I ran as fast as I could; it was not possible. I wasn't going to just marry someone for the sake of my parents, not when my heart already belonged to someone else, even if they were long gone. Not looking where I was going, I rammed straight into a stranger, and before I could fall, they caught me in their arms.

"Darling, are you alright?" The stranger asked me.

I managed to look up and notice the piercing blue eyes that I had fallen in love with when I was younger, but these eyes didn't hold the same ease anymore. These eyes were like the blue roaring seas full of mystery, unlike the calming blue eyes that I grew to love and miss ever since Jayce disappeared.

"I--- uh--," I stammered, not knowing what to say to this stranger.

"Speechless, I see. I'm sorry for being a bit too forward; then again, you ran into me." The stranger helped me balance myself before bowing in front of me and kissing my hand. "Might I ask for your name, darling?"

"Theodora Cohen, daughter of the Duke Cohen." I curtsied just like my mom had made me practice.

"Pleasure to meet you, my lady. Though I wonder what a beautiful lady such as yourself might be doing running away from the castle." The unnamed stranger asked me a question yet again.

"And why must I tell you? You must be the gardener of the castle if you're here instead of inside." I spoke back, but the stranger just chuckled.

"Forgive me, my lady, for being rude. My name is Caspian. I am, but only the prince's trusted guard." The now-named stranger bowed before me.

"Then, why are you out here and not by your prince's side?" I asked the guard.

"The prince has allowed me to roam the garden whenever there are galas. The king doubles his men during these events, and the prince lets me be so that I may tend to my mother's grave." Caspian spoke softly, heading into a hidden part of the garden.

I followed right behind, intrigued by the stranger. I was shocked to see a statue of a beautiful woman standing tall. Flowers from all over the country littered its feet, and water flowed from around its base. Engraved below, it were words that brought tears to my eyes.

'Here lies Queen Dahlia Julie Walton. Taken too soon and forgotten too quickly. The kindest heart the kingdom has ever seen and the greatest mother to her child, Princess Jayce Walton'

"My lady, why are you crying?" Caspian handed me a handkerchief before kneeling before the grave.

"Queen Julie was my best friend's mother. I hadn't known she had died; I was just told that she and Jayce had gone into hiding due to the war." I told the guard with a heavy heart. "I can't bear to imagine the pain Jayce went through alone. How did she die?"

"What they told you was true. The Queen and her daughter did go into hiding, but an ambush happened one night, killing the Queen. Jayce was fortunate to have been hiding behind a knight's armor, but she saw everything that happened that night." Caspian explained as they tended to the flowers.

I kneeled beside Caspian and saw that they were shedding tears as well. Then I remembered that they said it was their mother's grave.

"Are you Jayce's sibling?" I asked carefully.

"No, Queen Julie was too weak to have any other children after Jayce," Caspian replied, but explained nothing further.

"Perhaps before Jayce, then?" I asked, pressing on.

"Not that as well. Jayce was the only daughter of the queen, and she had no sons." Caspian spoke, their voice slightly faltering.

"Then how? How can you be the Queen's child?" I asked frustratedly, looking at the guard.

They wouldn't look at me, but they spoke softly. "Queen Julie was my mother, but she had no other child. Princess Jayce was the living heir to the throne, but when the queen died, the princess died with her."

"Then who are you? Why are you telling me that you are the queen's child?" I asked once again.

"Because I am Princess Jayce..." Caspian revealed. "I'm not her anymore, if that's what you're going to ask. When my mother died, I died with her."

I took their hands in mine, hoping to calm them down like it did when we were younger, and gratefully, it still worked. Caspian took a couple of breaths to steady themselves before continuing their explanation.

"Caspian is who I became to protect myself; they are the only ones left. I trained to be a guard to serve my kingdom so that no one would have to suffer like my mother. The King, my uncle, forbade me, but I didn't listen. I wanted to seek revenge against those who had wronged my kingdom and killed my mother." Caspian was seething and visibly shaking.

I pulled them into my embrace, hugging them tightly, hoping that they'd understand that I was not leaving them now or ever again.

"I lost who I was in order to protect who I was left. My cousin, the prince, wanted to help me, so he had my mother's grave made so that I could remember who I was before her death, yet the pain it has cost me is too much to bear." Caspian finished explaining.

"No words can express your sorrow, Caspian. No child should ever go through what happened to you, but you can not let your anger subdue you. The prince is a smart man for wanting to help you, but you must take that first step to healing, and I promise you, I will be with you every step of the way." I reassured them, showing them the love I always had for them.

"I remember when we were younger, you would always insist on holding my hand, you would always laugh at my terrible jokes, and you would always be by my side. All these years we were apart tore what was left of my broken heart. I had lost my mother, and I had lost my love. I lost you, my dear Theodora." Caspian spoke as they gripped their chests.

I pulled their hands back and placed them in mine. Their once soft and smooth palms were now rough and littered with scars. Caspian pulled back, but I was quick enough to grab them. I held them close to me before lifting them up to my lips and kissing their hands.

"My love, I thought I had lost you, but you have always been here. I regret not having been by your side just as I have promised, but I am here now, and I am not letting you go that easily." I spoke, holding their trembling figure close to mine.

"But what of my cousin? You are to be wed to him in a few days. I can not disobey the king again, especially if it were for my own selfish needs." Caspian cried, and my heart broke hearing them.

"My heart belongs to you, and only to you, My Caspian. No matter what my family or yours says, I will only marry you; I will only love you." I comforted them, their figures still trembling.

"Then it is them to whom you shall be wed." A voice spoke.

Caspian seemed to recognize the voice and swiftly took their stance, bowing before the person. "My prince, I did not mean to disturb your night or take your lady. Please forgive me."

"At ease, Cas. You are not at fault here; you are only just following your heart, just like Auntie always told you to." Prince Jackson spoke before turning to me. "Theodora, I am sure that Caspian has revealed who they actually are and that you still love them like when you were younger."

"Forgive me, my prince, but I can not marry you, for my heart already belongs to them." I told him with honesty as I stood beside Caspian, holding their arm.

"Like I said, it is to them that you shall be married. My cousin may have revoked their title as heir to the kingdom, but they are still royalty. I'm sure my father will be happy to know that Caspian found their love again and that your family will be reassured for your safety, as Caspian is the strongest guard we have." Jackson smiled, nodding to Caspian. "I'll tell them everything; you both have nothing to worry about; you have each other at long last. Make the most of every day."

With that, he disappeared, returning to the castle. I turned to Caspian and found them on one knee.

"'Dora, my heart, my love, my lady, would you do me the honors and make me the happiest person by being mine?"

"Yes! Caspian, Yes!" I pulled them up to me and into a kiss.

It was as if two missing pieces found each other as Caspian wrapped their arms around my waist. Their lips still had that cherry flavor to them; of course it would; it was Caspian's favorite; it was slowly becoming mine as I deepened the kiss.

We separated for air, and Caspian had the biggest smile etched across their face. They slipped the ring on my hand, and I realized it was their family ring, seeing the crest of the kingdom on the ring.

"Caspian, I can't wear this." I told them as I tried to take it off, but Caspian stopped me.

"Don't, please." Caspian spoke softly as they admired the ring on my hand. "Father gave me this ring before he went off into battle. He told me to give it to you one day. He always knew it was going to be you long before I even fell for you. Father and Mother always considered you family, and I want that to be true, so please keep the ring."

"I love you, my knight." I spoke, placing my arms around their neck as they pulled me closer.

"I love you, my lady." They smiled again before kissing me once again.

"You will never be alone again, my sweet Caspian." I promised them once we separated for air. "Not as long as I live and breathe."

"My loving Theodora, I don't doubt that I will."