Belford's Heart

Epilogue: A New Embrace

The journey home was not made in haste. In fact, they spent all the time they wished wherever they wished to spend it. There was a florist between Ghaulton and Natalia's temple where Belford and Evelyn helped Philip create the most wondrous bouquet in all of Avalonia. Grifford had to be held far away from it as the surrounding base of the collection was all made from Glassblossom petals, but he huffed in obedience after being told enough times to stay away. Unfortunately, all of their dedication had immediately fallen to the ground before the temple as Natalia squeezed Philip with all her strength after she ran to him. Avalonia herself smiled as their lips were finally met before her largest house, and the two had Belford and Evelyn stay until that week's end to witness their first sermon together.

Philip spoke of their journey through the gates, the harrowing plan made by the reclaimer of the world named Vathas, and the handsome minister who carried the flame of the world for a full two minutes as he waited for reclamation to come upon them. The congregation howled and screamed in praise of their creator for carrying him through, and he left all the glory to Avalonia as he finished the tale. Evelyn chose one final meal following the sermon from the temple's kitchen, and she and Belford made their way back to a familiar place.

The heat of the lands below no longer dug into Belford's skin, and his face was one of sheer determination as he took his place. Merda, standing tall before him and his fellow competitors of Barker, smiled as she called upon him. There was a joy in her face he had missed on the road, and the gray of her hair was beaming in the light of the summer sun. "And for his second embrace of summer: Belford. Lead us into the sun!"

"We welcome the sun!" Belford's voice was powerful as it rang through the first of Mammoth Strongbark trees. Grifford's head perked up from the crowd as he stood beside Evelyn. His beak was full of Glassblossom petals, and he nodded proudly toward his friend as he raised his log in the air.

"And she welcomes you!" The village shouted from behind him. Belford turned to find Evelyn's beautiful face smiling back at him, and he spun in his place to send the log into the air. That year, he would be a different goliath to participate in these games. He was wiser, and having only lost by mere feet the year before, he was ready to win. The log flew impossibly far. The village and his fellow competitors could not help but watch its flight with unending pride. It felt for a moment that it would never touch the ground again, and as it crashed far ahead even Belford had to give himself the respect the throw deserved.

"Lights above!" Forest shouted, running along with the judges to measure the distance. "Belford, what in all creation have you been eating? Sixty-seven feet!"

The crowd erupted, half in celebration and half in slight terror at the feat Belford had just accomplished. He turned to Evelyn to make sure she had seen it, too. Her smile told him that she had, and Belford laughed along with Horace and Maren at the preposterous throw. The competition to follow was much the same. Belford had even practiced climbing for the event he had entirely failed during the last embrace of Summer. Then, as he had done the year before, he carried Matthew's trunk high above him to lead them to the feast.

Belford and Evelyn waited in the home that had been granted to them by Merda upon their return. It was the same home that had nearly been burnt to the ground when Kressida's men tracked them from Stratos. Horace found it fitting for them to live there, seeing as Belford was more than tall enough to fully fix the roof, and that all of Barker wished for them to live there. In the months they had lived there, He and Evelyn had made it a warm place to be.

Grifford had his own space in the corner, and he kept it tidy all on his own because Belford had asked him to. For the first time in his life, Belford owned a bed large enough for even him to lay fully upon. Evelyn enjoyed the extra space for herself as well, and it fit in the bedroom with just enough space to stand at either side. Belford had begun his own garden, taking inspiration from Evelyn's brother and sisters. Oddly enough, though his tomatoes and herbs grew in perfectly, he had an awful time with the cucumbers.