((UHM THERE IS 3K READS ON THIS STORY THATS INSANE I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH HERES ANOTHER PART OF FORBIDDEN))

Recommended Song(s) For This Imagine:
BLUE - Troye Sivan

The next morning, you woke up in a large bed in one of the many large guest rooms in the large palace. Everything was so large, and it made you feel so small. You brought your knees up to your chest, and thought about your family back home. Sure, your parents left you here, but you still missed James.

Suddenly, you couldn't take it anymore, ripping off the covers and dashing through the halls in just the nightdress they had provided for you. Your bare feet echoed as you ran on the cold tile, and you were not sure where you were going.

You were caught off guard by a pair of strong arms around your torso. You struggled at first, but quiet shushing and a hand rubbing your back calmed you down. The owner spoke soft, soothing words, and you recognized the voice. It was only Mark.

"Hey, Y/N. Where are you going?" He asked, still holding you comfortingly.

"I don't know." You told him truthfully, clinging to his arms.

"Well about we get some breakfast in you, then you can run around all you want, okay?"

"Okay." You nodded, following him towards the dining room, holding his arm in the proper way this time.

Everyone was polite to you at the table, Tom doing every kind gesture to you overzealously. After breakfast, you excused yourself to get dressed in your room.

"Y/N." The queen caught you by the door. "There's riding clothes in your room, the boys have offered to take you on a horseback ride."

"That sounds fun. Thank you." You nodded, continuing to walk towards your room.

The clothes were quite comfortable, and just your size. You wondered how they got your measurements. Outside, you wandered over towards the stables, admiring the beautiful horses they had. A jet black horse with patches of a deep chestnut stuck his head out towards you as you walked by.

You giggled, reaching out your hand to stroke its nose. "You're a handsome boy."

"That's Mirche, he was a gift from your father to mine, when they first made their alliance." Mark walked into the stables, sidling up to you to pet the horse as well. "His name-"

"Is Slavic for peace."

"Yes," he smiled, then gestured to the honey-colored mare in the stable next to Mirche. "He also gifted us Milu-"

"Slavic for gracious." You translated, eyeing the beautiful horses. "Gracious peace."

"I typically ride Mirche, but I think he's taken a liking to you, Y/N." Mark referenced the horse still nuzzling into your shoulder. "And besides, Milu needs some exercise, right girl?"

Milu whinnied in response, scratching at the ground, to which your friend laughed.

"And who's Tom going to be riding?"

"Tom isn't going to be joining us today. Apparently he got wrapped up in some sort of soon-to-be-king responsibility." Mark shrugged, unlocking the hatches on the horses' gates. "We could always wait until he's done, if you want."

You immediately shook your head. "If he's busy, he's busy. Mirche and Milu are eager to go, and so am I."

He grinned, swinging his leg up onto the saddle. "Well let's go then."

You pulled yourself up onto the horse, trotting after Mark. "So, where are we going, Prince Mark?"

"Well, Princess Y/N, that is a surprise." He caught you off guard by tapping the side of his horse, causing her to take off.

You clicked your tongue, urging Mirche on to keep up with them. As your hair billowed behind you in the breeze, you laughed at the freedom you felt. Mirche smoothly galloped through the trees, and you kept the golden hair of Milu in your sights.

Mark slowed down as you reached a clearing. The sight took your breath away. A small waterfall fed into a crystal clear river, and the moist soil helped many different hues of wildflowers bloom brilliantly. Luscious oak trees provided shade and green grass provided soft padding as you gracefully slid off your horse.

"This place is, magical." You breathed in awe, tying Mirche's reins to a tree.

"I know. I come here to think, to get away. They hardly notice I'm gone." Mark said, pulling some wrapped objects out of his saddle bag. "I brought lunch."

Sitting on the ground, you snacked on the crackers, cheese, and fruit he had brought as you talked and laughed together.

"Mark," you said, watching him skip a rock at the waterfall, then picked up one for yourself. "What are you planning on doing?"

"Well, I'm planning on riding back to the palace, then practicing my sword skills, then-"

"I meant in the future." You sighed, skipping the pebble one further than Mark's. "Tom is going to take the throne, what are you going to do?"

"Watch my brother marry my childhood crush." He muttered, focusing on the rock in his hand before angrily throwing it into the river. It plunked on the surface, then sunk to the shallow bottom.

Mark stomped away towards the horses, and you pulled off your shoes. Leaving them on the riverbank, you waded into the nearly still water. It was cold, and you wiggled your toes to suppress the shivers. You stuck your hand in the water, picking up the rock he had just thrown in.

Turning it over in your hand, you waked over to Mark, still barefoot. You held your closed hand out to him, and he reached out towards it. Gently, you set the stone in his palm, closing his fingers around it.

In your stay, you tried to keep away from Tom as much as possible and maximize your time with Mark. You'd claim a headache and lie down in your room, then sneak out the window to join Mark in the meadow behind the palace, out of sight. There, your love blossomed brighter and more beautiful then any of the flowers.

You held hands in secret under the table at meals, and exchanged chaste kisses in empty libraries.

One time during your secret meetings late at night, you were admiring the moon when the door to your bedroom quietly opened. You turned around with a big grin on your face to see Mark. He ran over to you, giving you a big hug. You held him tightly as he spun you around, and put a hand over your mouth to keep from laughing too loud.

"I love you, Mark." You whispered, burying your head in the crook of his neck.

"I love you too, Y/N." He replied, setting you down, a look of despair on his face. "Which is why this is so hard to say."

"What? What's wrong?"

"Tom loves you. He is planning on proposing to you in two days time. The marriage is next week."

"I don't want to marry Tom." You sat down on your bed, heart heavy.

Mark sat beside you, and you immediately leaned back into him for comfort. "Then don't." He entwined his fingers with yours.

"I can't say no to Tom, my family will never take me back."

"You won't have to say anything if he doesn't get to ask you."

"What are you suggesting?"

"That tomorrow night we run away together." Mark rubbed his thumb along your fingers.

"I'll go anywhere with you, Mark."