X: Happily Ever After

They were almost home.

It was strange, Will thought, how strange it felt to see the red, high walls of Castle Redmont once again. He had been so close to never seeing them again, that if felt weird returning home.
After his return to the world of the conscious, Halt had convinced him to stay at the clearing for another few days.
"You're weak," he had said, ignoring Will's weak protests, "We're staying here until you're capable of riding the distance." And, as always, there had been no way to convince Halt to do otherwise.
So that was why they were riding uphill today, in the beautiful, sunny weather that had replaced the days of snow. Returning home felt like a tortoise retracting into her shell. The troubles of the world evaporated as they rode over the stone drawbridge, showing their silver oakleafs to the soldiers who'd recognized them anyway.

Home.

Safety.

Somewhere inside there, Will knew, Alyss was waiting for him. He couldn't wait to see her again, to smell the sweet scent she always wore and to close her in his arms.
"I can't wait for a good cup of coffee," Halt said, ripping him from his thoughts.
"Me too," Will replied, but Halt shook his head in disagreement, pokerfaced. "You can't have coffee, you're still too weak," he said, deadpan. Will raised an eyebrow.
"I can, and I will," he replied. Halt shrugged. Truth be told, he didn't know if Will was too weak to drink coffee, but even if he was, he didn't care. They both deserved a hot cup of nice, warm coffee, after all they had been through the past days.
They entered the courtyard, the hooves of their horses clattering on the cobblestones on the ground. Halt dismounted first, so he could help Will getting off Tug safely. Because of the wound in his side, Will couldn't stretch very well and because of the wound in his leg, he couldn't place too much weight on it.
"When we've reported to the Baron, we're first visiting the infirmary," Halt told Will as they gave the leather reigns of their horses to two familiar stable hands.
"You look like a wreck and I don't want Alyss to have a heart attack when she sees you again. Besides, I'm sure they'll have something for your headache."
Will opened his mouth to protest, but Halt didn't let him.
"For the sake of my own sanity, please," he said grimly as they walked towards to door of the donjon, "You've already done more than enough stupid things past week that could have given me a heart attack." Will grinned sheepishly. He knew his mentor was right and he only wanted to protest because he liked it.
They were about to go through the door of the donjon - the one guards held open for them, after having made sure they were who they said they were - when another servant came running towards them.
"Ranger Halt, Ranger Will!" he yelled, before coming to a halt in front of them. He was slightly panting, Halt noticed amusedly, but whether that was because of his running skills or just the fact that he'd ran very hard, he did not know.
"You have to come with me first, Rangers," the servant said, apologetically, "The Baron knows of it and has given his approval."
The two Rangers did as they were asked, Halt with a raised eyebrow, Will limping. Both of them couldn't think of something that was more important than them reporting to Baron Arald.
They became even more confused when they were let straight to Halt and Pauline's apartment on the third floor. The servant knocked on the door, before opening it and politely holding it open for them.
Will went in first, closely followed by Halt. The only other persons in the room were Lady Pauline and Alyss.

There wives both wore their elegant gowns, and sat at the table at the other end of the main room. But something about their position wasn't right, they noticed. Alyss seemed to be holding her head in her hands, and Pauline had an arm placed around her shoulders.
"Alyss?" he called, and she looked up, startled. Only then did she recognize him and she flew into his arms, tears streaming down her pretty face.
She could feel his torso and the heart that beat within. His hands were folded around her back, drawing her in closer.
She could feel her body shake, crying to release the tension. He pulled his head back and wiped the tears with a calloused finger.
"It's alright," he eased, even though he had no idea what was or was not alright. Halt had noticed the tears, too, and he walked past the couple towards the other side of the room.
"What's wrong?" he asked quietly. Pauline seemed to be struggling to find the right words to explain it, he noticed, which made him even more curious and worried as for what had happened.
"She had't been feeling well at all past days, so I sent her to vist the midwife; you know, just to be sure," she answered, her eyes never leaving the couple on the other side of the room.
"Yeah?" Halt asked, slowly losing his patience. He had no knowledge nor experience, so he had, for once, no idea. Pauline looked at him, and he saw the pain and pity in her eyes.
"She miscarried," she whispered. Halt laid an arm around her and together they kept watching their apprentices. Alyss seemed to have told Will about what had happened, about what was lost, and they saw how he hugged her sweetly, whispering some words they couldn't hear.
"At least they still have each other," Halt said. Pauline glanced at him, hearing there was a double meaning behind those words. But right now wasn't the time.
"At least they have each other," she agreed.

Meanwhile, Alyss had slowly come to calm down. Sobs still forced their way out of her throat, tears still shined on her cheeks and in her grey eyes.
To be in Will's arms was love, safety, and passion too. His words were precious, his sweet smile a remedy, the feel of his body that healed.
"It's alright," he kept whispering, "Alright... alright..." She clamped on to him, not wanting to lose another person in her life, sobbing, crying, for all that she had lost.
"It's alright, I'm right here." Never had words ever meant so much. Never had they ever done what they did now.
In Will's embrace the world stopped still on its axis. There was no time, no wind, no rain. Everything was at peace. Pure. Unselfish. Undemanding. Free.
When he kissed her it was sweet, gentle, and it tasted of tears. It made the world fall away. Slowly and softly, comforting in ways words could never be. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. She ran her fingers down his spine, pulling him closer until there was little space left between them and she could feel the beating of his heart against her chest.
Never had a kiss contained so much. Never had a kiss contained so much love, and passion as this one had. It was a kiss that made it all well.

They realized their life wasn't a fairy tale. They'd have to go through hard and confusing times. Life wouldn't always go as easily as they wanted, and they'd have to remember that they'd chosen this life themselves. They had known it when they had gotten a relationship, they had known it when they had spoken their vows.

They knew their life wouldn't be a fairytale, at least, not always.

They wouldn't get a 'happily ever after', but much more than that.

I'm sorry for making you think everything was alright before ruining it again. But it's just what I'm good at ;)
This way this story fits in those sixteen years between The Lost Stories and The Royal Ranger, which is exactly where I wanted it to fit...:)
Anyway, this was the last chapter (and it did end kinda good, didn't it?)!

~Rose