A week passed, and it was the day of the wedding. 

Vlad wanted to wait until Angelina was fully healed and for her to connect with their son, Radu. He tried hard not to form too strong a connection to his son, but Angelina wouldn't let him leave her side. She wanted him to see what he would miss if he continued with the war effort. Throughout the week, Vlad stayed by Angelina and their son's side. He watched her eat, feed their son, and sing him songs. Vlad felt like an actual father; he had the one thing he always wanted, what many men wanted: a family. 

Angelina would always pressure him to carry their son. Vlad feared carrying his son, fearing that he would break him. True, he held his son when reviving him, but adrenaline overcame him. Now that his son was alive and well, the fear of carrying something so precious would not only break, but be tainted by the hands that killed many people. Vlad feared that his son would become like him and his father. Whenever there was hesitation, Angelina would force him to carry Radu. 

Carrying his son made his heart soar with love and protection. His son looked so much like him; he couldn't help but see bits of his brother, Radu. 

Ioana and Sorina were also by their side to help them with the baby and prepare for the small wedding. Angelina wanted something small and quiet, believing weddings should be more personal between two people who loved each other. Vlad respected and agreed with Angelina's view. His business was his own, and he wanted their wedding to be between them and their loved ones. 

His brother was silent, which gave him privacy so that Vlad could spend more time with his family. Vlad knew his brother was waiting for his decision to pass the Voivode title to him. He was conflicted about what to do, but the need to be with his family overcame everything. 

Vlad was in his room getting ready with the help of servants. He wanted to wear his best to make the moment memorable. Someone knocked on the door; he motioned one of the servants to open the door; Ioana was on the other side. She was well-dressed. "Voivode, may I enter?"

"You may." He looked at the servants and motioned them out. Once alone and the doors closed, Vlad slowly turned to Ioana. "Is Angelina ready?"

"She is. Sorina is with her and will be taken by the carriage. Radu is safely with the wet nurse. I ensured to have the best guards to guard your son."

"Good. I hope you informed the guards that there will be consequences if my son is not well-protected."

The older woman smiled while putting her hands together. She felt happiness and pride seeing Vlad, her son, dressed for a wedding not arranged out of political necessity. Still, Ioana couldn't help but feel pity for Minah. Minah was excited and nervous about marrying Vlad, but her hopes were dashed when Vlad never glanced at her. Vlad was told about Minah's suicide, and he wanted her to be burned since she committed the worst of sins. Angelina changed his mind, and Minah was buried in an unmarked grave. "I have. I just came to tell you that it is time."

Vlad nodded as he looked at his reflection again. "I look acceptable?"

"Of course! Handsome as always!" Ioana played with her hands with anticipation; her heart was beating rapidly. Her eyes were tearing up. "I-I cannot help but remember when you were an infant and a child. I can never forget your smiles and I-I feared I would never see them again."

Vlad turned around and chuckled. "It would seem that miracles happen, Ioana. I can never forget all the times you were by my side. You have protected me from father as much as you could although it could have cost you your life."

Ioana bit her lower lip as tears slowly dripped; she wiped them away. "Oh, your words give me so much emotion. It was my duty, but importantly, you and your brothers did not deserve such fates. I-" She wanted to tell Vlad that she was his mother. Ioana wanted to hold her son in her arms as she did when he was an infant. The urge to scream almost overtook her, but Ioana smiled, "I just want you to be happy."

The Voivode looked and slowly went to her; he hugged her. His hug overwhelmed Ioana, and she couldn't help the tears dripping down his clothes. Her lips quivered at the warmth surrounding her; it had been so long since she felt the warm hug of love. "I know that is something you always wanted for me. I know." Vlad wanted to tell Ioana that he knew she was his mother. His lips slightly quivered as he felt tears wanting to form. "I-" Another knock on the door made the two grunt in annoyance and immediately separate. "Enter."

The door opened, and Bioan entered; he bowed. "Voivode, forgive me, but everything is prepared and Lady Angelina is ready."

"G-Good. Is my son well-guarded?"

"Yes, Voivode. I ensured that the most loyal guards were put in place to protect the young Prince. They know the consequences if something were to happen him."

Vlad nodded. "Very well. Is Angelina on her way?"

"She is at the horse stables, but believed it would be best if you went on first."

"It is best not to delay this further. Let us go. Ioana go along with Angelina." Vlad led the way while Bioan and Ioana followed, but Ioana eventually walked toward the horse stables. 

Bioan accepted that Angelina would belong with Vlad. He developed feelings for her, but accepted that she would never return them. His feelings for Angelina could fade, but she would still have a special place in his heart. 

Everyone arrived outside the castle, where six guards stood by their horses with lit fire torches. There were two horses: Vlad and Bioan, and the guards got on their horses. Once everyone was situated, Vlad led everyone toward their destination. The wedding would be held in a particular forest area, giving the ceremony a mystifying feeling. They rode far from the castle and into parts of the forest where they saw a path of lit fire that led to two longer torches, and flowers lay in a circle. A long wooden table was in the center, covered in a whit sheet with a golden chalice, a glass bottle of wine, and a piece of bread. 

Vlad the Monk stood in front of the table wearing his best clothes. Vlad got off his horse, as did his other guards, who then surrounded the ceremony. Bioan did the same. The Voivode slowly walked in the path of fire torches toward the center. The brothers looked at one another. Vlad the Monk walked around the table and hugged his younger brother. Vlad did the same. "I never thought I would be the one to initiate your marriage. I wasn't there for your first."

The brothers separated.

"My first wedding was out of obligation but you are fortunate to see me marry out of my choice. At least I have family to be here."

"Nervous?"

"Yes, but I'm excited. I never thought that I would have a marriage outside the castle." Vlad looked at his surroundings, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

Vlad the Monk chuckled. "Well, this is an intimate as it could get. Quite poetic. Still, this will be a beautiful moment for you both. I just want you both to be happy with Radu. Have you..."

"Let's not speak of this now. Let me live this moment."

The older man respected his brother's wishes and went behind the table. Echos of horses were heard, and as the noises got closer, so did the horses and a small carriage. The rider eventually commanded the horses to stop, he exited his seat, and opened the door. He assisted Ioana and Sorina in getting off the carriage. The women were well-dressed and stood on each side of the carriage.

The two Vlads watched as they finally saw Angelina, the bride. The Voivode felt his world shift as he watched his bride walk out of the carriage. She wore a long, puffy white dress with a white corset decorated with golden roses and linear patterns. Parts of her hair were put in a bun with some golden jewelry and white roses, while the lower parts were curled and hung low. She wore small golden earrings and a golden necklace with his family's emblem, showing that he was part of his family.

Vlad didn't realize that he was smiling at the sight of her. Angelina was given a bouquet of yellow roses and flowers and led by Ioana and Sorina to the path leading to the beautifully decorated center. Angelina felt her heart beat rapidly when she saw how handsome Vlad was dressed. He looked like the medieval fantasy of a man for whom many women would fall. She would have never imagined being married, especially in the past, with the Impaler, no less. 

Ioana and Sorina held onto wooden baskets, threw flower petals to the ground, and walked forward; Angelina followed with her bouquet. Angelina and Vlad looked at one another, smiles apparent; their eyes glowed with life. As the young woman approached the table, Vlad extended his right hand; Angelina held onto it. Sorina and Ioana stood behind the couple, and everyone focused on Vlad the Monk.

He smiled at the couple, feeling his emotions slowly overcoming him. He motioned with his hands. "Bless you all in attendance as tonight we are to celebrate and witness a union between a man and a woman, who make an oath to God and each other." He got the piece of bread and cut it into two pieces. He poured the red wine into the chalice as he did the sign of the cross. "The bread represents the body of Christ and the suffering he endured for the sake of our salvation. His body carries the heavy burdens of life." The chalice of wine was raised, "Wine represents the blood of Christ which was spilt due to his sacrifice. Blood represent the love he had for creation. Blood is of the heart."

The pieces of bread were given to the couple, instructed to look at one another.

"With the sacrifice of the body, I will give my life to you. My life will forever be yours until death separates us. Shall you accept?"

Angelina smiled. "I will." Vlad motioned his piece of bread to Angelina's mouth and ate it. Once done, she began, "With the sacrifice of the body, I will give my life to you. My life will forever be yours until death separates us. Shall you accept?"

"I will." Angelina motioned with her piece of bread to Vlad's mouth and ate it.

Vlad the Monk got the chalice of wine and handed it to his brother. 

"With the blood of the heart, I will give you my love. The love from my heart will be intertwined with yours until death separates us. Shall you accept?"

"I will."

Vlad moved the cup to her lips and gently motioned for Angelina to sip. He then gave her the cup.

"With the blood of the heart, I will give you my heart. The love from my heart will be intertwined with yours until death separates us. Shall you accept?"

"I will." Angelina, too, motioned the cup to Vlad's lips to sip. 

The cup was given to Vlad the Monk, who put it on the table. He held a sash and walked over to the table before the couple. "Please hold each other's hands."

Angelina motioned with her bouquet to Sorina, who immediately took it.

When the couple held each other's hands, Vlad the Monk got a sash and tied it around their hands, binding them together. Then, took a wooden cup of holy water, filled it with a finger, and made the cross sign on the couple's foreheads. "You both made your vows and accepted. Shall you both accept to be husband and wife?"

It was the moment everyone was waiting for. Angelina and Vlad looked at one another as their hands were intertwined. They looked at one another and remembered everything they had gone through together. There were moments of life and death, but they eventually found things they never knew about themselves; they made each other grow and change. They gently squeezed each other's hands. 

"I will," they said in unison.

"By the power invested in me and by the will of God, you are now husband and wife."

The sash was undone, and before Vlad could react, Angelina immediately held him and motioned him toward her; she kissed him. The kiss was sudden, but Vlad returned it.

They were husband and wife.