She was not aware of his presence, especially because his breath had caught in his throat when he had seen a glimpse of her smile. He dared not move, lest she run away in fright.

The Prince stopped himself from rushing to her aid when she yelped at the pain of a thorn. Her blood lingered on the rose and he might have thought her blood gave the rose its beauty, but worry overwhelmed him.

Her smile was gone.

He emerged from the trees and restored the smile to its rightful place on her lips as two lovers met for the first time.