When Everything Burns {Mianite/CaptainFoxx} ✔

Epilogue: Lilies and Daisies

Epilogue: Lilies and Daisies

     He stood in the middle of the botanica garden, the one area safeguarded from the decrepit destruction of the realm. Ivory carpet under his feet and a pure white, wooden trellis wound with Stargazers above his head, he wore a pristine white suit and shoes with a purple shirt, slightly unbuttoned collar, and violet handkerchief in his front pocket. There were red sunglasses rested on top of his combed-but-still-messy black hair.

     To his immediate left was Andor, the younger man clad in a light purple suit with white shoes and shirt, complete with a deep purple bowtie at the base of his neck and a purple lily in his breast pocket. Behind Andor, sitting in snow white cushioned wicker chairs, was Tom, Tucker, and Wag all wearing suits depictive of their gods' colours, minus Wag, whose suit was a combination of grey and red. In the seats to their right sat the two gods, one in body and one in spirit, with the townsfolk in the rows behind them. Seeing his friend's nervous blue eyes on him, Tom gave a short reassuring wave.

********

     "Dude, really? You finally did it?" At the sheepish nod and smile for an answer, Tom jumped around like a little kid on a sugar rush. "Sparklez, you sunofagun!" Sparklez laughed at his friend's antics, but his moment of ease died when a hand came down on his shoulder, the hand belonging to a certain bloodmage he knew well.

     "U-um, Tucker hey, listen..." his voice drew off as Tucker held up a pale hand, silencing him.

     "Don't worry about it, man! I'm happy for you!" Jordan sighed in relief. Wag, smiling broadly from under his hood, stepped forward.

     "Now the question is who your Best Man will be." His three friends looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to say one of their names, to declare one higher than the others. Jordan's eyes darted between his friends nervously at having to make the decision, and he bit his lip. His blue eyes fell on a figure in the distance.

     "Andor!" The young man flew over, landing beside him.

     "What is it, Sparklez?" Sparklez put his arm around Andor in a friendly side-hug, turning him to face their other three friends.

     "Andor's the Best Man." All four sets of eyes widened, especially those of his newly declared member of the wedding party.

     "Aw, c'mon man," Tom whined, "I thought we were best buds!"

     Sparklez gave a short laugh. "You all are, but Sonja only has the one Bridesmaid-slash-Maid of Honor, which is Martha. Andor can dance with his Aunt, and none of you three can have bragging rights over the others." The five men chuckled, all recognizing the wisdom in his decision.

     "Our only rule," Tucker said solemnly, "is that we get to plan and attend your bachelor party."

     "Oh gods."

********

     Jordan snapped back to attention as the priest standing behind the altar to his right, Declan, shifted and nodded to someone near the curtains opposite to where the three men stood. The pale white curtain was pulled open, and out walked Martha in a soft lilac, cross-neck knee-length dress and white high heels. Her long hair was brushed into a high ponytail, held together with a silver pin of two balanced scales, and she held a small bouquet of daisies. Walking only to the sounds of nature, Martha approached where Jordan and Andor stood, lightly kissing Jordan's cheek before standing on the opposite side of the altar, across from Andor.

     Another shadow formed behind the curtains, and after a moment's hesitation the white material parted once again, revealing Sonja. Her bright eyes met Jordan's and she beamed, making her even more beautiful, though he didn't think it had been possible. Her white and strapless jeweled lace dress, the front cut off at the knees with a long train behind her, swayed delicately and elegantly as she walked closer, her steps in sky blue Converse shoes never faltering. As Sonja stepped from the shadows cast by the clouds, the ivory veil hanging over her side-swept brown hair glimmered in the sun. In her hands she held not a bouquet, but a strong thaumcraft wand, purple tip glowing in the midday sun. Her blue Converse stepped up to the altar, and she took her place beside her fiancé. Declan cleared his throat, and opened his book.