<span style="font-family:Arapey">As the Minister lead in the vows, her heart tumbled. For the first time in the entire ordeal, Bea was convinced she couldn't go through with this. She felt as though her knees would give way, and the need to abandon all of this innundated her. She took a small step back, but paused when he began to repeat the words the minister spoke. She wasn't the only one being hurt by the arrangement, nor was she the only one loosing her freedom. She was reminded of it when she heard the sorrow that lingered in his voice. If she left the alter, it would only add insult to injury, and that was something she knew she couldn't do to him. <br/>
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She hated the shake in his voice, and the idea that she was the reason for it. She lowered a hand, wrapping it around his, and gave it a small squeeze. She pulled away quickly, unsure of why she felt the need to reassure him. She'd never met the man before. For all she knew, the small act could've only made things worse for him. But she had guilt eating at her. It was her own father who'd put them in their current circumstance. Her family was the cause of of his angst.<br/>
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The words he repeated all blurred in her mind. None of it was true. The words held no substance for either of them. How could they truly have any meaning if neither had any place for the other in their heart. They were strangers, suddenly thrown into each other with very little warning. <br/>
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After what felt to her like an eternity, he had completed his vows, and the attention was turned on her. It was her turn to utter the words that had no meaning to either one. <br/>
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"And Bea..." The Minister began. "Repeat after me." She found particular interest in the grains of the wood flooring.<br/>
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"I, Bea Anderson, do take this man to be my lawfully wedded husband." He began.<br/>
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"I, Bea Anderson, do take this man-" She paused, feeling the room spin. She was lightheaded, and her stomach churned. Bea swallowed the growing lump in her throat. "To be my lawfully wedded husband. To live together in holy matrimony." She closed her eyes.<br/>
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The minister continued. "To love him, to honour him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health."<br/>
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"To love him, to honour him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health." How could she promise such things to a man whom she'd never met? She'd been uprooted from her life and placed here with no concern for her thoughts or feelings. Yet she still said the words, knowing there were greater consequences if she didn't.<br/>
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"Forsaking all others, for as long as we both shall live." He concluded.<br/>
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"Forsaking all others, for as long as we both shall live." It was sealed. The quiver in her voice conveyed her own angst. Her teeth clamped down on her lip, trying to reel in the tears that threatened to fall.</span>