A.N. Bawbcaboose wants my nuts.
This isn't right. There's something terribly, terribly wrong about this place. These thoughts and more flooded every corner of Alice's mind, as she sat there spooning soup into her mouth, across the table from Jonas. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't put her finger on what exactly was wrong about her being in the castle.
It was almost like the harder she tried to think about it, the foggier her memory became. Soon, Tarrant was nothing more than a name, and a faint memory of a face. Some dull emotions were stirred when she thought about it, but the more she did, the more they dulled.
She could physically feel herself falling madly in love with Jonas. Just, something about him. She had no clue what it was. Something that reached deep into the pit of her heart, and just lingered there. He wasn't particularly funny, but every small joke he made made her laugh heartily. A polite comment from him would make her blush crimson. She felt if he ever criticized her, she would surely die of shame.
The more she thought about him and his excellence, the less she thought about how particularly strange these affections were. It was almost like getting drunk, the more soup she ate, the more she fell for him. And he just kept encouraging her.
"Ivory, you're looking so thin. Eat more, all I want is for you to be healthy."
"Have you ever thought about the future? I really enjoy your company. Once everything gets worked out, it really will be quite dry around here without you. If only you could stay. Eat up, sweetness."
"Your smile just lights up my day, Ivory. There's just something amazing about you, dearest. Shall I get you more?"
His words, sweet and thick as honey drifted around her head as he got up to get her more soup. How humble of him, she thought with a blush, servants all around, yet he insists on getting it himself. What a dear.
A dark crimson spread evenly across her face, and disappearing down her neckline darkened as he came back, showing her that amazing smile of his. While she eagerly spooned more into her mouth, a drop dribbled down to her chin when he met eye contact with her.
He smiled and moved in closer, pushing away her hand, and slowly licking the drop from her face. Her skin burned like fire where he had touched, then cooled down to cold steel as the air hit his saliva. She shivered, and he moved in closer, sealing her enchantment with a kiss.
His face felt cold as ice against her burning red one, and she knew at that moment that she had never loved before him. All thoughts of Tarrant were completely and utterly removed from her mind, as she entwined her fingers with his. He pulled away, and cupped her face in his hand.
"Ivory, my love," Her heart sped up at an alarming rate. "I.. I don't know how to say this properly, so you must forgive me," So humble of him, oh she could never hope for anything more, "I just.. I just want you to be with me. Forever."
"Y..You mean.. No, you couldn't.." She couldn't even form a coherent sentence, for she was so wrapped up in his stare. He smiled lightly.
"Please.. We can be wed, Ivory. I've never loved until you. Soon, it has to be soon." She was so overcome with emotion, she couldn't even say a word, just nod yes, tears running down her face. She sniffed a few times, and tried to wipe them away on her sleeve. Jonas just smiled as if this were the cutest thing in the world.
"I love you." She finally said, after many pauses to wipe away more tears. She had no memory of ever saying those words before, nor feeling the emotions rushing inside her. The thought that she had almost no knowledge of this man never even crossed her mind. It didn't even matter to her anymore. She loved him, absolutely and purely.
He hugged her tightly, and whispered in her ear all the wedding arrangements they'll make. Her dress fitting, the cake, he told her everything could be done within the week. It seemed so soon to her, but, the sooner the better, when you're so in love. She smiled and fell deeper into his embrace. Everything was going to be okay now. She smiled.
There was a problem, however. While he was whispering of his plans, he mentioned a name. Tarrant. Something about him getting in the way. She didn't know this person, but when she asked about him, Jonas just told her he was a bad, bad man. An enemy of the kingdom, in fact. Jonas made him sound so horrible, that he'd try and ruin their happiness. She hated him.
Jonas held her there, for a long while, assuring her that everything was going to be okay, that it would all work out. He would have guards, and no one would ruin their wedding. They were going to be together forever.