Author's POV || Year 1214

Taehyung stopped reaching the top of the mountain in the forest as he sat down cupping your cheeks asking, "R-Rosecheeks! Are you okay??"
"Yeah.. I j-just... f-feel a little pain... *cough* in my neck." You said as he looked at you sadly before saying, "Hang in there! I will... I don't know what to do. They'll find us... I.." You smiled a little looking at him and said, "T-Taehyungah.."
"Mhm?" He asked worriedly as you spoke, "B-be the king... and b-be a good one."

"Is that what you should say to me right now?! Why are you acting strange? You'll be fine. Don't talk." He said as you chuckled weakly saying, "I know that too... I'll b-be fine. So, I'll w-watch you. Ah... t-this pain won't last long. Don't worry." 

He ran out to fetch some herbs for your aching throat as you waited until you spotted Albert with the Kings walking towards you both. Your eyes widened as Taehyung arrived in time, thankfully. 

"F-Father.." He spoke as the King sighed saying, "I thought Albert would fasten up his work. Instead, I'm going through this.."
"W-Why did you order Allbert to do that? Did you pretend all along?" He asked as the King sighed saying, "No... I'm fine with you meeting that girl. But, my patience had a limit. You should have the will to be the King, but not for that girl. Because... I'm very sure, you will not hesitate to abandon Hades for that mere girl. You're still hiding her anyway, aren't you? Deceiving your kingdom, your own family... for that human breed. Why should that witch deserve to live then?"

"Be a vampire before being a weakling. A weakling like you does not deserve to be the King. And these feelings? They'll fade once you take over the throne so throw them away in advance." The King said as Taehyung sighed.
"Stop! I never wanted to be the King! All I ever wanted was a peaceful life... but you always forced me into training. How to k*ll animals... how to run fast... how to endure pain. I don't want to learn any of them! But still, I'm willing to be the King, why are you deceiving me?" Taehyung asked as the King scoffed. 

After talking to the king for a while, he finally sent them away. Coming to you who was hiding behind a rock, he spoke, "I don't think they are gone so easily... You should head back quickly. Apply this at home." Taehyung spoke pointing towards the herbs in your hand as you nodded saying, "I will."

You both started walking as he spoke, "Should I carry you? Are you really fine?" You nodded smiling and said, "Let's just walk back." He nodded holding your hand as you both were walking.

You both were walking together but maybe it was not the end. Suddenly, an arrow pierced the tree beside you both making your eyes widen. You both looked up to see the King and Albert standing there. They lied, indeed.

"No way.." You gulped mumbling as he looked up to see Albert coming along with the King while the hunters were pointing their arrows at you both. Your eyes widened as Taehyung looked at them saying, "Y-you..."
"Deceived you again. Well... this is our 3rd time meeting, and I must say, you're still a kid." Albert spoke as Taehyung gulped staring at them in disbelief.

"If needed, I'll kill you along with that girl. Weaklings.." The King spoke as Taehyung looked at the hunters with a glare.
"If you shoot one arrow... I'll kill every one of them." Taehyung spoke as the King smirked saying, "Do so then. I'll take my leave, bring him once you're done. But if you feel like... he's become useless... abandon him."

They kept shooting arrows at you both as you tried to run away resisting them.

"I'll kill you!" Taehyung spoke glaring at Albert who was in front of you both right now. He smirked a little saying, "More men are coming... even though you're a vampire, you're powerless. What can you do?"
"Must I die...?" You whispered to yourself looking down as Albert replied, "Earning the heart of a vampire comes with a price." Albert smirked as two soldiers of Hades came forward holding Taehyung from behind while pushing you away. Your eyes widened as Taehyung screamed being pulled away by them.
"YAH! LEAVE ME!" He screamed but it was of no use. He tried his best to get rid of the soldiers but they were too strong for him. Albert smirked saying, "Run away if you want right now. But... I can't assure the Prince's safety."

"Run away!" Taehyung spoke struggling as you got up trying to run as fast as you could but Albert's words played in your mind as you looked behind seeing Taehyung struggling to get out.
"If I go now... we won't meet again, right?" You asked yourself as he looked at you shaking his head. You looked down before turning around and hearing him scream, "Run!!"

You hesitated while your heart was aching unbearably but you started running in the other direction. But your eyes widened and your breath hitched as you felt an arrow pierce right through your shoulder. You looked behind to see the hunters pointing their arrows at you. Taehyung who was held by the soldiers screamed, "STOP THEM!" 

"LEAVE ME!! STOP THEM! STOP!" Taehyung screamed tears falling from his eyes as Albert sighed walking. Taehyung screamed trying his best to get out of their hold but he wasn't able to. He looked at the soldier beside him and said, "If you don't leave me... I'll kill you first once I become the King." Taehyung's eyes widened as another arrow was shot at your waist. You let out a painful scream as tears left your eyes. Looking at Taehyung, you saw him screaming, "LEAVE ME!! I WILL KILL YOU ALL! LEAVE ME YOU B*STARDS!!"

"It h-hurts!" You cried falling on the found in pain. Taehyung screamed trying to shrug off the soldiers holding him. His eyes turned completely red and his fangs were visible.
"LEAVE ME!" Taehyung screamed in a deadly voice making everyone in the place shake.

Another final arrow pierced right through your chest as you were shaking. Your tears were falling from your eyes as your painful whimpers reached Taehyung's ears.
"AHHHHH!" Taehyung screamed biting the soldier beside him causing a ruckus in the place as he pushed everyone away running towards you. The hunter shot arrows at him but he guarded you crying loudly.

"R-Rosecheeks!" He cried, his tears falling on your cheeks as you cried saying, "I... h-hurts..."
"M...moth...er. T-Take c...care of.."
"D-Don't go..." He pleaded, crying. His eyes were bright red, his body was shaking. 

"I'll wait for you. Even if a thousand years, come back to me. Come b-back..." You nodded mumbling, "H-Hap..py... B-Birth..d-day.." Taehyung's tears fell on your face. Smiling painfully, You closed your eyes not being able to handle the pain as he kept crying. You let out a light sigh as Taehyung felt your body give up making his eyes widen.

***

"Tae!" You gasped, waking up. Your cheeks were soaked in tears, and your eyes were burning. You had been dreaming. It was a dream. A dream which made you cry like that. 

But no, the dream was real. You looked around to see an empty, luxurious room. It was dark yet pretty, bright yet calm. But you weren't fazed by that. You were crying, you were panicking. 
The dreams were real. You felt it all. The ache in your heart, the pain of those arrows... the pain of his eyes. It was him, he was right. 

You immediately got up, stumbling. 
"Your Highness!" A guard spoke who was standing near the bedroom door.
"Where is Tae... W-Where is T-Taehyung?!" You asked, panting. He saw how you were miserably crying. 
"He's... outside. The left end of the corridor." The guard spoke. You immediately dashed out. Your mind wasn't working, you needed to see him. 

You remembered everything. At this moment, you knew everything you had to. It all made sense. Everything made sense now. All those promises, all those betrayals... all those painful events and the cursed death. It all made sense, he made sense, you made sense. 

You reached the left end of the corridor. It was a huge door. You pushed the door with your force and barged in to see him standing there, staring at the door wide-eyed. He heard your running, didn't he?

You could see the surprise in his eyes. But at that moment, as you stared at him standing all alone, it seemed wrong. You had to be beside him, with him. Only then would it look right. Your eyes held his as your heart ached, all of your doubts suddenly went away somehow. All those doubts vanished, all those questions in your head all along were answered. It was him, the answer to all your questions, the conclusion to all your never-ending doubts. It had been him all along. 

"TaeTae.." You spoke. He looked broken at that moment. He was unreadable. The soft broken smile on his face, the tears in his eyes— all made sense. 
You didn't waste a single moment. You ran towards him, jumping in his arms forgetting everything else. He immediately held you tightly, his breath hitching. 
"I..." You were crying in his arms. He hugged you tightly, the least bit of gap was fulfilled, it felt complete— with him. 

He didn't say a thing. He was crying, along with you. You buried your face deep in his chest as he just held you. You could feel him kissing your head. 

This was all you needed. Him, the one who you loved and trusted the most, the one who you cared for the most, the one who you could die for, the one who had your whole heart. Even if it took you a long time, your heart still belonged to him. For a thousand years, it was always him, all along. It was him.