Chapter 20

Ronin's POV

After I took Freya to the border I sat in my room the whole day, knowing my end was near. I felt lost without Freya and the castle was eerie quiet without her. I felt lonely without her and I felt sad that I wasn't going to see her one last time...

The hours droned by and it was already late afternoon when I heard someone pounding on my door before they entered.

A fearful Moira stepped inside and her face was ghostly white.

"Sire, there is fae and elves at the door. They're here with swords and all. I heard them saying something about killing a bear." She said frightened.

"Then let them come, I have nothing to live for anymore." I said as I walked to my window and sat in front of it.

"But, sire-"

"No buts."

"Fine, if you won't stop them, I will." She said with a huff and stormed out of the room.

I know I should do something, but my heart ached and I did not have the physical strength to do anything. I never thought it was possible to miss someone so much.

As I stared out the window I could see my time was nearing as I heard crashing downstairs. I could hear the fight ensue and I couldn't care less. Without Freya the world didn't matter to me anymore.

Suddenly I heard footsteps near my door and I knew they were looking for me. But that fact didn't bother me and I kept staring out of my window.

My door burst open all of the sudden and four men stepped inside. I recognized one of them as the man in the mirror, Freya's father.

"Well well well, if it isn't the bear who stole Freya's heart." The elf that was infront of the group said as he gave me a deathly smile.

  - *-
Freya's POV

The pounding in my heart grew as the horse ran faster and faster. I was scared of what the duke might do to Ronin, and that fear drove me to go faster.

It was almost sun set when I arrived at the castle. I quickly rushed inside not bothering to tie up my horse. When I entered the castle I was completely shocked at the sight before me.

The servants were fighting against the elves and fae that were part of the duke's 'hunting trip'. Luckily nobody looked hurt, and I quickly screamed for them to stop.

The whole room froze and looked at me confused.

"Freya, what are you doing here?" Auliria asked the same time Moira said my name.

"Protecting the people who saved and helped me. These people are not our enemy and the bear did not kidnap me, he saved me. Seize this fighting at once." I ordered.

Auliria and her father looked at me before Auliria spoke once more,"But my uncle said-"

"He lied, he placed my father, Javier and  Rhid under some kind of spell and came here to kill the person I love so that he can have my powers. We need to stop him, where is he?" I asked.

"He went upstairs with your father." She said and I quickly ran up the stairs taking two at a time.

My thoughts raced and I could only hope Ronin was still alive. I quickly looked through all the rooms when I heard voices coming from Ronin's room.

The door was ajar and as I looked inside I saw my father's sword was lifted ready to kill Ronin. I quickly jumped infront of Ronin and used my mind manipulating power to make my father lower his sword.

Duke Aerolf screamed at my father to finish the job but his eyes was fixed on me as I tried to use my powers to break his spell. And to my surprise it worked for a few seconds later he looked at me with the normal sparkle in his eye.

"Freya..." he whispered and right at that moment the duke grabbed the sword and was about to kill Ronin himself. But luckily Ronin saw him coming and dodged his slashes before using his paw to hit the duke against the head. And with one blow the duke was out cold on the floor, completely knocked out.

Rhid and Javier also snapped out of their trances and when they saw me they all rushed over and gave me a group hug. A smile formed on my face and I felt right at home.

Our joyful reunion ended when I heard a loud thump from behind me and when I turned around I saw Ronin was laying on the floor looking at me with heavy eyes.

I immediately went to his side,"Ronin, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"No I'm fine Freya. I forgot to tell you... this was my last birthday." He said as he tried to smile at me.

"No, no it can't be. You have to wait for Carling she is on her way and she will save you. Please Ronin don't die. I need you-" I rambled on but Ronin's voice stopped me.

"Shhh, Freya it will be alright. Don't cry." He said and I only then realised that I was actually crying.

And just as he was about to close his eyes I grabbed him in a hug and whispered in his ear,"I need you, Ro. I love you."

As soon as the words left my lips something magical happened. A big yellow light surrounded Ronin. It's brightness grew and I had to look away.

Then it was gone and in it's wake was a man laying on the floor. The man sat up slowly and when he saw that I was staring at him with big eyes, he looked at his hands.

"I'm human again!" The man exclaimed.

"Ronin?" I asked as I eyed the golden eyed, dark haired handsome man dressed in princely attire, sitting infront of me.

"Yes Freya, it's me." He said and I grabbed him in a hug.

"You're alive."

"Yes, thanks to you." He said with a small laugh.

It felt so good to be in his embrace. Then I realised what he said and pulled back,"What do you mean thanks to me?"

"Well..." he said and he told me everything. How the curse could be broken by the words I love you, and I suddenly wished I had told him sooner.

We were so lost in our conversation that I completely forgot my dad was here along with my brother and Rhid.

"Dad, Javier, Rhid, I have someone I want to introduce to you." I said as I pulled Ronin closer to my family.

"This is Ronin, king of Etheria, and the one who saved my life." I said as I looked up at Ronin, who was quite tall and handsome, with admiration.

"Your highness." Ronin said with a bow.

My father eyed him apprehensively, before he pulled him in a hug.

"Thank you for saving my daughter." He said gratefully.

"It was my pleasure, sire." Ronin said as he gave me a smile.

"Please call me Keelan." My father said before he grabbed me in a hug as well.

"I'm so glad you are safe." He said.

I was about to say something when Auliria and her father entered the room along with Moira.

"Are you all alright?" Her father asked.

"Yes, we're great." My father said as the duke started to wake,"but he isn't. Freya care to explain how we ended up here under a spell?"

So I told them what the duke did and what happened since the ball up to this very day. I don't know who was shocked the most, my father or Auliria's father. The elven king told us that he has always known his brother's desire for the thrown, but he never thought it will result in something so drastic.

The elven king then ordered his knights to arrest his brother. He promised that he will lock him up in the elven dungeon. We walked them to the door. After that they left leaving Auliria and the rest of the fae knights behind.

The servants were standing around and I was glad they all were fine and completely human. They all had huge smiles adorning their faces and I could only imagine the joy they felt.

Ronin approached them and they all bowed their heads at their king. Ronin looked happy and rightly so. Moira grabbed Ronin in a hug and I heard her say something about I told you she would do it, before they turned to me. I gave them a smile.

"So you love him?" Javier asked from next to me.

"I do." I said honestly as I stared at Ronin who was talking to his servants, I'm just glad I realised it.

The knights were helping the servants clean the place when the doors suddenly burst open.

"Where is that formoggal!" I heard a very familiar voice scream and when I turned around I saw my mother standing at the door along with Carling and Tiberius behind them.

When my mother saw me she froze and I quickly ran over to her. She grabbed me in a bone crushing hug and I never felt so happy in my life to see her.

"Oh my sweet Freya. You're safe." She said as she brushed her hand over my head.

My father and brother joined the hug and it felt wonderful to have my family back. I finally knew who I was and where I belonged.

After our hug I went over to Carling and gave her a hug as well.

"You did it. You broke the stone wall." She said.

"What stone wall?" I asked perplexed.

"Powers will arise to save a kingdom from despise, time lessens with every petal fall. Hurry quick to break a stone wall. The powers is yours, the kingdom is Etheria and the petal fall is the rose the echantress gave the king. The stone wall is his heart, you changed his heart and saved him before the last petal fell." She explained and it all became clear.

I introduced my mother and Carling to Ronin and they immediately welcomed him into the family. Tiberius stood of to the side not wanting to break the family moment. His eyes were downcast and he gave Ronin a glance once in a while. I knew he wanted to talk to him so I grabbed Ronin's hand and led him to Tiberius.

"There is someone I want you to meet, this is Tiberius and if it wasn't for him I would've probably still be locked up." I introduced.

"Your highness." Tiberius said with a bow.

"Thank you for helping Freya." Ronin said.

Tiberius also apologized for what he had done, but Ronin set him at ease and Tiberius sighed in relief. After that Tiberius excused himself and went back to the fae realm to get his wife and child.

My mother and father adored Ronin and Javier and Rhid already challenged him to a sparring match.

While everyone was talking and helping to clean the mess the fight had resulted in, Ronin pulled me aside.

"Did you mean it?" He asked.

"Mean what?" I asked.

"Do you love me?"

"Yes, I do."

"Good, now I can do this." He said as he cupped his hand over my cheek and brought me in for a passionate kiss. And right then I knew I was finally where I belonged.