It turned out Meg was right as well. She truly had her mother's wisdom. Amintia was in love with him. He was still very unsure of his own emotion. She didn't seem to mind, going slowly with him. Meg found this to be very good for Erik. He needed this soul searching help only Amintia could give him. Meg had already done her part.
It had been one of the rare times she helped him with his bandages instead of Amintia. After she had taken the wrapping and salve off, she held up a mirror. "No, I don't want to see myself, Meg." he had said. Meg forced him to look, saying, "Your reflection shows the truth about you; it shows who you truly are." He looked and saw something he didn't expect to see. Erik saw himself whole. He touched his face and winced. The burn was still there. "Meg, are you magic?" She had just smiled and helped his with the rest of his bandages. That moment started Erik on his path to recovery. She had done her part of the healing process. It was Amintia's field now.
A year later, Amintia approached Meg in her converted offices. The dancer-manager invited Amintia to sit with her. She took the offered seat and looked at Meg. "Erik and I are getting married." she said shyly. Meg smiled. "I was hoping you would. What are your plans?" she asked. Amintia replied, "We were hoping you would help us. You've had wedding experience. Neither of us know that much about weddings. But, we'd like to hold the wedding in the Opera House." "Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way." Meg got up, taking Amintia by the hand. "Come on. Let's go find your fiancé and talk this over." The two found Erik quickly enough. They spent hours discussing Erik and Amintia's wedding.
With Meg's help, Erik was going to end up making most of the wedding clothes. Though he would mostly work on his and Amintia's, he would lend Meg some input as well as a hand in the making of the bridesmaids' dresses. The design for Amintia's dress was close to the one he had made for Christine, with a few changes. The dress was white and pale yellow. The bodice was corset-like with lace lining the chest and off-the -shoulder sleeves. The white skirt was draped over an underskirt of pale yellow lace cascading in sections. The veil he had made Christine was found sitting on the manikin so Amintia would wear that.
Erik's wedding costume was rather simple. He was just going to wear his Don Juan outfit without the cape or jacket. The bridesmaid dresses were close to the dancers' costume in 'Hannibal'. The long skirts were pale gold with a ribbon of darker gold lining the hem. The sleeveless bodices were dark gold with random designs in dark red trailing along the fabric. The bridesmaids were going to carry roses tied together with a black ribbon.
The day of the wedding arrived. Meg was helping Amintia with her dress while Katarina checked the stage to make sure all was ready. Both were already in their bridesmaids dresses. "Meg, I'm nervous." Amintia said as the Meg and Katarina place the veil on her head. "Who wouldn't be?" Meg said, quickly hugging her friend. "Come on. You have a wedding to get too."
Epilogue
So, this tale ends with the wedding of Erik and Amintia. Katarina became the Prima Donna of the Opera House. Amintia is the understudy, just in case. Not that Katarina needs her though.
Amintia and Erik are breathless awaiting the birth of their first child. If it is a girl, they plan to name her Elissa after the character in 'Hannibal'. If a boy, he will be Daroga after a man who had saved Erik's life once.
As the waiting godmother, Meg made a toy bear, white furred with a black mask. She named him Don Juan and plans to give him to the child when he or she is born. Meg has been in a relationship of her own. He goes by the name of Jason Oakley. It's getting pretty serious now. He, too, is waiting with baited breath for the child's birth. He wants to make his proposal memorable. How could one do that if a child is all that is talked about now? The is no doubt how Meg will answer though.