ever after, at last

Long ago in the land of everafter, Elowen sat in her bay window pondering why she couldn’t seem to fall in love. All of her loves before ended in tragedy in which her lovers would be tragically murdered or she would be accused of being unfaithful and the marriage would end. By now she’s up to 30 marriages and most ended up with her spouse dead. Elowen continued thinking of her story and if she would be lonely forever. She was still dressed in her formal wear from the ball she had planned on attending before her arrival was stunted by a letter from Sir laux in which he said he could not stand loving her anymore, for she had fallen in love with his brother. untrue! Really she hasn’t been in love since her first true love who she accidentally poisoned in her batch of muffins during her baking frenzy. Elowen quickly replied, used to being let down, with her own spunk in which she informed him that she had not fallen for his brother, but she had been continuously let down by his age and agility. Elowen's eyelashes fluttered over her rosy cheeks allowing only one tear to slip past her purple eyes, though Elowen quickly brought her soft agile hands to her cheeks to wipe the tear as she heard footsteps shuffling towards her. The soft long strides informed her she knew who it was. Mattheo. His cocky smirk displayed on his face showing hints of his boyish dimples. He had grown a lot in the years from when they first met. Elowen was always surprised at his mischievous appearance, though she knew he was still the silly wild child he was when they met when they were 5.

“Well hello there!” Mattheo said with a smile in his deep voice.

“Hey Matt” Elowen replied, not quite in the mood for his teasing.

“What’s got your panties in a twist?” Mattheo said with a warm grin

“Nothing that concerns you, my dear” she said with a small smile that could always be coaxed from her by Mattheo.

Mattheo just smiled and walked confidently over to the couch next to her. His eyes ran over her ballgown and he chuckled at the sight of her in her natural colorful element, despite the scowl on her lovely face.

“You look stunning by the way.” Mattheo said playfully.

“Well thank you, you're not too bad yourself.” Elowen laughed softly as her usual brightness returned to her eyes.

Mattheo smiled and took it as a win seeing the color returning to her face as her beautiful purple eyes creased with her smile. Mattheo hadn’t realized he drifted off into appreciation as his dark brown eyes roamed her face, his eyes halted at her perfect heart shaped red colored lips. Elowen felt her face flush as he looked over at her. Mattheo sighed softly, knowing he could never break their friendship by flying too close to the sun, just as Icurus did, to see if she could see the light in him just as he saw in her.

“What’s such a lovely sight doing here when there’s a ball going on?” Mattheo asked genuinely curious on whether or not she had a date.

“Well, I was going to go with sir laux then he told me he decided I was in love with his brother and told me he never wanted to see me again.” Elowen paused, recalling his letter, “but oh well, I can’t say I ever truly loved him.”

“Such a shame.” Mattheo blew air through his mouth “well, he must be going crazy to ever deny your love!”

Elowen smiled at his boyish smile.

“Well thanks, you always know what to say to me.”

“Sure thing you're my best friend!” Mattheo said calmly,

Just as the sentence left his mouth, he got a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

“Hey. Are you in for an adventure?!” Mattheo said with a hopeful smile.

“Oh boy! Um, sure! What could possibly go wrong?!”

“Alright get packing! I heard there’s a new castle warming party in Solmere!”

“Sounds fun! I’ve always wanted to go there! I’ve gotten so many dresses from shops there! I’d love to see it in person!” Elowen said with a bright tune, in her melodic voice.

Mattheo smirked in response and he got up and playfully saluted her with two fingers looking charming and sweet. Elowen got up and picked the letter up off her lap and set it on the table next to her where all of her fairytale books were sprawled over the table. As she got up she straightened her ballgown dress. She gracefully wandered up the stairs as the sun illuminated her soft beautiful features. Once she got into her room she began to pack, of course only dresses! As soon as she finished she knelt in front of her love statue and prays that everything will go well and no one will find out about her curse, and that she could break it. worried if they knew about her, she kills whoever is not her true love. How she has been cursed her whole life. Elowen never truly understood why her curse had never affected Mattheo, though she quickly dispersed of that thought as she knew they were not romantic to each other, solely platonic soulmates. Though, every time she reminisced on the conversation they had of why it never affected him he never gave a clear answer, just his cocky voice saying all she already knew “relax, darling! If your curse gets to me at least I’ll die handsome!”. She giggled as she remembered the day he said that to her after they had been talking of how much she wanted to feel loved everyday, not just someone’s claim for if they were asked to be married. Elowen strolled down the steps and walked to the front of her cottage that she lived in alone, besides of course Elmer, her cat. The air was crisp against her rosy cheeks and cracked lips. Elowen patiently waited, though her wait wasn't long because she heard the clatter of hooves, soon enough, she saw Mattheo strolling in on his black horse which he called bandit since they were kids, and when she tilted her head she peered behind him to see her old horse trailing slowly behind. Elowen's eyes lit up at the sight of her oldest horse, tater tot. Yes, she knew that was an absurd name for a horse! She had already gotten much hate from Mattheo when they won the horses when they were 15. Elowen sat up in one swift graceful movement brushing the dust off of her beautiful dress. She smiled and walked up to Mattheo and waved, but ran towards tater tot.

“Wow, princess! I see how it is! You like the horse more than me, I see.” he playfully called over his shoulder to where elowen was reuniting with her horse, his eyes softened as he saw the scene of her hugging the old horse and stroking its maine lovingly.

“Shh!” she said with a pause as she let go of the horse “do you want a hug too?” she said to mattheo playfully knowing that would cause his cheeks to flush. Just as she thought, his face lit up like a firework near fire.

“Um.. umm..” he stammered, clearly flustered by the question.

“Aww!” she cooed at him.

“Shut up, elle!” he said, his blush growing a deeper shade of maroon. He smiled at the nickname that had slipped out, just as the first time he had called her it, when they were 11. Elewon just smiled softly. Mattheo got off the horse to retrieve Elewon’s bags. She turned around and looked at the beautiful sunrise and the ombre of the pink and purples mixing together to form an ethereal glow dancing over where the clouds had been, now replaced by sparks of stars and colors. Finally, she turned back to face the horse where mattheo was standing watching her appreciate the sky, though his thoughts showed on his face, of how he thought she was much more beautiful than the sky.

“Are you done with your princess moment, my dear?” he said thoughtfully.

“Its just so beautiful!” she said appreciatively.

“Yes, it is. Though it's quite dull when there's this vision standing in front of me.” he muttered gesturing to her playfully. Elewon’s face flushed at the flirtatious comment.

“Well then. Let's get going, shall we?” she said in an attempt to steer the conversation away just in case he truly fell for her and he would end up dead just as all the others.

“Sure! I loaded your trunks on the back of the horse.” Mattheo said thankfully, agreeing to the shift in the mood. Elewon nodded sweetly. Elewon stood awkwardly in front of tater tot, realizing it had been a while since she had gone for a ride and could not confidently mount the little horse. Mattheo looked over, realizing her situation and he dismounting his own horse to go over to Elewon to help her up onto hers.

“Ready, princess?” he said gracefully putting his hands around her waist ready to help her up onto tater tot. Her skin flushed at the contact.

“Yeah, okay.” she said. As he lifted her off the ground by her waist with a flourish.

He plopped her up onto the horse as if she weighed less than a feather. Elewon found herself unable to stop the shy smile from spreading across her face as they rode into solmere.hours, and many “Are we there yet”’s later, the two arrived in solmere. Elewon got down from the horse, again with help from Mattheo. As soon as she had dismounted the horse, she quickly looked around in awe of the lush forest surrounding them and the beautiful lakes rippling with the waves the crisp breeze blew through. Mattheo marveled at the sight of Elewon taking in such beauty around them. Mattheo's thoughts wandered back to the true reason they were here, suitors. A fate had visited Mattheo earlier that week informing him of his beloved’s curse and that if he did not find her a husband, who would stay with her, in one week, that she would be hit with a tragic death and unfathomable to anyone. Mattheo shook his head of the horrific scene his mind had made of her being impaled or killed by a sword or poison.

“Gosh” Elewon’s soft murmur brought him back to the present from the living hell his brain had made for him.

“Ready to go explore?” he responded.

Elewon’s soft “mhm” was caught in the breeze as it wooshed through and lifted her dress slightly and blew through her hair. She giggled as the wind played with her hair. Mattheo softened realizing if he didn't take his job seriously his only love would deprive him and all the world of her existence. The three words would never be spoken from his mouth, if she were to die. If she were to die, he would never find the beauty in the daisies growing from the cracks. If she were to die, he would save a rollie-pollie because every time they passed by one she'd find a way to help them. He couldn't let her die. Hours later, mattheo sat in the fluffy chair inside Elewon’s favorite dress shop. Waiting for her to step out, so he could re-fall in love with her again. Meanwhile, Elewon was in the dressing room trying on a ball gown for the castle warming party they were going to go to right after she found the “perfect” dress. 10 dresses later, variations of revealing black floor length gowns the attendant picked for her, she found the one colorful frilly dress she knew that Mattheo had picked. He always knew her style. This was only confirmed when she tried on the dress and it hugged her perfect waist and transformed into a cascade of fluffy pink dress past the corset to her ankles where she was wearing her brand new white heels. It was all so perfect, she couldn't help gawking at her reflection. She hated to brag, but she looked like a true princess. She smiled proudly at herself as she walked out to show mattheo. He was reading a story when she walked out and he nearly dropped the book seeing her beautiful dress highlighting her smile, and he knew it was too late. He fell for her. His mind was reeling on how this could be possible.

“So?” Elewon spun around “what do you think?” mattheo couldn't help but notice how nervous she seemed awaiting his approval.

“Beautiful” he said “you're stunning!”

“Really?” she responded as her eyes went wide with adoration.

“Yes, elle. Yes.”

After she bought the dress they went out on a walk towards the castle. Mattheo was constantly checking his watch as he held Elewon’s hand so she could take in the scenery. As soon as they got to the castle, he released her hand so she could explore more and Mattheo stood by the drinks after establishing this is where he would be if she needed anything. Many beautiful ladies walked up to Mattheo but he politely turned them down, due to their tipsyness and his loyalty to Elewon who was probably getting hit on this very moment as many acquired her letter box information so they could write to her. Probably of how beautiful she was, and asking when they could see her again. She would probably politely decline and smile her beautiful smile that would make the men want to see it thousands of times more, at least that's the smile that she gave him and those were the thoughts that followed. As soon as they left the castle, mattheo was first to speak.

“So, how was it?” he said smiling hopefully keeping his charm cast over his emotions of longing for her to say she missed him.

"I got a spell book from this lady there! I'm super excited to try it!"

"oh wow! that sounds dangerous! I'm all for it!" he smiled back.

as soon as they got home they opened the book and practiced spells some of which worked, but they were going to need to take the potion before they went to the dance or else it wouldn't work.

They went to the hotel that night and went to sleep. Elewon was excited for another day, and Mattheo was solemnly thinking of how he may not have much time left with the love of his life, unless this spell book worked. Later the next day, they strolled around the town and flirted throughout the city. The next day followed suit, they woke up and walked around, dancing around each other's feelings, then they would go to town for the ballroom couples dance. Though, this one special day after they drank the potion to see if they could break her curse by kissing, they were dancing Mattheo couldn't stand the wait, he leaned in as if to tell her a secret and he felt his palms getting sweaty but went ahead to tell her. “Elle,” he murmured with a crooked grin, thumb brushing her hand, “I think I’ve loved you long enough to stop pretending it’s a joke.” Elowen smiled softly, lashes fluttering as she lifted her chin like a queen granting mercy.

“Then I suppose,” she said gently, voice warm as a daisy blooming in the sunlight , “you may stay, if you promise to love me bravely.” Mattheo's gasp was audible from her confession back. “Wow,” he smirked, "I promise.”

“Wait, Matt. What about my curse? I couldn't fathom ever living in a life without you. This can't happen.” elewon began to say as she started crying softly.

“Try me, please.” he begged.

“ I can't. I might hurt you!” she cried

“The worst thing that could happen is me die, but if i die loving you it'll be okay for me.” he said, pausing and smiling his boyish crooked dimpled grin. “The most likely thing that will happen is I will fall out of love with you if I'm not your true love.”

“Oh, okay. Fine.” she said leaning closer to him.

The music seemed to fade, as if the world itself had leaned back to give them space.Mattheo didn’t rush it—didn’t joke, didn’t tease. For once, he was reverent. His hand lifted slowly, as though asking permission from fate itself, knuckles brushing Elowen’s cheek. She inhaled softly, eyes shining, and leaned into his touch like it was something she had been waiting for her whole life.

“Well,” he murmured, barely there, “here goes nothing.”Elowen’s fingers curled into his coat, and she closed the distanceTheir lips met gently at first—soft, tentative, almost curious—like a promise being tested. Then the kiss deepened, warm and sure, the kind that erased curses and tragedies and every ending she had ever feared. Mattheo sighed against her mouth, as if the world had finally fallen into place, and Elowen melted into him, heart fluttering but unafraid.For the first time, nothing broke.No fate intervened.No tragedy followed.When they parted, foreheads resting together, Mattheo smiled—small and awed.

“Still alive,” he whispered.Elowen laughed quietly, radiant as a story finally told right.

“Yeah, still alive,” she whispered back happily.

Days later, after their first kiss they headed back home finally in love, in the place that felt right, together. On their horses they whispered sweet nothings to each other smiling at each other's company.

“The end.” Mattheo whispered to their daughter and closed the storybook.

“Wow! That's how you and mama fell in love?” she giggled

“Yes, little trouble maker” Elewon said with a peaceful smile as she tucked their daughter into bed “time for beddiebyes, seraphina, tell daddy goodnight!”

“Good night daddy!” seraphina whispered to mattheo as she drifted off to sleep.

Mattheo and Elewon kissed seraphina and walked out the room arm in arm.