Like The Sky, part 6

"Mairin...this is so hard for me to put into words without stumbling. We have become best friends this last year. I have enjoyed your company so much, more than you know. I have learned so much from you, and you have brought out my wild side a couple times. I have been able to share my secrets with someone for the first time and not worry about them telling my father and the court. I trust you more than anyone in the whole world. But, Mairin...I no longer wish to be friends."

He trailed off and my smile wavered and faded. His words were so kind, so sweet, so sincere...or they had been, up until the last sentence. This was so unlike him.

He stared at me for a long moment and then grabbed both of my hands and held them in his. He got down on his knee and looked up into my eyes. He kissed first one hand and then another.

"I no longer wish to be friends. I wish to be your husband. Mairin, I love you. Will you marry me?"

My jaw dropped open and I stared at him in disbelief. This was so unexpected!

"Mairin, please say something..." Callan's voice quavered the tiniest bit as he spoke.

"Callan...I..." I stopped myself and thought for a moment. I knew Callan so well. We were, as he said, best friends. I realized with a jolt that I did love him. I had loved him for a long time. Is this what love felt like? I loved the feeling of love.

"I love you, too, Callan. Of course I will marry you!" I gushed, suddenly breathless.

Callan stared at the ground for a moment then looked at me. Through the tears gathering in my own eyes, I could see his brown eyes filling with happiness. I smiled widely and laughed, the happiest laugh I had ever laughed. He gazed deep into my eyes and slowly, slowly, a smile broke through his rough exterior and cracked through his lips.

My prince--my fiance--smiled for the first time.