur called out to her. She turned, smiling at him.

"I know why you are here," Lillian spoke. "I know you have met with the father of Willow and that they decided to let you be with her. So now I need to know, is it her or me?" Lillian asked. Arthur didn't speak at first. He looked away, giving her the answer she knew deep down in her heart. "It's her. I'm so sorry, Lillian," he replied.

"Arthur, you know you are such a kind man, and she's one lucky girl to have your love for her like you do. I just wish that we could have loved each other like that. But deep down inside, I knew we were not meant to be together. I knew this before I even came here. I was a scared girl that was thrown into a life that I wasn't prepared for. You will always hold a special place in my heart, but I know I need to go and find my true love and be happy like you and Willow will be. If you don't mind............can I come to your wedding?" she asked. "Of course you can. And you are always welcomed here. We will make sure you are set up with your own estate here. Don't be surprised when other princes start beating down your door for your hand in marriage. You are way too sweet," Arthur told Lillian.

That evening Lillian was all set and ready to head to her own estate. Arthur gave Lillian one last hug before she left. "Keep in touch," Arthur told Lillian. "Yes, I will let you know when I get settled in," she replied.

More Heartache - Chapter Ninety Six

 Lillian headed to meet up with Lady Molly and Amelia. Your dress has been delivered. We need to try it on you to see if it fits before the wedding," Molly told Lillian.

Amelia and Molly stepped back to look at Lillian after they helped her into her wedding dress. Amelia pinned Lillian's hair up into a bun, while Molly pinned the veil on afterward. "Wow, that's just amazing. You make a pretty bride; Arthur is going to be stunned when he sees you.

"It's a perfect fit, now all we have to do is finish a few more things, and you will be walking down the aisle very soon," she told Lillian. Lillian looked at herself in the mirror; she looked so grown up that it almost didn't look like she was only sixteen.

Arthur meets up with Lillian that was happy to see him. "I have missed you," she began when she clearly saw that he wasn't rushing into her arms, no warm kisses. All she saw on his face was a tortured look. 

"What’s wrong?" she asked. Arthur didn't answer immediately; he just stood there with his head hanging down. "Tell me what’s wrong? she asked again. "Please tell me," she begged.

Arthur looked down to the ground, trying to keep from looking at Lilly. He was ashamed, and now his guilt was getting the better of him. How could he tell her that he was with his old flame and that they were together in ways she had not experienced with him? Finally, he looked up with almost tears in his eyes. "I can't do this, I did something horrible, and I don't deserve you," he told her. What did you do?" she finally asked. "I saw my first love, Willow. I'm sure you knew about her. I ran into her while with my parents. Things happened," he began before Lillian cut him off. "Don't!" she shouted as she turned around and began to walk off.

"I don't want to hear this. Go away," she shouted as she turned to walk away.

Her emotions began to run away with her. She was upset, furious with grief. She started to run, hoping she could run away from the pain.

It didn't take Arthur long to catch up with her. "Please stop!" she shouted at her as he ran after her.

Knowing that she couldn't outrun Arthur, she stopped in front of the pond, trying to hold back the tears that were fighting to escape her eyes.

"Lillian! Please, let me explain," he begged. "There is nothing to explain. You have made your choice," she shouted.

She turned and ran right past him right into the castle. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her. Out of breath, she pushed herself to run without stopping to her room.

Arthur found himself in her room, now facing her wrath. "Why? Why? Why do you try to even talk to me?" she asked. Before she would even let him answer, she began shouting at him again. "I want to go home! Now!" she cried out with tears running down her face.

Lillian collapsed to the ground as tears ran down her cheeks. Arthur crouched down in front of Lillian. Please don't cry. I don't want to see you cry from something I did. You are too sweet and kind to me. You deserve better," Arthur told Lillian that didn't even look up at him.

"Why would you do that? She was supposed to be in the past. Why did you have to rekindle your love for her when you had me? Did I not matter to you at all?" she asked him.

Arthur moved close to Lillian, pulling her up out of the floor. He pulled her into his arms, resting her head against his chest. His heart was breaking all over again, and it all seemed to be his fault. He gave in to his weakness, and now she was suffering from it. He knew heartbreak all too well and never wanted anyone to feel it. Now he was responsible for Lillian's tears and her broken heart.

"I'm so sorry; I can’t tell you how sorry I am. There was no excuse for what I did. She was my first true love, and when we split, not by choice, it tore me up so bad. I thought I was over her, but when I saw her again, I lost the battle. I will never gain your trust for what I did to you. I had to tell you the truth before I decided on anything.

"I thought you loved me, I thought we were going to be married this week. What happened to your love for me?" she asked as she sobbed against his chest. "I do love you, Lillian, but I love her, too," he replied. "Then you need to decide," she told him.

"Do you want me to stay, just say the word? The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you," he told her with a low whisper.

"I don't know what I want now," she replied.

Lillian pulled away from Arthur’s arms sitting down in front of Arthur. "I don't know why I'm so upset. Most kings and princes have affairs. They always seem to cheat on their wives. With all that power, they do what they want, and the wives ignore it. They stand behind their husbands and give them children. That’s what we are supposed to do. It just happened sooner than later. I was expecting it at least after we were married for a while," she told Arthur, that was now staring at her with shock.

Arthur stood up, pulling Lillian to her feet. "That’s not how it's supposed to be. I know it happens, but I don't want to be like that. That’s why I told you. I want to give my heart to one and only one girl," he explained.

"Call off the wedding until you know if you want to marry me or not," she told Arthur. "I can't, my grandmother would make matters worse. She’s planned this wedding, and if we decide not to wed, then we can call it off. I'm just not sure what to do. I just need a little time to think, to get my head on straight," he told her. "Very well, we will keep this to ourselves until you decide on what you want to do. Please leave me alone for now," she told him.

James found Arthur pacing like a wild animal. "What’s wrong?" James asked. "I did it; I broke her heart, something I didn't want to do. I told her the truth, and now I feel like I deserve no one," he frantically told his father.

"Calm down. Yes, things happen, and when you follow your heart, people may get hurt. If you choose to be with Willow, then be with her and set Lillian free. She will find one who will want her and only her. She will be hurt at first, but time will heal her heart. If you choose Lillian, then you will have to cut Willow free and move on. You will have to forget her, well, maybe not forget but guard your heart. You must give it all to Lillian and share it with no other," he explained to Arthur.

"That's the problem, I want Willow, but her father won’t let us be together. She was betrothed to another that is mean to her. I wanted her to be my wife, but they tore us apart. I thought I could get over her and love Lillian. I almost did until she came back into my life. It was like getting my heart tore out all over again. She's like the air I breathe. I feel like I can’t live a happy life without her. She’s my one true and only love," he told James. "So you have chosen, now let me take care of the rest. Give me a day, and I'll tell you what you need to do," he explained.