An alternative ending to the short story The lady and the Tiger.

EPOV

How did I get into this situation again? Oh right it's because I just HAD to fall in love with the princess. It was the day of my trial and all I could think about was her. I thought back to the moment I first laid eyes on her. She was truly the most beautiful princess that anyone had the pleasure of meeting.

That one night at the masquerade ball, was what started our whole love affair. The moment our eyes met, I was truly lost. I never believed in love at first sight, but she proved me wrong. She was the one that I had waited for all my life. I had never felt this way before, but each and passing day I was feeling it even more. I was in love with the princess. It was impossible to ignore my dreams of a life together with her, but it was forbidden. My life was changing every day, every possible way because of her.

My whole world came crashing down once her father, the king found out. The king was truly a sadistic person, and so was his idea of a trial. You see, in a trial you pick your own fate. In an arena you have a choice between two doors. One that has a man eating tiger, which will go at anything in its way. The other door held a beautiful bride to be, who you were immediately married to.

On the day of my trial, once the signal was given and the doors were opened I walked to what would probably be my death. Thinking back now, if I were to die at this moment I could not bring myself to regret ever falling for the princess.

It was tradition to bow to the king once you were in the arena, but I couldn't help but look next to him in hope of catching a glimpse of the shimmery brown hair of the princess, or to see the smile that brightened my life like the sun itself.

I expected her to be next to the king but she wasn't there. I was hoping to at least see her face one last time before going to what could be my terrible death or the marriage of a lifetime to a person I hardly know. At that moment I felt more alone than ever.

I turned to my right to see not two, but three doors. The king announced that by demand from his daughter I got three choices; three doors. I walked to the doors and tried to make the decision that would determine my future. If one door held the hungry tiger that could kill me, and the other held a bride…… then what was behind door number three?

Even though I had to open a door that would determine my fate, all I could think about was her…. the princess. Why wasn't she there? I thought she would help me in choosing a door but to my surprise she wasn't there. I didn't even get to say goodbye to her. I'll probably never see her again after this if I survive. Before making my choice, I remembered my princess for the last time. I remembered always saying to her that she was my one and only. At that moment I decided to pick door number one. It's now or never, I thought to myself, so I opened it.

At that moment I heard the sweetest voice "Edward!" I opened my eyes to see my princess. It didn't make sense that she was here, but I'm not complaining.

"You are everything to me; I couldn't just let you go like that!" She cried into my shoulder.

"Our love is difficult but as long as I have you I'm happy." I smiled at her words. She was truly my whole life and the reason of my being. What she said next though was the best. "You be the prince and I'll be the princess, I talked to my dad and now all you have to do is stay with me." I never expected the princess to come out of the door, but I'm glad. She's my everything and the one that puts a smile on my face. Our love story turned out to have a happily ever after.