Ch. 19: I Love You

Gabriella held onto Tristan as she laid him down against the railing. Blood continued to drip from his wound as he tried to take a deep breath in but every time he did, he felt a horrible pain from his wound. He hissed in pain but looked up Gabriella who held a concern and fearful look then he let his gaze travel to Zelda's. She shook her head before she suddenly disappeared; Tristan slightly chuckled with Gabriella looking at him confused, "Why are you laughing?"

"The pain but I can't show that especially when they are there," he answered softly, gesturing to Abby and everyone else. He then looked up at her, "You came back."

"Of course I did," she ran her hand through his hair. She barely could see his scars as he groaned slightly in pain. "I missed you so much," Gabriella softly whispered.

Tristan smiled, gently lifting his hand to touch her cheek, "I missed you too."

Suddenly they heard soft footsteps and Gabriella looked up to see Luka approaching. He bent down next to his fallen friend as Tristan looked over at the boy, smiling, "You brave boy, I'm so proud of you."

"You'll be okay, Tris," Luka reassured him.

Tristan gave a light smile and chuckle. "Luka, do me a favor," he requested. Luka nodded as he leaned forward to listen to him. Tristan touched his pendant as Luka took it slowly off but Tristan shook his head, "Keep it but Luk, just be yourself and be good for your parents." Luka nodded again before stepping away from him. Abby and Aaron then approached, whispered to him. He nodded to them before they stepped away, closing the balcony doors. Tristan looked up at Gabriella before whispering softly, "Sit me up."

Gabriella sat him up a bit, hearing him slightly groan in pain. She then sat down beside him, touching his cheek. "You're going to be okay," she assured.

"Gabby-"

"When you're better, everything will be back to normal-"

Tristan shook his head, "Gabby-"

"You and I can be together again."

"Gabriella," he cupped her cheek wiping the tears on her cheeks, "we're together now."

She looked down at his wound. His shirt covered it but she could see the area where the sword had enter. That was meant for me, she realized remembering Tristan shielding her away from it. "It's my fault that you're hurt," Gabriella confessed to him. Tristan shook his head but she continued to look down at the wound, "It should have been me."

"No," Tristan sternly said, "look at me." Gabriella looked down at him to see him smiling at her gently. Though he was in great pain, Tristan tried to reassure her as he whispered, "If I had to do it all over again, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

"Tristan," Gabriella pressed her forehead against his. Their eyes locked again before Tristan leaned up and gently kissed her lips with her kissing back. She then slowly pulled back, still holding him close as she whispered, "Say it to me please."

Tristan gave a questioning look before a realization came; she needed to hear what he wrote. She wanted to make sure it was all real; he distanced them a bit, as he quietly said to her, "I love you." Gabriella closed her eyes as tears began to tear up as he said it again with more conviction, "I love you so much, Gabriella."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"In fear of losing you or it was not reciprocated."

Gabriella pulled back and placed her hand over his heart, feeling the slow and light pounding of his heartbeat. She cupped his cheek making him look up at her, "Promise me something?" He gave a weak nod, "Promise me that you will be okay."

"Gabby…"

"Please…"

"It's a promise I can't hold true to this."

Gabriella felt the tears begin to resume, "I can't lose you. I've lost so much already and you're the best thing in my life. I can't lose you." Tristan placed his hand over her hand as he let his other hand gently touch her cheek again.

"No matter what," he breathed, "I'll be here." Tristan could feel the world around him going fuzzy, her touch seeming light as a feather or even numb. He began to slump a bit as he looked up again to see Zelda looking at him and beside her was Sofia.

She gave him a light smile before his thoughts came back to Gabriella. She clenched his chest trying to feel his heartbeat; it was starting to fade. "Tristan," she shook gently, "please don't do this to me."

"Shh, it's okay," Tristan whispered softly. Gabriella looked at him with her eyes locking with his. He gave her a light smile despite all the pain as he continued, "You are my hope. You gave a forgotten life a reason to hope again." Gabriella's eyes suddenly widened when she heard those words, Tristan then whispered, "Dreams are what we want in our realities."

"It was you," Gabriella realized, "the dreams and the ball. You were him."

He nodded lightly, "I was going to tell you until that night when you had to leave." He took a deep breath before he gasped harshly in pain coughing lightly. Gabriella gave a scared look. However Tristan continued, "Gabriella, you want to know when I fell in love with you?" She nodded as Tristan smiled, "When you drew that picture of me, you didn't think it was ugly or horrible. No, you loved it and admired me. You saw me for me."

He gave another faint smile as Gabriella touched her pendant on her neck then his ring. She leaned down and whispered in his ear,

"It's a big bright beautiful world

With happiness all around

It's peaches and cream

If our dreams come true."

Tristan smiled and began to sing softly back.

"It's a big bright beautiful world

With possibilities everywhere

If true love is blind

Maybe you won't me mind the view.

I know I'm not the handsome prince

For who you waited

I don't have a fancy castle," Tristan cringed but continued, "and I'm not sophisticated."

"A princess and an monster

I admit, it's complicated

You've never read a book like this,

But fairytales should really be updated."

Gabriella giggled lightly as Tristan held her hand close. His heartbeat began to go away slowly as he continued to look at her as he continued.

"It's a big bright beautiful world.

I see it now, I'll let it in.

I'll tear down a wall

And clear a spot for two…"

Tristan gasped harshly as Gabriella held him close, "Tristan, please. Hold on."

He gripped her hand as he whispered the last bit to her, "To be with you…" Suddenly Gabriella felt Tristan's grip on her hand released causing Gabriella to look down at him.

"Tristan," she shook him lightly. He didn't move, his eyes were close as she felt his chest, and she felt no heartbeat. "No…no…Tristan, don't leave me. Please don't go." She laid him down on the ground, placing her head against his shoulder, crying against him. "Tristan, please…don't go," she pleaded again. She looked up at his face before leaning down and kissing his lips softly. She then pulled back softly whispering to him, "I'm in love with you." The body didn't move as she continued to talk to it, "I love you the moment you gave me the roses. I loved you when you gave me a rose, leaving a small note. That's why that night, I wanted you to make love to me and I was going to tell you that morning how much I loved you." Gabriella gripped her ring, "I love you, Tristan."

She held onto him a bit longer before she kissed him again then stood up. Suddenly Gabriella heard a loud sound of horse; she looked over the balcony to see Kain's horse. Gabriella gripped the railing angrily before she ran out of the room, taking one last glance at Tristan's body before going down.

As Gabriella disappeared, a small golden glow came from the room and Zelda's voice rang through it.

"On this night, I cast a spell.

A spell that reflects your soulless shall deform the face and body.

Each reflecting your horrid acts

The only way to reverse the curse is for someone with a heart that is pure and understanding to see past it all.

The lesson is to show true beauty with love seeing it all.

Now the unfortunate and tragic part is that your son, your successor of beauty will suffer instead of you."

"What are you doing here," Gabriella immediately asked as she descended the stairs to see Kain.

Kain smirked, "I heard the awful news about Tristan." He pulled his cloak off to reveal his hair suddenly darker and his face younger. Abby tried to charge at him but Aaron held her back as well as Luka. Snowball growled also before Kain looked at him evilly.

Gabriella looked in disgust, "Your son was killed by a man you sent. You wanted your youth back when you didn't realize how great your son was."

"You are foolish."

"No," Gabriella yelled, "I was in love with him! Now he's gone!" She approached him as he eyed her.

"Watch who you are talking to, girl."

"You are nothing but a monster."

"How dare you," Kain lifted his hand up toward Gabriella who prepared for the blow but suddenly a hand stopped him. Kain looked over and gaped, "You…you…it can't be."

Gabriella looked up also as she turned seeing everyone's expression completely surprised and dumbfounded. She turned her toward the direction they were staring where the hand was at to see a young man holding back Kain's arm, a small scar went down his right cheek a bit while the rest of his face clear from the scars while his clothes were slightly torn and bloody. His eyes were toward Kain filled with anger as he pushed Kain back.

"Leave the woman I love alone, Kain."

One more chapter…Oh my god, I cried! You guys are so great. Review, PM, etc. There won't be a sequel but I'm thinking of doing another fairy tale! What do you think I should do next?