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"You're very beautiful, Princess." Jerome stated as they trotted steadily and regally across the meadow, they were taking a short cut, and for the first time in a while, The Huntsman knew exactly where they were.

"Thank you," Mara replied, quite shocked. She turned to look at him, and then burst out laughing.

"What?" he asked curiously, patting the black horses head.

"Well, I must look a mess," she laughed, shaking her head "It's so nice of you to lie to me,"

Jerome blinked once, frowning. Look a mess? What was she talking about? So what her face was dirty? So what her clothes were in tatters? So what her hair was hidden? So what the outfit didn't flatter her? She looked beautiful to him. "I wasn't lying. Anyway," he shrugged it off "Tell me about yourself?" he leaned forward, turning to her with a cheeky grin on her face.

Mara laughed loudly "Tell you about me? Are you out of your mind?! If anything, you should be telling me about yourself."

"Me?" Jerome shook his head laughing "There's nothing to tell."

"Nothing to tell!" Mara exclaimed, exhaling loudly, turning to look over the landscape, but then someone crossed over her face, a look of confusion. And curiosity. "You and Mick use to be friends." She stated "Tell me about that," she turned to look at him, pink lips pouting. Jerome swallowed

"Your wish is my command." But he remained silent, trying constantly to being, but the right words never coming. As soon as he told her this, everything would change. But the Princess got impatient.

"What is it between you two? I mean, if you two knew each other before, shouldn't you be close? Be friends? Be happy to see each other?" she asked, the wind blowing her black hair back. And as he gazed at her, it hurt so much, but he wanted to share everything.

"We were like brothers when he was in the gang." He began, and she watched eagerly. "And then he left. I couldn't stand it, I was so upset. I….hard to admit- but I need him. I left the gang soon after that, but didn't have the guts to go and find him. So I became my own person, I didn't need anyone. And over the years, my hatred for him grew, and the same was happening to him." He paused, breathing in the sea air "Then a few days before the gem was stolen, we were talking, and he asked me why we couldn't be friends, why we couldn't even try. I said no-"

"Why would you say no?" Mara asked softly, tugging on the reigns tightly.

"My whole life, I had never been jealous of Mick. I thought we were even, in our flaws and qualities. I was tall, but he was sporty. We're both blonde, which is a quality in itself. I was sneaky, he was truthful. I was funny, he was happy. I was quiet, he was loud. I thought us actual equals…" Jerome let out a small breathy laugh, "And then, we come back and meet again after so many years, and suddenly, I'm jealous."

"Of what though?" Mara asked, shaking her head as she looked up at him "You're both brilliant people, you both have so much! What does he have that you don't?"

Jerome took a deep breath, looking her deep in the eyes, blue eyes shimming, outdoing the sea themselves "You," he whispered, so quietly. Mara looked up at him in shock, waiting to see if he would say it was a joke. But he didn't.

"What?" she whispered "What are you talking about? He doesn't have me! I barely know him,"

"Mara…Mick….Mick is a prince." He whispered, and it hurt him, it physically hurt him to talk. "Before he died, your father made an arranged marriage for you. Well, technically he made it for Queen Millington, but she declined it, and unknowingly…passed it onto you. He's going to marry you, someday."

"What?" Mara's face contorted into one of horror. "No! You're wrong! I would have been told of something like that! And how could you know? How could you know and I don't?"

Jerome said nothing, gritting his teeth, lips pressed tightly together, jaw locked. "I know. I just know."

"This is sick," Mara spat "Arranged marriage and I didn't even know! When they were meant to tell me! Huh? Do you know that?!"

"On your 21st Birthday!"

"…Does Mick know?" she asked quietly, calming down. Jerome shook his head. Mara leaned back.

"…I'm sorry."

And then Mara turned to him again, as if forgetting something. "But…so what if he had me? How did that affect you back then?"

"Mara. I may have only been 15 when I first saw you, but come on," he shook his head "Even I could appreciate true beauty,"

Mara blushed prettily, shaking her head.

"Jerome," she got off her horse and he followed suit, "You can't."

"Why?"

"It's too complicated! I'm meant to be leaving to never return, and you're meant to be saving Mick from near death!"

"So what's one more thing?" he asked quickly. Bright blue eyes burning with intensity.

And she found herself leaning forward, his eyes were already half closed and she could smell him, that sweet intoxicating scent that she found so irresistible. That she could recognise a mile away.

And they kept leaning, Jerome placed his hand on her neck, and she tilted her head, and as their lips neared, she pulled back, taking in a deep breath and shaking her head. "I'm sorry," she said quietly, burying her face in his chest. Jerome looked down at the ground, hugging her tightly, and kissing the top of her head.

"I understand," he cried "I understand."

And for once, he actually did. He had just poured his heart out to her, and she had tried, it looked like she had tried to love him. And really…what more could he ask?

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