Beauty and Her Beast

Christian led Anna down a hidden stairway that opened out into the jeweled garden.

“What are we doing here?” Anna laughed.

“I wanted a few moments alone,” Christian replied. “Agnes can handle everyone for a while, but it’s not her responsibility. The moment I go back in there it will take hours, maybe days to sort everything out.

“I just wanted to make sure that we had some time to ourselves before that happened,” he concluded, leading her to ‘their bench’ in her lavender garden.

When she was seated, Christian knelt on the ground in front of her.

“Anna,” he breathed, taking her hand. “There are no words that can express how grateful I am for what you’ve done for me and my people.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” Anna replied, leaning forward to kiss his forehead.

“Yes I do,” he replied, squeezing her hand gently. “After everything I did to you, bringing you into this curse, treating you so poorly, attacking you so savagely… And you still love me.”

“Christian,” she soothed, moving to kneel with him, “please don’t tax your mind. All of that is forgotten.”

Overjoyed, Christian pulled her to him and they both fell to the ground locked in each other’s arms.

Anna had never believed that so much happiness was possible. She loved Christian and he loved her, all of his people had been returned. While she was still in a daze of love, Christian reached out and plucked a stem of lavender from a nearby plant and wrapped it tenderly around the ring finger of her left hand. As the end of the stalk touched the bloom, it began to glow a soft blue.

Before her eyes, the purple flower seemed to melt and re-form into a stunning amethyst stone, while the stem turned into an unbelievably intricate gold band.

“Christian,” she breathed, when she was able to speak.

“Will you marry me?” he asked, still holding her hand.

“Yes” she replied, looking between him and the ring.

Kissing first the ring, then Anna, Christian hopped to his feet, pulling her up after him, swinging her around and around, laughing in hysterical happiness.

"My wife," Christian cried, swinging her higher. "You will be my wife, and I will be you eternally devoted husband.

"Never again will I want for another woman's embrace, another woman's touch," he pledged lowering her to the ground, leaving kisses all over her face. "I vow here and now that until the end of time my heart and body belong to you."

"And I to you my love," Anna said, boldly seeking out his lips.

Their kiss held more than passion, it held promises of happiness and peace, of companionship and love that nothing or anyone could come between them.

That there could be no force on earth that could shake their love.

Hearing someone behind them clearing their throat, they both looked to see Agnes standing at the entrance of the grove, her eyes averted.

"I'm sorry to disturb you," she said, a blush on her cheeks, "but people are starting to ask when you will be returning."

Anna smiled at the look of frustration on Christian's face.

"I will be waiting for you," she said, kissing him, "no matter how long it takes."