CROWN PRINCE | LES MISÉRABLES

24.

Weeks have passed and my head injury was almost gone. The black dots in my vision disappeared thankfully. It was almost Christmas and Bastien and I had traveled to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Kingdom was covered in snow. Truly beautiful. We were to stay for 3 days, before returning home to France. Bastien was switched out. The sad prince that only existed, has become a man, a man that was alive.

He was laughing.

"You look like you're freezing.", he said.
"Oh, I'm not."
"Yes, you are.", he said, taking off his jacket.
"But now you will freeze."

"I'd rather freeze than let you freeze. You are a woman, I am the man."
"Still, I'm warm. You're not. Please put on your jacket. Men freeze in winter too.", I said.

He rolled his eyes at me and I laughed.

"Don't roll your eyes at me. I don't make the rules."
"That's right. But with you, I'd break them all.", he said, pulling me closer.

"It is truly beautiful. I wish wouldn't have to leave.", I said.
"So do I. Being with you gives me courage. I feel so much stronger like I could conquer the world. And all it takes, are your words and your embrace.", he whispered.

After a long pause, he decided to break the silence.

"What would you like to do?"
"I would love to go ice skating with you."
"Then, what are we waiting for?", he asked.

He took my hand and had a tight grip on it. At first, I was a bit nervous but then I realized that we were not in France. No one knew us. We walked to a lake, where quite a few people were already on.

Two of them were little children, the others a sweet couple. I put on the blades and tied them around my shoe. Bastien did the same. I walked onto the ice and Bastien looked at me, hesitant about stepping on the ice.

"What are you waiting for?", I asked.
"What if the ice breaks beneath me?"
"All those what-ifs. But it's now only you and me. There are no what-ifs. Just enjoy the moment and live, instead of thinking.", I said.

I stretched my hand out to him. He looked at it, still hesitating.

"What if I fall?", he blurted out.
"Then I fall with you.", I said laughing.

"What did I do to deserve your love?"
"You just always have.", I admitted.

He took my hand after a long thought and stepped on the ice.

"Just look me in the eyes. We can do this together.", I whispered.

He nodded and we glid across the ice. The children were laughing. More and more people came on the ice and soon the lake was filled with people.

Women were laughing. Men were staring lovingly at them.

Yes, who can predict what the future will bring? We laugh and dance in elation. Spin as though there won't be a tomorrow. Today everyone is in love.

I was pushed aside and fell on the ice. Bastien fell right beside me. We were crying with laughter. He tried getting up and stretched his hand out for me. He was very wobbly on his feet when he fell back down on the ice.

I slowly got up and helped Bastien off the ice. He was laughing, his hair a curly mess, and his cheeks flushed. He leaned closer in and kissed me.

"You look cold.", he said, as he undid his shoes.
"I'm not.", I said, looking down at my shoes, focusing on the laces.
"Your cheeks speak something different, my love.", he said.

He looked up and snow began to fall.

"Let's dance."
"Without music?"
"I have the most beautiful music in my arms.", he whispered.

He took my hand and twirled me around in the cold, now-snow-covered pathway. Snow caught in my hair, making my hair damp.

"You look beautiful like this. This is how life is supposed to be."
"That's how life is."
"I know, but for everyone.", he said.

"We should be going back. We don't want to catch a cold.", I said, pulling him away from the tree.