"Oh Lizzy, you look so beautiful," Zoey gushed, crawling at my upper arm.

I managed a small smile, not managing anything else as I stared at the woman in the mirror. She was beautiful. Her skin, a natural glow and her eyes shining an aqua colour. Her makeup was fair and soft, bringing out the light in her cheeks. Her blonde curls were braided at the side before tired into a loose bun at the bottom of her head. She covered her body in a white silk robe that her friend got her as a form of a 'wedding present'. Her friend was more excited about her wedding than she was.

Like everyone, Zoey was more excited about this day than me. Nobody seemed to understand it. I wasn't just marrying someone that I may have only seen once or twice in my life. My freedom was being taken away, my life, the ability of choice. All they understood was the sense of duty and how brave I was for doing this. Yeah, like I had a choice. My future was made for me long before I had the ability to speak.

"He's just going to die when he sees you," Zoey told me, trying to make me feel better.

I was making it hard for her, I had to admit. She had the task of making me feel good about marrying a stranger and she had very poor material to work with.

"Thanks, Zo," I told her, swallowing the lump that was forming in my throat, "I don't think I could do this without you."

"Oh Honey," she giggled, pitying me, as she stood from her seat on the stool, to wrap her arms around my neck.

"Don't cry," the woman that did my hair and makeup cried, "don't ruin my masterpiece."

A sad giggle escaped my lips as I struggled to hold back the tears.

"This is your wedding day, Lizzy," Zoey reminded me as I clung to her arms, "I mean, it's not the traditional way with love and all. But that never lasts anyway."

"God, Zoey," I cried though tears refused to fall, "you're not making it any better. I'm marring someone I don't even know. I'm giving up everything."

"What? What are you giving up?" She asked me, swinging me around so that we were face to face.

"My freedom, love, you -."

"To hell you are. You can't get rid of me even if you wanted to."

"Really?" I croaked.

"Really," she laughed hugging me again.

Knock, knock

"Who is it?" Zoey yelled, annoyed that someone had ruined our moment.

"Your long suffering, Pappa," Pappa called from behind the door.

"Come in, Pappa," I sniffed, covering it with a small laugh as I pulled my robe tighter around my body.

Pappa came through, wearing the warm smile that had always comforted me in hard times and I knew it would today. His eyes shined bright when he looked at me as proudness beamed off him. He was the only reason why I was doing this. I didn't care about my safety or uniting the Uccello and the Maestri family. Only him.

"Lizzy, darling, you're the most beautiful creature I've ever seen," Pappa praised making me groan as he walked over to kiss my cheek.

"Don't lie, Pappa," I laughed, forcing a smile on my lips.

"I'm not lying, your Pappa never lies," he vowed, rubbing my cheek.

"Ain't that the truth," Zoey scoffed, behind him making me snort.

Pappa pulled back to give Zoey a look that made her bite her lips to stop from smiling. Zoey could never keep her mouth shut for long.

"Leave us, please. I wish to speak to my daughter," Pappa ordered.

The hairdresser bowed her head before leaving the room.

"I'll go get dressed. You look stunning, Lizzy," Zoey told me, before kissing my cheek and leaving the room as well.

There was a small silence between us, before Pappa got up the courage to tell me what was on his mind.

"Lizzy, I know this is not what you had wished which makes the sacrifice so much more worthy," he started, not looking at me.

"Does it?" I huffed, trying to manage a smile, "I know people think that I'm brave for doing this but I feel like if I'm left alone long enough, I'm going to bolt for the hills."

He laughed at that, only because he didn't think it was true. But seriously, if I was left for only five minutes, I would start making a run for it.

"What were you going to say?" I asked him, promoting him to speak.

His body turned, with that warm smile of his, "You look so much like your mother on our wedding day."

I felt my cheek start to burn, my head turning so that I didn't have to take his deep stare. I struggled to remember my mother's face and feel her spirit with me. I guess she was against this marriage as much as I was.

"Do you think she would be proud of my decision, Pappa?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

"Yes, my dear," he reassured me, dropping to his knees in front of me, "She would never be prouder."

I smiled, not sure if I believed it myself. He had always felt her presence so close to him and I thought I did too. But now, I felt utterly alone. On the edge of a cliff, just waiting for a gush of wind to push me over.

"Now, I know Zoey has organised most things. The dress, your hair, your jewellery. But I was hoping you would do me the honour in wearing this," Pappa handed me a red velvet box and gestured me to open it.

Air caught into my throat as I looked upon the neckless. It was a silver chain with a blue diamond pendent. Tears welled in my eyes when I recognised it in wedding photos and I realised who owned it. God, I thought they had buried her with it.

"I can see that you've already guessed what it is," he started, making me cup my hand over my mouth, "She would have loved for you to wear it."

I could barely breathe, the lump in my throat was that big. Knowing I couldn't do it myself, Pappa took the neckless from the box and placed it around my neck. My fingers played with the little diamond, feeling the connection to my mother, I had been longing for. It was simple, just like her. I remembered enough about her to know that she was never one to boast about our money and didn't parade around in jewels like I knew her friends did. Pappa said that it was one of the many things he loved about her.

"Pappa, you married for love, didn't you?" I asked him, regretting my decision before I even made it.

He smiled a sad smile, knowing my doubt as he cupped my cheek, "Yes, I did. But that doesn't mean you won't love him in time. Love at first sight only works in fairy tales, my darling. In a marriage, loyalty and trust is more important."

"And if I can't trust him, if I can't be loyal to him?" I asked him, begging him for an answer.

His fingers brushed my cheek, trying to offer me some comfort.

"You just need to be patient, my dear. You can't expect that sort of connection straight away. All you need is time."

But sadly, I didn't have time.

"Come, you better get dressed before we're late for the church," Pappa reminded me, standing up from his spot.

I nodded, taking in a deep breath and gathering as much courage as I could master. My eyes met his glowing gaze forcing me to meet his standard with a smile.

"I pray that you will be happy, my darling. For your sake if not my own."

With that, he left me with my thoughts. My eyes landed on the girl in the mirror once again, trying to recognise her under the nice makeup. Could I be brave?

That's the question.

Standing, I shook out my arms and legs, forcing my body over to the wardrobe where my dress hung.

It was beautiful, I must admit. It had eight layers of tulle before a layer of satin that covered it. A white bow was tired around my rib cage, showing off my thin waist. It was strapless and the top was covered in lace. It had a slight train that I knew I would trip over but I knew I would try my best not to. The white colour made my new neckless stand out even more which made a smile spread on my lips. I hoped everyone would notice it and be reminded of my mother.

Looking in the mirror, I couldn't see the twenty-one year-old that I use to be. Now, I was forced to be grown up and become the queen everyone had expected me to be. The question I had been asking myself shouldn't be, can I be brave? It should be, do I have enough bravery to make it through?