Fenyang's pov
Left side. No right. No back to left. Okay, maybe I will just lay on my back. Back to right. I toss and turn on my bed kicking my blanket repeatedly. I've gotten so used to my insomnia improving that it feels stange to have it haunt me again after giving me a much needed break. I'm stressed, my cortisol levels are heightened after Zafeera's news and I can only imagine how she must feel about the letter and Ginn possibly entering her room. Eventually I give up at my pointless fight for sleep and head down stairs. Zaffera's door is slightly open and I assume that she too might be having problems falling asleep. I don't blame her.
"You can't sleep either huh?" I ask taking a seat by the kitchen table. She nods looking lowly outside the window door. "Do you want to go out? There's that place you showed me around when we first met." She nods again and then looks at her feet.
"Give me a second". She says.
Shortly after we are walking to the river place Zaffera took me to quite some time ago. It's quite silent, neither one of us willing to break it, up until we reach destination and we lie on the grass.
"Fenyang, I know what you said about wanting to risk it all for me, but... is that really necessary? Think of Arrow...your people need you." She squezzes her knees to her chest with her face half hidden, the wind toying with her light clothes.
"Maybe, but so do you. I don't want you walking down this path alone. We will get rid of Ginn one day", I pause, "I can promise you that."
I am very much aware that one is never to make promises they can't keep, but this is diffrent. For some reason I have a strong feeling we will eventually have the best of all.
Dawn then morning comes. We sluggishly make our way back to Palace. I spot Mylus speeding down the corridor and his eyes widening at the sight of us.
"We couldn't sleep." says Zaffera in response.
Mylus shakes his head and gives me a look that I catch rightaway. I'm relatively good at picking up hints.
"You should try to get some rest now, I'll bring something for you to eat later if I catch you still awake, okay?" I gently stroke her side and she nods unperceptivly leaving the scene.
"Come here son." calls me Mylus after Zaffera is out of sight. He has never called me 'son' before, usually my Father does.
"If it's because we were out for the night I apologise, I assumed it would help the both of us calm down."
"No, no it's not that." he shakes his head holding a hand to his chin as though deep in thought, "What are you and Zaffera at the moment exactly?"
"Friends?", my reply comes out sounding more as a question, "I'm not sure really we haven't put much thought into that, just promised to be there for one another."
"I see. You are a great influence on my daughter and I'm not that naive to be completely blind to how close you two are. You have feelings for her don't you? And I'm sure she does the same. I would advise you to propose to her now, hold the wedding, as you might not get a chance later given what's happening."
I feel some level of warmth about my checks as he says that. Zaffera's Father isn't wrong. There is no point in waiting much longer and besides, Ginn is injured at the moment so we have a small window to host it.
"Wouldn't it be rushed though?"
He shakes his head again, "Your Mother has been just waiting for the moment for months, everything is ready to be sorted together whenever you need it."
"I will consider it with Zafeera."
After the conversation I head to the kitchen and prepare a quick meal for Zaffera using some leftovers, deep down hoping she has managed to fall asleep. There's no response when I knock at her door so I just peak my head slightly to see if she's at rest. To my surprise she's sat on her bed, knees crossed, holding the letter she received from Ginn. I push the door open with my shoulders as my hand are busy holding a tray of food. At the sight of my moment she finally looks up to see me.
"Oh I didn't hear you... I was too absorbed by the letter..." she says discarding the letter, "that looks nice, I never knew you could cook."
Taking a seat besides her and handing the tray to her I take a moment to think carefully at how I am going to phrase the following sentences.
"Do you... Do you..." My words feel stuck in the middle of my throat, "I was thinking that...with the small window we have waiting for Ginn's final attack we could consider-" she grabs my left hand as I speak giving me the a last needed push to ask her, "Would you like to marry me Zaffera?"
Her previously sad gaze warms up as her expression relaxes and a beam makes its ways as a replacement.
"I would love to." she squizzes my hand.
°°°
"The stage will facing the audience right here so the baloons must go over there... Ah right prepare the paperwork for me." I command some arrows.
"You look quite busy." appears Zaffera from behind, "You aren't? We trying to host a wedding in a couple of days." I shoot at her.
"Well you Mother was great help, it's like she has everything planned."
"You don't know how true that statement is." I joke. Eversince I proposed to her yesterday I can tell her mood has been lighter, perhaps she's using this as a distraction.
"I know what you are thinking and stop right there." I look at her confused, "this isn't just a distraction from Ginn, I'm really happy that we are getting actually married. Arrow and Zyron will become one again."
It's slightly scary the way she managed to simply read my mind like that. In defence i hold up my hands and smile at her leaning forward closer to her face.
"Since you are sooo free... Would you mind helping me out?" I whisper still really close to her face, so much she could feel my breatg on her face.
"Let me see." she pushed me away and looks down at the checklist I'm holding, "Ah I can take care of the catering."
After getting preparations started yesterday and really finalising things today I can go to sleep knowing the ceremony will be held tomorrow. As tradition me and Zaffera will not be seeing each other until the ceremony has begun and I'm still struggling to find any of this real. Quite expectantly Klaus will be my best man and in the short notice Zaffera wanted her Mother to be the maid of honour.
So far so good.
"Rise up Fen, is the big day." wakes me up Klaus to whom I reply with a loud groan. I still feel quite tired, like the night never was but I have to get up now.
Standing under the shower puts some life back in me. By the time I'm all suited up Mother shows up.
"You and Zaffera have worked so hard for this moment, hopefully nothing goes wrong" she says with her usual sweet voice, "I'm so proud of you for making it this far."
I smile awkwardly and we share a hug. In the moment I realise I've not acctually hugged my Mother much since my guardians have made a return. This is nice.
"I hope so too."
"Now let's get you to the cerimony, everything is ready."
I walk behind mother all the way to the main hall and then she disappears within the crowd. A lot of people are here, mostly arrows and those who help around in the Palace. I take a stand next to Father who will be officiallsing the weeding. Tradition at Arrow states that the groom's Father carries out the cerimony as the bride's Father will be accompanying her to the altar.
The traditional music begins playing the hall is filled by its sound. Zaffera makes an entrance linking arms with Mylus and I can't help but be in awe at her beauty.
The dress is fairly simple yet elegant. No long train trailing behind, one that quite honestly reflects her personality as I could imagine her getting in a fight wearing this if she had to. And finally, of course, her treasured dark boots to complete the look.
Yet, before she even makes it to the altar we hear an shake about the ground. An earthquake.
'The enemy never sleep or slumbers', rings in my ear as I dash to the dungeons. I hear steps following behind me.
"Who are you?" I yell unable to recognise the figure. He ignores me and I throw myself at him.
He eventually turns around. "Hello, I'm Neil."