"It's most certainly not what I had hoped for you, dear." Queen Elinor said sadly as she approached the young couple. "But at least… at least he isn't a servant any longer. I do hope you will be happy." she extended her hand to her niece, graciously. "And," she added, "I'm sorry… that I was so harsh after the ball. I was simply worried. You do understand, don't you?"

"Oh, Aunt Elinor!" Rather than taking the queen's hand, she threw her arms around the astonished lady. "Of course, I understand why you were worried… I understand the position you were in. And I'm sorry too... sorry that I didn't understand earlier."

"Well, does that mean that this issue is closed?" the king asked, anxiously. "You'd think we had enough things to worry about."

"I don't think we will have to worry about Caroline any longer," the queen smiled warmly.

"Thank goodness for that," the king sighed, relieved. "I've had just about enough of these young people. So headstrong!" He turned toward Caroline. "I do wish you very happy, my dear. And you, Sir John. I hope you realize what a treasure you've got there." He leaned closer and continued, sotto voce. "Personally, I much prefer you for a nephew-in-law than any of those silly princes."

oOo

At last they were able to get clear of the flurry of excitement that the situation had created in the palace and, hand in hand, the young couple slipped out to the stables.

"I can't begin to say how much I've missed our rides!" Caroline sighed, frowning at the memory of those dreadful three months as John brought Regina out for her. She threw her arms around the mare's neck happily.

"I missed you so much, Regina! I promise I won't ever be gone so long again." She laughed as John helped her into the saddle, then leaned down toward him. "But I missed you so much more. I don't think I'd have lasted much longer."

"This is the start of happier days for us." John grinned as he swung up onto his chestnut. "And we won't ever be parted again, God willing."

As she followed him from the courtyard, Caroline looked back suddenly, frowning. For a moment, she thought that she had heard the shatter of broken glass. But perhaps it was just her imagination.

oOo

The meadow had never looked so beautiful before as it did that day. The sun seemed to shine brighter than ever before and the birds sang more sweetly. The whole atmosphere seemed wrapped in a celestial glow. The two riders galloped across the field feeling once again that old happiness that had seemed to flee years before. It was as if heaven had opened up to shine down its light and blessing upon them. And, truly, it had.*

Of all God's miracles, great and small, the most miraculous one of all is the one I thought could never be… God has given you to me!**

They paused at the top of the highest summit as they had years before when Caroline had first been burdened with the dread of a political alliance and John had told her, as best as he was able, of his love. They dismounted now and walked along the edge of the woods, telling each other all the things they had for so long been forbidden to express. And, in the midst of her happiness, Caroline suddenly remembered her strange visitor of the day before. Puzzled, she discussed the incident with John.

"She said that she heard me wish twice that there was something I could do," she remembered. "I've thought and thought about that and I remember telling Edward that I wished I could do something for him, he was so miserable. And months ago, last winter, during Doctor Tremayne's funeral… I wished I could have done something for his daughter. But how on earth she could have known that and how on earth Doctor Tremayne's daughter and Edward could be connected in any way… I just cannot understand. Perhaps I'm being foolish to think anything of it. But… my dream did come true. And she said if my dream came true that I would have the power to make someone else's dreams come true."

"You made my dream come true," John smiled down at her.

"That was Edward's doing, and God bless him for it," she laughed. "You know I would have said yes years ago, if it had been possible."

She turned suddenly, as if on impulse, to look behind her. There… in the meadow… was a young girl, dressed simply, like a servant. She was dancing, whirling through the field…

"Look carefully. Don't let any little detail, any little incident go unnoticed. Appearances can sometimes be deceiving and the greatest joys hidden in surprising ways."

As Caroline looked closer, she realized that the girl was holding in her outstretched hand a sparkling glass slipper. Caroline gasped.

"The power to make another's dream come true!"

The girl was the same one she had seen just last winter… Doctor Tremayne's daughter. But… she was holding the glass slipper and… at that moment, she realized that the doctor's daughter… was the Princess Incognita.

"John!" she cried, gesturing towards the girl in the distance. "It's… it's her!"

He turned to look also and his eyes grew wide in surprise.

"I must fetch the prince!"

Picking up her skirts, Caroline followed him as they ran back to their horses, galloping in the direction of the palace faster than they had ever ridden before.

*Who's to say that the fairy godmother wasn't a sort of... angel? Sent to answer heartbroken prayers?

**from The Fiddler on the Roof =D