Maid Marian vs. Velasca

18. Epilogue

The great hall was filled with the warm glow of torches, casting flickering light on the gathered crowd. The air was thick with the satisfaction of victory, but there was also a sense of calm after the storm. I stood before Footman and Alaric, their eyes wide with anticipation. Today wasn't about battle—it was about honor.

With a solemn expression, I raised my sword, resting the flat of the blade lightly on Footman's shoulder. "For your bravery and loyalty in the face of danger, I name you Sir Footman, Knight of Locksley."

Footman bowed his head, his eyes gleaming with pride as I repeated the ceremony for Alaric. "And for your courage and strength, Alaric, I name you Sir Alaric, Knight of Locksley."

The room erupted in applause, but the ceremony wasn't over. I turned to Judy and Krystal, who stood to the side, watching with quiet satisfaction. "And to you both, my trusted companions, thank you for your service, your friendship, and your unwavering dedication."

They smiled, their faces glowing with the shared joy of the moment. I gave them a small nod before turning to Robin, who was waiting for me at the thrones.

As Robin and I sat down, settling into our seats with a sigh of relief, a voice rang out from the entrance. "Announcing the arrival of Lady Lola Bunny!"

The great doors swung open, and in walked Lola Bunny, her confident swagger unmistakable as she surveyed the room. Jokes immediately began to fly from the crowd, teasing her about missing the adventure of a lifetime.

"I leave for a minute, and you all defeat a sorceress without me?" Lola grinned, winking playfully at the group.

Judy sidled up to Lola, cupping a hand over her ear and whispering something. Lola's eyes widened in surprise before she blurted out, "Krystal banged Robin? Seriously?"

I facepalmed for what felt like the hundredth time that day, but it was no use—everyone in the hall burst into laughter, the sound echoing off the stone walls. Even Robin, still recovering from everything, chuckled softly beside me.

As the night went on and the festivities continued, the hall grew warmer, the sound of laughter and celebration filling every corner. But then, something shifted. The torches flickered, their flames dancing wildly as a chilling breeze swept through the room. The mood changed in an instant, the laughter fading as a voice echoed through the hall.

Velasca's voice.

"You may have won the battle," she hissed, her words cold as ice, "but you have not won the war. I will harvest power from men once more, and when I do, I will be unstoppable. Your victory was sweet, but know this—you must remain ever vigilant."

The room fell into a stunned silence, every eye scanning the shadows for the source of the voice. But Velasca was nowhere to be seen. Only her echo remained, lingering in the air like a dark promise.

Robin tensed beside me, and I glanced at Footman and Alaric, who exchanged worried looks. They were already beginning to form plans to strengthen the castle's defenses, but a knot of doubt tightened in my chest.

I stood, addressing the group with a clear voice. "Footman and Alaric, you are charged with fortifying Locksley's defenses. Velasca's power is far from gone."

But as I spoke, a nagging thought crept into my mind. What good would defenses do when our greatest weakness was not stone walls or steel gates, but something far more fundamental? Velasca had preyed on the fatal flaw of men—their inability to resist her allure.

Would defenses, no matter how strong, truly protect us from that?

The thought weighed heavily on me, and as the group gathered in quiet reflection, I wondered if history would simply repeat itself. Would men, time and time again, fall to the same fatal weakness?

The hall was quiet once more, save for the flickering of the torches. We had won this battle, but a darker, more uncertain future awaited us.