“I think so,” Taegan said. “Zorvut?”
“An hour,” he agreed, nodding.
“Go on, then,” the king said, waving his hand at the door. “I’ll go speak with the high priest.”
They left the private study and made the familiar walk back to their quarters. It was strange, how different everything felt even though they walked the same stairways and halls they had traversed so many times before. Taegan did not know if it was due to the dark backdrop of war after such brief but blissful peace, or the anticipation of reinstating their bond, or maybe both.
As they ascended the spiral staircase to their rooms, Taegan could hear the shuffling footsteps of Aerik. The servant must have been keeping watch for him, as he was standing directly in front of the staircase as they emerged, and he visibly sighed in relief as Taegan came into view.
“My prince,” he said breathlessly. “You found him.”
“I did,” Taegan said, and could not help the pleased smile that spread across his face. “Will you draw us a bath? It’s been a long journey.”
“Of course,” Aerik said, hurrying toward the door.
“And, Aerik,” he added, holding up his hand. Aerik paused, looking over at him expectantly. “...Thank you. For everything.” He blinked in surprise, then smiled.
“It’s my pleasure, Prince Taegan. Prince Zorvut,” he said, and strode ahead.
“Well,PrinceZorvut,” Taegan said as they entered the room. “What would you like to see me wear to our wedding?”
“Hmm,” Zorvut murmured, smiling at Taegan’s playful tone. “I do like that white tunic you have with the embroidered gold leaves.”
“An excellent choice,” he agreed, and went to pull it out of his closet.
“And for me?” Zorvut asked, turning toward his own wardrobe. Taegan frowned in thought, looking him up and down.
“I’ve always been fond of that burgundy shirt, the first one the tailor made for you,” he said, and with a nod Zorvut retrieved it.
They stood at the foot of the bed, each holding their respective shirts in a hesitant silence.
“I love you,” Taegan said finally, looking down at the shirt in his hand. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
There was a soft noise of shifting fabric as Zorvut stepped closer to him, closing the distance between them.
“Thank you for bringing me home,” he replied, barely above a whisper, and kissed him gently.
When they had washed away the dust and grime of the road, and changed into their clean clothing, Taegan led the way out to the temple courtyard. Though familiar, it was a quiet contrast to their first meeting; there were no magical lights floating in the treetops, no decorations set out upon the walkways, no guests watching beyond the curtain of the willow tree as they approached. It was only the two of them, the king in his everyday finery, and the high priest in a plain set of robes, with the temple lit by flickering candles and lanterns in the cool evening air.
But they still stood in front of the elder tree the same way they had the first time, and the priest, Estalar, began his ceremonial words in the same bored tone.
“Prince Taegan, Prince Zorvut. We gather here beneath our elder tree, before each other and the gods, to join these two,” he began, sounding exactly as disinterested as he had the last time, and Taegan could not stop himself from smiling in amusement. Zorvut’s eyes were locked on his own, and he returned the smile fondly. “Since time immemorial, elves have gathered beneath this tree to bind themselves to each other in marriage. The gods have smiled down on us, that any elf may marry another as an equal and continue our lineage. In exchange for pledging ourselves to one another, the gods give us what is perhaps our greatest gift—our mental bond, formed through ancient magic, so that we are bound not only in word and in heart, but also in mind.”
The priest looked between the two of them, for the first time seeming rather uncertain how to proceed, then gestured toward Taegan. “Prince Taegan, if you would give your vows to Prince Zorvut.”
“Zorvut,” Taegan started, only to find himself suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. He struggled against tears as he spoke. “My love. I pledge myself to you again this day. I vow to love you and support you, to fight alongside you. I vow to guide you and to learn from you. I promise you, we will restore the peace we once had. You have my heart, now and forever. This, I vow to you before the gods and our people.”
“Do you find these vows sufficient, Zorvut?”
Tenderly, Zorvut reached out and touched his arm in a comforting motion, his expression soft. “Yes,” he replied quietly.
“And Prince Zorvut, if you would give your vows to Prince Taegan.”
“My Taegan,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “You have proven that there is nothing you would not do for me, and today I pledge the same to you. I vow to protect you, to keep you safe, no matter what happens. I vow to work with you and your people, our people, to restore peace, so we can live out our days together in comfort and happiness. I am yours, as you are mine. This, I vow to you before the gods and our people.”
“Do you find these vows sufficient, Taegan?”
Taegan could not stop the silent tears dripping down his face now, and he nodded. “Yes,” he said, his voice nearly breaking with emotion.
