Forever and Always
Ghastly stood beside Skulduggery as the small number of invited guests wandered to their seats. The air was warm and the land around them was vast and open, only trees and mountains visible on the horizon. Both Ghastly and Skulduggery had their facades up, even though each of their guests had seen them without. China walked swiftly down the aisle, her silk, red dress draping behind her and her beauty gathering many stares from the guests. Her pale blue eyes gleamed and that perfect smile appeared on her lips as she approached the two men. Skulduggery took her hand, planting a delicate kiss onto it.
"The two of you scrub up well. You look rather dashing, might I add." China said, grinning as she knew all eyes were still on her.
"Stop it. This isn't your wedding day." Skulduggery said and China laughed.
"My dear, I will never have such a day." she flashed a smile at Skulduggery and walked away, sitting down on the front row. Dexter Vex left his short conversation with three other sorcerers and joined the two men at the front.
"I see the prize possession hasn't made an appearance yet." he said.
"She won't be here for a while, everyone else has to turn up yet, Vex." Skulduggery said and Dexter chuckled.
"I was talking about Valkyrie." Skulduggery's shoulders dropped.
"Oh." he muttered. Ghastly glanced around at his guests, trying to not get involved with the conversation the two men were having beside him. Valkyrie appeared behind the last row of seats, glancing up at the three men. Ghastly had designed her dress, making it with the most beautiful material. It was the colour of a thousand crushed sapphires, the arms at three quarter length, made of black lace. It was slim fitting but trailed behind her, and her dark hair whipped in the wind, masking one of her dark eyes. Her lips were of a deep red, and Ghastly turned to see the two men beside him staring at her as she walked toward them. He rolled his eyes as the two of them straightened up the closer she got to them.
"Gentlemen." Valkyrie said. Dexter was the first to step forward, taking her hand and kissing it. Valkyrie smiled at him and she stepped over to Skulduggery, kissing his cheek. Dexter hooked his arm around hers and the two of them walked off, as Skulduggery watched them. Ghastly was grinning as Skulduggery turned back.
"What're you smiling at?" he mumbled.
"Oh nothing much." Ghastly replied, as Skulduggery murmured something under his breath. Anton appeared soon after, standing beside the pedestal that was situated in front of the white arch, which was decorated with black roses. Everyone took their seats and Skulduggery sagged as he watched Dexter kiss Valkyrie's cheek before she walked over to them. Skulduggery and Valkyrie stood side by side as gentle music began to play. Ghastly straightened up and gazed down the aisle, the guests joining in. Short gasps filled the air as Tanith appeared at the end of the aisle, her brother at her arm. Valkyrie gripped Skulduggery's hand, her fingers wrapping around his. Skulduggery glanced up at the sky, and in no time at all, little snowflakes dropped down from it. Tanith's head raised, and even though a lace veil covered her face, Ghastly could still see that beautiful smile of hers playing on her pink lips. She was without doubt, the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. He even thought her dress was wonderful; the lace arms, the lace torso, trailing skirt, even the slits up the side. He didn't care too much that it was so revealing, he just knew she looked beautiful. Tears sparkled in Valkyrie's eyes and Skulduggery tightened his grip on her hand. The two of them reached Ghastly, and Tanith looked up at her brother as he leant down and kissed her cheek. Ghastly took her hand and he sat down as Tanith stepped up next to Ghastly. Her hand rose up to his collarbone, tapping the symbol, retracting the facade. He swiftly pushed her veil over her face and her true beauty was revealed. The guests sat down and the two of them wouldn't stop grinning at each other. The snow was still delicately falling as Anton opened his mouth to speak, his words of love tumbling out. Ghastly and Tanith however, were too engrossed with gazing into one another's souls to even hear what Anton was saying.
Ghastly had dreamed of the day he'd marry Tanith since the first moment he met her. She was by far the most wonderful woman he'd ever met. He didn't care where their lives took them, just as long as he was with her, forever. Anton's words faded back and their whispers of "I do" filled the silence. Ghastly had never fought the urge to kiss someone so much in his entire life.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Anton grinned and Ghastly's hands caught Tanith's face as they pressed themselves into each other, their lips touching. The guests clapped, whilst Dexter and Saracen cheered and clapped loudly. Valkyrie sighed heavily as she grinned, resting her head on Skulduggery's shoulder, as his arm wrapped around her waist. Ghastly and Tanith were soon swarmed by the remaining dead men, with hugs and loud cheers. Tanith was hauled up onto Dexter and Erskine's shoulders, as Saracen was too short to balance it out. They walked around with her, bobbing up and down, Tanith laughing away as Skulduggery kept the snow falling. The two of them dropped Tanith in front of Valkyrie, and the two women hugged each other as long and hard as they possibly could. Ghastly joined them, shaking hands with Skulduggery, but soon falling into a hug. Dexter reappeared at Valkryie's side and Skulduggery dropped his arm from her waist. Ghastly's arm wrapped around Tanith's waist as Dexter hooked Valkyrie's arm, leading her away. Ghastly and Tanith stood with Skulduggery as he watched Dexter take her away. Tanith looked at him.
"You should tell her, you know." She said and Skulduggery retracted his facade. Skulduggery shrugged.
"There's no point, she's been after Vex for ages." Tanith opened her mouth to speak when they each looked over at the two of them. Dexter leaned in and kissed Valkyrie as she made no attempt to move away. Instead, she moved into him, her hands reaching his face. Skulduggery sighed heavily and turned back to Ghastly and Tanith.
"Congratulations. You deserve it." He hugged the two of them and placed a hand on Ghastly's shoulder as he headed off behind them.
"He'll be fine. He always is." Ghastly said, turning back to Tanith. "So, what's it like being Mrs Bespoke?"
Tanith grinned and reached up to him. "Absolutely, positively, the most perfect thing, in the entire world."
Ghastly smiled, his arms wrapping around her as her hands caressed his face. The two of them kissed in each others arms as the snow continued fall, finally, as Mr and Mrs Bespoke.