SWNOVELS Chapter 99 - Epilogue
Tanya's POV.
I've been laced up in the most beautiful dress I've ever seen. The heart shaped bodice is covered in magnificent rhinestones and crystals that glitter and shimmer as I move. The corset hugs my figure and is connected to massive angel sleeves that slip past my wrists. The bottom of the dress flares out around me in layers of a brilliant shade of emerald green. And the veil that's placed over my head cascades down and out in a long train that's fit for royalty. For a Queen.
I can't help eyeing myself in the mirror in disbelief. With my hair pulled into a tight bun, it's only the little twirled whips of my hair that are left to frame my face and green eyes that stare back at me in astonishment. To consider all the events leading up to this very moment, baffles me. Eighteen-year-old Tanya would never believe she is standing here today, about to be married to the King of the Mador Kingdom, to be declared Queen.
I can't help but let my mind wander to the days before. How the Queen's death did indeed save Cathy. The only remaining daughter of Joseph, rose from her slumber still weak, but alive. And her health is getting better and better by the day. Course, Eric remains troubled, and I sense his turbulence whenever I see him. He blames himself immensely, believing his excessive thirst and greed for power were the cause for all this. He's inevitably changed very much because of this. He no longer seems to have an obsessive attachment towards the throne.
Despite his betrayal, because he admitted his fault in all of this, and helped Marco defeat Dorian, he was given leniency with his sentence. He's been stripped of his royal title and will be banished from the Kingdom of Mador for five years. In all honesty, his meddling with magic has garnered him a much worse fate than his sentence. Eric's Lycan powers have vanished due to the negative backlash inflicted on his body from the inferior black magic. I assume it's because Eric used black magic through unnatural means, and that's why either the darkness engulfed his Lycan abilities, or a more superstitious belief is that the Moon Goddess took away her gift as a consequence for his actions.
Either way, we don't know how severely this will affect him, or for how long. We've consulted many books relating to it. Some say that the black magic will keep invading Eric's body and will eventually kill him in a few years. Whilst others say that the black magic will only temporally cause the loss of his Lycan abilities, and maybe within a few years the Lycan power will return to him. But there's no way of truly knowing.
After Joseph learned that Dorian turned out to be his, and that it was because of his past deeds that led to the terrible war between his three sons, he seemed to have aged a few dozen years from being filled with regret and guilt. The poison he had consumed already made him weaker than what he used to be, but the mental torment caused him sickness again. The King feared he might not have many years left to life, and felt he was no longer capable of ruling. So he's passing the throne to Marco before his death.
As for Lily, she was once again sent to prison. And this time, she would be imprisoned for life. Somehow, I don't think she'll be able to escape a second time, mostly because she's gone insane. When the soldiers found her hidden in one of Dorian's rooms she had already gone mad, unable to accept defeat. Rumours from the maids say that throughout her entire trip back to the palace prison, she repeatedly wailed and screamed. "I'm the queen, I'm the queen!" But none of that matters now, I'm marrying the love of my life. All we have worked for and all we have fought is finally returning to us.
About an hour later, Marco and I are attending the enthronement ceremony hand in hand. We walk towards the throne, crowds on either side are cheering as we wave and smile. Flower petals are tossed all around us, the kingdom celebrates our union and our accession to the throne.
Upon reaching the podium, we stand facing the masses as the words of our accession are read out. Finally, the servants approach us with the crowns and I bend down as it's placed on my head. However, my gaze quickly turns to Marco, watching as he diligently allows the glistening symbol of royalty to be placed upon his own head.
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This is what he is truly meant for. I knew it in my heart. Marco is a leader, a warrior, and a father not just to Claire, but to the entire kingdom. He's not just a symbol of power, but of loyalty and devotion to what he cares for most. I'd trust him with my life, and I know the kingdom trusts him to rule Mador with grace and strength.
The crowd claps and cheers and we seat ourselves, Marco on the throne, and me on the chair beside him. Suddenly my hand feels warm, and I look down to see his fingers intertwined with mine, signalling of what's to come.
Later that day we return to the palace to have a more private wedding ceremony. It's still with the presence of many royals and nobles from the Kingdom of Mador as well as from other Kingdoms. And the wedding will be broadcasted live for the public to watch.
I remain in the same gorgeous dress, my arm linked with Alexander's, my real father, as he walks me down the aisle, smiling proudly. I come across many familiar faces as we slowly make our way forward. Such as Caspian and Isabella. The Princess from the Kingdom of Fauna playfully winks at me as I notice her arm is gingerly tucked in the embrace of Caspian's. I guess she tied down the stubborn Alpha after all, and I can't help but giggle at the sight.
I also pass Peyton and Russel who seem to have reconciled. And Eric and Cathy, I offer them both a solid nod of respect. Eric would leave the Kingdom of Mador after the wedding ceremony, but I and Marco both understood he knew of his faults and allowed him to attend.
Ahead of me, my little Claire is the flower girl. Dressed in a pretty pink gown, she skips along the way, tossing flowers in pure excitement and joy, making me smile. Finally, I and Alexander reach the podium, and he hands me over to Marco who appears dashing in his black and white suit laced in gold royal patterns.
The music dies down as the priest begins to speak. I only stare into Marco's eyes as the words of marriage are spoken. My hands laced with his, I can't help but squeeze them every now and then, trying to ensure that today is real.
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Finally, we say our vows and exchange our rings. But that is the regular doings of any ceremony. I and Marco have something else especially planned for ours. Some special to commemorate our initial first encounter.
We each are given a page where we've written our promises to one another. Kind words, and loving thoughts expressed in little letters we wrote to each other before today. And then at the bottom of each of these pages are two places to sign. The first is titled 'marriage contract', which we both found particularly hilarious when typing it out.
And the second... is timeline, which is equal to a lifetime.
Eventually I and Marco sign our names on both agreements with a smile, which amounts to a promise that we will always love and protect each other for the rest of our lives. No matter what.
The final act of our ceremony is I turn my back to the audience and toss the bouquet of flowers behind me. I hear the excited giggles from the girls and turn around to see Cathy hugging the flowers against her chest with a massive bashful smile.
Finally, hand in hand, amidst the loud excited cheers from the crowd I and Marco exchange a deep and passionate kiss, sealing our love and our fate and everything else that falls in between.