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“What is it with your refusal to use G.P.S?” I sighed. “We’ve been driving for two hours.”

“I don’t need G.P.S,” Ashton protested stubbornly.

“Okay, not trying to alarm you or anything, but I think we just passed this spot for the third time.”

“That’s what you said about the last two spots.”

I stared out the window at the narrow, lonely road dotted with tall trees.

“Trust me,” he said, glancing over at me. “We’re almost there.”

I decided to trust him and hoped he was right about us not being lost. There was nothing but trees everywhere and everything looked the same to me. There was barely any road either. We’d taken so many turns and with each one, the road seemed to get smaller and smaller.

It continued like that for another five minutes and then Ashton cut the engines. I looked around at the dense vegetation surrounding us.

He gave me an expectant smile. I guess we were here. The trees danced as a soft breeze wafted through them. Their thick leaves brushed and crashed against each other. The sounds of birds chirping greeted my ears as I rolled the windows down. It was serenely beautiful.

“It’s beautiful,” I smiled.

“It gets better,” he said, leaning over to unbuckle my seatbelt. “We’re not exactly there yet. We have to go the rest of the way on foot.”

I cocked my head in curiosity as he got out of the car and came around to where I was.

“Come on,” he invited, tugging me out of the car.

An earthy smell mingled with the scent of pine greeted my nose. I lifted my face and allowed the bits of light that filtered down through the forest canopy to warm my skin. I trailed beside him, slowly as we picked our way over the thick, tangled tree roots on the ground. So that’s why he’d told me to wear comfortable shoes.

The forest was alive and brimming with curious creatures who stuck their heads out to watch us as we trekked up the path. A group of chattering squirrels scampered away as we came close and a flock of colorful birds flew past overhead as we made our way through the foliage.

“I didn’t peg you for a nature lover,” I stated as he helped me over a thick log.

A bead of perspiration trickled down my forehead. It was so humid in here.

“I don’t mind a few trees. Hiking’s somewhat of a hobby of mine.”

“Ooh, I just learned something new about you,” I grinned. “I should add that to my list.”

“You have a list on me?” he laughed. The melodic sound rang throughout the wooded area.

“Well, it’s more of a mental list. I keep track of the things you like,” I blurted in a rush.

He smiled to himself.

We continued along the winding path, and I delighted myself in the sound of my feet sliding through the underbrush. I giggled when the hanging moss tickled at my nose. I had to admit, it was nice just exploring nature like this. With Ashton.

“Is that… water?” I asked as we went deeper into the forest. A slight humming sound reverberated through the air and travelled through the damp earth to my feet.

“Yeah,” he answered. “It’s just up ahead.”

The closer we got, the more powerful the crashing sound of the water became. Ashton paused just where the wispy leaves of a massive willow tree formed a natural curtain arch, blocking our path.

He parted the shade of leaves in two. “We’re here.”

The scene in front of me took my breath away and left me utterly awe-struck. It was beautiful, no, marvellous. And yet even that word failed to describe it. Marvellous seemed like a colossal understatement that paled at the majestic sight before me.

The large waterfall was a billowing satin sheet of cerulean blue threaded with liquid silver. It gushed and tumbled down the rocks of the mountain as it thundered towards the base in a rushing torrent. It surged down a good one hundred meters and cascaded into a pool whose edges were white-whipped by the heavy flow.

Overhead, the sun shone down brilliantly, accentuating the translucent aquamarine pool at the base of the waterfall. The pool seemed to glitter and sparkle as if it was home to a thousand stars.

Delicate lady ferns and pillow moss dotted the banks of the pool. A soft, serene breeze rippled through the air and the sweet fragrances of geraniums and daylilies beckoned us closer.

It was a picture perfect panorama.

I closed my eyes as the cool spray of water kissed my face and then turned to face Ashton, who lingered behind me with a small smile.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it!” I grinned, taking his hand and pulling him closer. “How did you find this place?”

“I was just wandering around a few weeks ago. I needed to clear my head and I stumbled upon this place. I thought you’d like it, so I promised myself I’d take you here one day. I haven’t shown it to anyone else.”

My heart fluttered in my chest like a kaleidoscope of butterflies.

“Ashton it’s perfect. Thank you!”

I was genuinely happy that he brought me here. All the worries and feelings of hurt and sadness ebbed and slowly faded away as I basked in the grandeur of nature.

“I know things have been difficult for you,” he continued, taking my hands in his. “This can’t make up for everything but I hoped it would cheer you up.”

“It worked,” I beamed.

“There’s something I need to say,” he added softly, getting down on one knee.

For a split second, my heart thundered anxiously in my chest. Then my anxiety gave way to confusion as he did the official royal salute. He balled his right hand into a fist and extended his index finger across his heart.

“Ashton… what are you doing?”

“I brought you here to apologize for everything. On behalf of the royal family, I prince Ashton Levi DeLorentes formally apologize for all the damage and pain that has been inflicted on you and your family.”

“Don’t do that,” I whispered, dropping down beside him. “You don’t have to do any of that.”

“But I do,” he growled. “The king… what he did was horrible and I’m pissed at the way he’s forcing you into this. I know you don’t want this.”

“You don’t have to apologize for him,” I mumbled. “His actions are not your own.”

“I know that, but until I find a way to stop him, nothing’s going to change. My mom has been very upset about what he did too. She also sends her apologies.”

I stared at the ground. “It really is fine though. I’m not angry with you or your mom. If anything, you’re probably getting this worst than me."

I moved into a sitting position and he did the same. “You must have wished you never found me, huh.”

“Do you really think that?”

I looked up at him and he wore a frown. He sighed and took my hand.

“I don’t regret it, Elizabeth.”

“But-”

“No buts,” he smiled. His eyes bore into mine and I could see the emotions glittering in them.

“I only want you to be happy. And I know this isn’t going to make you happy. Your mom knew that, and that’s why she tried to save you… from my family.”

“She only suffered for doing that,” I mumbled sadly. “I don’t want to hurt anyone else.”

“If there’s anything I can do to stop this, I’ll do it,” he said, nodding to himself. “I won’t let him get to you, no matter what I have to do.”

I leaned against his shoulder and watched the never-ending flow of the waterfall. I liked this, just relaxing beside him without worrying about the king or anyone else. Why couldn’t it be this way all the time? What was I supposed to do with these feelings that were bubbling up inside of me?

Could I let them go like the waterfall? Should I?

I glanced up at him. He was staring off into the forest, not focusing on anything in particular. His mind seemed to be light years away.

How did he feel about this? Did he even like me in that way?

“I like you.”

“Hmm?”

“I like you, Elizabeth.”

I stared at him in shock. Was he reading my mind?

“I don’t think I ever really told you that before,” he mused, taking in my surprised expression with a slight smile.

“You- you what?” I breathed, as my voice finally came back to me.

“Do you want to hear me say it again?” he laughed. “I’ll say it as many times as you need to hear.”

“No… I mean, I heard you, but… why? How?”

“Because you’re Elizabeth,” he said as if that was an answer in itself.

“But you don’t like me.”

His forehead wrinkled with a frown. “What do you mean I don’t?”

I chewed on my nails as I searched for the words.

“I mean… I’m just me. I’m not the most beautiful or smartest girl, and I don’t like going to parties. I just thought you’d like someone like… Nicole.”

My cheeks were burning at that sudden confession. Ashton stared at me for a moment and his expression morphed into one of amusement.

“You’re not the most beautiful or smartest? I think I’ll disagree with you on that. If you could see yourself through my eyes, you would never say that. There’s nothing I would change about you. You’re everything.”

“You don’t have to say that to make me feel better.”

“You are very stubborn, aren’t you,” he chuckled, pulling me closer to him. “Elizabeth, the months I’ve spent with you, I’ve gotten to know you better and I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”

He rubbed his neck awkwardly. “It’s different… a nice kind of different. I like being with you.”

My lips parted at his sudden burst of honesty. I never expected Ashton to say that… like ever. I wanted to hug him and tell him that I liked him too. I wanted to tell him that I’d never felt this way about anyone before.

But I restrained myself from doing that.

I couldn’t let all my feelings out like a waterfall before I was sure of everything. I still didn’t want to become the queen.

I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. If only he wasn’t the crowned prince. If only he was a regular guy, then maybe… just maybe, we would have a chance to make each other happy.

“It’s contradicting, isn’t it?” he said after we’d been silent for a while. “I don’t want to make you do this, but at the same time I want to be with you.”

I understand, because I feel the same way.

I smiled up at him in response and went back to leaning on his shoulder. We both had a lot to think about.

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