IronGuard

CHAPTER 20 (EPILOGUE)

Two months later

The breeze of the sea blowing the sails of the Sea Threader as the crew prepares it a for a long voyage across the great sea and it's cargo of IronGuard Knights travelling back to their home.

Saying their farewells are the surviving recruits who are now official IronGuard Knights, wearing their new shiny armor and greatswords on their backs. Also those who stayed behind like Lady Therese, Captain Gildas, Elos and Annalyn while Owen who couldn't wait any longer to see his family again joined Lord Harold.

By the docks, Marcus stood with his friends, saying their farewells. Even some of the Demal came with Sarah and Mordin to see the champion leave.

"We'll all be here waiting for you to come back young Marcus" Lady Therese says to Marcus, hugging him tightly but gentle enough like a mother. 

"Be strong out there, the captains in Ironrock are not as soft as me" Captain Gildas chuckles and gives Marcus a good squeeze on the shoulder before allowing him to leave his sight but Marcus surprises him with a hug, like a son to a father.

"Keep yourself out if trouble Finn" Marcus says, shaking his good friend's hand

"You know me, I tend to wander to places" They both laugh.

"Bring the north back to life" Marcus says to Thren. "And make sure this one keeps her cooking good" He says to Merriell as he hugs her tightly. "I'll miss your cooking"

"Call for me when you get back, I will cook for all of us when we celebrate your return"

"I'll keep everything in check while you are gone" Ortos says and shakes Marcus' hand.

"As you always do Ortos"

Marcus said goodbye to the rest and Dello was the last in line with Liana holding on to him, making sure he could stand up properly.

Marcus grabs Dello's arm tightly and squeezes it like he doesn't want to let go. "You get well Dello"

"Don't worry by the time your back, Lady Therese will have a hard time picking on which of us she will name Lord of the IronGuard" Dello teases and all of them chuckle for a moment.

Marcus' emotions takes over him and he hugs Dello deeply like a brother. "I'll be back soon brother"

Marcus turns to Liana and only nods at her. A few feet away was Sarah and Mordin.

"Take care of my sister...Uncle" Marcus says to Mordin, shaking hands but giving each other a serious stare as if one is threatening the other.

"Don't worry nephew, All will will be well once you return"

"It better be" Marcus replies then turns to Sarah.

"Take care sister" He says, holding her hands for as long as he could. "You're the only family I have left"

"When you come back, you'll have a brother in law then you'll have more family" She teases which makes Marcus doubt his decision even more but she squeezes his hands and looks at someone. "But there is someone I am sure you want to be a part of our family"

Marcus looks over to where Sarah was staring and finds Rithia hiding behind Elos and Annalyn. He says his fairwells to the both of them and intentionally forgets Rithia but before he could walk away further, she steps out and pulls his hand.

Marcus turns and sees her looking at the ground. "There you are" he says as he stands in front of her

"Good luck on your voyage" she whispers.

"Thank you. For everything" Marcus pulls her towards him and hugs her tightly. Her hair brushing on his ear, her face resting on his chest. Her arms slowly move across his back and tightens once her fingers have met.

"I don't want you to leave" She whispers.

"You can wait five years" He teases and she smiles. "I'll try to finish my studies in three if you really can't wait that long"

"You made me wait three days which felt like three years and now you're really making me wait three years?"

"Well you'll be waiting for the new Lord of the IronGuard, isn't that enough?"

"That's why I can't ask you to stay" She let's him go and kisses him on the cheek then walks to Lady Therese's side.

The captain of the ship begins to call all the crew and passengers to begin boarding and just before stepping on the ship, Marcus takes one last look at his friend that he will remember for the next five years then steps on board.

The crew released the sails and the ship's anchor was raised and the ship began to be pushed by the wind.

At the back of the ship, the IronGuard watch as their comrades in Perion honor them by raising their swords high and proud.

Lord Harold walks up to Marcus and says. "I just received word that the captain expected a hundred passengers but one failed to pay in time so there is still room for one more and so happens I still have enough coins to pay the captain" Lord Harold says as he hands Marcus a small pouch filled with coins.

Marcus grins and stands up straight. "I will be right back" Marcus disappears and suddenly reappears behind Rithia.

"Lady Therese, I will be borrowing your student for the next five years" Marcus says as he picks Rithia up.

"Wha...what! Lady Therese you wouldn't..." Rithia says but Lady Therese gives her a kiss on her forehead.

"I'll be here when you two get back" Lady Therese nods at Marcus and he and Rithia disappears and returns to the ship.

"That's your last passenger captain" Lord Harold says as he gives the coin pouch to the captain.

"You IronGuard are really some odd folk and there are many of you on my ship, sea gods bless us" The captain says as he walks away.

"I'll see the both of you at dinner" Lord Harold says as he leaves and goes below deck.

"Damn Marcus! I don't have my things with me!" Rithia exclaims but she is silenced by Marcus' eyes.

"I couldn't bear not to be with you for five years" Marcus says as he leaned closer and closer to the point their noses were tickling each other and their lips couldn't control themselves anymore, Rithia wraps her arms around Marcus and then told the world of their love for one another with a sweet kiss that lasted like an eternity and felt like the world made sense for the first time but had to stop when they realized the crew were just staring at them in awkward silence and the captain staring down at them with a grin on his face. They quickly went below deck and their journey to Ironrock was smooth and no trouble came upon them.

Peace reigned in Perion for hundreds of years and the IronGuard were no longer known as demon slayers but peacekeepers. The Demal and the people of Perion moved past their old hatreds and grudges and built a strong land.

THE END

THANK YOU FOR READING! I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TIME TO READ MY STORY AND I HOPED I DID NOT WASTE YOUR PRECIOUS TIME. :D THE ENDING WAS SOMEWHAT A DISNEY ENDING BECAUSE OF MARCUS AND RITHIA BUT THAT'S BECAUSE I LIKE A HAPPY ENDING.

IF YOU HAVE SOME SPARE SPACE IN YOU LIBRARY, PLS TRY MY FANFIC OF STAR WARS.

TITLE: STAR WARS CHOICES: THE INQUISITOR AND THE JEDI.

THE PROLOGUE IS THE ONLY CHAPTER PUBLISHED SO FAR BUT I WILL BE UPDATING IT SOON AND I'M ALSO WAITING FOR FEEDBACK FROM SOME OF MY FRIENDS, IF YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT IT I AM HAPPY TO HEAR IT.

THANKS AGAIN. I HOPE TO GET FEEDBACKS FROM YOU READERS! :D