Richard awoke to strong sunlight glaring down at him. He rubbed his eyes, blinked and sat up. He looked around. Where was he? What was he doing here? He then looked down and smiled. Now he remembered why...
Anne was laying peacefully on the blanket. Her chestnut hair sprawled out on his feet. The sun was shining down on her, covering her in a golden halo. Richard reached out and stroked her hair lightly. So fragile... He thought, as he smiled at her. He leaned forward and kissed her head and grinned when she slowly opened her eyes. She rubbed them, blinked and looked up. A look of surprise etched onto her face. "Richard?" she asked, confused, "what are you doing here?"
"I can say the same for you!" Richard laughed. He leaned over and kissed her head again. "Good morning!"
Anne smiled. "Morning." she replied.
She yawned for a moment before leaning over and hugging him. Richard looked surprised. "What did I do to deserve this?" he asked, grinning.
Anne looked up at him. "Anything."
She pulled back.
Richard pouted. "Hey, I was enjoying that!"
"Too bad, I'm done!"
Anne looked around. "We've been here all night?" she asked.
"Yep!"
"What's the time?"
"Don't know, but we'd best be heading back."
"Good idea."
Richard held out his hand and Anne took it. Helping each other to their feet, they both looked around.
Smiling, Anne placed her head on Richard's chest. Richard smiled at her and stroked her hair. "I love you, Richard..." she murmured, sighing happily.
Richard kissed her head again. "I love you too." he said, "with all my heart, Anne."
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes. "Truly?" she dared ask.
"Truly..." Richard smiled, leaning forward and kissing her lips for a moment.
"Then I am the happiest that I've ever been."
Richard smiled at her. He thought for a moment before taking off his ring. He bent down on one knee and held it out to her.
"Then will you take me as your own?"
Anne looked shocked.
"I pledge myself to you, Anne Neville. I promise to love and care for you, I shall be no one else's but yours. I give you my heart."
The young girl thought for a moment. He would be hers? No one else's? Oh, how she wanted that!
She placed a hand on his. "Are you sure?" she asked.
"I love no one but you..." came his reply.
"Then I will take you as my own." Anne nodded.
Richard smiled at her. He looked at the ring before sliding it onto her finger. It fits perfectly, Anne thought, as she held it up her finger to look at it.
She looked down at Richard, who was still on his knee.
Anne thought for a moment before taking off a ring that she had been given when she was younger. "I don't have much to offer you," she said, "but will you take my ring? To take as your own?"
"I will."
She slid the ring onto his finger. He studied it. "It is all that I could wish for... "
He looked up at her. "Thank you." he said. He kissed her hand.
Anne placed a hand on his head. "Likewise," she said.
Richard climbed to his feet. "We are one now, Anne, never forget it."
Anne nodded. "Never, Richard, never."