•Elsa's POV•

I wake up to someone carrying me gently and placing me on a trunk. For a minute, I forget where I am. I think I am in Jack's arms, his touch gently lulling me into a peaceful sleep.

There are no dreams here. Only nightmares.

   "Jack-?"

   One of the soldiers kicks me then hits me in the stomach. I groan in pain. Well, there goes my lunch.

You know what? I don't deserve this. No one deserves this, especially a lady. I spit at him, and he steps back in shock for a moment.

"Do it again, jackass."

My eyes gleam with fury and hatred at my attacker. He then smirks.

"Oh, I will," he says as he repeatedly kicks and punches me in the chest and face.

   Outside from the ringing in my ears and the pain I feel all over my body, I hear a familiar voice cry out,"My Lady!"

The leader then approaches me. He smacks me before I say anything else.

"Shut up, Selected. Now you're gonna tell us something. When you're with your precious prince, what does he do and where do you go? We know you're his favorite."

Why in the world would they want to know that? And why the hell would they want to know that?

"We just talk in the gardens." The rebel smacks me.

"You idiot! We know you've seen them. Where are the diaries?"

"Diaries? I've never seen any." I say, confused. What are they talking about?

And more importantly, why didn't Jack tell me?

Suddenly, I hear the sound of horses hooves. The palace guards....they're looking for me.

The leader puts his hand over my mouth as well as Maddox's. He looks up, his eyes showing a sign of anger and fear.

"Say one word and the prince dies.

I gasp, which still receives me a firm grip around my neck.

He's here. Jack's looking for me.

Elsa! Where are you!" He sounds so worried. And I can't say anything.

As I get weaker and can't breathe, I black out as I see his horse come into view. I hear him get off his horse and I see the rebel fall to the ground as he is shot dead.

He sees me, running to me like the world depended on him getting to me.

"Jack!" He swiftly picks me up and says,"It's okay, snowflake. You're safe now. You're okay."

I fall asleep to the rhythmic sound of his steady heartbeat. When I wake up, I'm in a hospital bed. Jack is beside me, sitting in a cot, his hands folded in his lap. His legs are shaking. He has a bandage on his hand. Probably from punching that guy.

He sighs, glancing over at me anxiously. "Good, you're awake. I was worried about you."

I look up into his eyes, fondness and love in my gaze.

"And I you." He looks at me fondly.

"You were?" I nod. He smirks, then he caresses my cheek as I close my eyes.

After a while, it stops. I open my eyes. "Jack?" He kisses my forehead.

"I'll leave you alone for awhile so you can rest. Heaven knows you need it, after all you've been through."

He gets up to walk away, but I stop him. "

"Wait. Will you, um, stay with me tonight?" He smirks, hjs eyes full of mischief. I roll my eyes. "Not that kind of spending the night."

He laughs. "I know. And I wouldn't do that...at least, not until we're married, anyway." He winks.  "Of course I'll stay with you. I'll see you after the Report, okay?"