A/N: Oh no! We're almost to the end! Only two more weddings, including this one, left to go!
Enjoy!
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WEDDING #4- Titania & Rhys
"So today's the big day, huh?" Oscar mused to Rolf as the two sat at the breakfast table on the morning of the wedding. It was a sunny day, hot but not oppressive, and tempered by a slight and gently blowing breeze. A good day for such an occasion as this. Peaceful, still, quiet, and not a single storm cloud in sight.
"I still can't believe it," Rolf replied to his brother's comment, absently tapping his silverware against the side of his china plate. "I never thought it would actually happen, did you? They were always so right for each other, but I'd never thought they'd actually realize..." He trailed off with a shrug. "Love is strange, I guess."
Oscar paused, taking a long and thoughtful sip of his coffee. "You can't say that this is entirely unexpected, however,"he amended. "They've been growing closer for a while now. And it's been years now since... you know. That awful night. We all knew they were together, though they were obviously trying to hide it."
"Remember when we caught them kissing under the mistletoe last Christmas?" Rolf reminisced, laughing slightly. "Remember how red his face got when he realized we were watching? I guess it was only a matter of time before something like this happened."
"Though it is a bit sooner than I thought it would be."
"Yeah, I guess so."
The two brothers fell silent as a few more of the mercenaries- Mist, Boyd, Mia, Gatrie, Soren, and Ike, namely- came stumbling into the room, groggily rubbing their eyes and grabbing at whatever food was available on the table. It would be a few minutes before they would be receptive to idle chatter, so the brothers' conversation was put on hold until the rest of their companions got some caffeine and food into their system.
"So," Mist queried after she'd polished off a bagel and a mug coffee, "have any of the guests shown up?"
"The bird tribes are outside stretching their wings, and Tanith just texted that she and the Begnions will be here any minute," Oscar answered. "We're still waiting on Gallia, Goldoa, and Daein. Queen Elincia and all of her people are meeting us there, of course."
"I wonder what's taking them so long?" Gatrie wondered. "It's not like they have to primp or get themselves into their dresses and tuxes or anything. We wrote pretty plainly on the invitation that this was going to be a relaxed and casual affair."
"Which is all good by me. I think it's kind of nice that we don't have to dress up and make ourselves pretty." Boyd grinned, shoving a sausage link into his mouth. "It's too nice outside for all those layers."
Mist smiled back at her husband. "Mhmm. It's glorious."
Mia, on the other hand, looked a little less thrilled at the prospect. "I'll miss not having a party for them," she sighed, resting her chin on her hands. "I like the way we've been doing things recently. It's really been fun, hasn't it?"
"Yeah, we've all been having a nice time at all these weddings, but you'll get over it," Ike interjected. "This is what they want... and I think it's a pretty great idea. In fact, I doubt there's a better way out there for them to honor their love."
Everyone present murmured a quiet agreement.
After a moment, Gatrie spoke up again. "I get why they're doing it, but what they have planned seems like kind of a downer. For a wedding, at least." He shrugged his massive shoulders and made a face. "But to each his own, I guess."
"I think it will be more beautiful than you expect," Mist argued. "A bit somber for a wedding, yes, but beautiful all the same."
The point was debated back and forth between the mercenaries for a while, and all the already used arguments were brought up once again when Shinon belatedly ambled downstairs for breakfast. But when the food and drinks Oscar had prepared ran out, the conversation once again wore thin and everyone dispersed to do their own thing. Boyd, Mist, Rolf, and Mia wandered outside to meet up with the birds, and Shinon, Gatrie, and Oscar left to finish up some last minute chores that needed to be taken care of. That left Ike and Soren alone at the table, still lingering over their cleared off plates and nearly empty drink glasses.
"You've been pretty quiet this morning," Ike remarked to Soren, his voice still drowsy. "Anything up?"
"Nothing important." The mage's voice sounded particularly unconvincing, and even Ike, who was still half asleep and always a bit slow on the uptake, caught on to it.
"Hey. Anything that's bothering you is important for me to know about," Ike responded, trying to needle the other boy into opening up. "You can tell me anything."
But Soren merely sighed and folded his arms across his chest defiantly. "I really don't want to put a damper on things, okay?" he protested. "I'll talk to you about it later."
Ike's eyes widened in alarm. Soren's tone of voice was not at all to his liking. "You're not breaking up with me, are you?"
"WHAT? Of course not!"
"Then tell me! It will bother me all day if you don't."
"Fine." Soren unfolded his arms and looked questioningly up at Ike. "Titania was in love with your father." He said this as a statement rather than a question.
"Uh, yes. I figured that one out for myself a few years ago, thank you."
"And Titania and Rhys are getting married." Another statement.
"Yes..." Ike agreed, his eyebrows arching. "That's the plan for today."
"And that doesn't bother you?"
"No. Why should it?"
Soren bit his lip uncertainly. "You think people can love more than once?"
"I don't see why not. Titania's been offered a second chance at happiness, and I think that can only be a good thing. And you can see it in her eyes, can't you? She really does love him."
"Well... yes, I suppose."
"But you're not satisfied with it?" Ike asked.
Soren took in a deep breath, afraid to ask the question nagging in the back of his mind. "If I died... would you be able to find happiness in someone else?" he whispered faintly.
Realization dawned upon Ike's face. "Oh. That's what this is about. I see." He took Soren's hand and studied and intently, not exactly sure what to say. "If you want the truth... I don't know. It's not something you plan for or expect to happen, and there's really no way of telling if it will or not. I don't think Titania intended to love my father, and I also don't believe she intended to fall in love again with Rhys after my father died. But it happened, and I don't really regret that it did. We can't always cling to the dead, Soren." He pressed a soothing kiss against his lover's trembling hand. "We may love them and never forget them, but we cannot allow them to tie us to a place and time that no longer exists. We have to keep on living without them, as hard as it may seem."
Soren couldn't hide the fact that his face was falling into a grimace of grief. "Y-you would be just fine without me..." he whimpered. "O-of course."
"No. I didn't say that." Ike gruffly took Soren's hand and pressed it against his heart. "I love you, Soren. If you died, a part of me would die with you. No one else would ever get to share or replace the part of me that loves you. Titania may be marrying Rhys, but that doesn't mean the love she bore for my father has disappeared. It's still there in her heart. Just like my love for you will always stay, no matter what happens to us."
Soren looked less wounded at this remark, but there were still some traces of pain displayed on his face. "I-Ike. You know that I would never be able to stand in the way of your happiness, alive or dead."
"Yes. I would do the same for you."
"But... what I'm trying to say is that... is that for me, you wouldn't have to. There could never be anyone else for me but you."
Ike flushed. "Soren. You don't know that. I might go before you, and-"
"No!" Soren cried. "No, no, no! You don't get it! You're the only... you've always been the only person to ever care about me. You were the one who took me off the streets when I was starving, the only one who talked to me and really listened, the only one who worried about me or cared if I was eating enough or if I was too tired or too weak or..." He trailed off, taking in a deep, shuddering breath. "The Goddess did not fill me with the amount of love she gave to you, Ike. I have so little to spare, and you are the one who has earned it all. If you go, I don't think there will anything left to give. This is... this is the only chance for happiness I think I have."
"Well, then," Ike murmured, his voice thick and heavy. "I'll just have to stay here with you for as long as the Goddess lets me."
"You promise?"
"Well, it's not something I exactly have much control over. But you have my word that I will stick by you no matter what until the day I die."
"And I too vow to remain by your side as long as I draw the breath of life," Soren said solemnly, closing his eyes.
Ike kissed him briefly, and then drew away. "Well, I'm glad you took the time to share this with me, but we should probably be getting ready to go right now. You'll be okay, hmm, Soren?"
"As long as you're here. And you?"
Ike cracked a smile. "Do you even have to ask?"
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Titania had never looked lovelier in all her life. Her red hair unbound and haloing her pale and softly smiling face, she walked forward to the water's edge, the basket of cherry blossoms she had looped around her arm swaying with her every motion. Every once in a while, a breeze would stir her white cotton sundress away from her ankles and reveal a pair of tiny bare feet that looked so stark and white against the green of the grass. Titania had been a soldier and mercenary for so long that it was sometimes difficult to remember how feminine and soft she could be when her armor was stripped and her heart exposed. She was magical and ethereal as she walked, and those who watched her could not help but draw in their breath and marvel at what a miracle the Goddess had wrought for her on this very poignant and special day.
Rhys and a fellow holy brother were waiting for her at the shoreline, a sloppy smile coloring the former's face. It was good to see him so well and happy, good to see both Rhys and Titania smiling and at peace. She had suffered long, and he had felt her grief along with her, but now here they were at last at a moment of closure. Love would heal their old wounds, renew their hearts again, and make them whole.
This ceremony, which Gatrie had worried would be a bit morbid for a wedding, was meant to be a celebration of love for both the living and the dead. All who were present owed the fact that they were alive and well to one or many of the individuals who had sacrificed themselves for their country's freedom and victory during the wars, and it was the couple's decision to take a moment after the ceremony to honor those who had not lived to see the day. Titania and Rhys had both agreed upon this idea in lieu of a traditional ceremony and reception for several different reasons, many of which they chose to keep to themselves. No one but the two of them really knew what struggles and hurdles they'd had to overcome in the healing and falling in love process after Greil's death, but it was apparent that the lessons they learned played an integral part in their relationship, and it seemed fitting to their guests that these things would be acknowledged and addressed on the day of their wedding.
All in all, the marriage ceremony itself was rather brief. The holy brother did not waste time speechifying and prolonging the couple's wait, but quickly called down the Goddesses' blessing and led Titania and Rhys into the exchange of their vows. The rings were traded and prayers were offered up for the happiness of the pair and their loved ones, and then the couple was united as man and wife, their union sealed with a tender and romantic kiss. The mercenaries offered up a few congratulatory cheers, but since they knew what was to come, they remained more subdue than they would have otherwise.
Once the holy brother wrapped up the service, Titania, the new bride, set her basket of cherry blossoms down by the banks of the water, and she and Rhys each removed a flower and held it carefully in their palms. This was the moment they had allotted in remembrance of their fallen comrades, but everyone knew that there was one comrade in particular they both wished to say their farewells to before they returned home to enjoy a small wedding feast and gift exchange with their friends.
"Greil," Titania began, tears welling in her eyes as she spoke the name that hung so heavily over her heart, "you were the wisest and best of men. Your death and the way you left us...left me... to find our way on our own has haunted me for so long now. 'How could this happen to him?' I wondered. 'Why him and not me?' I wanted so much to be dead instead of you. I would have given anything to bring you back, even the things and people I held dearest to my heart." She paused to brush the moisture from her cheeks and clutch onto Rhys' hand for support. "But I have to say goodbye now, Commander. I have a life to live, and to live it I must come to terms with your death and accept the fact that you are gone. I will never forget you, but it is time for me to move forward with the man I have come to love. I have so many great and wonderful things in my life, and I will not ever seek to throw them away again. I have at last found and made my peace." She set the blossom on the water and watched for a moment as it drifted through the currents. "Farewell, my Commander..."
Rhys too stepped forward to the water's edge, his eyes wet with unshed tears. "Commander, I know what a wondrous gift I have been given in my wife," he murmured softly as Titania buried her face in his shoulder. "I may not be strong, but I will protect her with everything I have in me. We will not fear or take for granted this life the Goddess has given us because of your sacrifice. You will always have my thanks. But now it is time for us to say goodbye." His flower joined Titania's on the water, and the couple bowed their heads.
After they had finished sending up their prayers, Rhys and Titania stepped aside so the rest of their guests could take their own flowers from the basket and say some words in honor of their beloved fallen. The Greil mercenaries spoke up first, as all of them wished to honor the same man the newlywed couple had just been speaking of.
"Father..." Ike spoke up, his voice tremulous. "You were the one who gave me the strength to vanquish whatever evil came upon us, and it was you who taught me the importance of openness and tolerance in my dealings with others. You may be gone now, but your hand will always be there to guide me, and I thank you for it... for everything. I love you."
"I wish you could see us now," Mist sighed wistfully. "We've grown so much, and you would be so very proud. Ike and Boyd have taken such good care of me, but I still miss you every day. Wherever you are, I hope you think of me from time to time and pray for me like you always used to do."
"I'll always look after her for you," said Boyd, taking Mist's hand. "I will never let you down, Commander."
"And I," Soren whispered, so not everyone would be able to hear his promise, "I will always watch after Ike. You were the one who raised him to what he is now, and because of you, he is the best and finest man there ever was on Tellius. You have my thanks and my word that I will never ever be ungrateful for a single inch of him. I know what a gift he is, and I will be strive to be worthy of him."
"He'll never be you, but I guess as long as I'm around to keep the damn whelp from killing us all, things will be okay." Shinon sighed, trying not to sound as emotional as he felt. "You... you should never have died, Commander."
"But we'll do our best to carry on your legacy," finished Oscar. "You were our inspiration and our light. We will never forget that."
They bent forward and slipped their blossoms into the river, sighing a farewell that resonated softly in the air.
The others remaining followed their lead. The Dawn Brigade prayed for the men and women of Daein that had fallen during the Mad King's War, Begnion Occupation, and the senseless battles against the laguz alliance. Tibarn and the hawks unabashedly wept for those of their tribe that had been casualties to Kilvas' blood contract with the Begnion Senate, and Naesala too proclaimed his remorse for this massacre which he had been forced to carry out against his will. Empress Sanaki prayed for the many lives the Senate of her country had taken in its greedy quest for glory, but laguz and and the Crimeans mourned the late king and their fallen royal knights. The herons sang a galdr for the murdered herons of the Serenes Forest, the kinsmen that had died a wrongful and unjust death. The Gallians offered their flowers in memory of the feral ones that had once been laguz, and Ena, Nasir, Kurthnaga, Gareth, and Almedha of Goldoa bid farewell to both Dheginsea and Rajaion, the two main sacrifices of the dragon tribe.
When they had finished, the river was nearly covered in cherry blossoms. Most of the wedding guests were shedding tears, but not all of them were sad. Thoughts of the dead did not have to be miserable and shattering, really. There was as much joy and relief to be found in this act as there was in soaring across a crowded dance floor to the sound of electronic beeps and a thumping bass as they had all done at the other weddings. It may not have been as easy and lighthearted as a mindless dance, but there were longer lasting rewards in saying goodbye to the ones who were lost and holding onto the sweet and bitter memories that would never again occur in this lifetime. Beauty too could be found in this, this heart breaking and medicinal act of waking the dead and setting them back at rest in a blanket of prayers, assurances, and hopes for a future that would continue to march on without their presence, though forever and always with their lingering touch.
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"You're crying," Soren informed Ike once they were back at headquarters. He took his thumb and lovingly smoothed away some of the tears from his the side of his face. "I'm sorry."
"You're crying, too" Ike shot back. "I think we all are."
Soren quickly rubbed at his eyes, banishing the unwanted teardrops from his face. Weakness did not become him, he thought, and he would hardly be able to cheer Ike up if he himself was sniveling like a wounded animal. He needed to be strong, he needed to...
"No," Ike murmured, snatching Soren's hand and pulling it away from his face. "Don't."
"But-"
"It's okay. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We're allowed to cry every once in awhile."
"I just-"
"Ssh. I know." Ike sank down onto his bed, taking his pillow and crushing it in his arms. "Death... it's such a difficult thing to think about. It's so hard not to be afraid of it, but it will come for all of us someday. Whether we want it to or not."
"It shouldn't have to come for you," Soren whispered, choking back a sob. "You're the best... you're all I have."
"Soren," Ike protested, "I'm not going to die on you anytime soon. Why are you so worried? I know I take risks and the mercenary lifestyle isn't the safest out there, but I do try to be careful. I don't want to leave you alone, ever."
Soren sniffed into the sleeve of his shirt, his mind filled with the image of a wounded Ike pulling his dying father through the rainy Gallian forest, blood pouring and pooling out of both of them. "Your... your father," he wept, his heart pounding in anguished. "No one expected. No one thought he could fall, but... but... out of the blue, it happened. It can happen any time. It could happen now or tomorrow or-"
"Soren!" Ike pressed a finger to his lips. "I know! Any one of us could fall at any time, but we can't live our lives in fear of that. We have to be reasonable and make the most of the time we have, no matter how fleeting it may be. If you spend every moment worrying that I'll fall over dead at any second, you'll make yourself miserable."
"But I just can't seem to help it sometimes. Everything I am depends on you, Ike." Soren sighed and slipped into bed beside him. "I don't want to know what it will feel like to lose you."
Ike sat up, threw aside his pillow, and pulled Soren gently into his arms. "You really love me, don't you?" he murmured tenderly, running his fingers through Soren's long and lustrous hair.
"What, I haven't been making that clear enough for you or something?" Soren's voice was still shaking with emotion, but he managed a wavering smile at this remark.
Ike ignored this bit of sass, though he found it rather cute. He had something else on his mind at the moment, and he wasn't doing anything until is was all laid out on the table. "And being in love with someone and wanting them to be with them forever is not too sappy and repugnant of an idea for you to tolerate?" he continued.
"Of course not."
"And you think that maybe Boyd and Mist were right to want to be together even though he's a loud mouthed idiot in comparison to her?"
"I suppose. They're happy, I guess."
"And Jill and Haar. Even though he sleeps all the time and she gets on your nerves, you still understand why they wanted to be together?"
"Sure. What are you getting at with this?"
"How about Geoffrey and Elincia?" Ike persisted. "A Crimean noble and a mere knight of common birth. Does it make sense to you that they still love each other, despite their differences?"
"...yes..."
"And Rhys and Titania. Do you believe that Titania loves him even though she loved my father once? Do you believe in her when she says she has moved on?"
"I wouldn't have before, but after listening to her at the wedding... I guess I do." Soren looked at Ike strangely. "Why all these questions?"
"I just wanted to make sure you were ready to listen to the question I'm going to pose to you. You're so cynical sometimes that I don't think you'll be receptive to it, but other times you get this look in your eye, and then I believe with my whole heart that you're finally prepared. All these weddings have been changing you, but it wouldn't do you any good if you didn't even realize it. So, I thought that maybe if I-"
"Ike!" Soren yelped, gently hitting the other man on the arm. "Could you shut up for one second and tell me what you're talking about?"
"Oh. Yes. Well. There's something I wanted to ask you. I might sound like a fool for it... but I think now is the time to try."
"So? Go on and try, then."
Ike smiled nervously, and then helped both Soren and himself out of the bed so they were both standing on the cold wood floor. He kept his grip intent on Soren's left hand, and then he leaned forward slightly, his blue-eyed gaze sweeter and more tender than Soren had ever seen it before.
"Will you marry me?"
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A/N: Gasp!
Okay, okay. You could probably see that coming. But still sweet nonetheless, I hope.
Anyhoo, Soren may be in love, but will that be enough to convince him to submit to a wedding of his own? Or will the tactician find a way to commit to his love without an accompanying drunken debacle in which the Greil mercenaries and their many friends destroy everything in sight? Find out in the final chapter, which will be out before you know it! Now I have to write something for school I've been putting off for five hours! Yay!
