The grand doors of the chapel opened and Sophie was greeted by hundreds of standing guests. In the corner of the wedding hall, a small orchestra played on violins, harps, and an elegant piano. If it weren't her wedding, she might have found some peace with the lulling music. There were no bridesmaids, no maid of honor, no one to stand up with her - only Suliman leading her down the aisle arm in arm, a position her father should have taken if he were still alive.

"This won't solve anything." Sophie whispered through her teeth.

Suliman smiled wider and tapped her arm. "How little you know, and even more that you cannot fathom."

The pianist played beautifully, and everyone whispered wondrous things about her dress, the music, and the handsome Prince who stood proudly on the altar. As Sophie took each step forward, she felt more hollow inside.

Sophie caught Justin gleaming at her as she slowly made her way down the aisle. She held the bouquet of roses he picked out just for her, and he nodded with approval. His stance was straight, his hands properly held behind his back. His tuxedo was black and white, a stark contrast from his typical attire.

Strangely enough, most of the guests wore white or an off-white color. Sophie remembered her mother telling her it was rude to wear white to a wedding, but apparently that was the theme for this one. However, Suliman was the only one who stood out tonight. She walked down the aisle, poised in a dark green formal dress.

As Suliman and Sophie approached the altar, Justin held out a hand for his bride. "You look more beautiful than ever."

Sophie hesitated, her body forced between two opposing directions, but eventually she rested her hand in his. She had no choice at this point; she was obliged to follow his every command.

The presider stood between them as Suliman left to find her seat in the crowd, having taken the bouquet with her. The guests sat down in unison as the service began. Everything, from the music to the guests to the decorations was too orchestrated; everything was eerily perfect.

Sophie tuned out the words from the presider as he explained why they were gathered today and how the two were coming together as one and other things Sophie couldn't care less about. She only worried about her hasty heart rate and the never-ending nightmare that was to be the rest of her life.

"If anyone can show just and fair cause why they may not be lawfully joined together, let you speak now or forever hold your peace."

Sophie searched the room for a hand or a shout or someone stopping the wedding. Even Justin stared into the crowd, his eyes scanning for the one person who might have a say in the matter. She had a glimpse of hope that Howl would push the chapel doors open and object to the marriage, saving her from this monstrosity.

A few seconds passed and nothing. So, the presider continued.

He asked for Sophie to speak her vows. Sophie hadn't written any down, nor had she any true words of love to speak of the man who stood before her. Everything else was a ruse, so this would be no different.

She gulped before speaking. "Justin, my love." He smiled wide at the sound of 'my love,' but Sophie rolled her eyes slightly and continued. "I promise to always be there for you and to cherish you as my husband."

Sophie tried coming up with more words that would seem sufficient for this occasion, but nothing came to mind. She had no true feelings for Justin.

The presider seemed to wonder why she hadn't continued, so when she shrugged her shoulders, he turned to the Prince to speak his vows.

Justin held Sophie's hands gently, his eyes never parting from hers. "Sophie, my darling Sophie. Only a year ago I first met you, and I haven't been able to keep my mind off of you since. You brightened my mornings and my evenings, for you were the first I thought of as I awoke and the last before I fell asleep. Sophie, I promise with this ring to never see you cry, never see you in pain, and never be the cause of any sorrow that befalls you. I will dedicate my life to your happiness and nothing shall be too much. Your love means more to me than a crown, a throne, or even a kingdom, because no magic or power compares to the strength of love."

The crowd gasped softly at his words, and Sophie dropped her jaw. Never had she heard such words. Never had someone expressed so much love in one monologue. He had more love in those words than Howl had ever spoken to her.

And yet, she knew that she loved Howl more than Justin loved her.

Even if he didn't always express it, Sophie knew Howl loved her. It was in the little things he did, like a good morning kiss or making breakfast with heart-shaped pancakes or even just wanting to know what troubled her... those were the ways Howl showed his love. Howl didn't need to say it; he showed it.

As the presider nodded to Justin after he had spoken, Sophie noticed a faint glow coming from within her. Justin was far too preoccupied with the presider's words to see the blue light, but Sophie knew what it was. Howl's necklace was a dazzling gleam, calling to her. She could feel him through the blue pendant. She could feel his pain, his anguish, and his desperation to reunite with her once more. And when she touched the stone, she remembered the promise Howl made the day he gave it to her.

Sophie, you taught me something no one ever could. You showed me that having a heart was a burden worth taking, that having someone to love and cherish was more important than being a narcissistic wizard. You showed me that I could feel that way for someone...

Sophie hadn't noticed Justin holding her left hand to fit the wedding ring around her finger, his eyes so full of hope and desire. "I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows, and with all that I am, and all that I have, I honor you. With this ring, I thee wed."

Everyone looked to Sophie, who merely stared at the silver band around her finger. Her fingers trembled, but this time it wasn't in fear. The necklace stopped glowing, but the power hadn't left her.

The presider coughed. "Um, it's your turn, Miss Hatter."

"No."

The presider and Justin leaned closer, unsure if they had heard her correctly.

Justin laughed lightly. "I-I'm sorry?"

Sophie never broke eye contact with him. "No. You heard me. I said no."

The guests started whispering loudly amongst each other, Suliman sitting calmly in the front row, her legs crossed and her eyes narrowed.

Justin looked at the crowd and then back to Sophie. He leaned closer and whispered, "Sophie, you know that's not the answer we were looking for."

"Screw you, Justin." Sophie said, her voice intensifying with every word. She pulled the engagement and wedding rings off her finger and pelted them at his chest. The exquisite jewels clanged as they fell against the pristine tile on the ground. "You think you can terrorize me into marrying you? Think again. I don't care if you threaten Howl or me with your fake evidence that he's a murderer. I won't let you force me into a marriage with you."

The crowd's whisperings grew louder, so Suliman stood up, alerting the guards to be prepared for whatever may come.

Sophie glared at Justin with infuriating eyes as she pushed her index finger deeper into his chest. "The fact of the matter is that I am in love with Howl. I will always be in love with him and I will never feel the same for you. I love Howl more than my own life, so I don't care what happens to me in the end. I'm not going to be a pawn in this sick game of yours any longer."

There was a long silence in the room. Not a single sound escaped anyone's lips. Justin swallowed hard, as he now saw the truth. He saw Sophie's true emotions, those feelings he so desperately wanted her to feel for him. He thought if he ignored them, they would eventually transition to feelings for him. Rather, he just blinded himself from reality. Not even life-threatening accusations against the man she truly loved would change her.

A loud, slow clapping frightened the crowd, so all eyes turned to the King's Royal Sorceress. Suliman strolled toward the center of the room, a few feet behind the three who stood on the altar. She exposed a maniacal laugh, much to the crowd's confusion – especially Sophie.

"Bravo, my dear. You think you've won, don't you?" Suliman said, her smile fading. "You are so very wrong."

"No she's not." Everyone looked around the chapel for the cryptic voice, and they exhaled a collective gasp when a magician flew from the indoor balcony to the center of the aisle. He stood up slowly, revealing himself to the crowd. Whispers of the amazing and terrifying Wizard Howl Pendragon floated across the room, for his reputation was infamous throughout the land of Ingary.

Sophie's entire being convulsed at the sight of her beloved. Howl was here; Gwenda's message was somehow a success. When they locked eyes, so many questions ran wild inside that neither were able to ask at the moment. She couldn't tell if he was relieved or angry or in agony. She was unaware of the specific emotions he chose to express.

All she knew was that he was here, staring at her on the altar, in a wedding dress, next to Prince Justin.

Suliman wore her crooked smile. "So nice to finally see you again. You're making it far too easy for me to devastate you."

Howl tightened his fists. "Sophie said no. You cannot allow a woman to get married when she denies the man." Sophie breathed in and out faster than normal. He heard her deny Justin, but she didn't know how much he witnessed. She didn't know what that meant for them.

She was scared to find out.

Suliman walked toward Howl, but he refused to back down. He reached his arm forward in an attempt to use his magic, but before he could cast a spell, chains flew from behind him and bound his wrists.

"Howl!" Sophie cried and rushed toward him. Suliman's guards yanked on the metal chains, bringing Howl closer to them. Sophie shoved Suliman out of the way as she knelt down and held Howl's cheeks. Tears flooded down her face. "Howl, no. They can't do this to you."

"Get her as well." Sophie turned around and two guards bound her arms as well, standing her up and away from the fallen Howl.

Howl bit his lip and lunged for the guards that held Sophie, but he couldn't get very far. "Let her go."

"Did you honestly think I would let you two waltz out of this wedding with a happily ever after?" Suliman said. She walked down the aisle and stopped when she was between both of them, taking up the space that separated the couple. She leered her cold eyes from one to the other, satisfaction written all over her face.

"Send Wizard Howl to the cell with his other friends. I'm sure he will enjoy working for me again. And having him under my control will do this country some good."

"No!" Suliman turned to Sophie, enjoying the agony she bore on her face. She caressed Sophie's cheek lightly.

"And send this one to the tower in the East Wing. I believe a lifetime of solitude and a certain amount of persuasion on my part will allow this wedding to continue at a later date."

"You can't force us apart, Suliman." Howl said, gritting his teeth. "We won't give up that easily. We're not under your control."

Suliman laughed softly and shook her head. "Trust me, dear Howl, you haven't seen the capacity of my power just yet."

As Suliman walked away, the two convicts were sent to their isolated prisons, separated from one another yet again. Justin stared at the woman he loved and the man he loathed, shedding no sympathy for anyone but Sophie.

He only wished she had accepted her fate.