Smilla jumped down from her horse, grabbed his rein and walked towards the cottages and the people outside. There really was a small village hidden in the forest. A blonde woman spotted her first and looked shocked at a stranger walking towards them.
"Someone's coming!" The woman yelled.
"I'm looking for Seth Rollins!" Smilla yelled.
Everyone seemed to grab weapons and tried to keep a safe distance from her. She had nothing to fight with. Roman had her knife. She pulled the sleeve down to show the bloody mark he had left on her shoulder.
"She bears a mark!" The same woman yelled. "Who are you, stranger?"
"Take it easy, Alexa," a man said.
Smilla watched as a smiling man came walking towards her. He held out his arms as if he was greeting an old friend.
"You bear Roman's mark," he said.
"He sent me," she said.
"I figured. He doesn't show anyone that mark unless he needs to give them safe passage to this place," he chuckled. "I'm Seth Rollins, by the way. And I know who you are, princess, which confuses the hell out of me since I never thought I'd see any royalty around here. Has the throne been overturned?"
"I am no more a princess than you are a prince," she said.
"Fair enough," he smirked. "Smilla? That's your name, right?"
She nodded. He turned around and held out his arms.
"Everyone, this is Smilla. Roman sent her. She'll be staying with us," he said. "Come, meet everyone. You've already met Alexa over there. She was the one yelling at you. You'll be best friends in no time."
"She can stay with me tonight if she needs a bed," Alexa offered.
"I'd love that very much," Smilla said. "Thank you."
"And Roman?" Seth asked.
"He's coming," Smilla said.
"Are you sure?" Seth asked. "I know he works for your father, and if he sent you here, where did he go himself? I can come up with some ideas and none of them are pretty. Will he even be alive tomorrow?"
"I said, he's coming!" Smilla hissed. "Just wait and see. He'll be here tomorrow."
"Wow, I've never seen that," Alexa said.
Smilla opened her eyes and saw Alexa standing by the window in the cottage. The sun was rising. It was early morning.
"What is it?" Smilla asked.
"The deers," Alexa answered. "Come look at them. I've never seen them stand like that. Almost as if they're trying to deliver a message."
Smilla got out of bed and hurried over to the window. The deers were standing paired two at the same, looking like couples, looking towards the village.
"He's coming," Smilla said.
"Who? Roman?" Alexa asked.
"He must be close. They're telling me he's coming," Smilla said.
She ran out of the cottage and stopped when she heard a horse. The deers ran back into the forest, and Roman's horse came into sight with Roman on its back. She ran towards him. He got down in time to scoop her up in his arms and hold her tight.
"You're here," she cried. "I knew you would come. The deers told me love is in the air today."
"God, I love how you can read animals like that," he laughed. "Take it easy though. Corbin got a good kick in on my ribs."
He put her down and pulled his shirt up. There was a bruise from a boot forming there.
"That's what happens when you kill his son," he grinned. "Don't worry, Corbin followed right after. Your father is dead too. I had to go with plan B. He wasn't gonna give you your freedom. I had to do what needed to be done."
"Uncle Shawn is gonna be thrilled since he's next in line to take over. He's just as bad as my father but at least he won't care to search for me," she said.
"Is everything okay here?" He asked.
"Yes, they've all been very kind to me. I slept in Alexa's cottage," she answered.
"Roman!" Seth yelled.
Seth came running and hugged his bigger friend.
"I told you he would come," Smilla said.
"You sure did," Seth grinned. "I'll never doubt you again."
"Is my old cottage still available?" Roman asked.
"Of course. I told you I would never hand it over to anyone else even though you said I could. I knew you'd come home one day," Seth said.
Roman looked over at Smilla and smirked.
"We'll be moving in today," Roman said.
"If he has a cottage, why did I share with Alexa?" Smilla asked.
"Bonding and forming a friendship," Seth chuckled. "And I didn't feel right leaving you alone. You were a bit of a mess when you arrived. You needed someone to be there for you. Alexa is great at making people feel right at home."
"She sure is," Smilla said. "Thank you."
Roman hooked an arm around Smilla's waist and pulled her in for a kiss.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too," she smiled. "This place is great. Here I am Smilla and not a princess. I feel like myself around these people."
"That's all I want for you," he said. "Well, almost. I selfishly want you as my wife too. I felt tortured for so long. Tortured by love and pain. I had to be with you despite it hurting me so bad. From the moment I laid my eyes on you, I was yours. Nothing is standing in our way anymore. Will you make me the happiest man on earth and be mine forever?"
She grabbed his face and pulled him down for a kiss.
"I've always been yours," she said. "And I'll always be yours."