All shall live in harmony under the reign of king and queen
There will be no more sorrow, there will be no more need,
United we stand in a nation where all fae are free!
From a place there far beyond
We came to make a new home here
There will be peace in all the land
And there shall be no more fear
From a place there far beyond
We say goodbye to all the wrong,
Emerging from the pale
A new day dawns…
A new day dawns!
The fog cleared. Both of us quaked as our eyes took in the most spectacular sight of our lives.
Before us were palace ruins, overgrown with ivy. Standing among them, on top of the ruins and all over the courtyard, were the people we knew and loved, singing the anthem’s melody. Lady Iris and the Alicort Court made a choir of harmony, singing with everything they had in them. Professor Hemlock’s daughter, Callista, spun in place beside Professor Mara, dancing in celebration. Helena and Nicoli threw flower petals into the air, while Professors Victor and Lunesta added their voices to the chorus.
Ozzie was sitting on Jasper’s lap, bouncing along to the music while Jasper gave him a fond smile. Professor Despona grasped her sword and bowed to us as she sang along. Babcia and Bapa mingled their rousing voices to the crowd, clearly enjoying the rousing symphony as they swayed back and forth.
At the very top of the ruins was Alexei, waving the Malovian flag with joy. Kiara was beside him, standing tall with her shoulders thrown back. Both of them saw us. Their faces broke into wide smiles, their expressions revealing every bit of love they had for us without having to say a single word.
Arthur and Vara added their voices as she led him up the stairs of the ruins, and King Lycus joined in with his deep baritone. A white light beamed behind them all, creating a divine halo that beckoned them onward.
Ethan and I had tears brimming at our eyes at the holy display. Tremendous emotion welled up inside of me, overcoming all sense of loss. They were in paradise, existing in perfect union with the gods in a world of everlasting love. We could hear their final song because a part of us had died with them, and so, a piece of us would remain here in the afterlife, until we found ourselves joined together with our friends once more. To love them had truly been to experience the compassion of the gods.
As the song drew to its close, I allowed myself to be wrapped in the bliss of true harmony.
We’d done it. We’d won. Together.
The anthem ended. The light brightened, engulfing us into an array of hope. Our fight had ended, and a new dawn was brightening, bringing with it the promise of something the fae never had before…
Peace.
Epilogue
Ethan
Three Years Later
The world was wide and open, and I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life with the woman I loved… exploring every inch of her body, savoring the passion I had for her as reality continued to be changed by our love.
The sun shone into my eyes as summer lengthened over Malovia. In the palace gardens, I gave chase after Emma. She laughed as the skirt of her dress swept over flowers, scattering petals upon the air as their scent invaded the wind.
We romped around the hedges. I caught her by the waist, turning circles with her before we fell upon a blanket. I buried my face in her hair, kissed her head, and had the thought I’d never felt more alive.
Emma gave me a kiss, then drew herself upright. “You seem like you’re in good spirits.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I replied. “It’s a perfect day, and my world is perfect, so long as you are in it.”
