I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Twenty Seven

Several weeks had passed since my last meeting with Snowflake and I did not find myself regretting the decision.

It had been hard being without my lumeleopard, however, I was given multiple things to do to pass the time. I was given time frames to try on new clothes, selecting which ones to wear when I was presented to the public in each region. I was given more lessons, which I dreaded, but was gradually becoming better at.

I spent my free time with Spirit, my päästja's horse. He had been right; Spirit was an excellent listener. I told him of my day and what troubles had occurred. He listened quietly each time, looking at me with understanding eyes. Not once did he judge me, but instead seemed to enjoy our time together.

I spent much time with my päästja as well, when he wasn't busy. Most days, we had a late dinner together because he had skipped eating to catch up on work. It was becoming easier and easier to persuade him to leave his work behind and eat. We would stay together even when we finished, both of us catching one another up and simply enjoying each other's presence.

It is what we were currently doing, Chef Mason having made us a baked salmon dish. We were both finished, our plates stacked on top of one another and pushed to the side. We were enjoying light conversation about nothing in particular. It was when he discussed travelling that the conversation grew.

"Where would you prefer to be if you could visit somewhere new?" Prince Gordon asked, his green eyes on me. I smiled, tilting my head up in thought. Travelling wasn't something done within the leap as it was a right reserved for the leader, or in our case Kai's parents. Even then, they had seldom left the village.

My eyes lit up before I replied, "I would visit the ocean. The room I am in looks just as I imagined it would! I am not sure what I would do when I arrived. Perhaps lay in the sand." He laughed at my answer, amused.

"You have not been? It is truly one of the most beautiful places to go when you are alone. I have not been in quite some time," he said, and I shook my head.

"How can you when you work so often, päästja?" I teased before adding, "Perhaps when everything is over you and I will go to the ocean and swim! We can spend the night and watch the stars light up the sky." I could imagine it now, seeing something so ilus.

Prince Gordon did not respond right away, causing me to believe my words had been too abrupt. He would not be interested in seeing me anymore when everything was over, would he? There was no need and I would only be taking up unnecessary time.

"Prince Gordon, I did not mean to-" I started, the words rushing out but he interrupted me with a question.

"Are you busy, my dear?" I looked at him, studying his curious face. It was such an odd question that I was not sure how to answer.

"Busy when?"

"Now? Do you have plans after I leave?" he added, awaiting my answer.

I was slow to reply. "No, I do not. It is much too late to do anything. Do you?" I asked, growing more and more curious as to his sudden change.

He then smiled, his face brightening at my answer. "I do have plans. Would you like to accompany me for the rest of the evening?" he asked, thrilling me. It was kind of him to consider me, however, I did not expect less of my päästja.

"I do not want to burden you, Prince Gordon. I will-" I started, but he shook his head standing up before I could finish.

He offered me his hand, which I took without hesitation, rising from my own chair and facing him. "You are never a burden, my dear. Would you like to accompany me?" he repeated, and this time I found myself nodding, wanting to spend more time with him.

He led us out of the room, leading us outdoors. I could see that the day was ending, the sun already settling down for the night. However, Prince Gordon had other ideas as he requested a carriage be ready, signaling that perhaps our night had just begun.

We stepped into the carriage, an enforcer joining us before I asked Prince Gordon where we were going. He briefly responded, telling me that it was important to make the most of our time together. I agreed with him, wondering how we would be able to at night.

"How is Princess Ewells?" I asked. I wondered whether they still talked or if he had decided to decline more than just her event.

"She and I talk regularly. She is showing interest in me now," he said, although he did not sound as happy as I might have.

"I am happy for you, päästja. You are closer to your fairy tale ending!" I exclaimed my voice light despite the fact that I wondered whether I was walking further and further from my own ending.

Prince Gordon was studying me, seeming to have read my expression well. "I deeply apologize for removing Kai from the palace. I would not have if I did not think keeping him within the palace would place me in serious danger," he said softly and I shook my head.

"It is not your fault, päästja. I understand. I just wish that Kai would sometimes see that his ways were not the correct ways all of the time," I replied, a frown forming on my face. Kai was too stubborn for his own good in that way.

"Kai is right to fight for you, my dear. I do not blame him in any way for doing so. I believe in fighting for true love, not allowing it to leave and waiting for it to come back." That is exactly as I had done with Kai, hoping that all would be fine by the time everything was over.

"Kai is not fighting for me, Prince Gordon. He is fighting for our leap and our past. Not only that but also to prove his dominance over you. If Kai were fighting for me, he would've listened to me, even just once," I said angrily, my emotions clashing the more and more I thought about it.

I loved Kai, but it was hard to believe that the would have both survived had he stayed at the palace. Would I have told him we were not meant to be when he pushed the last button? Would I have known what the last button was? Or was I supposed to allow him to be and accept it as a sacrifice for our relationship?

"Perhaps Kai never learned how to share his love unless he was protecting those he cared for, Ivy. We all learn in different ways," he said lightly, trying to clear my anger.

I smiled and nodded, although I did not agree with him. Kai knew how to how to make me happy, how to give me affection. He was simply being stubborn, afraid to end up being the one who submitted.

The ride was longer than expected. I thought perhaps it was just a night ride with no destination, but I was proven wrong as an hour passed. By the time another passed, even the enforcer was curious about our destination, looking outside the windows and at Prince Gordon, but he refrained from asking.

When we arrived, I instantly knew where he'd taken us. Even having never heard the sound, the waves' fierce roars were a distinguished sound. I found my eyes widened, a smile blossoming on my face as I looked at Prince Gordon.

The moment we pulled to a stop, I rushed outside and was greeted by the playful wind, still awake even though the moon and star had begun their duties.

The first thing I noticed was how large it was. It didn't matter whether I looked in front of the water towards the horizon, or if I let my gaze travel from end to end. I could not find a stopping point, the waves rushing forward before retreating back to its vast home.

It had a stronger smell than I had expected, but not one that was unwelcome. It smelled salty, its fresh mist lightly landing on my skin and cooling me down.

It was rhythmic, the way the waves washed towards me and left at a steady tempo. The view was much like a portrait. The ocean was the mesmerizing landscape while the moon and his stars played and danced on the backdrop. It was beautiful, much more beautiful than I was able to describe with my words.

Prince Gordon joined me, standing next to me with his hands in his pockets and a brief smile on his face as he looked at me. "Do you like it?" he asked, watching me.

I returned his smile with an even bigger one before surprising him when I threw my arms around him, hugging him. "Thank you, päästja. I could not have asked for anything better," I whispered in his ear before leaning back and running my nose along his.

I caught him by surprise, but he leaned into me, pressing his forehead against mine. I opened my eyes, finding his green eyes staring at my own with a soft fondness. I was the one who pulled away, my eyes straying to the beach once again.

"What would you like to do first, my dear?" he asked, and I smiled, thinking about the endless possibilities.

"Build a sandcastle. We used to attempt building them in the dirt within the village and failed miserably. We just ended up making clumps of clay," I said, Prince Gordon laughing at my response.

We walked closer to the beach, bits of wet sand slipping onto my sandals and tickling my feet. When we finally found a suitable dry spot, I immediately sat down, pondering how to begin building it.

I did not expect my päästja to join me seeing as he was wearing a white suit with black slacks, however, he surprised me when he sat down across from me and helped me build the sandcastle.

It was a pitiful thing, in the end, our sandcastle. If we were closer to the waves I was sure that it would collapse in on itself with little to no hesitation. Despite this, I fell in love with the crude structure. It was most likely a once in a lifetime event for me and I was proud of the small castle.

"We need a flag, päästja," I declared, looking around. I was thinking about what we could use when Prince Gordon suddenly stood up and walked alongside the ocean. I watched him as he did this for a moment before bending down to pick something up and returning to me.

On the top of our sandcastle, he placed a small brown and white seashell. I grinned, pleased with it. We had created our own moment at the beach, our own experience. This sandcastle would not last long I was sure, but it would forever be ingrained within my mind.

I found myself running towards the ocean next, taking off my sandals before my feet met with the water, its currents pushing me backward. I fought, moving forward and greeting the ocean until I found it difficult to stand up.

It was up to my thighs by now, the lower half of my dress floating above the water. I could feel the water rushing around my body, ignoring the new obstacle, simply pushing me back and forth.

I took another step forwards, choosing to so at the wrong time. Just as I did, the water rushed at me, shoving me backward. I found myself become unsteady, falling. But instead of becoming submerged, I was caught by a pair of arms, pulled towards a firm chest.

I laughed, turning towards Prince Gordon. "This is the most fun I have had in quite a while, päästja. Thank you!" I said excitedly, giddy from my surroundings.

"You are welcome, my dear. You deserved a break from everything more than I did. I thought perhaps coming here would give both of us just that," he explained, running his thumb briefly along my cheek, warmth spreading along the skin he touched.

Once again, I found myself forgetting the intended path my heart was on as it stuttered, losing its way.

Lumeleopard- (snow leopard)

Päästja- (savior)

Ilus- (beautiful)