The Crown

Chapter Forty One

Beatrice rushed through the vacant hallways. She stumbled with every step - she hadn't properly walked in months. She clutched her stomach and winced with every movement, but it didn't stop her - she knew that once she reached her destination, all the pain would have been worth it.

The lights shining from the Banquet Hall indicated to her that she was almost there. Pushing past the pain in her legs and her body aches, Beatrice stumbled toward the door. The guards were too slow to notice her presence, too late to try and stop her.

She opened the doors and fell forward, landing on her elbows. She grunted in pain, looking up to see several guests looking her way. She looked past them all and stared at the groom. Her groom. 

"Stop!" She cried with all her force. "Stop the wedding!"

Evelyn turned around at the sudden commotion. Her eyes widened to their extremities as she stared at the woman she was told was dead. Killed. Her hands shook as she covered her mouth. Was this guilt for pushing Tobias into a marriage? Was her ghost haunting me? Whatever the reason, her hand fell limp as she let out a startling scream. 

The crowd erupted in cries and gasps. Marcus turned and held onto his panicked wife, having not registered any of the commotion. He watched as guards ran over to the suddenly assembled crowd. 

Zeke stared out in front of him, backing up into his brother's arms. Uriah, equally in shock, froze.

Tobias glanced at his best friend before motioning to step down, wanting to address what was going on. Lauren grunted and grabbed her fiancee's hand, pulling him back. 

"No!" she cried. "We must finish the ceremony!"

Tobias scoffed and ripped his arm from her hard grasp. "How thoughtless could you be?"

The last to comprehend the situation, Tobias and Marcus walked shoulder to shoulder toward the crowd. Upon their footsteps, guests quickly scrambled to the side, not wanting to get in the way of the Royals. 

Marcus stopped at the sight of his prisoner on the floor by his feet. His fist shook in rage as he roared in disbelief. Tobias grabbed his father's shoulder and pushed him away, wanting to see what the fuss was about. 

And, as the miserable young prince's eyes finally settled on the woman who had crashed his wedding, his whole world had stopped-

-it was as if Tobias was breathing in new air.

"Tobias!" Beatrice gasped, lifting herself up from the ground. 

Tobias' eyes went wide. 

The prince fell to his knees. 

Tobias slowly reached out his hand to touch the woman in front of him, but as he neared her, his hands shook rapidly. He lowered his head, shaking it profusely. "This is not real," he repeated over and over, showing the world how deep his unstable mind ran.

"No, Tobias," Beatrice called out softly. "Look at me. Look at me, it's me. It's me."

He reached his hand out again, and this time, she caught his hand with hers. 

The warmth of both their hands touching after being apart for so long coursed through their veins. Tobias felt alive once more. Beatrice felt cured of any pain. 

Their reunion was caught bitterly short as Marcus shoved his son to the side. He bent down and grabbed Beatrice's wrist, pulling her toward him. She winced at his tightening grasp, but was no longer afraid. 

A sense of relief washed over her. Yes, I am no longer afraid of him. I escaped from him all by myself, she reminded, almost welcoming his panicked state.