Chapter 50
Elara
I found Cai sitting in the library.
It was another cold winter night, and the fireplace warmed up the room, making it more comfortable than the icy hallways.
“There you are.” The door closed behind me with a soft thud.
Cai looked over his shoulder from one of the reading chairs. “Were you looking for me?” He appeared pleased at the thought.
“Indeed.” I walked over to the reading chair and placed my arm around his shoulders. “I wanted to see how you were doing after the council meeting today?”
Cai had formed a new council composed of the loyalist aristocrats who had stood by his side during exile and provided men to fight in the battle against Argon.
He’d also met with some representatives from Argon and diplomats from other kingdoms, Cedia and Briarstead, on the continent, to discuss the future of Argon.
Truth be told, I didn’t care much what happened to the kingdom now without its king or any legal heirs.
I only cared that we’d made it out alive and that Cai and I could finally start building a future together, focusing on our own kingdoms.
It felt like I was able to breathe properly for the first time in a while.
“I’m fine, thanks.” He closed the book that was in his hands. “Just tired.” He shut his eyes and leaned into me.
“Me too.” Even now that it was all over, I still found it hard to sleep through the night. The only thing that helped was having Cai close to me.
I pulled away from Cai and removed the satchel I’d been carrying over my shoulder.
“I did have another purpose in coming here, though.”
Anesta had come to me a few days ago, with the satchel in hand. Apparently Rhen had given it to her before he’d left for battle.
“What’s inside?”
“King Evrin’s diary.” I pulled out the old book, dropping the satchel on the carpet in front of the fireplace. “Rhen gave it to Anesta, and she thought it was best that I have it back.”
“You did go through an awful lot of trouble to find it,” Cai reminded me.
“Yeah.” I traced my fingers over the old leather spine, delicate pages carrying centuries-old secrets inside.
“I suppose it was worth it in the end.” If it had not been for the diary, we might never have discovered what the Myrgonite objects were.
And if not for Rhen’s sacrifice, that dangerous magic would still exist. King Evrin was right. Some things were better left buried.
“King Aries and his men who knew about the Myrgonite stones are gone, and we know that our friends and family who know about this are trustworthy.”
“I’m not sure if I would use that exact word for Lance but it’s close enough.”
I gave him a knowing look, unable to hide my smile. “I just feel like this book was so well hidden for a reason, and while it’s pretty much impossible to get to those stones now, I don’t want to risk anyone finding out about it, even after we’re gone.”
“So, what are you saying? That we should hide it somewhere?”
I shook my head. “No, I think we should destroy it. Just like everything else about the magic was destroyed.”
Cai put down the book he’d been reading and folded his hands. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe everyone will be better off if we destroy everything.”
I kneeled in front of the fireplace and slowly started to tear the pages from King Evrin’s diary. It didn’t take much effort since the paper was so old and fragile. One by one, I tossed them into the burning flames, watching as the words were turned into ash, slowly destroying history.
When it was gone, I tossed the leather binding in, for good measure, and finally stepped away from the heat of the flames. Cai came to stand behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“Feel better?” he asked, pressing a kiss to my temple. I nodded, eyes still boring into the flames. “Now we can only hope that Queen Riona didn’t also keep a journal.”
I let out a snort and turned around so that I could face him, letting my hands rest around his neck. Cai’s hands drew lazy circles on my back.
“Let’s not do all that again for a long time,” I said, referring to everything we’d been through in the past few months.
“I’d be perfectly happy if we never have to do that again ever.”
I could not agree more.
“I’m sorry about Rhen.” Neither of us had brought up his name since the day of the battle. Rhen sacrificed everything for us, for our kingdoms, for me. “And I’m sorry about Cordelia.” Most of my nightmares consisted of watching Aries kill her over and over again, and I could never save her.
“I’d like to think they’re all together now. Her and Jack and Rhen.” Everyone we’d lost to this bloody and brutal war.
“Yeah.” A sad smile crossed his face. Everything felt a little more broken than it had been before, including us. But at least we still had each other.
“It’s almost strange not to have the palace full of soldiers anymore.” The court was slowly returning to its previous state. I let my fingers tangle in the hair at the nape of his neck. “Everything’s been so crazy, it almost feels too quiet. Like I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with myself.”
Cai got a sneaky look in his eye, his hands tightening around my waist. “I might have a few ideas in mind.”
“Is that so?” I feigned ignorance as he pulled me into him, pressing slow kisses to my neck. “You know what, you might be right. We need to revise all the borderlines for the nobility’s lands. So much paperwork.”
Cai let out a low growl against my skin before grabbing my hips and throwing me over his shoulder. I let out a yelp in surprise.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing, Your Majesty?”
His free hand trailed under the skirts of my dress, brushing against my calf. “All the things I have in mind.”
* * *
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.
“I don’t know if I can do this, Anesta.”
She tied a ribbon into my hair, and I met her eyes in the mirror.
“You’ll be fine, I promise.” She looked back to the task at hand, and I wished I could share her calmness. “You’ve fought kings of enemy kingdoms, dealt with magical gemstones and enchanted forests. I know you can do this.”
“I’m not supposed to be this nervous. Why am I freaking out like this?”
Anesta stood back to admire her handiwork.
“It is perfectly normal for any bride to be nervous on her wedding day.”
“Are you sure?”
I took in my reflection. My wedding gown consisted of white and gold material and a long skirt that trailed on the ground behind me.
Anesta had used ribbons to tie the top of my hair away from my face and completed the look with a pair of delicate golden earrings.
I’d never felt so beautiful in my entire life.
“I am completely sure. You are the most wonderful-looking bride I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to see the look on Cai’s face when he sees you for the first time.”
Cai, who would be waiting for me at the end of the aisle. I was incredibly nervous and excited at the same time.
“This is all thanks to you,” I replied, gesturing to my attire. “I never could have done any of this without you.”
“Are you kidding?” Anesta chuckled. “I don’t think anyone had more fun helping to plan the wedding than I did.
” That was true. When I told Anesta that I needed her help with all the preparations, she practically jumped out of her skin with excitement.
She’d spent hours on end making all the arrangements for flowers and food and music.
She found the seamstress who made my dress and took care of all the invitations.
I couldn’t have been more grateful to her.
“Okay,” Anesta said, clasping her hands together. “Are you ready?”
I took another steadying breath. “Yes, I think so.”
I’d never seen Anesta smile so wide. “Wonderful. Come on, let’s get you to the ceremony.”
Despite it being a royal wedding, Cai and I had decided to keep the entire affair as intimate and personal as possible. The ceremony would take place in the gardens and the reception in the great hall.
Anesta handed me a bouquet of flowers, and I followed her down the stairs towards the entrance to the garden.
Lance waited for me by the doors. He looked impeccably dressed, with his hair combed back. A smile crossed his face as I came into view.
“Never thought this day would finally come,” he said, holding out his arm.
“For a while there, me neither,” I responded, taking his arm. Musicians started to play as Anesta walked out in front of us, also with a bouquet of flowers.
“Thanks for walking me down the aisle.”
Lance looked down at me and smiled again. “Anytime.”
Spring was in full bloom and the gardens looked like a painting full of colour.
There were beautiful decorations everywhere.
Grand arrangements of flowers were placed on top of pillars to section off the area where the ceremony would take place.
White ribbons had been tied to the backs of all the chairs while the ground was scattered with rose petals.
At the end of the aisle was an arch also covered in different flowers from the garden.
All the guests stood as we stopped at the entrance to the aisle.
But there, at the end, was Cai, and he was waiting for me, and in that moment, I felt more happiness than I’d ever thought possible.
Lance and I walked to the music until we reached Cai, and Alastor, who would be officiating.
Cai took my hand and gave it a squeeze, giving me all the comfort and reassurance I needed. Looking at him, I’d never felt more sure of anything in my entire life.
* * *
The great hall had been decorated with expensive tablecloths and floral centrepieces. Trestles laden with food were set out and servants walked the room serving wine.
Cai and I sat close to each other at our table, taking in all our guests and the party around us.
“Well, it certainly looks like everyone’s enjoying themselves.” Cai had hardly let go of my hand the whole day and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
“Especially Donald and Olwin.” I gestured to the bandits making the most of the free wine. “It’s nice to see them getting along after all these years.”
“I was surprised that you’d decided to invite Brett and Creston.” The two were enjoying their meals next to some of the other council members.
“I wanted the entire royal council here. And I have to admit, since the war, I feel like I actually managed to gain some respect from Brett and Creston.” My council had finally fully accepted me as their queen and ruler.
Gwen and Lance were on the dancefloor, slowly swaying to the music.
“Gwen looks so beautiful in that dress,” I commented, taking a sip of my wine. She wore an emerald gown and her whole face practically glowed as she smiled up at Lance.
“I’ll admit, I never thought I would see Lance in love.”
Some days it still took me by surprise to see how much he cared for Gwen. But I was happy for them.
“Me neither.” I doubted Cai and Lance would ever be friends, given their past, but they’d come to some sort of mutual understanding and treated each other as respectfully as possible.
“She’s good for him,” he said, gesturing to Gwen. “And I’m glad someone is looking after her. She deserves to be happy.”
“Yeah.” I smiled and squeezed his hand. “What about you? Are you happy?”
“Incredibly happy.”
I gave him a kiss before resting my head on his shoulder and admiring my wedding ring. It was the beautiful one that had belonged to his mother. I couldn’t have asked for anything more special.
We had conquered war and death, deadly forests and ancient magic.
I didn’t believe there was anything that could come our way that we could not handle or work through together.
For now, I would enjoy the peace we could finally experience and focus on the life that we wanted to build together.
I didn’t know what the future held, only that he was in it and that he always would be.
And while our names would be etched together in history, we were held together by something much stronger than ink on paper or alliances or treaties.
He was a part of my soul now, and I was a part of his. And it would stay that way, until the end of time.