Mina crossed her arms over her chest, struggling to keep her hands out of her hair as she walked through the garden. She wasn't expecting much when she passed by Magnus's room that morning, and she still avoided eye contact with Sylvan when he told her where the prince was. What would he say? Would he bring others? Was it a trap? She readied herself to bolt at the first sign of danger.

She found him sitting on a bench near the pink and white bleeding heart flowers. In his hand was a white rose. He looked up when he heard her footsteps, offering her a small smile and making space on the bench for her. She took a seat next to him, still not saying a word.

"How are you doing?" He asked, his voice even and gentle.

"I'm okay. But I should be asking you that." She glanced over, noticing the usual brightness to his eyes seemed dimmer. "You look tired."

He smiled sadly. "As one would expect."

Mina hesitated. "Do you remember it all now? That day?"

Magnus was quiet for a moment, staring off at the delicate frost lining the flower petals and the soft rustle of wind through the leaves. "Not everything. But I remember you." He looked at her, his blue eyes soft. "Did you remember me?"

He knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it from her.

Her breath hitched. "Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

She fidgeted with the skirt of her dress. "I thought you didn't remember me because you didn't care. If you didn't care then, why would you care now?"

"I always cared," Magnus said softly. "They said I saved you, and my father almost killed me for it."

Her eyes widened. "Even then? Why would you do that for me?"

"Because you were hurt and scared and alone and you needed someone." He hesitated. "Your friend..."

A lump formed in Mina's throat and she turned away, fighting back tears. "That monster killed him because of you. Because Kirian hurt you." she seethed. "Why didn't you stop it? Why couldn't you have saved him?"

Magnus turned away as well, shutting his eyes. "Mina, I'm so sorry. I wish I could have."

As hard as she tried, she couldn't suppress the tears that flowed at the memory of Kirian, how he protected her to his dying breath, how her screams had turned the capo poppies bright red all around them in that field.

Magnus wanted to comfort her, but he didn't touch her. Not yet.

"I'm sorry, Mina," he whispered, feeling her cries tear through him and bring tears to his own eyes. "I'm so sorry."

She scrubbed her tears from her cheeks, trying furiously to pull herself together. She knew it wasn't his fault. She knew who was really to blame. Even back then, Kirian wanted to hurt the king, not him. But he was always in the crossfire, even now. No matter what, he'd always be the prince, the king's son, and therefore a target.

"You know, you've been in my dreams for years since it happened, but I never knew it was you until now," he murmured. "I crawled to you with all the strength I had, but I still don't know if I ever reached you that day..."

More tears came to her eyes, tears of guilt. He had always been there for her, and all the while, she planned to repay him with betrayal. She gripped the fabric of her skirt tighter. But could she abandon that quest now? Could she throw it all away? Was Sophie right? Could she start a new life here? With him?

He looked at her differently now. Certainly not the terrified look he had a few nights ago, but not quite the puppy eyed, curious wonder he had before. Now it was something deeper and more intense. He saw her fully, her past and her pain, and didn't flinch at what he saw. If anything, it drew him closer.

But he was still missing a critical piece. Would he force her to turn the other rebels in? And would she agree to that? She might be spared, but she would be sending Reva and Eldin and the others to their deaths.

She cried until she felt lightheaded and exhausted all her tears. "I'm sorry," she rasped, her words so heavy that she struggled to force it out.

"For what?" Magnus asked.

"I've only ever brought you harm," she whispered.

"Mina..."

"You know it's true," she insisted, her jaw clenching. "How many times will you suffer for me?"

Magnus shook his head. Pulling off one of his gloves, he held his bare hand out to her, unguarded and vulnerable.

"Mina, if I had to do it all over again, I'd still choose you, even if it meant I wouldn't take another breath. I'll always choose you."

Mina glanced at him then down at his open hand, wanting to cry all over again.

"Mina," his voice was different now, still soft but tender in a way that warmed the ice in her veins. "I love you."

There it was. She knew it was true for a while now, but she didn't expect hearing it out loud would change anything. Still, she already felt as if the whole world had melted away, leaving just the two of them. Her heart quickened in her chest and she felt her breath grow uneven.

"Oh, Mag..." Her voice cracked under the weight of everything she wished she could say but couldn't.

"You don't have to say it back, and you don't even have to feel the same for me. I just wanted you to know."

He stilled when he felt her hand finally rest in his. He closed his fingers, memorizing her touch and every crack and curve of her skin. She was the girl from his dreams, and now that he had finally reached her, he never wanted to let her go.

His love was too strong and too real, like a burning sun sweeping over her world of icy lies. She felt her heart overflow and burst at the seams. She couldn't bring herself to believe him, not fully, not yet.

"But what would that mean?" she asked, still holding onto his hand. He tilted his head in confusion, so she continued. "Would you marry me? Could you even?"

Magnus hesitated. "Why not? I can do what I want soon enough."

"I would think someone in your position would be betrothed to some princess."

"Well, I'm not. At least, not yet..."

"So it would only be for a short while?" Mina asked, her voice growing softer. "And what if you are promised to someone else? Would you still want me then?"

He didn't hesitate. "Yes, Mina. Nothing will change that."

She frowned. "Am I to dine with you and your court, then? Attend balls with the lords and ladies? Surely, they'll talk and judge and ridicule us." She looked deep into his eyes. "Do you know what loving me would cost you?"

He didn't waver. "Yes, and it's worth every risk."

She wanted to believe him, but the reality of the situation stomped out any sort of hope before it had the chance to really take root. He didn't even know the extent of the risks he was opening himself up to by having her close.

She held onto his hand tighter. "Maybe...we don't need everyone else to know. Besides, my work is hardly anything too taxing. We can just keep things the way it's been."

He lifted her hand and pressed it to his heart. He didn't expect nor need her to say she loved him, and he didn't need her to lie just to please him. What she had given him instead, cautious honesty, meant more than empty promises ever could. It helped him cling to the hope that what they had was real.

"I'd like that. But please remember, I love you like no other. Nothing will ever change that."

She felt as if she were melting under his gaze. Breathless, she leaned over and pressed a soft kiss on his cheek over his scar. His cheeks flushed red and a shy smile grew on his face. A small smile tugged at her own lips as she wiped the last of her tears away.

"Is that for me?" she asked, gesturing to the white rose in his other hand.

"Ah, yes," he replied, passing it over to her. "Most roses are dethorned before being given as gifts, but I didn't get the chance to."

She turned the stem between her fingers. "But why? It's just how it protects itself."

He stared at her, the warmth rising in his chest. That's all any of this was. His repressed memories, her standoffishness—just defense mechanisms protecting them from the pain of the past in different ways.

He squeezed her hand. "You're right."

She lifted the flower to her nose, inhaling its sweet fragrance. "Thank you."

He rose to his feet with a smile, his eyes imbued with new light. When he looked at her, he didn't have to say it again for her to know what he was thinking.

~*~*~*~

Sophie poked Mina's side before sitting next to her at dinner. Mina didn't even try to dodge it this time, but she did try and fail to hide the blush forming on her cheeks.

"What did I say? It all worked out in the end, right?"

"Well, not everything," Mina argued. "But yes, things are better, thankfully." For however long it lasts, she thought grimly.

Sophie smirked before shoveling her grits into her mouth, silently noting how Mina's hair was braided again and the white rose that lay next to her plate. Still, Mina kept her eyes downward, her eyebrows furrowed, her mind elsewhere.

"You alright?" Sophie asked between bites.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Mina asked too quickly, finishing the last of her food and standing up.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"I forgot something," Mina mumbled, throwing her dishes in the sink. She took a moment to swipe the rose into her hand, a few petals coming loose as she scurried out of the room.

She burst into the maids' quarters, digging through the mess of clothes and other belongings, half of which were from Magnus. Hearing the sound of glass clink on the stone floor, she glanced over to see the vial lying there, its vile contents gleaming wickedly back at her. Scooping it into her hand, she nudged the scattered mess back under her bed with her foot and deposited the rose on her bed before darting out the door again.

She had barely made it a few steps out before someone caught her by her bad arm. Letting out a yelp, she stumbled, trying to wrench free.

"Going somewhere?" Samira sneered, tightening her grip.

Mina's mouth went dry, and she shoved the vial into her pocket to free her other hand. In a flash, she drove her fist into Samira's side. Samira winced, her grip loosening just enough to allow Mina to break free.

"Don't make a scene," Samira warned, gritting her teeth.

Mina was about to protest when she caught movement behind Samira. Her heart sunk down to her stomach when she saw Erik approach, a fire burning in his dark eyes.

"You're coming with us."