To Be Loved

32 - Annalise

Lawrence and I hadn't spoken since the morning of the dreadful news about Brookes.

I was sitting in the garden playing with one of the small blue flowers I had picked. I thought about the days I had made flower crowns. I pulled a couple more flowers from the bushes. As I weaved the flowers together, I remembered the last time I had made a blue flower crown. I had weaved it for Lawrence when I was twelve, and for some reason after that, the blue flowers were his and I only ever made a blue crown for him.

"Ann? I know you don't want to, but would you please talk to me?" I heard Lawrence ask as he sat down next to me.

I ignored him and kept weaving the small flowers together.

"Anna, please I know you are upset, but please listen to me... please?" He asked.

"Prince Lawrence, I do not wish to speak to you." I said, still braiding the flowers.

"Then don't, you don't have to speak, but please listen." He started, "Anna, I didn't mean anything I said. I was just mad. You are the only reason I am still here. I would have tempted death a lot sooner if the thought of one day getting to be with you didn't stop me. I'm so sorry." He pleaded and grabbed my hand. I didn't reject his hand but I still didn't look at him. He smiled and kissed the top of my hand.

"Please, say something."

"Lawrence, you said some very hurtful things. Who's to say you won't yell at me again?"

"Me! I say so. I promise to try and control my temper, because otherwise I'll be my father... And I don't want that." He said and I slightly laughed,

"I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have gotten upset, I know you just wanted to help Brookes." I said looking at our intertwined fingers.

He used his index finger to turn my head. He leaned in and pressed his lips against mine. When we pulled away we both were out of air. He pressed his forehead against mine and looked into my eyes. His bright blue eyes seemed to sparkle which made me smile.

"Annalise, will you marry me... again?" He laughed holding out the ring.

"Of course!" I said as he slipped the ring on my finger.

"Lawrence, may your mother and I speak to you?" I heard King Nicholas say from behind us.

"Father. Can't we just talk here?" Lawrence asked.

"No. Annalise, you should probably come too."

We all walked up the stairs to the office. Lawrence held my hand and squeezed it when we got there. We sat in the chairs across from the King and Queen.

"Now that Brookes won't be king, we can not allow this relationship. The kingdom will never accept a lady in waiting. Even if she isn't queen." The king said as Lawrence laughed a bitter laugh.

"I already told you what we would do if you didn't accept us. So apparently you two need to find another heir to the throne." Lawrence said and grabbed my hand.

"Lawrence, dear, you can still see her... just not publicly. We can arrange a fake marriage with someone of status, then you can still have Annalise, just not in public." Queen Karolina said.

Lawrence looked at her as if she was crazy. And the idea was. "Mother, I would never do that. We already know the people love Anna. Can't I just be happy?" He added, "Also, Brookes isn't dead. I have some hope he will beat the odds and you should too... As his parents and all."

"My son, they love her as Haven's Lady In Waiting. They would never accept her as royal." The king countered.

"I refuse to marry anyone but Annalise. Fake or not! If you can't accept that, then give both kingdoms to Haven and James. I love her and want to be with her for the rest of my life. Please, mother, father, I don't want to be king without her." He pleaded.