Always & Forever

Chapter 12: A ring on her finger

Ominis brought her to his father who was talking with his best friend Alastair as his usual. Maya tried to keep her smile and did a curtsey before the two men to greet them which was replied with a head bow by both of them. Malachi wanted no much more than to tell Maya about how the evening would go and to warn her to act like a proper lady. 

"I've closed my eyes on yesterday's incident but I must warn you Miss Scamander that I won't allow you any deviation today as you will officially wear the title of the future Mrs. Gaunt." he said. 

"Yes, Sir. I'm still deeply sorry for yesterday, I shall behave myself today." Maya replied. 

"Good, so as soon as everyone will be there, Ominis will make an announcement and will ask your hand in front of all the guests. You better not disappoint us young lady." Mr. Gaunt said with a strict facial expression. 

The redhead nodded and stood with Ominis and his family until everyone arrived. She didn't really paid attention to the conversations going on and when someone talked to her, the girl simply smiled and nodded as it was natural to act that way. Her joyful facade tricked all the guests around her who talked to her as they sincerely thought Maya was genuinely happy about this engagement, all of them except the one who was watching over her from afar. 

Her emerald eyes found his ceruleans' even if they were from a far distance from each other. Her heart felt a sting, tightening from her lingering need of him, of his love and attention for her but this feeling was mixing with her mind. Even though she wanted and agreed to fight for their love, suddently her mind seemed to change. Maya wanted to protect him, not inflicted him more painful days with a fight that they were not sure to win in the first place. Her hands went instinctively into fists while all her thoughts were mixing up and it wasn't unnoticed by Axel who read her thoughts from were he was. 

The fiery girl snapped out from her thoughts when she heard a noise coming from something tapping on a glass not so far from her. Her gaze went to her side and saw it was Ominis who was trying to get the attention of everyone in the room. She was so into her mind that the redhead didn't noticed that everyone or at least most of the guests were already here. 

"Can I have your attention please? I'd like to make an annoucement." The blind boy said with a calm tone. 

Maya looked at him trying to get her thoughts and feelings all together. Ominis took her hand gently, placing a kiss on it before whispering to her. 

"Please Maya, follow me." 

With the help of his wand, Gaunt guided her to the center of the ballroom were all lights were on them only. Looking around the rest of the ballroom seemed darker as all eyes were on them. Someone came to them with a small box made of precious wood and opened it before Ominis who retrieved something in a secretive way since she didn't see what it was but Maya guessed pretty much since all of this was set up for only one purpose. 

The person who came with the box retrieved and Ominis after placing his wand to its place went down on one knee. Heart beating, racing as it felt like a it was tied up by barbed wire, piercing it deeper which every beat. The moment she feared so much was happening before her emeral eyes and was burden to live. 

"Maya, my dear, I've loved you from the moment I saw you, never have I loved someone that much before. Will you do me the honour to marry me?" Ominis asked with a loving tone. 

The redhead could feel all the love and affection Ominis had for her but Maya also knew she would never be able to reciprocate because her heart belonged to another person and that ever since her childhood. Her eyes looked straight ahead instead of the kneeled boy in front of him, trying to think when he whispered.

"Maya... Your answer?"

"I will..." she replied looking down at him.

It was with a fake smile and a heavy heart that the girl answered. As for Ominis, a wide smile came across his face, extending his hand in order to receive hers. Her palm on his, the blind boy slowly placed the ring on her ring finger which made her officially the future Mrs. Gaunt. An unnoticed tear fell down her cheek when her destiny was sealed with him, imprisoned into an invisible cage. Ominis stood up and placed himself in front of Maya who knew exactly what was about to begin.

It was time for them to open the ball as the newly engaged couple. Her hands went to his hand and shoulder as he placed his free hand on her waist. A movement that made Axel gritted his teeth.

Slowly and carefully, they began to dance in the middle of the room as the music started. All eyes were on them. Despite the will to run away and to scream, Maya honoured her part, dancing with grace and with an enchanting smile. Slowly, other couples joined the dancefloor, beginning with Avril and Septimus first but followed pretty quickly by the others.

What seemed to be a never ending waltz finally came to an end. All the couples bowed to their partner to thank them for the dance. Some of them stayed to continue to dance but Ominis and Maya left the dancefloor.

"Thank you for the dance Maya, I look forward to dancing again with you tonight. I have to go talk to my father but you don't have to come if you don't want to." he said happily to his fiancée.

"I think I'll sit a bit and try to maybe drink or eat something, I feel a bit dizzy after all these emotions and dance." she replied.

"Sure thing, I will come back later then. Take care of yourself Maya."

"Don't you worry... See you later Ominis."

Gaunt nodded and went away in order to see his father as he told her. As for the redhead, she went to sit next to a table trying to eat but couldn't bring herself to. The lingering pain inside of her chest was growing more and more without being able to do anything about it. All she could do was drink a bit while looking down. Maya was sitting in the corner for a moment, so she could remove her social mask and just breathe for a moment.

Her gaze went to the dancefloor and then to the couples that were dancing around her earlier and noticed Avril looking at a mysterious man. This man noticed the flaxen-haired girl and went to her, a kiss on her knuckles, some inaudible sentences exchanged and they were going to the dancefloor for a waltz. The smile on Avril's face was one that Maya never saw before, was there a possibility for the two girls to break their engagement and be happy? The answer to this question seemed out of reach, just like a dream that would never come true.

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Next chapter: Avril's POV

Credits:

The Drake (Alastair, Avril, Axel), Septimus Malfoy, Malachi Gaunt created by jlilyjensen03

Lorn Pickerton created by @exlibriscoral (TikTok username)