A/n: I'd like to thank my reviewers: sarahmichellegellarfan1, VeryBerry96, cupcakemania22, salazar's heir19, D. Jones123, elomeno thank you so much!
~Narrator's POV~
"Perhaps you would care to take a walk with me, Princess?" Olvin offered, holding out his arm in a sophisticated manner. The way he made this move showed just how much experience he had in walking with ladies, and it contrasted with the way 'Earl Rene' offered his arm. Then again, as Prince, Olvin would have much more practice and knowledge in court formalities than an Earl or any lesser noble would.
"Of course." Fern mumbled. It would be impolite to say no, and it's not like she didn't want to be in his company, and so they embarked on a tour around the gardens.
"So…how long have you been 'beating around the bush' – literally – spying on me and Fizzy?" Olvin turned the tables and now it was him interrogating Fern rather than the other way round.
"Oh, so it's Fizzy now, is it?" Fern questioned in displeasure. "What a cute nickname. Though from what I know, she doesn't particularly like this nickname, or nicknames in general. However, I guess she must like you a lot to let you refer to her by her nickname."
Olvin chuckled. "It's not like we don't have cute nicknames for each other." He beamed, nudging her. "Nerf."
"Stop calling me that, Olly." Fern pouted. "I'm not in the mood."
"Ooh, no, I don't think so. I was the one who came up with that nickname for you and I'm unabashedly proud of it! It's just an anagram of your name; I don't see why you should dislike it so…vivaciously." Olvin teased.
Fern groaned. "It's not even a cute nickname."
"Well compared to the bearer, you yourself, I hardly think anything else could be considered cute." Olvin said smoothly. Somehow, he himself was surprised too at how well that turned out.
Fern stiffened at the compliment, still trying to process the fact that Olvin had just praised her. He had done so hundreds of times, but why were his compliments and praises beginning to mean more and more to her? "Uh, thank you." She stammered.
"You're welcome." Olvin grinned.
"You know when we were dancing at my birthday banquet yesterday night you told me about a lady you were interested in. Was it Felicity who captured your heart's fancy? Was it her?" Fern blurted. She really couldn't sate this curiosity bubbling in her hart, and she needed answers to her questions.
"Felicity?!" Olvin questioned, accidentally speaking in a louder volume.
"Yeah…" Fern squeaked, startled.
"What? No!" Olvin laughed. "No, it's not her."
"There's someone else then?" Fern pressed on, holding her breath.
"Yes, there is." Olvin answered honestly.
"Well of course there is." Fern grumbled.
"You don't sound too pleased." Olvin pointed out.
"Really?" Fern squeaked in a futile attempt to cover up any negative sentiments. "Dunno where you got that idea from."
"I know you quite well and I can actually tell if you're displeased, you know." Olvin nudged Fern gently.
"Humph. Yeah. Whatever." Fern said under her breath. "Are you going to…like, court her or anything? You know, the special someone you like."
"Yeah." Olvin replied. "I am going to ask her to court me. In fact, I've already consulted her parents, and things are going quite well. Except there's a little problem I'm facing."
"Really?" Fern kept the conversation going, even though a part of her wanted to go back to her quarters and sleep till she's numb.
"Yes. A lot of other noblemen would like to court her as well. I think she's not taken, but," Olvin stated. "I'd still need to know if she feels the same about me."
"Well, you're a Prince. Other nobles couldn't compare to you. I, for one, wouldn't pick a fallen leaf over the entire forest. And if she doesn't pick you then I suppose she doesn't know what she's missing out on." Fern commented a little irritably.
Olvin beamed. "Well," he said happily, "I'm delighted to know she thinks that way."
Fern shook her head. "Whoa, no, it's just my opinion. I can't speak for others – wait, what?" She froze and turned to Olvin.
Olvin shot a dazzling smile at Fern. "What can I say? I felt like a weight's just been lifted off my shoulders. I was merely consulting your lady-in-waiting just now to think of a way I can break it to you that it is you I admire," he beamed, "and now that you know, I only hope you'll pick me out of your many, many suitors."
"Olvin," Fern was breathless. "Me?" She gaped, shaking her head in disbelief. "Out of all the single ladies in the world, me?"
"I don't want anybody else. There is no one else who knows me like you do." Olvin explained with a grin. "It's like you just…light up my world." He chuckled. "Goodness this sounds terribly cliché."
Fern, with her jaw slightly dropped, stared at Olvin. She didn't know what to think. She was euphoric. Oh, yes, she was over the moon. But her facial expression didn't quite show it because she was rather overwhelmed. She was astounded. She'd always thought he fancied someone else but then it clicked: he never said it wasn't her either, and he'd just been beating around the bush all along.
When she finally processed what was happening, she smacked his arm. "I hate you!" She exclaimed. "You've been leading me on this whole time, making me think you belonged with someone else!"
"Don't hate me; I really, really like you. You're irresistible." Olvin's words came out of his mouth naturally. Why shouldn't they, when he meant every single word he said? "A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet, yet I truly dote on only thee, with no deceit." He recited smoothly.
Fern gasped lightly in revelation. "You were the one who sent me the flowers on my birthday!" She covered her mouth. "Oh, you!"
"The poem was written by King Olvin of Archenland about two thousand years ago. It only contained four lines. He stopped writing poetry after knowing that the lady of his heart, was not particularly fond of poetry, so he adopted other measures to woo her, and won her heart by turning the giant Pire into stone." Olvin explained.
"Oh, she's impossible. And irrelevant." Fern dismissed. "I, on the other hand, melted when I read your card. The little note attached to the flowers." She said dreamily. "How dare you play secret admirer though?! This isn't a game. You'd better be serious about this." She declared.
"Aye, aye," Olvin chuckled. "Do you want to know how the next two lines go?"
"Oh, yes. Do tell." Fern beamed.
"To hold thy hand, for thy affections, I must compete." At this point Olvin held Fern's hand and she did a little twirl. When he pulled her back close to himself, he continued. "Hereafter in my affections, I'll not be discreet." He grinned. "And that is why, Nerf, I want to make things official."
Fern beamed at Olvin and gazed at him lovingly as he took out the gift box from his pocket again and presented it to her its contents: two bracelets were intertwined into one metal link chain. Considering this gift had to do with matters of the heart, the two bracelets, glittering gold and sterling silver, got to the heart of the matter. A pendant took the shape of an arrow, pointing towards a heart-shaped trinket with an engraving.
"Evergreen?" Fern read the inscription aloud.
"Your namesake." Olvin explained. "Fern is an evergreen plant. So this is just for you, and no one else." He grinned. "Evergreen plants can survive harsh weather conditions such as cold spells and heat waves and droughts – much like our bond, wouldn't you say?" He smiled at her and slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, adjusting the position of the clasp.
"This is beautiful." Fern whispered.
"Well, I'm glad you like it." Olvin said softly.
"Oh I do like it. Very much." Fern beamed. "In fact, I really, really like it." She smiled at him sincerely. "And I really, really like you."
Olvin broke into a much broader grin, knowing that his affections were now requited. "I've been meaning to ask, Nerf," he could not stop smiling. "Will you accept my hand in courtship?"
Fern appeared to hesitate for a moment. "Well, Olly, I'm not really sure…I mean, I don't wanna say no, but…"
Olvin's eyes widened and he genuinely looked scared. "W-what?"
"Of course I'll say yes to your suit, Archenlander!" Fern beamed and threw her arms over his shoulders around his neck, hugging him tight.
Olvin immediately exhaled in relief and held her in his embrace. "You scared the wits out of me, Nerfie."
"What goes around comes back around." Fern giggled.
"Even love?" Olvin looked her in the eye once she let go.
Fern nodded. "Even love." She leaned in and kissed him for the very first time. It was wondrous, and in that moment she felt at least a dozen kind of positive sentiments: bliss, euphoria, joy, gladness, delight, elation, thrill, exhilaration, rapture, blessedness, fervor, glee, and the list was never-ending. She couldn't ask for more; this had been something she had been wanting to do for the past year. And to finally have this chance to call him her own made her one of the happiest people to ever walk this earth.
Olvin had felt the same way, and when her lips gently left his, he found a smile was imprinted on his face. "I believe we have someone to thank." He grinned.
Fern beamed too. "I believe we do, indeed. But for now…let's just…" she shook her head and decided that there was no need for words. She let her lips speak in a different language. The language of love that was blooming like each species of flowers in the beautiful garden they were standing in the middle of. They didn't have the time to admire the flowers' beauty though, as they were busy appreciating the beauty in the love that transformed them from close friends to courters. It was so precious, and they wanted to hold on to it. In that moment, they didn't know quite for sure, but they more or less had a feeling that there was going to be so much more love held for them, and they just had yet to discover the depths of love. But they would have a chance to explore love. To love, and to be loved.
A/n: Hope that wasn't covered with triple layers of cheese…but ah…cute nicknames. And the kiss! The kiss! I need to know your thoughts! Is their relationship too rushed, or otherwise? Please do tell me in the reviews below! I'd like to have over 40 reviews, because the more reviews I get, the more & better I write, and that's definitely gonna make both you and me happy! Thank you so much for reading.