I started to stir in my bed when I heard a knock on my door but I was still debating whether or not to get up and answer the door. I could still turn over in bed and go back to sleep. It was nice to be able to sleep. That's when I heard the knock again, I figured I should just answer to see what was going on. I got up I knew my hair and dress must be a mess but I didn't care. I walked over to the door and pulled it open.

"Did I wake you? I am sorry if I did I just wanted to check on you."

It was Elizabeth standing at the door, I guess she still wasn't going back to being mad at me. I was hoping she would just forget about being mad at all I knew it could be a possibility with her because of all the times she was upset with someone makes it hard for her to keep track of who she is upset with.

"Please come in. I was just waking up when you were knocking. I didn't realize how tired I really was, it was nice to just fall asleep. Last night my brain wouldn't shut off it was the worse."

"I know how that can go, I tend to start over thinking things and then I realize the sun is coming up and I haven't been to bed. On those days I usually just stick to my room and let people know to leave me alone."

Hearing her talk about having similar issues made me a little happy that I would always have someone to talk to that would understand where I was coming from. It would be a sad day when the castle would no longer have her in it. Elizabeth moved more into the room and sat down on the lounge and I was heading to sit down next to her when I heard another knock on the door. I gave a little shrug and went to open the door. I figured it was Philip seeing how he has popped up whenever his sister was around. When I opened the door it wasn't Philip is was a servant.

"Hello."

"Hello miss. I was told to tell you that a Lord Adam was hear asking to speak with you."

"Let him know I will be down in a few to speak with him."

She walked away and I shut the door. I knew Elizabeth was listening to what just was said. I wanted to go talk with someone I have known awhile that wasn't part of this whole thing at all.

"I will see you later?"

She gave me a look and I knew she was questioning me now. I wish she would understand that Adam was just a friend and I needed a friend right now that wouldn't question me.I wanted to vent to someone and he would be that person, he had nothing invested in this.

"Yea don't forget about dinner."

I nodded and then headed out the door. It didn't seem to take me that long to make it to the entry way. I smiled as soon as I saw his face, he was standing near the door looking unsure of what he should be doing.

"Adam it is so good to see you."

"Missed me that much?"

"Do you want to go for a walk through the gardens?"

I nodded and he held the door open. We walked side by side through the gardens looking at the different flowers. I didn't have to be formal around him, I could just be myself without having to think about my next move.

"Adam it is nice to be able to see you. Last night was horrible because I wasn't able to sleep at all. I never realized how much I would miss my home until I left."

"Lily you don't have to stay here. You can go back home and decide to live your life a different way."

"Adam you know I can't. I am in the process of being engaged to marry Philip. I am sure you heard that, everyone in the town is talking about it. I would bring shame to my family if I left and broke off the engagement."

He looked at me with disappointment but he had to know that my family would push to have me marry someone in a higher status than myself. With this marriage I would bring my family up in ranking and it would open a new world for us.

"Lily don't you see that you don't need to marry up. There are plenty of gentlemen that you could marry in the same status as you."

"Adam please stop what you are saying isn't right. If anyone heard you there would be punishment. My parents believe this is the right path for me. I may not know if they are right but I have to find out and Philip wants to prove that he is the gentlemen for me. If he isn't he said he would let me go and I have to trust his word."

"Just think about it because I could give you a simple life and it would be a life that you could choose. There would be no expectations from me. Lily don't give up everything we have always talked about growing up."

"Adam I promise I will think about what you have said but I will not make any decisions tonight. I need to make sure I do make the right decision for myself."

I knew he was hoping I would leave with him right away but that wasn't the case. I was still figuring out who I was and where I needed to be and without waiting for me Adam started to head back towards the castle. He was mad and I wasn't sure when he would calm down. I tried to catch up to him but I wasn't able to get close to him at all. When I made it out of the garden Adam was on his horse riding out of the gates. I knew there was no point in trying to talk to him, I made my way up the stairs. The doors were opened and I made my way in. No one was around which was a nice change.

"Lady Lily."

"Yes?"

"Are you on your way to the dining hall for dinner?"

I just nodded and changed my direction to where dinner would be. I forgot all about eating with everyone. Thankfully when I made it to the room everyone was just sitting down. I made it on time and didn't have to worry about being late again.

"Lily did you have a nice nap?"

"Yes ma'am it was nice. I was able to get some much needed rest."

"What did Adam want?"

If I could choke her then I would. I wasn't sure what Elizabeth was getting at but I didn't like how everyone was looking at me now.Philip was the one looking at me with the most intense stare. Elizabeth was trying to start something and now I needed to defuse the situation.

"He wanted to see how I was doing and if there was anything I needed. He is just a friend and was checking up on me, I am sure his mother sent him over here. We grew up together and she saw me as her daughter. "

"I am glad he came to visit you. I do hope more of your friends visit so I can see the person you are around them."

He was smiling and I smiled back. I was hoping this wasn't all a show and that I would hear more about this later from him. Once the talk had subsided the servants brought out the meal for everyone. We all sat in silence for the rest of dinner and it was awkward and I felt like I had done this. I should have said no when Adam asked to see me but a part of me wanted to see him. Every so often I would see Philip look up to see what I was doing or how I was reacting if a conversation was started. Once everyone was done Elizabeth was the first to ask to leave the table and her parents granted her request and left the four of us at the table.

"Lady Lily and Philip this is a perfect time to talk about how things should work between the two of you."

It was the King and he had barely spoken to me outside of a family setting and his voice was telling me this was going to be a little more serious then that. Now I believed I knew what Elizabeth was trying to do. She was making things difficult for me and I am not sure why she did it in front of her parents.

"Lily, I'm not sure what your parents have told you about the reason for you moving into the castle and I want to make things clear about how I expect you two to act."

He kept looking at Philip and then back to me. I was getting nervous now I was trying to figure out what I had done wrong. If this was all because of Adam it made no sense, I didn't see Adam as anything but a friend.

"Father I am giving Lily the time to see how I have changed and I am not longer the boy she knew. I want to give her the chance to choose to be with me, I don't want to do anything against her will."

"That is not how this will work. You know that you don't have the option to choose who you marry and your mother and I have gone into many negotiations to find the family we believed would give you the right support in you being a king."

I was just sitting there listening to everything and taking it all in. I was now questioning everything that I had been told. Could Philip not give me what he said? I wouldn't be able to choose Philip because it was already chosen for me.

"Lily you as a noble lady should know that when a wedding arrangement is made that there is no changing it. We have worked over this since the day your family moved into court. This wasn't a rash decision that we came too. We just came to the final agreement last year before Philip left and you will marry Philip and it will happen when I both tell you."

He stood up and left the room. I just sat there in shock because I couldn't say anything to him about how he wasn't allowed to do this. In this world and time he was allowed to do this because he was the one that made all the rules and I have no say. I just looked at Philip not sure what to say to him and let him know I didn't agree with his father.

"I am sorry that he went off like that. I must go talk to him. Lily if you don't want to marry me then I will fight my father until the end."

"I need to go to the room I am staying in."

I got up from the table and started to head towards the room. I was just told I wouldn't have a say in my life just like Adam said would happen and I didn't want to believe he was right but it was looking like he was. I ran into the room I no longer felt like this was my room. None of this was something I could relate too. I shut the door than ran over to the bed and fall against the bed and let the tears start falling. I heard a knock but didn't want anyone to see me cry, I just wanted to be left alone for the time being. The knock came again I thought it was just another servant wanting to do something or see if I need anything. I had a feeling who ever it was wouldn't leave until I let them in.

"You may enter."

I heard the door open and heard the steps on the floor. I was still laying with my face in the pillow with some tears coming down my face. I heard the person get closer to my bed and then sit down next to me.

"Lily I am sorry. I feel like this is my fault. I should have never told my father the promise I made you."

It was Philip which made me spin around so I could look at him. I knew I had tears running down my face but it felt like everything was ripped out from underneath me and I had no way of getting back on stable ground again.

"Philip I was just told everything I was hoping for would never happen. I don't have a choice about anything that we are doing here. Your father has made it clear that I will be married to you whether or not I want that."

"That is not true. I will do everything in my power to push off getting married. I know my father will only do it when the time is right we may have up to a year and I am sure by then you will know how you feel about me."

"Philip I do know how I feel about you but this is so much more than a feeling. I have always wanted to be able to marry for love and I never thought my marriage would be a negotiation."

"Lily how do you feel about me? Is this something I should keep fighting for?"

I couldn't say anything only tears and sobs were coming out right now. Philip moved over and wrapped his arms around me and I just let my head lay against his shoulder and tears to continue to fall. For a moment I was able to forget about everything and just let him comfort me.