"This is huge" I say with wonder. It had been so long I'd almost forgotten how big and breathtaking everything in the castle really was.

"I know right?! And this is only the guest room" Henley says felling back on the bed.

"I'm scared to touch anything" I say. Which I was. I was scared to make a mark or leave a trail. I wanted to be invisible for the next two weeks.

-

When Henley went back down to see Charles I sat back on the bed and looked around the guest room. It felt so overwhelming to be back here in the castle, in the guest room I had designed so long ago. The room was filled with colors of silver and red. The large windows overlooked the gardens below and in the distance I could see the cliffs edge. Taking a deep breath I let memories of the garden below fill my head.

"Vienna catch" He shouted tossing me an apple when I wasn't looking and laughing as I fumbled to catch it. I tossed him a light hearted glare.

"You know one day this will all be ours" he said drawing up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

"And we can build our home right here" I said standing at the edge of the garden.

"Our castle you mean. You always forget my love, you're a Queen" he whispers in my ear and a smile graces my lips as I turn around and bring him in for a kiss. Little did I know what being his Queen would entail.

With curiosity I decided to wander the halls to see if our part of the castle had remained the same all these years. I couldn't blame him if he had scrubbed every inch of me away for the way I left. Part of me would felt torn if he had. As I wandered the halls however it seemed as if nothing had changed.

Crossing to the north side of the castle was where all the nostalgia piled on top of my heart. This was where I had always spent my time. I made my way passed my old library and the piano room where he'd played for me. I stopped when I reached two closed doors across from each other on either side of the hallway. I laid my hand against the one and traced my hand over the door knob. I was the one who had locked these rooms and my heart ached as I stood between them. It was for our children. I let go of the door handle and carried myself further down the hall. At the North end of the castle lied our bedroom and I laid my hand on the door knob. I knew he wasn't here but still I felt nervous to enter the room.

"What do you think you're doing?" A voice carries to my ears and I jump and spin around. A tall blonde woman in a satin robe had just stepped out of the old piano room.

"Sorry I was just touring the castle" I said curious of why she was here and hoping it wasn't the conclusion my mind jumped too. My only comfort was that if he wasn't here she couldn't be his recent companion.

"This area is off limits. Get out" she snaps.

"I'm very sorry I was just touring the grounds I am here for the wedding" I say and she doesn't respond as she crosses her arms. "Have a good day" I say walking away from the awkward silence. As I pass her I glance behind her into the piano room and notice it's bee converted into a bedroom. That was one change I never expected. So many feeling flooded my mind and I walked as fast as my feet would take me until I reached my bedroom. Pushing open the large windows I sat up on the balcony with my back against the large window frame and my arms crossed around my chest. For years I'd hid in every shadow that covered the earth so he couldn't find me. And for so long I'd heard of his search until one day he all but gave up. I remember how I'd felt the same mixed feelings then as I did now. I knew I needed him to stop searching for me. But I still loved him and I couldn't deny it. I wanted him to be happy and live that's why I had left. I just hadn't fully grasped that it could be with someone else. Let alone did I expect to meet her.

I pushed open the window and breathed a deep breathe of the fresh air. I felt the need for space outside of the castle. I jumped off the balcony a few stories above the ground. Before my feet could touch the grass a pair of arms caught me.

"We have stairs you know" Roman says with humor lining his voice.

"I was trying to avoid running into anyone" I said stepping out of his hold and brushing back my hair.

"Well you failed. We met earlier, I'm-"

"Roman" I finish for him and shake his extended hand.

"Yes. And you're Eliza?" He says trying to remember and I laugh and shake my head no.

"Alina but that was close" I say and he smiles.

"I was only kidding I remember you" he says and I shrug. "So what were you planning to do now?" he asks.

"I just wanted to go see the gardens" I say pointing out to the colorful maze of shrubs, bushes and flowers.

"You are lucky my brother isn't back yet then. It's off limits, however I think I can turn a blind eye" he says with a humorous shimmer in his eye. He seemed so much more light hearted and happy than the Roman I remembered. I wondered if he'd finally met his soulmate.

"Everything seems off limits around here" I mumble.

"You'd be amazed" Roman adds. "Enjoy the gardens, but don't tell anyone I said that" he says with a wink before heading inside.

Entering the gardens I walked along the canopy trees and vines climbing up the tree trunks. It's been so long since I'd been here that everything had flourished so much. I remember spending so much time designing the gardens because that's were we spent almost every day rain or shine. Our favorite was coming here right as night fell.

So many memories had occurred here that I felt flooded by feelings as I rounded each bend.

Following the trail I came out at my favorite spot, the waterfall. It was how we chose the location of our castle and where to put the garden. It was to keep our place hidden.

I had spent so much time at the waterfall and it was so bittersweet to be back. Sitting down on the bench beside the fountain a smile graced my lips as I ran my fingers over the cool water.

"And who the hell let you roam around my property" I recognized his voice immediately.