Celebrations

The sun sits high in the sky, casting golden light across the city and the tall spires of the castle. Flowers rain from balconies, tossed by laughing children and smiling women. The cobbled streets of the capital, usually crowded with market-goers and tradesmen, are now packed with cheering citizens. It’s a spectacle, but Diane assumes that after the bleak times, everyone has deserved some exaggerated pomp.

Their procession winds through the city, slowly but steadily making its way toward the castle. First stride the king’s troops, in clean, shiny armor, then comes the open carriage where she and Aster sit, clean scrubbed but weary, with Momo perched on a pillow between them. It’s overwhelming to say the least, but at least the two snowy white elk pulling the carriage seem to be enjoying the attention. Antlered heads held high as they regally walk forward.

Behind them follow row after row of footsoldiers, many still in their battleworn armor. Tired but proud as they accept the cheers.

“The Champion!” someone shouts, and the cry is taken up along the street. “The Champion and the Chosen!”

Feeling more than a little foolish, Diane gives them a polite wave as they pass by, hissing at Aster to do the same. He does, though his mind is clearly elsewhere. Understandably so. He might be physically fully recovered from the battle, but… so much has happened, and he’s still in the center of it. The old king of Kagemure may be gone, but only time will tell if the new one will keep the peaceful intentions he proclaimed before they parted ways.

A handful of flower petals hits her in the face and she bursts out laughing, waving at the devastated young girl who had thrown them, getting a shy smile in return. More petals are thrown, though most end up on the road, crushed beneath hooves, wheels, and sturdy military boots. Bells chime from distant towers. The scent of roasting meat, freshly baked bread, and sweet cakes wafts toward them from the many foodstalls lining the streets. There’s movement everywhere: performers juggle, musicians play their flutes, and some enthusiasts have broken into spontaneous dance. The fact that they seem to be continuously sipping from large tankards might be part of their spontaneity.

Children run along the edges of the parade, waving wooden swords and homemade banners. An old man wipes tears from his eyes as they pass. It really is too much.

The crowds follow them as the elk turn onto the wide road leading to the castle. Aster is looking more distracted by the minute, his hands combing through his hair repeatedly.

“Just spit it out. Whatever it is you're wanting to say.” Diane says finally, tired of watching him fret.

He takes a deep breath and leans closer so their driver won’t overhear.

“I have to ask.” He shifts uncomfortably and moves a complaining Momo out of the way so he can look her in the eyes. “If there was a way for you to return to your world, if I could somehow find a way to make it happen… would you go?”

“No,” she smiles, taking his hand and lacing her fingers through his. “This is my world now. I belong here, in a way I didn’t in my old one. I can help even more people here. And,” she gives his hand a little squeeze, “I belong with you.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

She wants to say more, to express the way her heart flutters when they’re together, how happy he makes her. Ask what he really is asking… but her opportunity is drowned out by the blaring of trumpets. They have arrived at the castle.

The gates stand wide open, welcoming, their iron-banded wood softened by frilly bunting. Someone has clearly gone overboard with the decorations. More bunting and banners hang from every turret and window. The trumpets keep blaring from the ramparts as they enter the courtyard.

King Caelric stands there in robes of deep sapphire and silver, flanked by his two youngest children. A hush falls over the crowd as he steps forward, raising one hand for silence.

“My people,” he begins, his voice strong and clear, “on this day, we do not mourn what was nearly lost, we celebrate all that has been saved.”

A cheer erupts, but he lifts his hand again, commanding quiet.

“There are names and sacrifices we will never forget. Places that must be rebuilt. Alliances to nurture. These brave souls,” he points to Aster and Diane, “have done all and more than we could have expected. The Prophecy and the Mystics chose well.”

Applause thunders through the courtyard as all eyes turn to them and the robed group of Mystics that, to Diane's dismay, had quietly appeared next to them.

Long tables are brought out, overflowing with flowers and delicious food of all kinds. Diane’s stomach growls, and her feet start moving toward the closest one. She’s constantly stopped by people who want to talk or just touch her hands, but she soon stands with a heavily loaded plate, looking for anyone she knows.

“Hey, there you are,” someone says, and she turns to see her mentor standing there with a plate full of fruits and cake, and a proud smile on her lips. “You did well, child.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you. And them.” She nods to the Arakiba family that stands close together, joined by Prince Kaelen and Princess Mirelle. But not… “Where’s Aurelia? She wasn’t at the ceremony either.”

“Humph,” Tenna snorts. “Two of the finest healers in the kingdom are standing right here, and she thinks having a headache is a plausible excuse?”

“She can stay away for all I care,” Diane states, popping a tiny but delicious pie in her mouth.

"I think we can all agree on that."

Once everyone's eaten, the tables are moved to the side to make way for the band. There’s music, not trumpets this time – thank god – but flutes and drums, pipes and lyres, and people gather to line up at the impromptu dance floor. Despite her objections, Diane is dragged there by her enthusiastic young friends, and finds herself laughing as she spectacularly fails to follow the for her unknown steps. She’s having fun though, giggling with Mirelle and Kaelen as they try their best to teach her, feeling as if a great weight has finally been lifted off her shoulders. 

Then Aster is there, taking her hand, leading her through steps he seems to be making up on the spot, and she laughs even more. When the rhythm of the music changes, he steers her away, and they stop close to a flowerbed large enough to be considered a small park. The sweet scent of roses and other flowers fills the chill evening air, and she reaches out to touch soft petals, startling a resting flutter of butterflies that take to the sky.

She looks over to the dancefloor, where Alder and Princess Mirelle are awkwardly following the intricate steps. There seems to be a lot of blushing and giggling going on.

“They’re very cute together,” Diane observes as Alder accidentally steps on Mirelle’s long, flowy skirt.

“They are,” Aster agrees. “They’ll do fine, as long as he doesn’t step on her feet too many times. Learning the noble dances was never a big thing in our house.”

“I could tell,” she smiles.

“Yeah,” Aster is still watching his brother and the princess, smiling ruefully. “It seems like two out of the three of us are romantically set.”

Diane’s heart makes an extra beat, and she places a hand on his arm. “Only two?”

“I… You…” He stumbles on the words, then his eyes darken as they meet hers.

“Yes…?” She leans a little closer, nervously wetting her lips with the tip of her tongue. Closing her eyes...

“You know what I was thinking?” He takes a step back and Diane's eyes snap open as an embarrassed flush takes over her face. 

“Thinking? What? No?” She blinks stupidly at him. She'd thought... that he... foolishness. Her blush grows deeper.

“Since we’re not really needed for anything right now, we could go back home on foot, rather than by air. Just the two of us…” He leaves the question hanging, and she almost jumps in excitement, but he somehow misses that, staring at his feet and rambling on. “It'd take longer, of course, but I could show you more of the country, and I, for one, would rather help rebuild the villages than the capital, and I’m almost certain there’ll be people along the way in need of your skills. And we could….”

She places a finger on his lips to make him stop.

“You don’t need to sell it anymore,” she smiles. “I’d love that, and you had me convinced already at the ‘just the two of us’.” She purses her lips, thoughtfully. “Though I’m sure we’ll find plenty of work along the way too.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” He takes her hand and turns. “Let’s go.”

“What? Just like that? Without telling anyone?”

“Well, we’re heroes, aren’t we? What are they going to do? Scold us?”

“I could certainly see your mother ignoring any immunity to scolding our heroism has earned us.” She looks back at the dancefloor where his parents are standing close together, watching their youngest. Rafe's arm casually around his wife's waist.

Aster laughs, “Oh, she would, but…she’ll understand. They both will.” He laughs. “And they can handle everything without us for a while.”

“We’re not even bringing a bag?”

“Come on, where’s your sense of adventure? We can find everything we need on the way.”

It does sound more appealing the more she thinks about it. She’s seen so little of this world, and even if the war is over, there will be people and places that need healing. Places where the curse still clings.

“Fine, let’s go. We’ve earned a bit of vacation.” She takes a tighter grip on his hand. “But if I get too cold because we didn't bring blankets, I get to warm my toes in your fur.”

“Absolutely. I promise to keep you warm,” he says with a perfectly straight face.

For some reason, she’s already warm, much warmer than the chill evening temperature should allow.

“Just one more thing before we go.” He lifts her onto a low bench, making her face almost level with his.

“You really are very short.” He tilts his head as he looks her up and down rather critically, before his face splits in a wide grin.

“Not what you were expecting?”

“No. Not at all. So much better than anything I imagined.”

“It did turn out all right in the end, didn’t it?”

He just nods, his arms tightening around her waist, pulling her closer, and her arms move up by their own accord. Slipping around his neck, her fingers bury themselves in his hair. He swallows nervously.

“Maelruk mate for life.” He pauses, the finger trails up her cheek, then moves down her neck, leaving a trail of exquisite goosebumps in its wake. “So do the Arakibas.”

She’s not sure if it’s the implication of the words or the touch that makes her heart race and her breath hitch.

“Are you asking…?”

“Will you..?”

“Of course.”

Meow. Diane jumps as something soft touches her leg

“Momo. This is not the time…” She leans down to scratch the kitten on the head, but Aster pulls her back up again. Closer. So close that she can feel his breath on her face.

His eyes dip to her mouth before he leans in, closes the last gap between them. His lips brush against hers, slowly, almost reverently, a little unsure until she kisses him back. Heart hammering as if it tries to escape her chest and explode from the wave of emotions washing over her. She wishes it would never end, and judging from the way his fingers tighten around her waist, so does he.

When they finally pull apart, they’re both breathless. Wide-eyed.

“Wow.” He laughs, a soft, disbelieving sound. “I had no idea it could feel like this…”

“Me neither.”

Looking back at the party, the people, the city, she suddenly can't wait to get away. “Come on, let’s go before they see us.”

They carefully make their way to the still-open gate when there’s a squeak from behind.

“You too, of course,” Diane calls softly. “Come on, Momo. You’re coming with us.”

Meow.

They quickly cross the bridge and leave the road, the ocean winds fresh and cold. Small flickering lights hover around them as swarms of the floating orbs draw near. Diane reaches out to touch one, and for a moment, it rests on her finger like a living star before returning to the air. She takes Aster’s hand, and with Momo happily bouncing around them, they disappear into the night. Together.

Diane smiles; she’s definitely ready for a new adventure.