King | j.b

XXV

His hand in her's, they made their way back to the entrance of the maze. The red rose petals were barely visible in the dark sky. Their only source of light was the shining moon. Justin's arm around her served as a blanket and a source of warmth. Every so often he would plant a kiss on her head and caress her hand with his thumb.

Ariana's heart beat was racing with excitement and joy. She loved this man. She loved King Justin Bieber. It was a dream. A dream that had somehow come true. A dream she would have never had if she hadn't been chosen to be the king's servant. Everything was perfect.

A little too perfect.

"I can not believe this is happening," Ariana said as they turned another corner of the maze. Although she couldn't see it, she knew Justin smiled to himself.

"Well, you'd better believe it because it's happening, my beautiful fiancée," he whispered in her ear. Ariana smiled, completely hypnotized by his love.

"Where are we going now?" she questioned. Justin gave her hand a tight squeeze and brushed his thumb along her hand.

"I have a little something in mind," he said with a wide smirk on his face. Ariana's heart leaped with desire.

"Like what?" she asked although she already knew the answer.

"Guess you'll just have to wait and see," he smiled. Excitement burst through her like a firework.

"I would have never imagined something like this. A servant and a king," Ariana laughed at how silly it sounded.

"Me neither," he responded is a raspy voice. "But I'm glad it happened. I was so lost before I met you. I was cruel, killed people in horrific ways." He shook his head ashamed of his past actions. "It wasn't until now that I realized what I was doing was horrible. A little bit of love can change a whole man." He paused for a moment in thought. "Because of you, I've been changed for the better."

Ariana let a moment of silence pass before responding.

"And I have changed because of you," said she. "I'm just- afraid." Justin looked at her seriously.

"I am too," he simply replied, not even denying the uprising fear that was growing inside him.

"What will my parents think of me? What will the town think? I shall certainly be hated by everyone."

Justin only pulled her closer to him, as if protecting her from some sort of evil. He slipped his robe off his long arms and wrapped it tightly around her.

"Don't worry about anyone or anything right now. Just live in the moment and enjoy it while you can," he said sweetly as he planted a kiss on her head. They were finally approaching the entrance to the maze, the rose petals almost completely invisible at this point. Ariana had no knowledge of the time, but her eyelids started to feel heavy so she knew it was late.

"Just about out of here," Justin said as they turned a final corner.

And finally, the entrance to the maze came into view. They walked through it at a steady pace. Ariana's legs and feet ached from all the walking but she tried not to pay much attention to it.

Justin opened his mouth to speak, but they were interrupted by shouting. The couple stopped in their tracks and quickly looked up, alarmed. In the distance, Ariana could see a lantern held by a guard. Another guard followed behind him.

They were running.

"You're majesty!" one of them cried. A wave of sudden fear crashed onto Ariana and Justin. It was supposed to be their perfect night. What could go wrong now? Ariana fingered her new ring nervously as if someone would steal it at any second.