A dozen things seemed to happen at the same time. The humans suddenly found themselves up high on the cliff where they had been before the commencement of the battle.
Shayn was in the same, crouched position, holding Simone in his arms. She stirred, and his eyes frantically searched her for injuries. The color had returned to her face, and–without thinking–he grabbed at her full skirt, pulling it aside to check the oozing stab wound on her foot.
Recoiling, she slapped at his hand.
"What are you doing?" Indignance colored her declaration.
He grinned wider than he ever had in his life, snaking one hand behind her head and pulling her face to his before she could say another word, or insult his intelligence, or question his motives, or berate him for his forwardness.
She could do all that later, after they were married, to her heart's content. Right now he only wanted her kisses.
Simone tried only once to question him again–something about how she wound up in his lap–but he refused to hear it, brushing his fingertips across her cheek and pulling her chin up so that he could resume kissing her.
Melting into his embrace at last, she let her queries go and leaned in with a sigh. He pressed into the kiss, clutching her to himself with a desperation born of the collision of grief and joy. As long as she was in his arms, he could ignore—
"Calm it down, man, you're not married yet!"
Shayn pulled away from the passionate embrace to the sound of laughter at his expense, but he didn't care.
"Riley?"
Two men stood before him, one white and shining, the other his spitting image, but breathing and tanned and full of life. A white winged horse nudged playfully at Riley's shoulder.
Shayn stumbled to his feet, bringing Simone with him. She was blushing a most pleasing shade of pink after his display of affection, but he didn't have a moment to revel in that.
"You're alive!" He exclaimed, reaching out to touch his brother's chest. Riley laughed and pulled his brother into a hug.
"Of course I am, idiot, did you think a stupid war was going to keep me dead forever?" He teased, but his smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Kyler." Shayn looked to his father, knowing in his heart that his other brother would remain lost to him.
Ashmayne nodded seriously, but shook off the somber mood. "I don't have long, did you want to introduce me to this young woman officially?"
"Oh!" She had fallen, wounded, in battle around the time Ashmayne had first appeared, and Shayn realized they hadn't had time to be formally introduced. "Father, this is Simone," He said, reaching out to take her hand and pull her forward. "My love, this is my Father, Ashmayne."
"I've read the history of your great deeds. It's an honor to meet you," She said graciously.
"When is the wedding? It's a shame I won't be able to attend." Ashmayne bowed over her hand like a knight of old.
"It… it can be right now, can't it?" Simone looked at Shayn with some concern in her eyes, "I would want your father to be able to see."
His eyebrows shot up. An immediate wedding?
"That suits me just fine," He said, "But wouldn't you want a special dress, or to prepare, or–"
"Having your father attend is much more important than that," She frowned at him. "We just need to find an officiant and–"
"Don't forget us!" Victoria trotted up, pulling Gabriel behind her, "We talked about a double wedding, right? I want my parents–and Gabriel's mother–to attend as well!"
Shayn put a hand to his head, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. This was all moving terribly quickly! Minutes ago, he'd been overtaken by intense grief, and now, he was about to be married momentarily?
"Don't be nervous," Simone elbowed him, "I'll be right next to you to make sure you don't faint."
"I've never fainted in my life!" He glared at her until she giggled.
What followed was a whirlwind of activity as word spread, the event was put together, and the guests were organized as the dead communed with the living for a precious, yet short, time of reunion, healing, and joy.
Finn's mother hugged her grandchildren and held each of their faces in her hands with a proud smile. Edmar wept as he clung to his father, while Caspian looked on with deep emotion in his eyes–his eyes! Shayn noted with surprise that Roland's cousin from the sea had been fully restored to all health and wellness.
Shayn stood nervously by, not having anticipated being a groom today, of all days. While Ashmayne hugged his daughter, younger sons, and many grandchildren, and warmly greeted Amelia and Phillip, Shayn stood at the cliffside, watching the city below.
It was a miracle in progress.
The gore and putrid carcasses of the war had been washed away by a gush of water from the mountain lake. The land sparkled as the cracks and chasms healed, sealing the ground.
The shining, wet earth then began to tremble as the stones rolled to their rightful places, buildings, homes, and even market stalls rose from the ground and stood, tall and clean in the sunlight, all looking terribly familiar and yet brand new.
The biggest difference was City Hall. Instead of the ancient, columned building the government had met in for hundreds of years, a taller, more impressive building rose. Shayn squinted at it, watching it grow and form, white and sparkling.
"What is it?" He mumbled to himself.
"A temple."
Shayn jumped, not having heard anyone walk up behind him. Roland stood, looking down at the city with mixed emotions.
"A temple? What do you mean?" The younger man looked again. The word was strange on his lips.
"The Sorcerer will dwell with us now. The worlds, all of them, are here, and so he will stay with us." The king inhaled deeply of the clean air and looked out across his people on the high mountain slope.
"And live there?" Shayn pointed again at the new and strange City Hall. "Where will the government meet?"
"We're retiring, Shayn," Roland smiled for the first time since beginning the conversation.
"And letting the Sorcerer take over?" The younger man shook his head. "I wasn't paying rapt attention earlier, but weren't you yelling at him just a while ago?"
The king colored slightly. "It was not the best thing I have ever done, arguing with my creator and harboring resentment, but I imagine it's something you might be able to empathize with."
"Hm." Shayn didn't want to confess to that just now, even if the Fae could read minds.
"I've come on an errand from Simone. And Victoria and Gabriel," Roland confided. "They have asked me to officiate the double wedding as my last act as king, if that is agreeable to you."
Shayn paused, and blinked. "Of course it is! I just wish I'd had more time to prepare for… being a husband."
"My wedding was rather sudden, and rushed, as well." Roland smirked, "though under entirely less agreeable circumstances. If you'll excuse me, I'll go prepare and be with the four of you, and all your guests, momentarily."
"Of course, of course," Shayn nodded absently, but even as Roland departed, a Fae bustled up to examine him.
It was mildly irritating, as more than anything he wanted a simple moment alone to absorb everything that had happened that day before he married. The city below continued to restore itself, and it was a fascinating and soothing sight to behold.
As the landscape healed itself from the scars of the war and occupation, a part of him felt rejuvenated as well.
"May I help you?" He finally asked the grey-haired man who was eyeing him so vigilantly.
"If you will, please hold still." The Fae answered.
"Hold still? I was holding perfectly still until you intruded upon my solitude." Shayn shot back, more annoyed at being given the odd instruction by a complete stranger. What was wrong with him?
The Fae's emotion showed clearly on his face–amusement, concentration, determination–and Shayn was struck at how different he was from the enigmatic Gwen, who worked very hard to keep her face unreadable.
"I never practiced as she did–and we have no need to, anymore. The Sorcerer's Will is complete." The Fae answered his thoughts without blinking. "Now please hold still."
"What do you mean–" Shayn started, but was cut off as the Fae moved rapidly around him like a blur. It was dizzying, but over in the course of a few seconds.
"I think that will suffice. You were very dirty and, I believe Simone called you 'scruffy', before." The Fae nodded with satisfaction.
"She called me 'scruffy' or she thought I was scruffy?" Shayn demanded. Had his bride been teasing or had that been her honest opinion?
"It matters not, for you are no longer scruffy. You are ready to be married." The Fae answered, holding up a looking glass he seemed to pull from thin air.
Shayn blinked. His hair was trimmed, his several days' growth of stubble shaved, and his clothes changed. He did indeed look like a groom.
"I suppose I am ready," He smiled. More than ready, after all.