"may my heart be the softest place you fall,
may this love be the wildest place you run."

4 months later
Iftia: Lyx Palace, Waiting Room

• Arell •

"Father," Arell grumbled, sitting on the couch opposite to his father's as he pouted unhappily. "Arell wants to see Mother."

"Stay here, son," Father replied simply, his attention focused on the book in his hand. He explained, "Your mother is rather busy."

"Arell have yet seen Mother for—"

Just then, the door to the waiting room was pushed open. The child turned his head to look at Tristan, who had entered looking all stunning in his formal ceremonial uniform and his hair combed neatly with sleek. He asked, "Has anyone seen Arell?"

Arell quickly jumped in his seat and waved excitedly at Tristan, "Tris, I'm here!"

"Hey buddy, I've been looking for you everywhere," Tristan laughed. "Why are you here?"

Before Arell could explain himself, Ilias piped in a reply from the side, "Ask the man who had been sulking for weeks just because he's not allowed to see Elianna."

Father shot a look at Ilias and scowled, "I'm waiting for a maiden to steal that stone-cold heart of yours."

"Please spare me from the idea of marriage, Your Highness," Ilias smiled. "My brother and sister-in-law had done an impeccable job to ensure the continuity of the Vaille bloodline."

Father rolled his eyes, retorting, "Other than Alec, who's married, I have no intention for rest of you to remain bachelors."

"You heard that, Kaylon?" Ilias quickly darted his eyes towards Kaylon, who spurted out a mouthful of water. Alec glowered at him while quickly pulling the thick fabric of his shoulder capelet away, letting out a sigh of relief at the realisation that Kaylon had not messed up his ceremonial uniform.

Kaylon shouted back, "S-Shut up, Ilias!"

"Care to explain?" Father arched his brow questioningly and Arell had also turned his attention towards Kaylon, intrigued.

"Nothing at all," Kaylon denied.

While everyone had their attention on Kaylon, Arell felt a light tap on his shoulder and turned to peer towards Tristan. Tristan had lifted a finger requesting for him to keep quiet. A small bubble of happiness surfaced and excitement glinted in his eyes when Tristan picked him up from the couch and pivoted towards the door.

"Where do you think you're going with Arell, Tristan?" Father caught them and asked. The child stilled in Tristan's hold, folding his arms tighter around his neck.

"Hold tight," Tristan reminded and made a quick sprint out of the door. When they managed to escape to the wide hallway, Tristan laughed and said, "Never knew that I would have a day to play mischief on your father. It was fun but I can already expect my desk to be piled with work tomorrow."

"Father isn't that petty of a man," Arell said, dropping his head to the side.

"Oh, Arell, if only you knew," Tristan shuddered, pulling a sad expression. Arell patted the top of Tristan's head to comfort him and the knight laughed, "Let's go to your mother. She had been asking for you since morning."

Arell nodded and a sudden thought flashed through his mind, upsetting him. Thunder had disappeared without a word since the early morning and the child frowned, assuming that the big cat ought to be out for some fun without bringing him along.

━━━━━━━━━━

Thethia: Floriv, Town of Central Thethia

• Thunder •

Entering the florist shop, Thunder requested, "A bouquet of white lilies, thank you."

"Someone's wedding?" the lady smiled, preparing his bouquet.

"Yes," Thunder returned with a small smile. "Though the bouquet is for a visit to someone important's grave."

"Blessings to the new love," the florist said kindly before adding, "And you have my deepest condolences for the ones that passed."

"Thank you," he nodded, picking up a few stalks of lilacs. "Could you please add a few of these to the bouquet?"

"Of course." The lady carefully arranged a beautiful bouquet for him and he paid her coins before leaving through the door, making his way to the town square.

Thunder only learned from Elianna when Elizabeth wrote her a letter a few weeks ago, mentioning that a memorial hall was built in Floriv for the many that had fallen during the tyrant's rule. The quiet building had nothing except for a large slab of marble that stood in the middle. Diffused light seeped from the opened ceiling above, shining a ray of brightness upon the smooth surface as names carved with magic glimmered resplendently.

Thunder moved close to the monument. Amidst the stillness and calmness of this entire place was the unfailing hailstorm of emotions crashing against his chest when his fingers traced over a familiar name: Jason Wayland. 

Bending down, he placed the bouquet of lilies and lilacs on the ground while lowering himself to sit with his back leaning against the cold surface of the marble. Thunder smiled, "Jason, Elianna is getting married today."

A droplet of water landed on the back of his hand, catching him by surprise and he breathed out a laugh, "I know, I'm extremely happy for her too. You should've seen her for yourself and if you're still alive, I'm sure you'll be the one walking her down the aisle today."

"That little princess who used to run around the forest of Heather Palace had grown up to be an absolutely beautiful, kind and brave lady." His voice faltered as he spoke and he had to pause for a few moments to get past the choking heaviness pressing against his chest. In a low whisper, he exhaled, "I fulfilled my promise to you, Jason."

Rolling his eyes up, he tried to force back the tears that pooled in his eyes each time he missed the man who rescued him from the scythe of death and gave him the warm love of a family. The silence remained in the memorial hall and Thunder sighed. He planted his hands on the ground and pushed himself to stand before turning himself around and placed his right palm over his heart. In a respectful bow, he said, "Please continue to watch over us from up above."

Thunder exited the memorial hall and closed the door behind him. Making his way back to the portal, he made sure to be back in Iftia in time for the formal ceremony.

━━━━━━━━━━

Iftia: Temple of Iris, Entrance

• Elianna •

"Elianna, you look rather pale," Elizabeth pointed out as worry filled her expression. "Are you perhaps not feeling well?"

"I'm extremely nervous," Elianna mumbled to her sister who stood beside her with a steady posture in a display of her collectedness. "Aren't you feeling it too?"

"I'm not the one getting married today," Elizabeth laughed lightly, placing a comforting hand on top of hers. She continued to assure her, "You have nothing to worry about, my dear sister."

"I'm so glad that you're here," Elianna said.

"I'm overjoyed to hear that," Elizabeth smiled. "Shall we go? Any longer, Rowan's going to burst through this door before we could march in."

"Elizabeth, quit teasing me," Elianna frowned, wrapping her hand tighter onto her sister's arm and squared her shoulders to stand straighter.

A soft peal of chuckle sounded and Elizabeth gestured for the door to be opened. Light from within seeped through the opening as the doors smoothed open. Unlike the majestic grandeur of all the palaces, the Temple had defined beauty with its simplicity.

Large expanses of stained glass shone a soft kaleidoscope of pale colours on the ivory marbled ground and white stone walls lined the surroundings. The brightly lit passageway in the middle was flanked by a few rows of dark wood benches as guests stood from their seats to welcome them in.

Through the sheer material of her veil, she spotted Rowan at the other end of the aisle and the corner of her lips lifted into a wide smile. Everyone also took their position and she also noticed Arell chuckling happily beside Thunder. A warmth rippled in her heart as she took her first step through the door with Elizabeth by the side. Music from the pipe organ filled the space of the Temple with a maestoso melody, guiding their march down the aisle in steady rhythms towards the altar.

When her feet reached a stop, she could feel her heart thumping nervously in the left corner of her chest as Elizabeth slowly moved the hand on her arm and moved it towards Rowan. He, on the other hand, had reached his hand out unhesitatingly and almost impatiently. Elianna breathed out a silent laugh when Elizabeth dragged her hand away a little before Rowan could hold. From her side, her sister spoke in a low voice that's only audible to the three of them, "What's the rush, brother-in-law?"

"Elizabeth," Rowan chuckled.

"Please cherish my sister and give her happiness. She deserved the best and she deserved to be loved," Elizabeth smiled. Every word caused a rush of emotions within Elianna as she tightened her grip on her sister's hand. Carefully, Elizabeth handed her to Rowan and beamed brightly towards them while happy tears glistened her lovely brown eyes. Rowan had held onto her firmly and guided her step up the small platform before the altar, where the Priestess of iftia stood.

Elianna turned her head slightly and looked towards Elizabeth's back while she moved to her designated seat. The one thing that hadn't escaped from her eyes was the way the Royal Secretariat of Thethia, Finneas, looked towards her sister. She recognised that gaze because that was the same way Rowan had looked at her — warm and filled with loving affection. 

Smiling to herself, she mentally heaved a sigh of relief at the knowledge that Elizabeth had someone who genuinely treasured her. Even when her sister denied many times, Elianna knew that Elizabeth felt the same for Finneas, but unfortunately, had thought of herself as undeserving of his love. Perhaps in the near future, she would've to write a letter to Finneas concerning Elizabeth. After all, Elianna wanted her sister to have her own happiness too. 

Facing the Priestess, she smiled, "May this new love receive Her Divinity's blessings on this joyous and blissful occasion. Please allow me, in Her stead, to be the witness as the pair before I, read their vows and promise each other a forever."

Rowan still held onto her hand as they turned to position themselves in front of each other. His gloved hand felt warm against hers and his thumb brushed tenderly across her knuckles as he began, "I, Rowan Alvraz, take you, Elianna Evarix, for my wife. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health. We are one, together with our souls, as a reminder that not even death can do us apart."

Elianna responded with affection and firmness, "I, Elianna Evarix, take you, Rowan Alvraz, to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days in my life. I remember that we're one and we would always be together, forever and beyond eternity."

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this was honestly the most emotional chapter i've written in a long time. i hope it was okay!
(next chapter coming out tomorrow!)

please vote and comment if you're enjoying the read!