Their eyes see the boundary coming closer as they move. Williame motions the horse to slow down for they are near it. He wants the time to stop so that he may spend this time close to her. He admits his love for her but he cant say it. He knows if he says it, she won't leave, and his and her people will be in danger. The only thing he can hope right now is that she will understand what he is doing and for whom he is doing all of this. He must forget all of these feelings. If he must lie to himself, then let it be that way. He stops the horse for they have reached their destination.
"Will you marry him, now?" Williame questions, "I guess you will. It is not like you can deny your father, or may I say, your king." he chuckles making it sound that he's fine with saying goodbye to his love.
"Do you want me to? Maybe if I marry him, I may see you everyday. I want to see you again..." she collapses on the ground as her knees grow weak. "I can't do this. I can't go on. I want you." She cries. "I met you as a complete stranger and now you are the man I can't imagine my life without. If this is a spell, please cast it away because it hurts so much. Williame, love me. Please, just love me." he picks her up and looks her in the eye.
"I can't. I am very sorry, my Princess. I am thankful that for the few hours we were together, you gave me nothing but happiness and pain. You made me realize that I am a human being that knows how to love-"
"You love me?"
"Princess, me letting you go is the most selfless thing that I will be doing in my whole life because I will feel nothing but pain as I see you walk past that boundary. And, I will never ever forget this day, my Princess. I am in love with you and I am letting you go."
Grissell looks at him with determination, "I will go and cross that boundary; I will invite you in and we won't have to worry about anyone dying. I will wait for you until you come see me, until you realize that you can't live without me."
"I know, Princess. I know that I can't live without you. But, we can't be together." he walks closer and reaches her face. He touches it in the most gentle way he knows. "Do not wait for me. Go and meet someone you will love and marry. Someone who truly deserves you."
She pushes his hand away because of her frustration. "Why? Why are you not worthy of me? Because you are a knight? I will step down with my position for you, just be with me." she continued to plead with all of her frustration.
"It is not because of that, Princess. I would not be able to give you all my love because I will always put my land, my people above anything else. You will always be second to that and you do not deserve to be second."
"Then, why can't you put me first?" she asks. "Is it that hard to put me first? To put the one you love first? Why is your kingdom so important to you?" he does not talk back. "Why is it that it is only I who is fighting for us?" she wonders out loud.
She sighs as she accepts defeat. She knows that he will never pick her so she has decided, "I am marrying Prince Lewis. I will succumb to the decisions of my parents." she looks at him. She saw his eyes, so red, she did not realize that he was also crying.
"You will remain to be the love of my life, and maybe we really are not meant to be. But, I have to see you again and to make sure of that, I am marrying your prince."
"Don't. Please don't marry him. Pick another man just not someone from my land. Please, my Princess. I don't think I can see you with another man. I will completely lose my mind." he does not utter another word and so does she. They just look in each others eyes and they understand. 'I love you', their eyes tell each other.
Grissell begins walking slowly. Every step she takes, her heart starts to beat faster. It seems like everything just stopped and it is just the two of them who are alive in the world. There was no wind, no noise was made by any animal in the forest, it was just their hearts beating. She tells herself to not turn back to him. She will just hurt herself, she will regret it and have a harder time. This feels unfair. Every step she takes, she comes up with more reasons to not go.
As she is about to cross the boundary, Williame grabs her wrist and faces her to him. They stare at each other with bloodshot eyes, Williame pulls her in to embrace her. Just this once. Just, one moment, please. Let me hold you for the first time and probably the last time. Let me show you my love for you. her right shoulder starts feeling drops of water. She pulls away. But he resists, he can't show himself all weak and broken. "Give me a minute. Just one last minute."
They stood there until before the sun was setting. "Williame, it's time." he pulls away. His face with no emotion at all. "Go now, Princess. You will be my one and only love." he utters and closes his eyes for he does not want to see Grissell crossing the boundary.
Williame, goodbye. she says and tiptoes to press her lips unto the knights forehead. She holds his hand and squeezes it and lets it go. A tear falls. She crosses the boundary. She runs as fast as she can hoping that it will help them both from moving on with each other.
"Goodbye, my love." he mutters under his breath.
Author-nim~~~
Hindi naman ako naiyak habang sinusulat toh :((( 3 AYOKO NA MABUHAY PLEASE T.T
