Into The Woods - Harry Styles

21.

My eyebrows are raised high and my facial expression is probably priceless. Did he really just ask me to get undressed? Does he really think I am going to willingly get fully unclothed and bathe with him in this creek?

"What are you waiting for, your highness?" He ask, undoing the last button and tossing his shirt to the side. His toned chest is on full display, but so is the gash that still runs down his torso.

"I guess you have forgotten that I am engaged to another man, who loves me very much and I don't think he would appreciate me bathing with you." He is completely insane! May the Lord help his poor soul.

"Rose, you and I both know he isn't coming back." His words slice through me and I can't help but wince when they fully register. I can feel the tears wanting to pour, but I hold them back just long enough to let my anger take over.

"Don't say that! Daniel will come back for me. He will come back, I know he will." I shout, my voice cracking and tears begin to fall. I run from Harry and his harsh words, hoping to escape my reality, but deep down I know this is my fate. I know there is a good chance that I may never see him or my family again, but it's easier to not think that I won't.

"Rosalie! Get back here." At his words I run faster, my heart is thumping and my legs and feet ache, but I ignore the pain and push on, not caring where I end up or if I'll be alright in the end.

I am at my breaking point. I can't do this, any of this. I was not raised for this kind of lifestyle and even though I was raised as a royal, I doubt I could ever be queen. I am not strong enough, and I except that. I fall to my knees, wrapping my arms around myself, letting my sobs be heard loud and clear.

I am done. I cry for my family, I sob for my love and I scream for my sanity, wondering if I have any left. I rock myself back in forth, trying to imagine myself back at the castle, but a soft voice breaks me out of what little peace I had.

"Rose... I'm sorry, I am so sorry." I wipe the tears from my eyes and look up at the man who has helped cause a lot of my pain and yet I do not see an ass coming off with a quick remark or reminding me how weak I am, I see a man who looks genuinely sorry for his actions.

"I know they're not coming back, but it's easier to pretend like they are and not have to accept that they really aren't." He takes a seat beside me and nods his head saying,

"I lost someone once who was very dear to me." I turn my head to look at him and listen as he speaks. "She was my everything, she meant the world to me and I would have done anything for her, but one day I was faced with a very hard decision. My people or her." He pauses, looking off to the side. "It was one life or a hundred. I was young, but wise enough to know I couldn't choose my pleasure over my people. So I chose them." He explains quickly, confusing me at how open he is being.

"W-what happened to her?" My voice cracks, as I wipe the last of my tears away.

"It was a trade off. He took her and I got to keep my people safe. I truly thought she would be safe with him, but I was wrong. She was killed mere weeks after the trade. When I heard the news it broke me, I lost a part of myself, but I knew I had to be strong. Ever since I stopped mourning her death, I haven't allowed myself to feel a pang of guilt ever since." It makes sense since now why he is the way he is, but that still isn't an excuse for him being an ass all the time.

"I'm sorry, Harry. It seems we have both lost people who were very dear to us." I tell him, turning my body to fully face the man that for once seems vulnerable, his emotions are raw. I can see the slight glisten in his eyes from the thought of her. He was in love with her.

"Daniel told me to watch over you, protect you and that's what I am here to do. I know I come off as a jerk, but I only do that because my people need a leader, someone they can trust to keep them safe from the dangers beyond our gates." He begins to explain why he acts the way he does and for once I feel like I understand him. I know I never will fully get him, but being able to grasp some aspects of him is better than none.

"And thank you for doing this for him. I know he wouldn't just leave me with anybody." He nods his head, locking eyes with mine. I want to look away, but something pulls me in, maybe fate.

Without thinking, I lean into him, pressing my lips to his. I never thought in a million years I would be in this position, yet here I am, with my fingers tangled in his long, curly hair while his arms are wrapped around my waist, pulling my body into his.

It's done and over with almost too soon. There's a part of me that wished it would have lasted longer, yet a bigger part of me can't help but imagine Daniel and how disappointed he would be with me right now. I have mixed feelings about my kiss with Harry. I just hope I don't end up regretting it later.

- Authors Note -

Just gonna leave this here...

So I haven't updated in awhile and I am very sorry about that. Work has taken over my life and I just need to figure out how to balance writing and working.

I plan to start writing on Radish soon. If you don't know what it is you can look it up in the App Store to get a better idea of it then me trying to explain it to you.

I do NOT plan to transfer my current Wattpad stories to Radish, but however, I will be starting a new exclusive story on there. I have an idea, one that was originally going to be a fanfiction, but I've decided to make it into a teen fiction.

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