A/N: hey!!! i FINALLY updated. 2nd last chapter. enjoy!
"Princess? She's coming around, bring her some water!"
My whole body stung as if a million little needles were being pushed into me. I forced my eyes open.
I was in the hospital wing at the palace, where I had been on much less serious occasions. My thoughts of the battle returned like a knife through my temple.
"Jem," I coughed. My throat stung from the smoke I had breathed in.
"He's safe, and you'll be alright too, so long as you rest." an elf nurse informed me. I drank some water and fell asleep.
I woke hours later in the same bed, around noon. I glanced around and noticed there was only one patient in the ward besides me. Jem was eating soup, propped up on pillows with his leg in a splint.
"Hey," i said quietly. he looked up and smiled.
"Good morning, rescuer," he said formally.
"Rescuer my foot, you'll be in that splint for weeks."
"A splint is nothing compared to death." he replied seriously. He pushed away his tray and I sat down on the side of his bed.
"There's something I need to tell you..." Jem said nervously.
"Are you bluuuuushing?" I teased. He just gave me a look and continued.
"When I was born, the same fairies I was living with in the forest each gave me a gift." he began. "The first was courage, and the second was strength. Before the third bestowed her gift, guess who showed up to crash the party?"
"Augusta." I spat.
"Exactly. I won't bore you with the details of her curse, seeing as you know all about it. She didn't realise the third fairy hadn't bestowed her gift yet. My "grandmother"'s gift was the one that saved our lives tonight."
He paused, looking as nervous as ever.
"Which was?" I said quietly.
"Anyone that was pricked by the needle could be awakened by...a kiss from their true love." he finished, staring at his hands.
He looked up at me, smiling mischeviously.
"Are you bluuuuuuuushing?" he teased.
I was stunned. I knew I loved Jem, but I had never believed in that "fairy tale true love", no matter how many times mother had insisted it was true. I supposed if it could bring back the dying, it was pretty real.
"I- I'm sorry," i stuttered. "About what i said earlier..."
He leaned over and kissed me. I felt warmer than I had even when I was recovering from the needle.
"It's not your fault," he whispered in my hair.
"I love you," I said.
"I know." He answered.