Page 64 of Lost Starlight
“Peter, I told you that I cannot fly. Holding onto you as we just did is the best I can offer.”
“Yes, yes, becauseladiesdo not fly, I understand,” Peter blurted.
He cupped my cheeks in his hands and pressed a soft kiss upon my lips.
“I love you so much, and I adore everything about you, including your timid and reserved ways. I love how you are brave and loyal. That you love stories as much as I do, and that we have a beautiful story of our own. I have alwayswanted to escape my life, but now, all I want is to be with you, forever. I have no desire to be anywhere except at home with you.”
“I love you, too, Peter–always.”
“Thank you for loving me,” he said tenderly. “I shall never take it for granted, and I want you to know I will never abuse you as your mother does. I will listen to you. I will never stay quiet and say nothing when something should be said, like your father did. I will not hurt you and belittle you as your brothers have. I want to make you my princess—to be your partner, the person you run to for all things, who you can trust with your heart and your thoughts and ideas. I love your beautiful mind.”
“Peter, I want all that, too—with you.”
“Will you, Gwendolyn Darling, marry me?”
“Yes. We are already engaged, Peter. Nothing has changed.”
“Yes. However, would you marry me–now?”
“Now? On this cliff?”
“Um, well, I was thinking about–on a ship. Dominick, he is a captain, and captains have the right to legally marry. We could marry right now.” He caressed my cheek. “No wedding thrown by your mother–no formality, just us and the people we love the most–the only person missing is my mother, but I believe she will understand.”
“Are you in earnest?”
“Yes, let’s not let your mother plan our wedding. Let’s do it our way.”
I paused for just a moment. I could think of nothing more beautiful.
“Okay.”
“Truly?”
“Yes, I love you, and I will tell you I have read of many weddings taking place on ships with captains. It sounds wonderful.”
“I knew you would understand. It will shock everyone because it isn’t the proper thing to do.”
“Yes, well, it may not be proper by society’s standards–” I said, caressing Peter's cheek and jaw, and his whiskers tickled my skin. “–but it is the proper thing for us.”
Peter
In a pop and a billow of black smoke, a man appeared beside us. Gwen clung to me as he appeared.
“Prince Peter of Walden,” he began, and I felt a strange tingling inside my body.
“Yes, who are you?”
“I am Ancient Draken, and your curse to never be satisfied where you are and to crave adventure, instead, has been broken.”
“It has?” I gasped.
In another two pops, one of gray smoke and one of blue, two other people stood beside Ancient Draken.
“Ah, Peter and Gwen!” the man in the brown cloak said.
“Lady Gwendolyn,” I told him, feeling protective. No one called Gwen “Gwen” but me.
“Oh yes, hello. Congratulations on your curse breaking,” the man said, turning to me.
