After a few moments of holding my breath, my body began to shake with fear. I was faintly aware of Rachel's hand on my shoulder, but I was trembling so much that I couldn't feel her touch.

My eyes never left Greg, which is why I was the first to notice him stir. I cried out and pointed towards him as his eyes opened. Still shivering, I rose to my feet. Somehow, I made it to the field without stumbling, and the people parted for me. I sank down beside my prince, not caring if my dress was ruined in the dirt. "Greg?" I whispered.

Greg raised a hand to the back of his head and touched it gingerly, wincing as he reached the spot where the stone hit.

"Don't touch it, Greg," I said gently, taking his hand in mine. "Are you alright?"

With his head in my lap, the carriage pulled Greg and me away from the festival grounds amid the mumbling crowd as quickly as was possible without jostling us too much. Everyone tried to get a peak of the injured prince. As we bumped along, I touched the back of Greg's head softly. I felt no blood, but I did find a rather large lump. I shook my head.

"What's wrong, dear?" They were the first words Greg had spoken since the accident.

"Who could have done such a thing?" I pressed my lips together before continuing. "I wonder, would she really stoop so low just to ruin my happily ever after?"

"Who?"

"My- Oh never mind. It's a silly theory."

Greg smiled at me. "You know, I should bump my head more often. You look so cute when you're puzzling over something."

In spite of my frustration, I smiled back at him. He had a way of lifting my spirits that was incredible.

"So, did I win the sword fight?"

When we reached the castle, the doctor had already been called. He ordered Greg to bed and sent a maid to the kitchen with a list of supplies he would need. I hovered nervously at the doctor's elbow, my eyes glued to Greg, like if I didn't watch over him, a rock would fly out of nowhere and strike him again.

After a careful examination, the doctor straightened. "You're in luck, Your Highness. Whoever threw that rock did not know that you were born with the toughest head in the kingdom. The skull is intact. It is not bleeding, so I suggest you keep a ice on the wound to help the swelling go down." There was a knock on our bedroom door and the maid entered with a tray of ice, cloth, and bandages. The doctor nodded his thanks as he began creating a pouch of ice flakes by setting the flakes in the center of the cloth and then wrapping the bandages tightly around it. He handed it to me. "Make sure he uses this."

"I will, doctor. Thank you."

When the doctor had left, I sat beside Greg and tousled his hair. "You scared me today, sweetheart."

Greg's eyes met mine. I continued.

"When you fell and then didn't get back up, I thought my heart had stopped beating. I wanted to scream and cry, but I couldn't find the voice." I paused and swallowed. "I went through my whole life without you but it always felt like something was missing. And since I've been your princess, I've felt so complete. I know now that I would rather die than live without you. I love-"

He kissed me, and all of my doubt and worry faded away.