Isabelle woke once, briefly, when she felt her arm being wrenched around. She shrieked in pain, then felt nothing. Trestan's face swam at the edges of her vision; he was holding her hand that wasn't a throbbing collection of agony. He was saying something to her, but Isabelle could not understand. Eventually Trestan picked her up, carrying her somewhere else. No matter how careful he was with her, Isabelle was still jostled. He climbed several stairs before Isabelle slipped mercifully back into the darkness.

The roses were still peeking though the window at her; they were the first things she noticed when her eyes finally opened again. It was midday and very warm in Isabelle's little bedchamber. Something massive and dark was at the edge of her vision by the head of the bed. She pulled herself up to sit-a mistake since her right arm gave out on her, bones screaming in agony. Isabelle's breath caught with the pain, but her vision and thinking were free of the wavering red rings that had surrounded them. Gingerly, Isabelle turned to inspect what was near her bed.

Not only was Trestan slouched there asleep, but the King as well, who had just realized she was awake.

"Congratulations, Isabelle," the King said with a wry smile.

"Congratulations?"

"You have defeated your curse, one way or another," the King explained. "You were very brave defending the life of your love from one that had already done you harm."

Pensive for once, Isabelle was silent for a moment.

"She had no power over us that day," Isabelle said, coming to the realization. "Our love was, is, and will be stronger than all of her curses together."

The king stared at her hard. "But what about your bravery that day was different than any of the other times you stood up against Magdalena?"

"I realized for the first time ever that Trestan's life truly matters more than my own. I love him; this means that I would die a thousand times to make him happy."

The king nodded, eyes far away for a moment. "That was something Magdalena never realized," he murmured.

"Besides," Isabelle added vehemently, "she was going after Trestan, to take him away from both me and you. What else could I have done?"

"You had saved him once already. Now we are all doubly in your debt."

"Thank you," Isabelle spurted out. "but what happened to her?"

"Once you had swooned, Magdalena, the witch, put on the glass slippers of yours and then tried to attack Trestan. But, alas, her choice in footwear was unfortunate for she tripped and fell on the marble steps near the altar. The glass shoes shattered, and her head was struck open. She died immediately thereafter; she will not be able to throw curses any more."

"I am so relieved," Isabelle sputtered, "I would not wish a curse such as this on my most bitter enemy!"

Isabelle stopped talking and stared for a moment at the King, who stared back gravely. "Please forgive me for speaking my mind, sire…How long was I asleep?" she asked desperately.

"Four days." The King's grave smile cracked and he answered her, laughing. "I shall be honored if you speak your mind to me a little more often, princess."

"Truly?" Isabelle asked incredulously.

"Truly."

At the King's side, Trestan began to stir.

"You do realize that my son has not left your side since your…accident?" The King said lightly.

"Oh, poor Trestan," Isabelle said gently. "It has probably been difficult for him."

"Yes, it has," the King admitted. "I do hope that when you marry, you will at least share the bed instead of making him spend his nights in a chair."

Isabelle giggled, astonished at her future father-in-law's boldness.

"I hope you do not mind me returning the favor of speaking my own thoughts to you," the King smirked.

"Not at all," Isabelle bantered.

"Well in that case, if you are going to be spending all of your time in your room, when you and Trestan were to sequester yourselves away for weeks at a time on a honeymoon, why are we so silly? Why don't we marry you right now and then the rest of us will get a break from their eternal vigil of the two of you?"

Isabelle blushed. Then thought for a moment. It really didn't make sense for Trestan to sleep on a chair and she in a bed being watched constantly when, with a few magic words, they would be able to sleep together alone. And poor Trestan had been waiting an extra four agonizing days for her. Why not?

"Wake up, sleepyhead," Isabelle said, using her good arm to launch a pillow at Trestan.

Trestan jolted awake, nearly falling off his chair. He gaped a Isabelle for a moment. "What? Good morning, cara."

"It is actually mid-afternoon," Isabelle said playfully. "Your father has a proposition for us."

They were married at twilight that very evening, in a tiny chapel near the royal apartments. Isabelle wore a simple white gown, her arm put into a sling by one of the palace doctors. As long as she did not move it, it did not pain her. She had survived worse, after all. The only ones able to squeeze into the chapel were Trestan, Isabelle, the King, Peabo, Isabelle's parents and siblings, and Friar Justin, who performed the ceremony himself. The ceremony itself was short for Isabelle still needed support to stand, yet it was sweet all the same. Isabelle left the chapel cradled in Trestan's arms, his ring on her finger and his diadem on her brow. As she was being carried to their royal suite, Isabelle wondered if Trestan had ever walked faster-he was practically running.

"Slow down a little," Isabelle scolded playfully, "We have all night, you know."

"That isn't so, cara."

Isabelle stared at him for a moment, confused.

"We have a lifetime," Trestan smiled roguishly at her. "And it begins now."

They burst through the door of their new home within the palace. Trestan deftly bolted it behind them, not even bothering to put Isabelle down, kissing her as he dashed to the next door. They continued like this until they reached their master bedroom. Isabelle finally let go of Trestan as he seated her on the bed.

Trestan knelt before her, taking her hand. "Now," he breathed, grave for a moment, "is there anything you would like?"

Isabelle nodded. Curbing her impulse to giggle and say "you! Here, now," she said instead, "A sugar cake and a glass of wine, if you please." She had not eaten much before the wedding, out of nerves and that her stomach was still funny from not being fed much for several days. Trestan departed to some little pantry to fulfill her request while Isabelle glanced around the room. She had never been in their new suite before. The bedroom, done in grass green and gold, had enormous crystal windows that looked out over the city and the sea. Several candles gleamed in sconces, emphasizing the most enormous, downy feather bed upon which Isabelle sat.

In a moment, Trestan was back with Isabelle's request. He sat pensively in a chair nearby, watching as she ate and drank.

"You realize that," Trestan began softly, "I never thought it would be someone as vivacious, and charming and utterly beautiful as you are. When I was cursed, I often imagined finding a woman who would break it, but not even my most vivid imaginings are as wonderful as you. And now, you are flesh of my flesh. Damn me if I know how to take it all in… I have waited so long for this moment, now what do I do with it?" Trestan buried his head in his hands, overwhelmed.

Isabelle slid off the bed, set her glass on the table, and settled herself on Trestan's lap. "We shall live it," she said, wiping the tears from his cheeks with her fingertips, "together." Trestan's arms tightened around her, drawing her closer to him. "And now," Isabelle added playfully, "I shall pout until you kiss me."

"I would be a fool not to oblige." And he did.

The End

Author's Note: I have been working on this story for over four years and it is finally FINISHED! I would love to be able to go back and revise the first chapters because I feel that they aren't on par with the rest of the story, but I don't see that happening in the foreseeable future. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it. I'm so excited to wrap everything up and be able to head off to start/middle/finish some of my other projects. Thank you so much for all of your patience, kind words, and fanfic love. They mean so much to me. I would especially like to thank my beautiful friend Baroness Orc for betaing and sticking with me even when I was often MIA. I appreciate everyone who has read this, for without you, I would have no where to share this slice of my soul with.

May the Muses be with you,

Pimpernel Princess