Epilogue
T he process of finding the right solution to the blight on the crops in the Lonely Forest took a few weeks. Ash approached it as a scientist, trying different solutions on different crops, and monitoring the results.
Hallow was in his element, working the land. He listened to Ash’s plans and made adjustments as needed and brought some of his own innovations as well. His magic was invaluable to monitoring the crop health hour by hour.
Many of the village folk helped where they could, and watched with interest as solutions were tried and discarded.
Finally, finally they found a combination of commercial grade fungicide and neem that cleared the yellow fungus off within a day. There were several trips back and forth from Bunnings to the Grefenlands, hauling sacks and bottles through the alleyway and laughing about how it must look. But within a week things were looking up for the crops.
Hallow was ecstatic, hugging Ash and kissing his cheeks repeatedly. “You’ve saved us all.”
“We’ve saved us.” Ash corrected. “You’re the one who found me, remember. And you’ve worked just as hard as I did.”
“Maybe.” Hallow kissed him again, jumping up in his arms to wrap his legs around him. “And now, the elders will bless us and we can get married.”
“I can’t think of anything better.”
True to Hallow’s word, when his village put on a party, it was truly beautiful.
Three months after they defeated The Quetch, Ash and Hallow held their wedding in the forest.
Ash had gone to the real world to collect his father while they set up for the event. Willow and Charli came through as well.
A clearing was decked out with bunting and fabric streamers of all colours. A huge wooden table groaned with homemade breads, roast chickens, piles of vegetables, fruit and more cakes than Ash could comprehend.
On a raised platform, several people were warming up instruments. Hallow was overseeing the setting up of a willow bough arch, decked out with flowers and ribbons, for them to get married under.
Looking around at the gathered crowd, Ash was relieved they didn’t look underdressed. Brendan wore his old suit, and had brought his suitcase, ready to move to the Grefenlands after several visits, and multiple doses of Elder Grey’s special tonic. He had a new lease on life, although his energy still faded rather fast. Charli wore an approximation of a Hobbit costume from the Lord of the Rings movies, with short pants and suspenders over a linen shirt. Willow wore a more ordinary looking Earth ensemble of floral dress and sandals.
For his part, Ash had tried to blend Earth’s version of formal with the style of the Grefenlands. He had on black slacks and polished leather boots, a pale blue linen shirt and over the top, a loose kimono jacket, green with embroidered cherry blossoms in pale pink. He’d finally got a haircut and Charli had helped him to style it with the products the stylist had sold him. He thought he looked pretty good—until he saw Hallow.
Hallow approached them, beaming. “Welcome! Come on, up the front. As soon as the musicians are ready we can start.” He’d also decided to combine fashions, wearing a low-cut pink ruched velvet blouse he’d bought on an outing with Charli, with satin pants that hit below the knees, barefoot in the grass. The pink of his blouse was a few shades darker than his hair and looked absolutely stunning. Flower buds were woven into his hair like a crown. If Ash hadn’t already been in love with him, he’d have fallen all over again. Hallow would always outshine him, and Ash was perfectly happy that way.
The ceremony was led by Elder Grey, Hallow’s grandfather.
Ash held Hallow’s hands and smiled, perfectly content. It was short and sweet, and afterwards they kissed so long, Ash almost forgot they weren’t alone.
The first hug he received after breaking away from Hallow was from Hallow’s mother, Sylvan.
“Welcome to the family, Ash.” She hugged him close.
Ash teared up, wishing his own mother could have been there.
Beside him, Hallow was getting the same treatment from Brendan, Willow and Charli. Ash felt the power of their families joining and kissed Sylvan’s cheek. “Thank you.”
She patted his cheek. “I know you’ll be good to him.”
The musicians had played softly throughout the ceremony but now they burst into raucous music with a driving beat. The party began. Wine, beer and sweet elderberry juice was poured into waiting cups and the centre of the glade was soon filled with people dancing. Ash shook a lot of hands and thanked a lot of people for their congratulations.
After an hour, the musicians called a break. Everyone helped themselves to food and drink. Willow handed him a loaded plate and ordered him to sit and eat. He sat in a folding chair and after a moment, Charli directed Hallow to sit down beside him with a similarly full plate.
“Newlyweds have to eat!”
Ash was glad they’d insisted, because once he started eating, he realised how hungry he was. The food was hearty and delicious.
He nudged Hallow, who turned to beam at him. “Hello husband.”
Ash laughed. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of you calling me husband.”
All too soon, the musicians started up again and the glade was full of dancers. The Grefenlands folk all had wings, mostly shaped like Hallow’s, but in all kinds of colours and patterns. It was very beautiful to watch them move.
Ash laughed to see his father dancing with Charli, and then with one of the Elder women. She seemed very interested in him indeed, talking and laughing and holding him close as they moved around the glade.
Willow had her pick of the younger folk, who crowded around her, hanging on her every word. Ash wondered if soon, her and her father would also be having weddings in the Lonely Forest?
“Would you like to dance, husband?” Hallow whispered in his ear.
“I’m pretty terrible at dancing, I have two left feet.”
“Ridiculous.” Hallow took his hand. “You need practice. Please?”
“As if I could say no to you.”
Hallow led him into the centre of the dancers. Ash watched him move, trying to keep up. He lost himself in the music and in his own joy, finally relaxing into the music. This was a perfect day.
After a few dances, Hallow pulled him close. “Told you!”
“I’m about danced out, now.” Ash leaned on Hallow, trusting him to hold him up. “Come on, let’s retreat.”
“Retreat?”
“Get the honeymoon started.”
“Oh! Yes, please.” Hallow took his hand and ran through the crowd of dancers. “Good night, everyone!”
Ash tried his best to keep up but couldn’t help tripping on people’s feet and tree roots. Hallow’s grip kept him from falling though.The crowd started whooping and clapping as they ran towards Hallow’s yellow painted house. Ash blushed. Everyone knew what they were about to do, but he didn’t care. It was just the next step in the ceremony.
Hallow’s house—their house now—was a simple layout, living room and kitchen taking up most of the front of the house, with two bedrooms behind, a bathroom and Ash’s favourite room, a library and study. It opened onto the back garden, where Hallow grew all sorts of herbs and strange plants. Hallow’s Care Bear sat pride of place on the comfiest chair in the living room.
Once they were inside the cottage, the noises faded to a comfortable background hum.
Hallow grinned as he closed the door. “They’ll keep going for hours yet. We could even go and rejoin them, after...”
“I don’t think we’re going to have the energy.”
“Oh? Why not, husband?” Hallow pulled him close by the lapels of his kimono jacket.
The word was doing things to Ash. Good and dirty things. Ash groaned as his pants abruptly became too tight. He slid his hand down to palm Hallow through his satin trousers. “You look far too delicious, I need you so badly, husband.”
Hallow gasped at the touch and hurriedly began undoing the buttons on Ash’s shirt.
Ash yanked at the hem of Hallow’s blouse to pull it up over his head.
For a few moments they were clumsy and feverish, yanking clothes off and tossing them aside to touch each other as if it was the first time. It felt like their first time. They were joined properly now, embarking on a new part of their relationship.
Hallow pushed Ash back on the bed. Someone had laid fresh cherry blossom petals over the covers. Ash stretched out, making himself comfortable and waiting with open arms as Hallow climbed on top of him.
Their mouths crashed together in a kiss so intense Ash felt his magic well up. He dismissed it, opting instead to roll them over, pinning Hallow down to kiss his jaw and neck. “I love you,” he said between kisses. “Always, forever.”
“Yes, forever,” Hallow carded his fingers through Ash’s hair and tugged. “Hands and knees?”
“Fuck. Yes. Are you prepped?”
Hallow squirmed and Ash moved to his knees, giving him space to roll over. “Look. I’ve been ready for you for hours.”
Ash forgot to breath, seeing the glittering gold of a bejewelled butt plug peeking out from between Hallow’s perfect asscheeks.
“I’m ... fuck, Hallow. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.” He sank his teeth into Hallow’s left asscheek in delight.
Hallow moaned. “This world? Or yours?”
“In all of them. No one is as lucky as me.” Ash tugged gently on the plug, teasing Hallow with it until he was whimpering.
“Please husband, please!”
Ash drew it out, lubed himself with a handy magic spell he’d found in a book of Hallow’s and pushed inside.
They moaned in unison, needy and elated.
“Rough, be rough with me, pet,” Hallow groaned.
Ash didn’t need to be told twice. He gripped Hallow’s hips and started to fuck him, rocking his hips hard and fast, taking his husband, his Master, his true love, as he’d been ordered to.
“Yes! Love you so much!” Hallow’s wings fluttered, a sure sign he was close and doing his best to hold back.
Ash moaned. He did not need much to tip him over at this point either. Flooded with excitement from the dancing, of love for his husband and ecstatic hope for the future, he was full to bursting.
He used one hand to reach around and stroke Hallow, pumping him as he fucked him, moaning.
Hallow bit his own arm, his muscles straining until finally he cried out. “Now!” He clenched tight around him.
Ash could never get used to this feeling. It was too perfect, too good every time it happened. He thrust hilt-deep and came, filling Hallow and moaning as sweat fell from his face.
He’d learned a spell for cleaning up too. He pulled out slowly and used it, removing all the mess in one gesture. He flopped onto the bed beside Hallow, pressing his hip to his, the only movement he could manage.
“Fuck.” Hallow turned to face him, throwing an arm over his chest and hiking his leg up over Ash’s as well.
They lay there, panting together, awash in the afterglow of their orgasms, and the gentle warmth of their magics reacting to each other. It had only been a handful of months, and there was still so much to learn, so much more to discover about Hallow and about the Grefenlands.
It wouldn’t always be easy, Ash knew. He welcomed everything. Difficulties, hardships, joy, natural disasters—he could cope with all of them as long as he had Hallow by his side.
He planted a kiss on Hallow’s panting mouth. “Love you.”
Ash had purpose and a routine now. He had regular study time and lessons with Willow and Charli. Morning teas with his father in the Lonely Forest. Lessons with the Elders. A regular movie date night on Earth with Hallow.
He had Hallow, his beautiful fey husband. He was complete, and nothing could change that.