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I reach out and stroke his cheek.
“I love you, Zalith. I’ve felt this way about you for a long time.”
“Then that makes two of us,” he whispers. “Now then, there’s something I have to ask you before any other crazy shit happens… Rory, will you marry me?”
“Yes!” I exclaim without hesitation. “Zalith, there is nothing and no one else I want other than you.”
We embrace, squeezing each other tightly. A chorus of cheers and whistles erupts from the villagers and soldiers. Only then do I break away from Zalith and remember where I am.
The village is war-torn, with holes in the wall and parts of houses missing. Bodies lay everywhere, with some buildings having been given a fresh paint job of blood. I look down at my hands and outfit, smeared in crimson red as is Zalith. Not quite the place of a proposal I’m sure either of us had in mind.
“Don’t worry, I’ll heal us of any wounds,” he tells me reassuringly, taking my hands.
“No,” I reply. “Let me be the one to do it.”
A blue glow emanates from our hands as a wave travels up our arms. A ray of blue light comes over us as I feel suddenly refreshed as if off a full night’s sleep. Zalith smiles, beaming at me with love.
His eyes then move behind me. I turn around to see King and Queen Andakya approaching us. Immediately, I bow my head, overcome with nervousness as they draw closer.
I expect words of forbiddance in response to Zalith’s marriage proposal and for me to be exiled. Instead, I’m whisked into a hug from his mother.
Damn, all naga are good at this,I think in his mother’s grip.
“You saved us all!” exclaims Khatreya. “And I can’t believe I’m laying eyes on someone who loves my son for who he is, not for some position of power… Aurora, I’m so sorry for all of this.”
“It’s quite alright,” I chuckle.
Shradga extends his hand, taking mine and shaking it with a firm grip.
“Aurora, my dearest thanks to you. Not only are my family and this village safe now, but so is the kingdom of Lodra. Words can’t do justice to show our gratitude.”
What happens next is a first-time event. King and Queen Andakya bow to me, their army following suit. The human villagers look on in wonder before doing the same.
“We want to pay you back,” says Khatreya upon raising her head.
“Oh?”
“And we know the perfect way,” chuckles Shradga. “You and Zalith wish to marry each other, and so it shall be done right here, right now, with us officiating the ceremony!”
“Really?” asks Zalith. “Mother, Father, aren’t you all about tradition?”
“Well…” mutters Shradga, shrugging his shoulders. “I think it’s fair to say that following tradition has brought about a tad too much destruction over the last few days.”
“So how about we overlook the rule book just this once, eh?” asks Khatreya.
“Yeah,” laughs Zalith, squeezing my hand excitedly. “Let’s do it!”
Just then, my name rings through the air from the crowd of villagers. I turn to see my father clawing his way to the front of the crowd.
“Father!” I shout, breaking away from Zalith’s family.
My father emerges from the crowd as I run to him. We embrace, his arms finally filling the space in my heart that’s been vacant ever since I was taken away from here.
“Rory,” he sobs as I begin to cry.
“I missed you so much,” I tell him, afraid to let go.
“I’m glad you’re safe and sound.”
