The bright rays of warm sunlight shone through the cracks in her curtains, waking Marie. She turned over and stretched, feeling entirely well-rested and serene. The events of the night before, began to play over in her mind. Filipe's smarmy words, Harry's impulsive ones and, the most surprising of them all, Leopold's sincerity...as well as her transformed ideas about him. She lay there for a few moments, thinking it all over and over again.

A steady knock on her door breaks her thought process and she quickly covers herself. "Yes?" She's surprised when Leopold's head peeks in. "What are you doing here?" He smiles at her.

"May I come in?"

"I suppose so..." She smiles back, softly. He walks over and sits down on the edge of her bed.

"We signed the treaty with the Spaniards earlier this morning...they've already left for their boats!"

"That's wonderful, Leopold."

"It is, isn't it?" She's unsure of what this means for them. He takes one of her hands in both of his own. "What are you doing today? Have you got any plans set?"

"Not that I'm aware..."

"Come with me, will you? I want to show you something." A wave of sadness comes over her. She had wanted to see Harry...explain to him that—well, she wasn't sure what she needed to explain to him.

"What are you going to show me?"

"Well, if I told you...it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?" She bites her lip, fighting the smile that's trying to take over.

"What shall I dress for?" He shrugs.

"Leisure, of course!" She thinks about this for a moment.

"Alright, fine then." She pushes the sheets away from herself and steps out of bed. She catches him looking her up and down and then he's shaking his head, returning to reality. "Well, go on, leave me to get dressed!" He takes both of her hands, kissing them before grinning and leaving her alone in her room. She chooses not to call for her ladies, instead, she quickly washes herself down and twists her golden waves into a loose braid. The soft tulle of her sand colored dress isn't easy to climb into herself, but she manages to figure it out on her own. Soon she's checking her reflection in the mirror, ready to go.

Upon stepping out of her chambers, she watches Leo push himself off the wall and walk towards her. "That was...surprisingly quick, my lady..."

"What were you expecting? Hours and hours of dreadful waiting, only for me to be horridly made up and dressed in some ridiculous costume?" He smiles and folds his hands behind his back.

"You look lovely, Princess."

"And you look like...a very handsome prince."

"Different than usual then?"

"Oh stop...you're quite...enchanting."

"Enchanting?!" He scoffs, though humor is heavily laced in his tone. "I'd like to think that enchanting is the wrong word."

"What word shall I use then?"

"Handsome, heroic...I'd even settle for alluring."

"Well, someone is very full of themself."

"To be fair, I don't think I'm any of those things, but I'd rather be nothing than enchanting!" They laugh together easily and fall into step, gliding down the corridors. They make light conversation and Marie pokes and prods, trying to get more insight on his plan for their day. The castle grounds were beautiful...the grass, trees and shrubs were greener than ever. The sky was a vibrant blue and the birdsong was cheerful. They entered the stables and Leopold requested both of their horses to be readied for riding. "I hope you don't mind...I spent some time with Lune the other day. He's a strong horse...I can tell he's loyal."

"I remember when he was a foal, he was the best gift I've ever been given. As a young princess, my parent's only child...I wasn't allowed many friends—actually, I wasn't allowed any friends. He became my friend, I suppose. I spent every day with him and we grew together and he's always been by my side."

"Harry and I...we weren't allowed many friends either. If we'd not had one another, I fear our childhoods would have been terribly lonely." At the mention of Harry, she feels a pit of sadness in her belly. "My brother...he's been different. Since you came here, he's changed." Unsure of where he was going with this, she stayed quiet. "Thank you."

"What?"

"He respects you, and I believe he wants to be better. He's always been so impulsive and pig-headed...with no regard for our family or our kingdom."

"Were you...are you close with him?" He shrugs and fiddles with the leather of his belt.

"We used to be the best of friends...but in the past few years, he's become..." He's clearly struggling with the right words. "He's selfish and petulant. He treats women like they are nothing—"

"In what way?" She counters, wanting to know the reasoning behind this statement.

"He's made his way through half the kingdom by now...he's been with all of your maidens, I know that to be true." She didn't believe him. That was not the Harry she knew. "And I hate to speak ill of him, for he is still my brother, and I love him. He's just spent so much of his life in rebellion against our family and the throne."

"But...you said he's changed?" The pit in her stomach has only worsened.

"He has, yes. Rather...he's gotten better. He's cut his escapades fairly. For now, I believe he's only bedding half of your maidens." Marie felt like she'd been slapped. He wouldn't. He was her's, he'd said it so many times. Leo isn't aware that he's upset her until he turns and observes the look on her face. "Marie, your ladies make their own decisions...don't worry about any of this, alright?"

"He didn't—doesn't seem like that person."

"He's very...good at portraying himself otherwise. But like I said, just keep being his friend. I think you make him understand his place...you make him want to be better."

"I suppose." She forces a smile, though still very much sick to her stomach. As the horses are brought to them, her mind is still elsewhere. That is, until Leo gently takes her cheek in his hand.

"Marie..." He says softly, "Be here with me." She urges herself to snap out of the sour mood she's gotten into. Instead, she chooses to be in the moment with Leo. To truly be present with him.

"Why don't you take me to your surprise destination, my lord." He grins and helps her onto Lune's saddle, then he jumps onto his own Arabian steed.

"Follow me." They take off together riding towards the castle gate. The warm spring breeze blows Marie's hair back and she can't believe how marvelous it feels against her skin. This must be the faintest idea of what it feels to be free. 

They ride away from the stone walls and towards the cliffs of Lochmore. The cliffs that are covered in beautiful pink flowers and waving, green reeds. They race and they laugh and Marie doesn't remember a time, even with Harry, where she felt so unbelievably untethered and independent. This was a different kind of happy. The right kind. The kind that wasn't forbidden or frowned upon, this was how she was supposed to feel with the man whom she was supposed to be with. After about half an hour of riding away from the castle grounds, the horses finally slow to a stop atop a flower-coated hill. Marie let herself breathe, finally breathe. The gentle waves lap up against the sandy shore and she feels entirely at peace. How truly spectacular this is; her favorite view so far. "Shall we take the horses down?" Marie can only nod her head, following her prince until they are on the soft sand. He jumps down and then secures his hands around her slim waist, lifting her off Lune. He takes her hand and leads them closer to the water. "This is my favorite place in the entire kingdom..." He watches the water, mindlessly. "I come here when I'm scared. I'm reminded that...we are so insignificant."

"Are we?" Without thinking into it, his arm twists around her waist as he gestures to the vast, blue water.

"Look at this world, Marie...look at this ocean. It could go on forever and we would have no idea. We are but two beings in this universe...that really, we know nothing about. The stars and the moon...the sun! We have no idea what is out there. We're going to be King and Queen of England one day, but imagine...ruling this world. What an immense world it is." As he stared out at the water, Marie took him in. He was terribly handsome. His skin, unlike his brother's, was bronze and littered with freckles. His hair was a lighter, honey brown and it curled around his face. He looked down at her, catching her gaze. "What?" She shakes her head, trying to fight her smile.

"Nothing." It's his turn to take her in.

"Have you ever heard the story of the sun and the moon?"

"I don't think I have." His hand traces down her arm and his fingers intertwine with hers.

"The Sun loved the Moon so much, he died every night so that she could breathe."

"That doesn't sound like much of a story to me."

"Marie..." He chuckles and pulls her closer. "Think about the story behind it."

"It sounds like a very sad story about sacrifice. He sacrifices himself for her."

"Exactly." His hands are slightly rough as he cups her face, delicately. "You've sacrificed everything to be here." Her upper lip begins to tremble and her eyes fill with tears. "I am not the Sun. I will sacrifice anything you want...I said it last night and I'll say it again and again...I just want you to be happy. In every way." She lets her fingers curl around his leather vest.

"I already feel more at home." He catches the first tear that slips from her eyes.

"Please, allow me to be your home. Wherever we are...whatever happens, I'll be your home and you'll be mine." She searches his face for assurance and she finds it. His heartfelt candor was the clarity that she'd been looking for.

"If I ask you for something...would you do it for me?"

"Tell me, whatever it is...I will do everything in my power to make it happen."

"Kiss me?" His eyes are filled with surprise, and maybe confusion. "I know we shouldn't, we're not even married yet—" Without letting her finish, he presses his mouth against hers. His hands keep her lower back steady and when they pull apart, she's once again, left breathless.

"I've never kissed anyone before, so if that was rubbish—" She cuts him off this time, and it's even better. Their lips move together fluidly, like the gentle lapping of waves against the sand.

"I don't think it was rubbish." She smiles up at him, "Are we allowed to...you know, do this?" He chuckles.

"I don't know, but I don't think I want to stop." They kiss again. There's a part of her that feels terrible because of Harry, but the other part...the part of her that's afraid of what Leo said, was afraid. Harry was so good to her, but he was also very clearly experienced when it came to women. Was she just one of his many? She was the Princess of France, engaged to his brother, with an entire country at stake. Had she fallen for his charms without thinking her life through? She hadn't even given Leopold a chance before jumping into Harry's arms.

"Why haven't we gotten time like this?" Marie asks him, quietly.

"I have been inundated with the Spaniards and my father has been...expecting me to handle all of it. But...I'm not sure I'll ever be as good as he is...at any of this." She gently rubs his arm. "I had no idea what I was doing. All week. I've been completely in over my head and he just...stood there and left me stranded." Marie found herself caressing his face, softly.

"Leo, they signed the treaty. You made the deal happen, didn't you?" He sighs and leans further into her hand.

"Promise me something?"

"Hm?"

"We make decisions together. Always. You and me, I want us to rule this kingdom together. Every choice will be ours."

"Together?" She can't really believe that he's made such a seemingly drastic turn. Only a week ago, he had sent her off to her room without supper because of her outburst against Filipe.

"Together."

"I am not lesser than you." He pulls away so that he can look at her.

"No, you are not. I'd never even begin to think otherwise."

"You did though...when I spoke to Filipe this week, you sent me away to my room like I was a child. He was disrespecting me and he was disrespecting you and because I said something a little bit too snide and you refused me supper." He closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose, then he pulls her down next to him in the sand.

"I was...not well—all week, I have not been myself. My father made me feel like the world was atop my shoulders. Anything I've said to you...including last night before we danced...I don't want you to take any of it to heart." Marie nods and Leo kisses her hands. "Before you arrived, I was completely petrified to marry you. All I kept thinking was that you were going to be...well, a hag." Marie covers her mouth, embarrassed after snorting out an unexpected laugh. He chuckles as well before continuing on. "I'd never seen you before, we'd never spoken. For all I knew, you were an awful, unkind woman. I'd heard great things but, the people saying them weren't marrying you. I was so frightened...but then I saw you. You stepped out of the carriage in that beautiful blue dress and you looked just as scared as I had been. But, of course, there was still a chance that you were wretched." His fingers come up and he strokes her face. "You were not. I saw you and then we were introduced and you were not anything like I'd imagined. You were kind and brave..."

"And I was terrified." She whispers, "I have been terrified."

"I know." He says, and she believes that he truly does. "And if you still are, I understand...I just want you to trust me. We have each other, Marie. To lean on and if you're afraid, I'll be right beside you. Just like I know you'll be beside me. We are not alone anymore—you are not alone here. I swear to you, you never will be." Harry had said such similar words. Marie leans forward, without a word, and kisses him.

"You are not the man I thought you were."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" He muses, a smile playing his his lips.

"C'est une chose merveilleuse."

"Marvelous...?" He guesses wrong, which has her giggling.

"You're marrying the Princess of France and you don't know French?!" He chuckles and pulls her waist in, whilst the soft tulle of her dress bunches up in his arms.

"Will you teach me?"

"You...are marrying...the Princess of France!" He lays down in the sand and pulls her on top of him, both of them laughing heartily now.

"I'm sorry, my darling."

"I said...that it is a wonderful thing."

"Wait...what is?" He's momentarily lost. "Oh! I am not the man you thought I was, yes?"

"My parent's marriage was arranged and I know that there is no love between them. I think...maybe there is some respect, but that is all there is. And I've been so afraid of not having it."

"Well, I believe that we're lucky. Because...I know that I will fall in love with you."

"I see that too." In less than twenty-four hours, she has completely changed her mind. Everything was different. Leopold was different.

"If we have love and trust and friendship...we will never stumble. We will be a King and a Queen for the ages."