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𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐔𝐃𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐈: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓
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66 | TIL DØDEN SKILLER OSS AD

WHEN Winter walked out of her bathroom towel drying her hair, she saw a shirtless Harry lounging on her bed. He was newly showered, focusing on a small ball he was throwing and catching in the air.

Winter smiled at him, starting to braid her hair down in one long braid for the night. The bed creaked as she sat next to him while braiding her hair, Harry wasted no time in throwing the ball away from him and moving toward Winter.

He hummed while wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her down until she fell so she was resting on his chest.

Winterfell sighed upon meeting Harry's warm skin against her own—she was only wearing a tank top, her shorts nowhere to be found. Harry wrapped a strong arm around her, kissing the top of her head.

A comfortable silence lingered between the both of them, nothing needed to be said for them to enjoy being in each other's presence.

She finished off her braid, sighing while relaxing completely against Harry.

"Yer beautiful, ya' know..." Harry said to her softly, holding her to his chest tighter and resting the chin of his head against the top of hers.

Winter looked up at him, staring into his sparkling blue eyes. "I don't think anything is more beautiful than you, Harry," She said back sweetly, placing a chaste kiss to his cheek.

Harry's heart fluttered.

"No, snowie, I mean, yer beautiful... inside and out... and I know we're soulmates and all but, well, you've had my heart since the day I first looked into those big brown eyes of yours. Way back when ya first came on the Isle, and I've fallen more in love with yah every day since. No one else ever has or ever will make me feel as whole as you do. If you'll let me, I'd like to show you how much I love ya' for as long as I can, until me heart stops beating..." Harry said, his voice was soft as he stared at Winter.

Winter's eyebrows furrowed—while she certainly appreciated and was moved by his words, she was also confused as to where this was coming from. Although, she had a feeling she knew where this was going.

She hoped that he was going to ask her to officially be his girlfriend.

"Harry, I—" Winter started to say, but Harry cut her off by placing a finger on her lips and delivering her a heart-stopping smirk.

"No, ya' got to let me finish, me duckling," He leaned down, rubbing his nose against her affectionately.

"But of course, my pirate," She said right back, smiling while leaning back and listening to the rest of what he had to say.

"And, I don't know—I just figure if we're soulmates, it's pretty much a given that we're going to spend the rest of our lives together, right?" He asked her.

"I'd say so," Winter shrugged, beginning to play with his fingers.

Harry had none of his rings on nor the usual liner that he wore, not after he'd showered and cleansed himself for the night.

"Exactly! And I've already decided that there is no one else that I would be happier with for the rest of me existence..." He chuckled, gently pushing away from her and standing in front of where she was lying on the bed as though to get his point across.

Winter rose a brow at this, but she was getting excited. If Harry did not ask her to be his girlfriend after this, then she would go to sleep incredibly disappointed.

"And whether that means exploring the seven seas with ya', exploring the Arendellian forests, or even being a foot rest to the most beautiful princess I know; I'll be happy as long as I'm with ya'. I hope I'm not too bold to assume ya' might feel the same way?"

Winter nodded. "Yes, I am happy no matter where I am with you, Harry."

Harry nodded almost nervously, his face breaking his confident aura for just a second. It was obvious that he was getting nervous, it's what made Winter reach out to grab his hands. He smiled at her, wrapping his larger hands around her own.

"I don't have the greatest examples of relationships—it's not really a thing on the Isle, but I ain't stupid. I know what love is supposed tah look like... and I have that for you. Now, I was readin' up on it and asking Uma what she knew, and I know that traditionally I should first ask yer father's permission..."

Winter could not help but think that was a little extreme for simply asking someone to date. But then again, it's not like Harry or Uma were really used to this whole thing, it was possible that they did a little too much research and found outdated traditions.

"But seeing as I was born and raised on the Isle of the Lost—I thought I might get a pass on certain things. This ain't be very flashy either, but I also know you don't like flashy too much anyway..." Harry chuckled at his last statement, bowing his head and looking to the ground in deep thought. He suddenly swallowed harshly, looking back up into Winter's confused face.

He would never want anything more than her for however long he shall live.

Harry released her hands and dug into the pockets of his pajama pants. In the next moment, his right hand had pulled out something silver and shiny before he presented it to her.

A ring sat ideally between his fingers, a piece of jewelry that sparkled under the dim lighting of Winter's room. The face was a pure diamond, set with stones of glittering light blue sapphires and emeralds. The band was gold: cut thinly but long.

Winter's face twisted from astoundment upon seeing the beautiful ring to disbelief.

Now, she supposed his words made sense. Because those traditions were not quite as outdated in terms of matrimony.

"This ring was my mother's—pirates like treasure and all that, so me da' took all his finest pieces of diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and gold and made this for her. He had a skill of crafting jewelry, so he composed it by hand," Harry explained whilst falling to one knee. "I can't imagine no one else beside me for the rest of my life, snowie, you're all I want. So I must ask: Winterfell Iduna Frost, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?"

His hands started to shake as he held the ring out for her, stationed in front of her on one knee. Winter sat on the bed in front of him, gaping down at both his face and the magnificent ring in his grasp. Never in a million years would she ever expected the likes of this to happen.

If she was being honest, Winter had never given marriage much thought. Not at her age—not when but minutes ago it seemed so far in the future that it was not yet worth considering.

But apparently, Harry had different ideas.

Not that Winter had known, but that was why it had taken Harry so long to ask her to be his girlfriend. Because he did not want Winterfell Frost to be his girlfriend, he wanted her to be his wife. It had only taken so long because Harry had to get the ring from Harriet and find the courage to ask her.

Winter's mind was reeling a mile a minute and despite all her concerns—her answer was obvious.

Her lips curled into a smile, her eyes misting up without her approval. She grabbed his hands.

"Yes," She whispered, her voice hoarse from her emotions. "A thousand times and in a thousand different lifetimes; yes..."

Harry smiled happier than Winter had ever seen—a more genuine smile than anything he'd ever displayed as he stood up almost in shock. He was barely standing when Winter jumped from the bed and into his arms.

Her tank top hiked up as she embraced him, Harry easily catching her and tugging her into his chest while he dug his face into her neck.

They both took in the little things: how the other felt in their arms, how they smelled, and most of all, how they felt. The happiness and passion that buzzed around them: the pure love.

And it mattered not that they were in their pajamas—it did not matter that they were trapped in the safety and warmth of Winter's dorm room, none of it mattered. All that mattered was their love for one another. That is what made it perfect for them.

After minutes of embracing, they pulled apart so that Harry could take her left hand. He kissed each of her fingers before he kissed the ring that was now hers.