Ranger's Apprentice - The Afterwards

Epilogue

People came from all around. Some people, Maddie had only heard about from her father's stories.
Selethen from Arrida. Erak from Scandia. Halt and Pauline of course. Will, Gilan, Jenny. Hundreds of townspeople gathered in the streets of Araluen fief.
Because this was the day that the Crown Princess would be joined with Araluen's future king.
The celebration lasted longer then the ceremony. Horace walked Maddie down the isle. A quick exchange of vows. A word from the best man, Connor (Jason's childhood best friend). The bridesmaids, Jenny and Fiona (Fiona was Jason's youngest sister and admittedly Maddie's favorite).
The bouquet was thrown and who else but Jenny would've caught it (Gilan blushed wildly). Jason and Maddie danced. Horace cut in to dance with his daughter and Jason danced with Cassandra. Soon, Will was dancing with Maddie.
"I'm so proud of you, Maddie. More proud then I've ever been of anyone else." He said quietly. Maddie's heart swelled with joy.
"Will-" she choked. "Thank you."
He smiled at his goddaughter and they danced for a long time.

Eventually, the ceremony ended. Maddie and Jason traveled to their small house in the town, given to them by the townspeople as a wedding gift.
Jason opened the door and led Maddie inside, still holding her hand.
"Jason!" Maddie squeeled as he covered her eyes.
"Shh!" Jason warned. "Now, do you remember how you always talk about wanting to adopt a baby? As soon as we could?" He asked. Maddie's heart flipped.
"Yes?" She replied. Jason removed his hands from her eyes to her waist.
Maddie's heart melted. On the table was a basket. And in it, a baby.
"How did you...where did you...?" Maddie tried.
"A widow in the village found her on the road. No family, just the little girl. She was raising her but, she was too poor and didn't want the child to be raised in poverty. She asked me to take her."
Maddie slowly made her way to the child. She had tufts of blonde hair. She was beautiful, Maddie thought.
I'm a mother... She smiled down at the baby. She reached and grabbed Maddie's finger and opened her eyes. Maddie gasped. The child had beautiful, startling blue eyes.
"Do you have a name picked out?" Jason asked, hugging his wife from behind.
Maddie looked at the beautiful child and her mind raced. She had a very vague memory of her so-called aunt. Her own mother's best friend. She remembered how important the woman had been to all of the generation before Maddie. Horace, Cassandra, Will, Halt, Pauline, Jenny, Gilan. They all loved the woman, but they'd lost her.
"I do..." Maddie replied slowly. "Can we call her Alyss?"

Gave myself the feelz owowow.