Bittersweet

He stood on the darkened balcony inside the church watching the joining ceremony below. Pain lanced through him as his eyes lit upon her, dressed in the traditional cream and lace shift with a crown of spring flowers in her long, golden hair. She looked like an angel as she stood in front of the High Priest, listening as he recited the holy words that would join her to another man.

Another man, not him. He should have been stood at her side, listening to the words of the holy man, ready to take her as his partner in life and love, to be with her forever.

Bitterness filled him as he looked at the man who stood by her side, ready to fulfill the role that should have been his. He stood tall by her side, his dark hair neatly combed, the soft blue tunic and dark blue leggings hugging his muscular form. The slight pallor beneath the bronzed skin was the only sign of any nerves that he may have been feeling during the ceremony. Nerves that would have been easily accepted and understood today.

If today had been the real reason for the nerves. If there hadn't been some other, darker reason to cause him to swallow deeply and glance worriedly around the parked church, looking for anyone who could bring everything crashing down around them.

"If there is anyone here who believes that this joining should not be allowed then speak now with your reasons?" The High Priest's voice boomed out across the packed Church seeking a reason to end the ceremony before him. The gathered crowds looked around at each other but none spoke out.

Up in the shadows he gritted his teeth to keep from calling out and ending it all. One word, one small word would stop the ceremony and she would be his, as it should be. Instead he said nothing, watching in silent agony as the High Priest read out the final part of the ceremony before announcing them to be joined together, in love and life, forever.

He closed his eyes against the pain, unable to watch as she walked down the aisle with her partner, his twin brother. Few people knew that he had a twin brother, even that he had come to town last week, seeking his brother out to save him from what he considered to be a fate worse than death.

The war between their country and the neighbouring kingdom had escalated to critical levels in the last few months. So many people had been killed that the government had passed an edict ordering all families to release one son to the conscription units that were being set up in the towns. Carl had been the chosen son. Quiet, scholarly, peace loving Carl who hated to hurt anyone and had been terrified when he had received the letter ordering him to join his local unit. He had fled the family home and come to see his brother to ask him to take his place.

He had wanted to refuse, to tell him that it was time he grew up and faced whatever life threw at him but he couldn't. He knew that Carl would fall to pieces before he even saw any action and he couldn't allow that to happen. Instead he had agreed to the swap. He would join the army and Carl would marry Jordana. The only ones who would know about the swap were Carl and himself. Jordana would never know. She would never allow it and would never understand the bond between the twins.

"Look after her, brother," he whispered as he watched them walk down through the congratulating crowds. "Love her as I do and she will love you forever." With a pained smile he disappeared into the dark recesses of the balcony and collected his kit bag. This afternoon he would head back to their village and sign up at the recruitment office whilst Carl took his bride to the hotel ready to start their new life together.