Here it is — chapter 5!
Hope you like it!
And to doctorwhodtgeek: Awww sorry for the disappointment! Hahaha but here is the chapter!
"Oh my gosh Maxon!" Tears welled up in my eyes. "Why did you want to bring me here?"
"Aww don't tell me you're crying." Maxon reaches for my hand and pulls me in for an embrace.
"Sorry, I'm a sniffly person. This place brings me a lot of memories." I bury my face in his chest, to hide myself from letting other people see me cry.
"This was where I first met you. The day when I thought you were the one." He cups my face in his hands and wipes my tears with his thumbs.
"Hahahaha so are you indicating love at first sight?"
"Hmmm perhaps." He walks me through the trees. "I have other stuff to show you around here."
"I haven't seen so many of the places that you had shown me around the castle before!" I exclaimed. Recollection of the secret tunnels, rooms, stairs, backdoors filled my mind.
"That's why it's a castle, things happen without you knowing." He winked at me.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing." He smiled.
"You winked at me," I explain, but all Maxon did was wink at me again.
"Gosh, you're hopeless." I pretended to roll my eyes.
As we walked in the corridors arm in arm, Paige spotted us ahead and rushed towards us,
"Your highnesses, the 'thing' is ready." She widened her eyes and hinted at Maxon.
"Ah yes. The 'thing'. Thank you Paige."
"What 'thing'?"
"You'll see later, it's a surprise. Time to go for dinner!"
"Is it night already?" I look out towards the open space.
"Dear, you're hopeless." Maxon pretended to cross his arms and shake his head.
"Hey! You're mocking me aren't you!" I raised my arm in preparation to hit him. Maxon laughs and bolts off, "Race you to the dining hall!"
"Ugh! When the country finds out what you're really like they won't be happy!" I shouted to him. Reluctantly, I lifted my dress and tried my best to run in heels. Mind you, I'm going to wear flats next time.
Maxon skidded to a halt in front of the doors before I did as I ran as fast as I could.
"C'mon my dear, just a few more meters."
"Couldn't you wait for at least a second?" I stop next to him panting.
"Well hurry up if you want to see the surprise!"
"What is it?" I ask.
"Here," Maxon offers me his arm. "Ladies first." He smirks.
"You're such a gentleman." I replied sarcastically. He pushes the door open for me as I enter.
"Um there's nothing surprising here...?" I looked puzzled.
"Follow me." Maxon leads me out to one of the big glass doors that lead towards the big balcony. Boy was it big.
As he opened it, I saw a square dining table placed in the middle of the area. Red candles were placed on the table, rose petals were scattered around the area and white fairy lights were hung on top of us.
"This is beautiful Maxon." I gaped at the surroundings. "This is for me?"
"Duh, I mean who else would it be for? A secret wife?"
"Oh shut up."
Maxon brings me over to the tables and pushes my chair in as I sat on it. He whispers in my ear, close enough for me to feel his lips moving, "This isn't exactly a surprise, but I hope you life this romantic dinner." I blush. We sat opposite each other at the two ends of the table. Maxon looks towards the two butlers standing by the door. He makes a quick hand motion and suddenly people started coming in.
A string quartet came in and settled in the far corner of the balcony. As they start to play some slow music, the waiters came by, holding a silver platter of food. They placed the food and arranged the cutlery on the table and left.
"Red wine? Your highness?" A waiter offers.
"Thanks, half full please," Maxon said. "And you my dear?"
"I've never really tried wine before. I mean I've had sips but not really a glass." I said sheepishly.
"Then same for her as well!" Maxon smiles. "You've got to try this. It's one of the antique wines from my dad's collection. He collects wine from different places around the world and stores it in this huge wine cellar below in the basement. Ah," Maxon reads the bottle. "This one's from New Italy."
"Thanks," I said to the waiter before he leaves. Maxon raises his glass and says to me, "For the many more happy years to come!"
"Cheers," I took a sip from the glass. "Oooh this one's fruity."
"Hmmm not bad, for a wine taster beginner," Maxon smirks. "And remember, don't take big gulps of it at the same time or you'll suddenly become really drunk." He warns me.
A while passes as I look up and admire the scenery. "This dinner is perfect Maxon." I smile at him. "I couldn't ask for more." At that note, his face turned slightly red.
"Hahaha anything for you my dear." He moves his hand forwards and laces our fingers together.
"How did you plan this without me knowing? I'm pretty sure I was next to you the entire time."
"Well I had to be clever about setting everything up. So while you were distracted with food this afternoon, I told a couple of maids about the plan." He swirls the wine in his glass. "Remember I told you earlier that things happen in the castle without you knowing?"
"Oh right!" I did a mental face palm.
The atmosphere was calm and quiet as we continued to eat our food while the string quartet plays some soft music. We talked nonstop, and during the times when we were silent I noticed how Maxon was staring at me while I was busily cutting my steak up. I slowly moved my eyes towards him.
"Maxon... I know you're staring at me." A smile curled at my mouth.
"Sorry, I find you too beautiful for me to take my eyes off." He takes another sip from his glass.
"Don't be silly, you're mumbling nonsense. You're drunk."
"Darling, you do know most people speak most of the truth at times when they are most drunk."
"Oh stop it. You're flattering me."
"I'm your husband, I'm supposed to make you feel flattered every moment of your life."
After dinner, the string quartet takes a bow before leaving. Now that we are left alone, Maxon takes my hand and brings me closer to the balcony. We gaze at the numerous stars that brought light out of the darkness, with my head leaning on his shoulder. It felt like being in one of those cliche movies; the starry night sky, the romantic evening, the tranquil waters and the peaceful surroundings.
"The night sky is beautiful." I giggle.
"Oooh someone's feeling giddy from all the alcohol huh?" He tickles me at a spot on the neck.
"Hey hey stop it! Not my tickle spot!" I lift my head and stare at him straight in the eyes. Whenever I see him and our eyes meet it's like something I have never felt before. He smiles with a teasingly look on his face and looks back up to the sky; but suddenly he keeps a straight face.
"My dear?" He asks without looking at me.
"Y-yes?"
"How many stars can you see in the sky?"
"Um... I guess thousands?"
Maxon turns to face me, "America, I wanted to tell you that my love for you is beyond imagine. Beyond the stars in the sky and beyond the entire galaxy."
"Why are you suddenly all poetic?" I was about to turn to face him but he pulls me in for a kiss.
Redness fills my cheeks but as if on instinct I find my hands running across his chest. He slips his hand through my hair and runs through it while his other hand rests on my waist.
"The alcohol is probably making me poetic..." He strokes my cheeks with the back of his hand.
"Hahaha so I guess what you said... Maybe another time?" I smiled and looked down at my feet.
"You do realize that when people are at their drunkest times, most of the things that they say are true."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, and no matter what that doesn't change how much I love you." Maxon leans in and fits my mouth in his.
Just like in those romantic movies, we stood by the balcony under the moonlight as the stars glimmer in the sky. His hands cupping my face as we kiss and my hands resting on his shoulders.
But this time was different.
This was real;
the feeling was genuine, it wasn't any act.
What's more is it's Maxon and I.
Feel free to comment on anything!
BTW I've seen some mixed reviews on having the palace tour so perhaps if any of you wanted I could make a separate chapter (probably a short one) on it?