The Fairy's Curse #WATTYS2015

Chapter 15

I looked at Lane as he smiled at me. I should've known that he loved me. But I was just so hung up on finding a man to marry me on such short noticed that I hadn't noticed the all to willing guy in front of me the whole time.

"Yes, Winter, I will." As he said that, the pain in my chest began again and this time, it was unbearable. I sank to the floor as Lane just held me. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't even let out the sob building in my chest. "Winter? Winter, breathe, just take a breath in and  let it out. Please, you can do it. Get my father." I heard Lane yell. The guards ran out of the room and Lane just concentrated on me.

"It...hurts." I managed to get out.

"I know, Winter just try and take a breath." Finally it felt like a bubble bursting in my chest and the pain just gradually went away. I was able to catch my breath and I smiled at Lane.

"It's gone. The pain, I don't think it's coming back. It was different this time."

"It was your heart." We heard from the doorway. The king was standing at the door, looking over us. I bowed my head out of respect and asked what he meant. "Your heart will always tell the truth no matter what anyone says. You were dating that boy when this started even though you were in love with my son. You just didn't know it. Your heart was trying to tell you. You just didn't listen." He said before walking away.
"Father, wait!" Lane yelled, helping me in the chair. I watched as he ran after the king. The king stopped in the doorway, but didn't turn around.
"She did what was required of her. Aren't you going to lift the curse?" Lane asked, his father's back still turned.
"No." He said.
"No? What do you mean no?" Lane asked, furious. "She did what you asked. You said if she found a man who would love her enough to marry her within three months, you'd lift her curse. She did that. She still had three days and I'm willing to marry her." Lane yelled.
"Because you're hardly a man, Lane." I looked up at Lane and saw the hurt in his eyes. His father seemed to truly hate him.
"Because of Pan. Because I was eleven, father. You expected a kid to take care of a three year old. That wasn't fair to ask of me, father and you need to stop blaming me for it." I never saw Lane stand up to his father before and I was actually proud of him.
"You were eleven, Lane. You were old enough to watch Pan. You just didn't want to. You rather hang out with the pixies then do anything you were responsible for."
"Maybe that was because the pixies didn't hate me the way you did. Father I looked up to you for everything but you always hated me then when Pan died you just found a reason to show it." The shock on the king's face was priceless.
"Lane I never hated you. You're my son. I don't hate your sister either or your mom. It's just after Pan I saw the king I needed to be to protect my people. And that meant closing everyone out but I never hated any of you." He explained. I just looked at Lane and saw that he was speechless. I had never seen Lane so...vulnerable. They finally remembered my existence and the king pulled his son out of the room and left me alone.

It seemed like forever before the door opened and Lane walked in. I still didn't feel anymore hope. He took my hand and helped me up. When was face to face with him, he kissed my forehead and smiled at me.
"He wants to talk to you alone. He wants to make sure that you really want this and aren't doing this to get out of the curse." I nodded as I pulled away, a guard leading the way. I looked back at Lane before he disappeared from sight.

"Winter Jefferson. You came to me three months ago and asked to be freed from your curse. And I gave you a way. You had to get a man to fall in love with you to the point of marriage. I felt that you failed though you fight this. Explain to me please why you think I am wrong?" The king asked me. I looked up at him and smiled kindly. I though of the best way to explain it.
"I was dating a man named Ryder Paige and it was amazing but I couldn't see a future with him and to marry him now, I would have been settling. It wasn't fair to him and it wasn't fair to me. I didn't love him and I don't really know if he actually loved me. But what I do know is that your son has cared for me when I was at my lowest and that caring somewhere down the line turned to love but I was so busy looking for someone that I was blind to what was right in front of me and blind to what I was feeling in my heart. I love Lane. I love him more than I ever thought I could love someone. What I felt in that room with him was extraordinary. I can't even begin to describe how beautiful and wonderful it felt. And I truly love him. And he wants to marry me, your highness. He loves me enough to marry me. That was the stimulation. That was your condition and I reached it." I answered. The king looked at his guard and took a deep breath. I seriously didn't think he was going to give in.
"Okay." My head snapped up and my jaw dropped. "Your curse is lifted. But only if you marry my son." I squealed and jumped up.
"Thank you, sir. I will. I will. Of course I will. Thank you."
I was escorted back to find Lane still standing in the room. I smiled as I ran into his arms and kissed him. I couldn't believe it. I was going to marry Lane. I loved Lane. And he loves me. Everything was falling into place. Finally.