Tonks felt as if her heart had stopped beating. She felt the ring in her palm, and there was no question what it was. Marriage. He wanted to marry her. After a year of living in terror that he would die, after trying everything she possibly could to convince him that they were right together, this felt too easy.
Her eyes flew open even though he hadn't told her she could look, and she examined the ring, buying herself a few extra moments. She didn't care how big or how beautiful it was -- it wouldn't be the ring she'd be marrying. But after all the uncertainty of the past year, she couldn't help but wonder why now.
"What if it happens again?" Tonks whispered, her eyes focusing on his face. "What if something dreadful happens and you think you're putting me in danger? Will you leave again if you think it will protect me?"