Today was the day. The day I married the man I loved. My heart yearned to be by Malachi's side, to steal a quiet moment just for us before we were swept away by the grand affair. But no, instead, I found myself trapped in a whirlwind of wedding preparations that seemed more suited to a fairy tale than my reality.

Everyone was determined to make today perfect, as if the very fate of the continent hinged on every detail going off without a hitch. The day had barely begun, and already I was being bathed in rose petals, their delicate scent clinging to my skin as attendants gently scrubbed away any trace of imperfection. My hair was meticulously styled, strands pulled and pinned into an elaborate updo that felt more like a crown of thorns than a bridal hairstyle.

Next came the makeup, layers upon layers of powders and creams, all to create the illusion of flawlessness. I was draped in the finest silks and laces, the weight of my gown almost as heavy as the expectations placed upon my shoulders.

Maeve was by my side through it all, her presence a comforting anchor in the storm. Felicity and Minerva flitted around us, offering help where they could. Minerva, ever the traditionalist, insisted on incorporating rituals from the Stonehearth tribe into the preparations. I had found myself kneeling before a small altar, lighting a candle made from the sacred beeswax of her homeland, said to bless the union with strength and resilience.

Despite the calming effect of the ritual, my mind was elsewhere. I wanted nothing more than to be with Malachi, to feel his warmth and draw strength from his presence. But instead, my thoughts were consumed by the politics of the guest list. I found myself obsessing over which leaders I needed to impress, who among them could be potential allies or enemies. Each name on that list carried weight, each face a reminder of the delicate balance of power we were navigating.

It was exhausting, and through it all, I just wanted a moment to breathe, to clear my mind of the endless worries and focus on what truly mattered. I was marrying the man I loved, and yet, I was so wrapped up in the external pressures that I feared I was losing sight of that simple, beautiful truth. All I wanted was to get through this day, say our vows, and finally have a quiet moment with Malachi, away from the prying eyes and political machinations.

All of a sudden, Caius came bursting into the room, a broad smile lighting up his face. "Ellie, they're here!" he announced, leaving me bewildered.

"Who's here?" I asked, mentally scanning through the guest list and trying to pinpoint who could have just arrived. My mind drew a blank.

Caius, still beaming, simply offered me his hand. "Follow me," he urged, grabbing my hand and pulling me along. "You too, Maeve," he added, sweeping her up in his infectious enthusiasm as he led us toward a nearby greeting room.

"Caius, what's going on...?" I began, but my words faltered as we reached the door. The sight that met my eyes left me speechless.

My family.

Father, Gareth, the twins, even my stepmother—they were all there. Tears welled up instantly, and my father opened his arms, beckoning me to him. Without a second thought, I ran into his embrace, the tears flowing freely as I buried my face against his chest. I couldn't care less about the carefully applied makeup or the fuss everyone had made over my appearance. None of it mattered in this moment.

"I'm sorry," I sniffled, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I am so sorry I left like that." I felt his hand stroking my hair, and I pulled back slightly to look up at his face, searching for any hint of anger or disappointment. Instead, he gently brushed away my tears.

"You came," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

He sighed softly, the corners of his mouth lifting in a tender smile. "Of course I did."

Suddenly, I felt small arms wrap around my waist, accompanied by the sound of giggling. "We missed you!" the twins chimed in unison, their little voices filling my heart with warmth. I crouched down to their level, pulling them into a tight hug. The sheer joy of their presence made everything else fade away.

I looked up to see Gareth standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable. He gave me a single, measured nod. It might not have seemed like much, but coming from him, it meant the world. Out of everyone, Gareth had the most reason to despise Malachi, yet here he was.

My stepmother called the twins back to her, and I rose to my feet, turning my attention back to my father.

"I would never miss your wedding day, sweetheart," he said softly, his eyes full of affection. "We have much to discuss, but if this is your decision, I will be here for you. It's not like my disapproval would stop you," he added with a half-joking smile that made my heart ache with love for him.

"Elara!" Maeve's exasperated voice cut through the moment, pulling me back to reality. "Look at your makeup! That took so long to perfect!" Her frustration was evident, causing everyone in the room to burst into laughter. It was so unlike Maeve to have an outburst, but I understood where she was coming from—she had been there through every painstaking detail.

She crossed her arms, trying to maintain her composure. "While I love this heartwarming family reunion, I assume you will all be here after the wedding?" she asked, her tone practical. My family nodded in agreement, affirming that they would stay.

"Good," Maeve continued, a hint of relief in her voice. "Then the bride has much to do."

We all chuckled at her determined attitude. It was clear that Maeve had taken on the role of wedding planner with a seriousness that surprised us all. I gave my family one last grateful smile before allowing her to whisk me away, a smile plastered on my face as I followed her out of the room.

​​Maeve walked briskly down the hall, her voice a steady stream of instructions about what still needed to be done. I struggled to keep up, her pace much faster than mine. I smiled at her determination, but my mind was still reeling from the whirlwind of seeing my family.

Suddenly, a firm hand grasped my waist, pulling me into a dark, secluded room. I opened my mouth to yelp, but before I could make a sound, familiar lips captured mine, silencing me. I instantly melted into Malachi's strong embrace, the tension from the day dissolving with each kiss. After the excitement of seeing my family, I realized just how much I had needed this—needed him.

I sighed into the kiss, my lips parting to allow him entry as his tongue demanded dominance in a way that was both possessive and tender. A fight I surrendered to, as always. When I finally broke the kiss to catch my breath, I breathed out his name. "Malachi..."

I was about to playfully scold him for breaking the unspoken rule of not seeing the bride before the ceremony, even though I had wanted to do the same. But he was quicker.

"I know, I know," he murmured against my neck, his voice gruff and filled with that familiar hunger. "But I had to see you." His lips found my pulse point, and I shivered, feeling the heat of his breath on my skin. "I've spent all day pleasing everyone else. I needed a reminder of what today is really about. Us."

His words made me blush, and I felt a surge of warmth in my chest. His hands moved up to my hair, only to find it meticulously pinned up. With deft fingers, he began to undo it, the pins falling away as he took my lips once more. I giggled, knowing Maeve would scold me for this later, but I didn't care.

"You're going to get me in trouble," I teased, breathless, as his kisses trailed down my neck.

Before I knew it, Malachi had lifted me into his arms, cradling me against him as he sat us both down on a nearby couch. I nestled into his embrace, the world outside fading away as I focused solely on the warmth of his body and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. In his arms, the chaos of the day didn't matter. All that mattered was us, together, ready to face whatever came next.

After a few more indulgent kisses, I tried to pull myself back to reality. "We really aren't supposed to be seeing each other," I sighed, though I made no move to leave his arms.

"We're not," Malachi mumbled against my skin, his response catching me off guard.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confusion lacing my tone.

"Can you see anything in this darkness, darling?" he teased, his voice dripping with that familiar, mischievous charm.

I couldn't help but laugh, realizing his clever ploy. This was why he had pulled me into this pitch-black room. Technically, we weren't seeing each other. "Very clever," I chuckled, shaking my head in admiration of his slyness.

For a moment, the kisses stopped, and he simply held me close, letting out a contented sigh. "I can't believe it's really happening," he murmured. "After all these years...I hoped, I waited, and I fought all for this moment." His hands cradled my face, and though we couldn't see each other, I felt as if he were gazing right into my soul.

I lifted my hand to his face, using the warmth of his body to guide me. "All these years, whenever I needed something to brighten my day, the thought of you would emerge. The thought of the boy who didn't just see me for who I was, but for who I could be. Now, with you by my side, the world has never looked so bright," I whispered.

He pulled my face to his, sealing my words with another tender kiss. "I love you, little bird," he breathed as he pulled away.

"I love you too," I replied, my heart swelling with the truth of it.

Then, in a rare moment of vulnerability, Malachi asked, "Do you really want this?" His voice held a note of uncertainty, as if he feared I might have second thoughts.

"I do," I responded, echoing the words we would soon say in front of everyone. The conviction in my voice seemed to reassure him.

He pulled me into one last embrace, holding me as if he never wanted to let go. Then, in one swift, fluid motion, he lifted me effortlessly and whispered, "I'll see you soon, my bride."

With a kiss on my temple, he spun me gently back into the light. I barely had time to process the change before I found myself standing outside the room, steady on my feet, as the door clicked shut behind me. Just as swiftly and slyly as he had pulled me into that stolen moment of bliss, he had released me, leaving me with a racing heart and a smile that wouldn't fade.

When I made my way back to the preparations room, Maeve's eyes widened in shock. She quickly began to scold me for being even more disheveled than when she had last seen me. I bit my lip to keep from smiling too widely, determined not to let slip the secret meeting I had just had with Malachi. But as I caught Minerva's knowing smirk, I suspected that she had seen right through me.

Thankfully, we didn't have the time to fuss over every detail and glam me up to my previous state. Instead, we opted for a more natural look—a look that felt more like me. As Maeve worked on my hair, I could feel the anticipation building. The time was finally upon us, the moment when I would wed Malachi.

I was led to the grand ballroom, the very same place where Malachi and I had been reunited. Just months ago, this room had been the setting of bloodshed and the violent overturning of a nation. I remembered the first time I had seen someone die, the image of the previous king falling still vivid in my mind. Back then, I had no idea how things would turn out, and a large part of me still despised the violence used to achieve this new rule.

But now, as I stood at the threshold of that same room, I realized how much had changed. I had come to see Malachi, the conquerer in a new light. This may have begun with bloodshed and horror, but Stelara had long been steeped in violence and suffering, far before Malachi had arrived. I had been too sheltered to realize the true extent of it.

Malachi had decided to put an end to it all—to stop the endless cycle of horror, not just for the rich and noble, but for everyone. He had made the hard decisions, taken the weight of the world on his shoulders, and for that, I was thankful. Thankful for his strength, his vision, and his unwavering commitment to justice, no matter the cost.

So, as I walked towards the grand ballroom, I no longer saw it as a place of horrors. Instead, I saw it as a room of new beginnings. A place where our future would be forged, where better times would be born from the ashes of the past. And with each step I took, I knew that I was ready to face whatever came next, as long as Malachi was by my side.

My greatest hope was that I could show even a semblance of the strength Malachi possessed, and fight for the good of my nation—for all the people who called it home. But it wasn't just Stelara anymore. I was to be queen of all the lands he had conquered, and with that title came a profound responsibility. I prayed for the strength to create real change, to stand up for what was right, just as Malachi had done.

I knew I was different from him in many ways. My heart was fairer, and I harbored an aversion to violence. But as queen, I resolved that my mercy would not be seen as a weakness. Instead, it would be my greatest strength. Through compassion, empathy, and understanding, I would rule with a heart that sought peace and prosperity for all.

Together, Malachi and I would create a future where justice prevailed, where every soul under our reign could thrive. We would blend our strengths—his unwavering resolve and my compassion—to forge a new path forward. And as I took my final steps towards the ballroom, the weight of the crown that awaited me no longer felt like a burden. It felt like a promise—a promise to build a better world, hand in hand with the man I loved.

At that moment, I spotted my father standing by the closed doors of the grand room, and a smile tugged at my lips. No words were necessary as he took my hand, a silent understanding passing between us. Whatever differences we had, whatever issues remained unresolved, they could wait. His presence here today was enough—a gesture that told me our problems were not insurmountable.

As the doors slowly swung open, my heart pounded in anticipation. I lifted my gaze and saw him—Malachi. He looked more handsome than ever, his long, dark hair meticulously styled with intricate braids woven in, a nod to the traditions of Frosthelm that Minerva had once explained to me. It was a custom for their men during wedding ceremonies, a blend of strength and reverence for the union about to take place.

Our eyes met, and I saw a genuine smile curve his lips, the kind that melted away all my worries and doubts. It was the most beautiful sight I had ever beheld, and I couldn't help but return his smile as my father guided me down the aisle. In that moment, nothing else mattered.

I saw Malachi take a deep breath, not for himself but as a reminder for me. It was only then that I realized I had been holding mine. He was always so perceptive, always so in tune with my needs. I made a small show of taking a deep breath, and I saw the hint of a chuckle in his eyes.

With each step, the distance between us diminished until finally, I stood before him. My father led me to Malachi, and with a respectful nod exchanged between them, my father stepped back, leaving just the two of us.

Malachi reached for my hands, his touch gentle yet firm, grounding me in the moment. The priest began to speak, his voice a distant murmur, but I couldn't hear a word. All I could focus on was the man before me, the love that radiated between us, the connection that transcended everything else.

No matter how many people filled the room or the weight of the political machinations surrounding us, in that moment, it was just him and me.

Minutes passed in what felt like mere seconds. For the first time since I entered the room, Malachi's gaze broke from mine as he glanced at the priest, who nodded slightly. Then, with a steady hand, Malachi took my mother's ring, a precious heirloom that now held a new chapter of memories, and gently slipped it onto my finger.

"I do," he said, his voice resonating with certainty and love.

In that instant, my heart skipped a beat, the world around me blurring into insignificance. I was so absorbed in the warmth of the moment that I barely noticed the priest's next words. It wasn't until Malachi gave my hand a gentle squeeze that I realized it was my turn.

With a deep breath, I pulled out the ring I had chosen for him. It didn't hold the weight of memories like my mother's ring, but it would—soon enough. The thought made my heart flutter with anticipation and joy.

I took his strong hand in mine, steadying myself as I carefully placed the ring onto his finger. When I looked up, his smile had somehow grown even brighter, as if his happiness knew no bounds.

And then, with all the love and commitment I felt in my heart, I spoke the two words that would mark the beginning of our forever.

"I do."

A/N: Ahhhh I love them so much!!! There will be one more chapter to wrap everything up and update you on the character's lives after the wedding but then we are finished with their story!