We stayed at Leon Karnak for a while, enjoying the peace that we knew would be shattered once our engagement was announced. But after a while, I heard Avani’s stomach rumble and realized that I was getting hungry, too. So, reluctantly, we headed back on foot, rather than the much speedier Escape spell, in order to grasp a few last moments of tranquility.

Along the way, we decided that the first person we ought to tell of our engagement—for pity’s sake, if nothing else—was Dylas. Avani insisted that she couldn’t just leave him to learn of it through the grapevine, and I agreed  wholeheartedly. Then we decided that next we should tell Arthur, as the Prince representing the Crown in Selphia, and Volkanon, as Venti’s Head Butler and the steward of her estate. After that, Avani said she wanted to tell Amber and Dolce. Although not her closest friends, she felt a special bond with all four Guardians that transcended mere friendship. Then, she said, we could tell everyone else as the occasion arose.

When we arrived, I went straight to Avani’s quarters to wait while she went in search of Dylas. Apparently she had no trouble finding him, as she returned with him after perhaps a quarter of an hour. She offered him a drink, which he declined, and we all sat before her fireplace—he in a chair, and Avani and I on the sofa. I cleared my throat to speak, but Avani quickly turned towards me and laid a hand on my arm—which I took to mean that she wanted to be the one to tell him.

“Dylas,” she said as she turned back to her former lover, “I-I’m not quite sure how to say this, but….”

“But you’re getting married. Right?” he said, flatly, as he looked from one to the other of us.

I started in surprise, and Avani stammered, “W-well, yes, b-but how did you…?”

Dylas frowned at her. “Give me a little credit at least. I may not be the most sociable person in town, but I’m not made of wood. And I know you, Avani—I know you so well, like the back of my own hand. When you showed up, it was pretty clear to me that you were both happy and nervous, and when I saw Leon sitting here, looking so damn happy, I… just knew.” He looked away from her. “I guess this is where I should say congratulations, huh? I… I won’t be petty and childish, so don’t worry. We had a pretty good thing for a while, though, didn’t we, Avani? And I… I still love you. So I hope he makes you happy.” Then he looked me straight in the eyes, without a trace of humor or jest, and said, “You’d better make her happy.” Then he rose, and after a pause, he held out a hand to me. “Congratulations, man.” Then he held out his hand to Avani, but she jumped up and hugged him. He stood there at a loss for words for a moment, then tentatively returned her hug with a brief embrace. “Thank you, Avani, for the time we had together,” I heard him whisper to her before he pulled away and quickly left through the front door.

Turning to me with tears in her eyes, she said, “I… I think before we go see anyone else… I could use that drink.” I smiled sympathetically and went to pour two glasses of wine—I felt I could do with one myself. As we were both fairly famished by then, I also put together some sandwiches from what I could find in her refrigerator.

We talked about wedding plans while we ate and drank, and it quickly became clear that we would likely have an… interesting ceremony. I was unfamiliar with the customs of the current era, and Avani had forgotten all that she might ever have known of them. All either of us knew was based on tidbits of gossip, such as Nancy reminiscing about her marriage to Dr. Jones. However, we did agree on a few basics—neither of us cared much for pomp and circumstance, so we wanted to keep it as simple as possible. Avani loved the idea of a big party for the whole town—feasting and merrymaking for a night and a day, or something like that—and I wasn’t averse to the idea. However, I pointed out that if we did something along those lines, it would be difficult to keep all the tourists that her efforts had attracted to Selphia away, at least, without seeming churlish or snobbish. So I suggested that we hold it outdoors, in which case we should be married as soon as possible, before the chilly fall rains began.

Once we’d finished our refreshments, I went in search of Arthur while she headed over to the butler’s quarters to find Volkanon, agreeing to meet her back in her rooms. Arthur wasn’t in his offices nor in the restaurant, so I tried the baths at the inn next. I found him there, soaking in the steaming, fragrant water, his eyes closed and a smile on his face as he relaxed after his day’s efforts.

I crouched down on the edge of the pool of water next to him. “Hey, Arthur. Sorry to disturb you, but Avani and I need to talk to you as soon as is convenient. It… it’s kind of important.”

Without opening his eyes—though his smile widened a bit—he said, “Hmmm. Congratulations to the both of you.”

I sat back on my heels in surprise. “What the…. How—how did you know?” I exclaimed.

He opened his eyes then, raising one eyebrow as he looked at me. “Am I mistaken?”

“N-no… but…. Dammit, was it that obvious?”

“Apparently to everyone but you two. Even Dylas had a hunch, though I don’t think he knew for certain until Avani caught up to him a while ago. I’m pretty sure he knew at that moment, judging from the look in his eyes.”

I shook my head. “Well, at least we don’t have to worry about telling everyone, then.”

He smiled at my rueful expression. “I will be done here shortly. Where do you wish to meet with me? My office?”

“No, in Avani’s rooms, if you don’t mind. She’s looking for Volkanon right now, though I don’t think she’ll have much trouble finding him.”

“Very well, then. I will be there in fifteen minutes,” he said, then he closed his eyes again and leaned back as I rose and left.

When I returned, Avani was waiting for me. “Volkanon will be here any minute. Did you find Arthur?” she asked. When I explained he would be slightly delayed, she stood thinking for a moment. “Then I’m going to run out and find Amber and Dolce, if you don’t mind waiting here? May as well kill two birds with one stone, and I wanted to tell them next.”

I smiled at her. “Go ahead, My Lady. I’ll wait for Volkanon and Arthur to arrive.”

She ran off, and returned with the girls in tow just as Arthur arrived. Volkanon was already there and waiting, so we invited everyone to take seats. Standing before the fireplace, Avani and I looked at each other and smiled. “We’ve asked you here to announce that Avani and I have decided to marry,” I began, only to be interrupted by loud squeals from Amber and Pico.

Volkanon jumped up and smothered Avani in a massive embrace, sobbing noisily as he congratulated us. Arthur smiled—a little wistfully, I thought—and offered his felicitations, as well, and even reserved Dolce exclaimed, “Finally. I wondered when you two were going to get around to it.”

“‘Congratulations, and I hope you two will enjoy a long and happy life together’—is what Dolly means to say, isn’t it, Dolly?” Pico exclaimed, throwing her translucent arms around Dolce’s neck.

Batting her aside, Dolce flushed and muttered, “Go haunt someone else for a change.”

“Ahh! You’re as cold as ice, my lady!” Pico squealed.

I cleared my throat, and the chattering and squealing subsided. “Anyway, we realized that neither of us really knows how to go about doing this. I’m not familiar with the relevant laws and customs of this age, and Avani of course doesn’t remember them, if she ever knew. So—”

“Just leave it all to us, Sir Leon!” Volkanon happily proclaimed. “We’ll make all the arrangements for you! Now, let’s see… that will mean the clothing, food, venue, invitations, musicians, flowers…. Perhaps if we set a date for mid-winter? Oh, this will be a grand affair, worthy of our dear Avani!”

Avani looked a little pale at that, and I hastened to explain. “Again, we are not familiar with the customs, but as such, neither do we feel especially bound by them, provided that all the legal requirements for marriage are met. Neither of us cares for a lot of fuss….”

“Are you quite sure of that, Leon?” Dolce asked, drily. “Avani is a woman, after all. Even if she says that she doesn’t want a lot of fuss… most women dream of their wedding day from girlhood on. You know, being a princess for a day, wearing a big, frilly dress, bunches of flowers, a huge cake. All that sort of thing.”

I glanced over at Avani, wondering if what Dolce said was true and that she really did want a lot of fuss despite her assurances to the contrary. Meeting my gaze, she smiled in amusement as she said, “That may be true, Dolce, but if I once had dreams of such a fairytale wedding, I’ve forgotten them. All I know is what I feel now—that I just want to marry Leo, and the sooner, the better. The mode is irrelevant to me. I wouldn’t care if I married him on the shore of the lake wearing my work clothes, because I’m just happy to be marrying him.”

Volkanon cleared his throat noisily. “No, no, no—that would never do! You are a princess—well, in a manner of speaking—and you must have a wedding befitting your rank!”

Avani sighed. “Fine. Have it your way. We’ll have whatever wedding you feel is proper and necessary for us to have… provided that you do all the planning and preparation and that it takes place within a week.”

“A week?!” Volkanon roared, stunned.

“Or less,” Avani said, in a tone that brooked no argument.

“Ahh… hrmm. Yes. Well, in that case—there is no time to lose!”

As he turned to bolt out the door, I called to him. He paused and looked at me expectantly, and I said, “My Lady and I had thought to hold the reception out of doors, so that everyone—even visitors to the town—might join in the festivities. You know, just a big party that everyone can enjoy.”

“Yes, sir!” he exclaimed with a broad grin, then he disappeared through the side door into the castle.

Dolce rose next, saying, “I suppose since I have a little skill with a needle that I could make the wedding clothes for you, if you’d like. I’ll sketch out some designs tonight. If you would be so good to stop by early in the morning, you can give your opinion on them. Do you know yet who your attendants will be?”

“A-attendants?” Avani said, bewildered.

Dolce sighed and closed her eyes. “Yes, it’s traditional for both the bride and groom to each have attendants to help them dress, help with the wedding itself, act as witnesses to the marriage—those sorts of things. You should each have at least one attendant, though really elaborate weddings may have a dozen or more attendants apiece.”

We looked at each other, and she said, “Well… can I let you know in the morning? We… uhh, need to decide that.”

Dolce nodded, and then she, too hurried off.

Amber jumped up to follow, squealing, “I bet Lumie will want to do all your flowers! I can’t want to tell her! Oh! Or maybe you want to be the one to tell her?”

“I do, thank you. I’ll come by later, okay?” Avani said with a smile.

“Okie dokieeeee!” Amber giggled, then she bounded off, beaming with joy and fluttering her wings excitedly.

That just left us alone with Arthur. “Well, it would appear that things have been set in motion,” he said with a smile. “Of course, normally there would be a waiting period between the time your application for a marriage license is submitted and the time you could actually marry. However, I would be more than happy to expedite that for you, as a special circumstance. So if the two of you will please come to my office tomorrow first thing in the morning, we’ll take care of your paperwork. One thing—I do not know either of your surnames, and I will need those for your applications.”

Avani looked disconcerted at that. “But… but I have no idea what my surname is! I only remembered my given name after I came to—nothing else. What am I going to do?” She bit her lip, looking as if she might cry.

“Ahh, well, don’t worry about it,” Arthur said with a reassuring smile. “That’s another special circumstance, isn’t it? Since you don’t know your name, I will simply put you down as ‘Avani of Selphia’. And you, Leon?”

I thought for a moment. “My family has long since died out. It had all but done so when I became a Guardian—I was the only son of an only son of an only son. I could carry on my father’s name, of course, but after the passage of centuries, it seems almost… pointless. I’d essentially be starting a new family line, anyway, so may I—may we—choose a new name for ourselves?”

“Certainly, if that is what you wish. After all, who in this time would be able to gainsay you, anyway? Discuss it tonight and let me know what name you wish to use tomorrow.” He rose and held out a hand to me. “Again, congratulations. You’re a very lucky man, Leon.”

“I know,” I grinned.

That evening, as we lay in bed, we discussed attendants and names. “I was thinking…” Avani began, “although they perhaps aren’t my nearest friends, I’d like to have Dolce and Amber as my attendants. I feel closer to you four Guardians than to the townsfolk—or I guess more accurately, I feel a bond with you that I don’t share with anyone else. But it depends… who do you want to ask to be yours?”

I thought for a few minutes. “Well, as strange as it may sound, I think the man I’m closest to would be, well, Dylas. After all, we’ve been comrades-in-arms for some time now, and we’ve shared a lot—you, for example,” I said with a grin at her. She rolled her eyes, and I went on. “But… I don’t know… it might be awkward to ask him, given that he is your former lover. And even if he is willing… it could still be painful for him.”

She sighed and snuggled up to me. “True… but he still seems like the ideal choice. You could ask him and see what he says—if he declines, no hard feelings.”

“Perhaps. I was thinking of asking Arthur to be the other attendant when we go in to do the paperwork, so maybe I’ll ask Dylas while we’re there.”

She got a wicked gleam in her eye just then, and said with a laugh, “If he declines, you could mention that in that case, you’ll ask Doug instead. I bet he’d change his mind then!” I laughed with her—she certainly knew how to get Dylas to do what she wanted.

“It’s nice how nearly everyone in town is doing something for the wedding—how they all wanted to pitch in and have some part in the preparations,” she said after a few minutes. “Dolce’s doing all the sewing, with help from Nancy and Blossom. Lumie, Deasún, and Amber are all taking care of the flowers and decorations. Meg’s seeing to the music, even finding additional musicians to perform with her. Porcoline’s cooking all the food—no doubt with Dylas’s help—making the cake, and providing the beverages. The butlers are all handling the planning and coordination, Arthur’s taking care of the paperwork, and even Bado’s helping with our rings. It’s almost like having a huge, extended family.”

“Indeed it is. Which leads me to the other decision to be made: what name will we take for our family?”

She furrowed her brow in thought. “Something meaningful to both of us,” she finally said, slowly. “We could pick something that has to do with the tower or the forest where we first met… or we could pick something to do with Venti?”

“Such as?” I asked, looking at her dubiously.

“Like… something relating to wind? Or dragons? Like… Drake… or Gale… or Mistral?”

“Hmmm… Drake…. I rather like that. Leon and Avani Drake—that has a nice ring to it, I must say. And it seems appropriate, given that I was Venti’s high priest and that we were both her good friends.” I paused and looked at her. “Err, assuming that you intend to take my name, that is?”

She looked surprised. “I-I don’t know. I have no idea what’s customary. But… I’d like to share your name.”

I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a kiss as I held her tightly. “I’d like that, too.”

The next morning, as soon as she’d finished her farm chores, Avani ran off to see Dolce. She returned an hour or so later with a merry look in her eyes. When I asked the cause of her amusement, however, she coyly told me that I’d just have to wait and see. I recognized the glint of devilment in her eyes, and just gave up before I’d even started—I knew I hadn’t a chance when she was in that mood. She did say, though, that Dolce had agreed—happily, even, although also with a little embarrassment—to be one of her attendants. We stopped by Carnation’s on the way to Arthur’s, and she asked Amber as well—who also agreed, and with far more exuberance, I imagined.

Before going in to see Arthur, we next tracked down Dylas. He was waiting tables, but took a break when I asked if I could talk to him someplace private. We stepped upstairs to his room, Avani following behind. Once in his room, he turned and looked at me, hand on his hip. “Well, what is it? I am working, you know—so make it quick,” he grumbled impatiently.

“Then I won’t mince words. I’d like you to be one of my attendants at our wedding. After all, you’re one of our closest friends—mine as well as Avani’s.” Seeing the stunned look on his face, I quickly added, “I know—it’s probably more than a little unconventional to ask a former rival to be in the wedding party. But then, none of us are particularly stuck on convention.”

He looked torn between shock and anger as he just stared, open-mouthed, at me. “Y-you….”

Avani stepped up to him, and interrupting him, she laid her hands on his arm and looked pleadingly into his eyes. “Please, Dylas? I know it’s a lot to ask of you. But… it would mean so much to us—to me—for you to be a part of our wedding. You’re so dear to us.”

He abruptly turned his back to us, and in a low voice, he said, “Don’t, Avani. Don’t look at me like that. It… it isn’t fair. You know I can’t say no to you when you have that look in your eyes….” He heaved a great sigh, then softly said, “Fine. I’ll do it. Just… don’t expect me to pretend to be all happiness and sunshine and rainbows.”

“Thank you, Dylas—it means more to me than I can say,” Avani gently replied, giving him a hug.

“Yeah, whatever. Now get going, will you? I have work to do,” he said gruffly, and we quietly slipped away to find Arthur.

He was, as usual, in his office. He looked up and smiled at us as we hurried downstairs. “Ahh, there you are. I’m glad to see you,” he said gesturing for us to sit across from him. “I have the necessary paperwork right here for you to fill in. Have you reached a decision regarding your surname?”

“Yes,” I replied as we sat down, “we’re thinking of using the name Drake. It seems fitting, given our friendships with Venti—not to mention that I was once her high priest. Is that an acceptable choice?”

He drummed his fingers on the desk as he thought for a moment. “Well…” he said after a long pause, “the trouble with that name is that some in the capitol might see it as… well, presumptuous for commoners to take a name derived from a Native Dragon—however feted those commoners might be.”

Avani tensed up, looking furious at the idea, so I put an arm around her shoulders to calm her as I replied, “Well, then. Is that enough to actually be an impediment?”

Arthur leaned back in his chair. “It could be… but something else has come up. Please wait here—I would like Dylas to be present for this.”

Avani and I looked at each other in astonishment as he stepped through the door into Porcoline’s restaurant, returning a few minutes later with a fairly surly Dylas in tow. He grabbed another chair and pulled it over to the desk, gesturing for Dylas to have a seat as he resumed his own.

Shuffling through his papers, he pulled out an envelope with a large, flamboyant seal stamped onto it. “Here’s the thing,” he began, pulling a letter out and glancing at it before looking up at us. “As I already told you, your proposed surname could be problematic with certain factions within the capitol, due to your status as commoners. My father, the King, would not personally care—of that I am certain. But those who are more hidebound would almost certainly try to make things difficult, or at least uncomfortable, for you two.

“However, I hold here a solution to this potential dilemma. The King has written to me, stating that he wishes to recognize your heroism—all three of you, that is—in our kingdom’s recent crisis. Therefore, he wishes to knight all three of you, and to you, Avani, he has further issued letters patent creating you Baronet of the Selphia Plains.”

We all just stared at him, completely at a loss for words. Dylas, surprisingly, recovered use of his tongue first. “Kn-knight? Me? Are you kidding me? And can women even be baronets? I-I… I don’t know what to say.”

Smiling at our confusion, Arthur said, “Yes, I’m quite serious. Never has a lady been created a baronet—until now. Then, there has not yet been a lady more deserving of the honor, either. Your new titles and honors should preclude any potential carping regarding your choice of surname, so we can proceed with confidence.

“My father had intended to call you three to the capitol soon for a formal knighting; however, I think I will make a personal request of him—as his son, rather than as a prince—to come here instead. Then your wedding plans need not be disarranged. My father enjoys getting away from the fuss and feathers of court life once in a while, so I think he will be amenable.”

Avani and I just looked at each other, speechless. Then simultaneously, we both began to laugh. We laughed until we were helplessly gasping for breath. From the corner of my eye, I could see Arthur’s startled expression, which only made me laugh all the harder.

“What is it? What’s so funny?” he exclaimed in surprise.

“O-only Avani,” I gasped. “Only Avani could try to plan a simple, quiet, little wedding and have it turn into a royal affair to be organized with less than a week’s notice.”

“Volkanon’s going to blow a gasket,” she giggled, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“You two… are fucking insane,” Dylas solemnly pronounced as we once again dissolved into laughter.