Daffodil ~ A gift of daffodils is said to ensure happiness. The bright petals represent rebirth, chivalry, devotion, or unrequited love. A single daffodil stems represent misfortune.

   Maroon flew at rapid speed, the kingdom slowly disappearing behind him as he cradled Jasmine in his arms. He held onto her body tightly as he landed in a snow-covered forest, his feet crush the snow below him. He began to walk towards his destination to me up with Rose, who will then lead them both back to her place, which stood alone in the woods. It's actually is a very lovely place to visit, and Maroon was sure it would be safe enough for him and Jasmine to stay.

Jasmine laid silently in Maroon's arms as he walked, past out due to the amount of blood she lost. Maroon couldn't help but feel guilt when he looked down at his beloved. Jasmine's ripped wing dragged on the ground, her golden blood dripping from the open wound. He tried his best to lift if up, but Jasmine me would groan in pain in her sleep when he did. The guilt inside him just built up more and more," I-I should have never left you...I never should have flown off that night...I-I should have stayed with you but-" His voice cracked as he spoke, regret lacing his voice as he fought back tears," I ended up listening to your cries and left....God! I was so stupid..."

One of Maroon's tears escaped his eye, landing on Jasmine's pale cheek. And with that, Jasmine awoke from her slumber," M...Maroon...?" she mumbled, her eye barely open," w...why are you crying...?"

Maroon smiled and shook his head," It's nothing princess. I'm glad you're awake, but you should probably get more sleep." Maroon states, giving Jasmine a loving smile. This gave Jasmine comfort, but she was curious as to where she was and tried to sit up in Maroon's arms, only to fall back in pain," Hey, you should be more careful. We haven't taken care of that wing yet."

" W...Where are we going...? W-Where are we?" She asks as a cold breeze blows by, making goosebumps appear on her arm. She shivers and rubs her arms in hopes of warming herself up.

Maroon noticed now cold Jasmine was; she has never left the castle before, and snow isn't something that is common in the kingdom she lived in. Maroon extended his wings from his back and covered Jasmine with them, acting as a blanket to Jasmine," We're on earth. I'm taking us to a friend's place. We'll be safe there." Maroon replies, turning his attention back on the snow-covered road ahead of them.

" O...Okay..." Jasmine says shortly after, snuggling into Maroon's chest more. A small smile graced her lips as she enjoyed the warmth that radiated off her lover. She thought she'd never get to see Maroon again. Be able to hug him, kiss him, talk to him, ever again.

After a half hour of them walking, Maroon came to a clearing in the woods. Jasmine was once again asleep in his arms, snoring softly with her head placed above Maroon's heart. In the middle of the clearing stood a girl with long, midnight black hair, skin as white as the snow around her. She was tall and curvy, and had cat-like green eyes that surveilled the area around her. She had a blood red coat draped around her, it's large hood on as well. Once Maroon was close enough, the girl turned around, then gave a mischievous smile," You're late." Rose states, crossing her arms on her chest as she smirked at Maroon.

" Yeah...kinda had a few set backs." Maroon replies, opening his wings up and gesturing towards the sleeping Jasmine in his arms. Rose eyes went wide before rushing to Maroon's side, examining Jasmine's wing.

" Who knew angels could be so cruel?" Rose says, trying to gently grab a hold of Jasmine's wing. But Jasmine would whimper anytime Rose would come close to grabbing it. Rose sighed and stood up," Well...you're lucky they didn't rip the wing completely off."

" Will she be able to fly again?" Maroon questioned, desperately wanting to know the answer.

Rose sighed and scratched the back of her neck," I think so..? It's kinda hard to tell, since...you know, part of the wing is hanging off like dead skin." Rose replies.

" Can't you, ya know, use your witchy powers to heal it or something?" Maroon asked before receiving a punch in the arm from Rose," Ow! What was that for?"

" That's not how witchcraft work you jackass." Rose snapped," I can't just 'magically' heal someone with the snap of my fingers. It's takes time...and A LOT of magical energy."

" Well...will you be able to fix it though?" Maroon questioned, worry swimming in his eyes.

Rose sighed for the third time today before nodding," Yeah...it can be fixed. She won't be able to fly for a year or two, but it will mend itself if we keep doing the small healing treatment every day."

Now it was Maroon's turn to sigh, only it was in relief," Thank god...I don't think I would have been able to live with myself."

" I think you would have found a way." Rose says, nudging Maroon's shoulder," By the way you talk about her, I'm sure you would have brought her to every witch and warlock on earth."

Maroon chuckled," Yeah...you're probably right." He said as Jasmine stirred in his arms. Her eyes slowly flutter open, her sapphire eyes gazing up at at Maroon's ruby red ones," Sorry if I woke you princess."

She shook her head softly, trying to sit up in his arms again," Y-You didn't..." she replied before she met eyes with Rose," W...Who is she?"

Rose smirked before lending her hand out to Jasmine," The name's Rose." she answered as Jasmine slowly grabbed Rose's hand, shaking it weakly," I'm an old friend of Maroon's."

" P-Prince- I-I mean...J-Jasmine. It's nice to meet you." Jasmine shakely stated as she cuddled closer to Maroon's chest for more warmth. Maroon got the hit and covered her with his wings again. She smiled as she laid her head on his chest, her eyes slowly fluttering close.

" She fell asleep again..."

" Blood loss. We should get her back to my place before she looses more."

Maroon nodded and followed Rose through the snow-covered woods, both as silent as the woods around them. There was not a critter in sight, not birds chirping, not animals running around. Only silence.

Ten minutes past before Jasmine awoke again, but she did not know why. She looked around in confusion, trying to figure out what woke her. Something inside her was warning her, that something was coming," Jasmine? Are you ok?" Maroon asked, worry lacing his voice.

" I...I'm fine..." Jasmine replied, unsure about her own answer. Maroon adjusted Jasmine's position in his arms, allowing her to lay her head on his shoulder while Maroon's wings remained covering her like a warm blanket. A small smile graced Jasmine's lips as she drew circles on Maroon's chest subconsciously," I-I love you Maroon..."

Maroon smiled before placing a kiss upon Jasmine's head," I love you too princess." he whispered, causing Jasmine to giggle. That giggle seemed to brighten Maroon's world, just seeing her smile brought a smile to his face.

As the two love birds continued to whisper sweet nothings to each other, Rose walked a head, looking back occasionally on the two lovers to see them both smiling at each other with loving looks in their eyes.

Rose chuckled," Love is so weird..." she said to herself, looking back at the path in front of her with a small smile.

Jasmine stared up at the snow-covered branches above her as she laid her head on Maroon's shoulder. But something caught her attention; a group of dark dots seemed to be following them. From afar, they seemed like bugs, but they kept getting closer. Jasmine squinted her eyes, trying to make out the objects. She tried to sit up more in Maroon's arms, but fell back due to pain," Careful Jasmine." Maroon warned.

" B...But I-I think I see something f-following us..." Jasmine protested, stopping Rose in her tracks.

Rose turned around and stared up at the sky, now noticing the three figures coming closer and closer by the minute," Rose? What's-"

" Palace guards." Rose stated, scowling," Damn!"

" They really don't give up, do they?" Maroon grumbled as Jasmine trembled in fear in his arms.

" Come on. We need to split up." Rose stated, turning her back on Maroon and Jasmine.

" Split up? Are you crazy?!" Maroon scolded.

Rose snapped her head back, glaring at Maroon," We don't have time to discuss this Maroon. Just take off east, I'll go west. We'll meet up once the coast is clear."

" H..How will we f-find you...?" Jasmine asked as she clutched Maroon's shirt in fear.

Rose smirked and pulled out her magical mirror," Don't worry. I have this for a reason." She stated before putting back into her pocket," Now go."

Maroon didn't respond, and only nodded before taking off running into the woods. Rose watched as Maroon and Jasmine vanished from her sight, her face showing no emotion. She then stared up at the group of incoming guards, cupping her hands around her mouth as she shouted," HEY ASSHOLES! OVER HERE!" she frantically waved her hands in the air as she jumped up and down, catching the attention of most of the guards, who now began to fly towards," YEAH! COME AND GET ME!"

Rose then bolted in the opposite direction of Maroon and Jasmine, with a group of guards following her with spears in their hands. But two guards remained on Maroon's tail.

Jasmine watched as the two remaining guards followed behind them, her eyes wide with fear," T...They're f-following us..." Jasmine squeaked, causing Maroon's head to snap behind him.

He growled and turned back around, running faster. But they were catching us fast, which made Jasmine cling to Maroon for dear life," Hold on tight." Maroon said as he removed his wings from Jasmine, expanding his wings behind him before taking off, now flying above the ground.

Maroon tried to shake the guards off their tail, but they refused to leave. And it seemed that the guards got tired of chasing and began to throw spears at them," M..Maroon! T-They're shooting at us!" Jasmine yelled, digging her head into Maroon's chest in fear as spears and other weapons zoomed passed them.

" We'll be ok Jasmine! Everything will be-" Maroon stopped mid-sentence before he crashed into the snow, Jasmine falling out of his grip.

She tried to brace herself for impact with her wings, but was unable to use her right wing due to it being ripped. So she tried to use her arms to brace herself, but the impact was still as painful. Jasmine landed with a thud onto the snow-covered ground, landing on her ripped wing which caused more blood to gush from the wound. Jasmine cried out in pain, rolling off her bad wing. She slowly picked herself off the ground, her body trembling as she sat on her knees. Tears streaming down her face as she searched for Maroon," M....Maroon....? W...Where a-are you...?" she called out, surveilling the area for her lover," A....Are y-you ok-"

Jasmine's body completely froze, her eyes wide at the sight before her...

Maroon laid lifeless on the ground, a guard's spear impaled in his chest," N..No...M-Maroon..." Jasmine slowly crawled towards Maroon's side, a trail of her golden blood staining the ground behind her. She didn't care how much it hurt to move, she had to keep crawling till she got to his side. Jasmine let out cracked sobs as she weakly shook Maroon's body, begging for him to wake up.

Maroon's eyes opened only halfway, blood dripping from his mouth," P...Princess..." he said, a weak smile on his face.

Jasmine gasped," M...Maroon! H-Hey, stay with me. R...Rose w-will be here soon..." she stated, grabbing a hold of his hand and squeezing it tightly," S...She'll f-fix you up...p-promise."

Maroon didn't replied, but only raised his free hand up and cupped Jasmine's cheek, rubbing it soothingly," G..God...y-you have the m-most beautiful eyes..." He said before coughing up more blood.

" S-Shhhh...s..save your b-breath..." Jasmine replied, tears creasing her cheeks.

" I...I l-love you Jasmine...y-you are my w-world..." Maroon began, his hands trailing down Jasmine's face, memorizing every groove and curve, knowing it'll be the last time he sees it. Or so he thinks.

" M..Maroon. D-Don't talk like that...y-you'll make it." Jasmine protested, but Maroon only shook his head as he coughed up more blood which splurted onto Jasmine's already stained clothes," P..Please...y-you can't leave me Maroon...y-you can't..."

Jasmine placed Maroon other hand on her stomach," Y...You h-have a child...y-you're going to be a f-father..." She stated, feeling Maroon weakly rub his thumb on her stomach.

Maroon let out a weak laugh," A-A father...n-never thought I'd b-be one..." he replied, gazing at Jasmine with half-open eyes," I...I'm s-sorry I won't be there...w-when you give birth...o-or when they have t-their first steps...o-or say their f-first words..."

Jasmine let out more broken sobs," P...Please Maroon...d-don't leave me..." she begged, bawling her eyes out.

Maroon raised his hand again, wiping away Jasmine's tears," H...Hey...d-don't cry princess..." he stated, giving Jasmine one last smile," Y..You l-look better when you're s-smiling..."

Those words shot a painful arrow through Jasmine's heart as Maroon's body went limp, his mesmerizing red eyes shutting for the last time," N..No...p-please...d-don't do this to me..." Jasmine begged, getting no response from Maroon. She let out another broken sob as she laid her head on Maroon's unmoving chest," P...Please...I-I can't lose y-you too..."