It all started with a ball.
You're 18 he said, it's time to find a girl and get married he said. And give me grandchildren!
I tried to said no, but it's not like I had a say in the matter. So there was a ball and a shoe incident. I don't want to bo...
"So, ya saved ma boy?" The big scruffy looking bear questioned as he sucked the meat of yet another chicken leg. The big fangs dripped of saliva and food scattered around his furry face.
"Ehm.. yes, w-we did, sir."
He raised a brow, giving me a quick glance. "I won't kill ya."
"Wow, that's a relief," I whispered low to myself, clearly forgetting bears have excellent hearing. But if he in fact heard me he clearly ignored it and gave all his attention to the food.
On the other side of the table, mama bear gently hugged her son wrapped in her arms, kissing his sweet little head. It made me smile, I was really happy we actually did something good on this trip.
"Are ya' headin' somewhere special?"
As I'm about to open my mouth Adam interrupts me, "yes, we're going back to the capital, to the castle."
I turned and looked surprised at him. "We are?"
"Yes."
"But.."
"But what? We're done with our mission aren't we? You found the owner of the shoe, and you found the love of your life," he stated full of confidence.
I couldn't believe my own ears, did he just call himself the love of my life? He wasn't wrong or anything, but where the hell did that confidence come from?
"Y-yes.. that's right."
"So we should go home and tell the king."
"Adam..." I looked at him with a terrified expression, "are you insane?"
"What? He needs to know eventually."
"He will force me to marry Cindy!"
"What if he accepts it?"
"What if he doesn't?!"
Adam let out a deep sigh, "we'll figure it out."
The big brown bear had finished his meal and looked at us with a serious expression. He followed our conversation back and forth as if he was watching a damn ping-pong game.
"So ya love each other? And ya dad wants ya to marry tha girl ya came with?" He said, as he pointed a chicken bone at us.
"No, my father doesn't know her, he just wants me to marry someone and give him grandkids, that's all."
"But ya want tha boy?"
I looked up at him and shrugged, "since the first day I saw him."
"So fool tha old man! Tell him ya demand to be crowned king before tha marriage, and when ya wear tha crown ya can marry who tha hell ya want."
"He's right. When you're king you make the rules."
"Fool my own father? That's no way to start my rule, I'd rather abdicate."
"That's a plan," Cindy had been listening to us quietly before she came to sit down beside us. "Listen Charming, you go home to your father. Tell him the truth, say you can't be with anyone else and if he wants to force you to marry some noble girl we just leave. Simple as that."
Adam shook his head, "he has to accept it C, without you he won't have a heir to his throne anyway."
I rubbed my forehead and muttered, "fine, let's go, let's get it over with."
So we said our goodbyes to the bear family, the fairy godmother and rode off towards my home. Anxiety building up inside me for every step my horse took.
We had been riding for weeks and every day my mood seemed to get worse, both Cindy and Adam had given up on trying to cheer me up by now but always found something that annoyed me to talk about.
This day wasn't any different. "So, Adam.." Cindy smirked.
"What?"
"You'll be king too, you know. Are you prepared?"
He frowned his brow and looked thoughtful at her, "I haven't really thought about it yet."
"King Charming the anxious and King Adam the righteous," she proclaimed with a solemn voice.
"Really? That's our title?" I sighed tiresomely.
"What? What's wrong with them?"
"No, no it's King Charming the grumpy," Adam snickered as he gave me a smug smile.
"Come one, just let me be grumpy!"
"No, not going to happen."
"So what kind of kings do you want to be?"
"One thing at a time Cindy," I muttered.
She shrugged, "you think too much Charming. I know this land, we've travelled through most of it and I've heard the stories about the young prince and his companion travelling all over the country giving money to the poor and helping his people."
"So?"
"So, my prince. They are grateful and they love you. The people stand behind you and they will accept your choice of partner. They've already seen you two together so it's no surprise to anyone."
I sighed deeply, "it's that obvious, is it?"
She snickered, "Yes."
We rode in silence for a while until Adams' horse closed in on mine, close enough for him to grab my hand and our fingers intertwined. "We'll be okay. Whatever happens I'll be right next to you and we'll deal with it together."
I gave him a slightly embarrassed smile, I don't know why I felt that way but talking about our feelings for one another still made me shy. But it felt good, knowing I had them by my side and my people in my back. Maybe I could scoop up some confidence thanks to them, when I stood before my father.
"I love you," he whispered as he watched my face turn serious again. Damn he always knew how to cheer me up, I was so fucking lucky, so why didn't I act like it.
Cheer up and pull yourself together C, happiness is far more important than a fathers approval, I told myself and smacked my own cheek.
Adam gave me a look but I ignored it as I lifted his hand towards my lips and gave it a gentle kiss. "Will you marry me?"
His eyes widened, "is that a proposal?"
"Yes."
"You are proposing to me.. right now?"
"Yes."
I looked deep into his eyes and he stared into mine, I felt calm for once. This was it, all I wanted and I knew deep inside I already had it. But I couldn't hide my anticipation as I waited for him to answer.
And then he kissed me, smiled and whispered against my lips, "of course I will." He was so adorable, blushing like Bashful when he whispered, "I do."
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