~Chapter 16~

Elsa

My cries of pain echoed through those stone walls. I just lost one of the people in the world who never showed fear of me. Who embraced me regardless of my insane and unpredictable nature. My sister was one, but Marcus was the other. Hans would pay dearly for this. I would never forgive him or the Southern Isles for this treachery. I held his cold, frozen body against me with no intention of letting go. His eyes forever locked on mine.

"Marcus, please come back to me. I love you." I muttered kissing his forehead.

It was minutes later when I heard the voice of my sister call for me from somewhere in the jail. Before I made a reply, I felt something in his body shift. Excitedly, I watched as Marcus's fingers began to move all on their own. How this was possible, I wasn't sure. I didn't deserve a miracle, but I got one as I watched his green eyes stare back into mine. In disbelief, I watched in sheer amazement and pure unadulterated joy as Marcus, the man I loved most in the world, came back to me. His body reanimated as he took several deep breaths as I cupped his face in my hands.

"M-Marcus?" I muttered sheepishly.

"Elsa? Are you okay?"

"Are you seriously asking me that right now?" I said half annoyed half laughing at Marcus being his usual self.

"Look Elsa, before anything else happens, there's something I've been wanting to ask you…"

"Whatever it is, it can wait. We need to get you looked over and…" I said carefully pulling him to his feet.

"Elsa!" He stopped me short and got down on one knee, "Elsa, we've known each other our whole lives. Nothing in my life makes sense without you in it. Will you make me the happiest man on the planet and become my wife?"

I didn't answer at first. I seemed to have lost all ability to speak for a moment or two. As tears flooded my eyes, I pulled him off his knee as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"Yes Marcus, I would very much love to be your wife."

I leaned toward him as he met me halfway as our lips met sealing our engagement with a tender kiss. I didn't know what the future would hold for us, but with Marcus by my side, I knew that I could handle whatever came my way. I was free of my fears and felt like I was finally able to let them all go.