"Princess Ever." Jared observed as she pulled him up and into a waltz. They danced and moved as if they'd rehearsed it all their life, their bodies pressed against each other's and their movements intertwined with one another.

"C'mon! Let's get out of here." Ever smiled mischievously.

The two walked out for a stroll in the royal gardens.

"How'd your eyes get so dark and grey?" Ever had been staring into them for what felt like centuries.

"Oh just born like that. Although I dreamt I was kissed by a wolf." Jared grinned, and Ever smiled.

"I like them..." She blushed.

Jared wasn't really paying attention. He was liking up through the window at Teague in his royal throne. "Do you think my brother will be a good king?"

Jared noticed Ever significantly stiffen. "Of course." "Do you have any siblings?" Jared tried to change the subject.

"12 older sisters. 2 of them pretended I was invisible. FOR TWO YEARS." Ever chuckled.

"That's awful." Jared sighed sympathetically.

Ever shrugged. "It's just how older siblings are." She smiled sadly.

"Teague's like that too...we were really close, once upon a time, but then he just...shut me out." Jared's breath got caught in his throat.

Ever grabbed his hands and looked into his eyes. "I'd never shut you out." She looked down and blushed.

"Thanks, Ever." He flashed those brilliant white teeth at her.

"Hey, can I just say something crazy?" She stood up, her hands still intertwined with his.

"I love crazy." Jared winked.

Ever took a deep breath and found the courage to look straight at Jared. "All my life...people have ignored me, left me, a series of doors in my face. But then I just bump into you." She smiled.

Jared was struck with awe. "I thought the same thing!"

Ever sighed with relief and pulled him up a fight of stairs to the top of the castle's tallest tower. They leaned on the stone walls and looked out at the perfect night sky. "With you, I've found my place. Jared, it's nothing like I've ever felt before." Ever rested her head on his chest.

"I've always thought things would never get better. But now I see life can be so much more, with you." Jared smoothed her hair.

"Hey, Jared?" Ever looked up at him, "I know, it's stupid, but..."

"Wait." Jared put his hand to her face, "Can I say something crazy?"

Ever nodded and giggled.

"Will you marry me?" Jared looked at her hopefully.

"Can I say something even crazier? Yes!" She squealed.

"You're going to make a great king." The Weselton Duchess smiled.

"Thank you very much." Teague smiled.

"Care to dance?" She offered her hand to him.

"Sorry, but I don't dance."

"Aww. Shame." She pouted, but walked down to dance with another.

"Teague! Er, King Teague...I present to you: Princess Ever of the Southern Isles." Jared ran to his older brother with Ever on his arm. The two were giggling like kindergarteners!

Teague bowed slightly. "It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance."

"And the same to you, your highness." Ever curtsied.

"Teague?" Jared smiled wide.

"Yes?"

"We'd like your blessing of our marriage." The two giggled and looked at each other like they'd known each other forever, and it disgusted Teague to his very core.

"M-marriage?" He stuttered out.

"Isn't it exciting? I mean we haven't worked out the details yet...would we live here? Oh we could bring all 12 of your sisters!" Jared exclaimed.

"What? No!" Teague stiffly regained his composure. "No one's sister's are coming here, no one's getting married."

"What?" Jared choked out.

"Can I speak with you privately?" Teague said through clenched teeth.

"No...whatever you have to say, you can say to both of us." Jared held on to Ever tighter, as if scared Teague would take her.

"Fine." Teague was quickly losing his patience. "You can't marry someone you just met."

"You can if it's true love."

"What do you know of true love, Jared?"

"Well more than you!" Jared shouted. "All you know how to do is shut people out!"

Teague went silent.

"Well!?" Jared looked at his brother expectantly.

Teague took a deep breath. "You ask for my blessing, but my answer is no."

"Your highness, if I may-" Ever began but was cut off.

"Save your breath. If you'll excuse me." Teague began to walk out, and as he did so, he instructed the guards. "The party is over. Close the gates."

Jared looked down at Ever. He'd never see his true love again. Without thinking, Jared grabbed Teague's hand, pulling his glove off.

"Give me my glove." Teague tried to reach for it but Jared clutched it to his chest tightly.

"Teague, please! I can't live like this anymore." Jared was desperate. He couldn't lose her. He couldn't be alone.

Teague looked and saw the pleading desperation in Jared's eyes. "Then leave." He spoke coldly.

He turned to walk away, holding his ungloved hand tightly. Jared stood rooted to his spot and shouted, "What did I ever do to you?!"

Teague didn't fully turn around, but rather kept walking. "Enough, Jared."

"No! Why? Why do you shut me out?!"

Teague felt himself breathing heavier, he'd never felt so sick and terrified in his life.

"Why do you shut the world out?!"

Teague shut his eyes and walked faster towards the door. Everyone was staring and he heard his heartbeat in his ears.

"What are you so afraid of?!"

"I SAID ENOUGH." Teague swept his hand through the air, resulting in hostile looking black metal spikes appearing from the ground. The room temperature instantly lowered and the ground turned icy. People began murmuring but Jared stood still and looked at his older brother, eyes full of fear.

"Teague..."

Teague ran out of the doors and down the castle steps to a crowd of people. After a moment's hesitation, he tried to run through them.

"Your highness, are you alright?"

Teague shook his head and reached his hand behind him, accidentally grabbing the stone structure if the fountain. A black eerie mist swirled around the water and froze it.

"There he is! Stop him!" Shouted the duchess, now appearing out of the castle.

"Stay away..." Teague uneasily put his hands up. "Please just stay away-" A shot of black ice flew through the air, nearly hitting a gaurd.

Teague looked behind him to see his subjects gathered in fear. He ran through them and down to the bay. Slowly walking towards the water, Teague realized his close proximity to the water was freezing it. The water underneath turned a cold, dark black and a thin layer of ice formed atop it. Teague, seeing his brother and Ever approaching, ran on the water, freezing it.

Teague ran after reaching the other side, up to the mountains.

"I have to go after him." Jared looked at Ever.

"No, it's too dangerous." Ever warned.

"He's my brother, he'd never hurt me." Jared assured her.

"The fae need you."

Jared looked to see a crowd of people gathered around, observing a dark cold mist covering the ground. "I leave princess Ever in charge!" He announced and climed atop his royal steed.

"Be careful." Ever sighed.

"I'll find him." Jared kissed her cheek, and then he was off.

A/N Hope you all enjoyed! And we will be meeting Mina soon, guys!

Love ya :-)

~Fluffy