Disclaimer: This is not mine, It's JKRs. I'm just borrowing the characters. If you see her, you can tell her I'm almost done.
A/N: This is the last chapter. It came to me over vacation. I am moving on to a few shorter fics after this. Please be courteous and review! I love hearing what you thought of it, positive or not (though why you'd stick around this long if you hated it, I wouldn't know).
Everyone fell asleep that evening and slept until the next morning. Even Poppy finally traded watches with Eir to catch a few off hours of sleep. Daphne appeared to be completely well, aside from one cracked, but mending, rib. Poppy still checked on her every 15 minutes. But Minerva required much more attention. Her fever was still uncomfortably high and her blood pressure was still appallingly low. The baby was fed and asleep in hi new bed. But Poppy and Eir were zipping around the room carefully leading Minerva back to a safe bodily state. Albus slept on a couch in the room, always ready to fly to Minerva's side.
The next morning, when all were fully rested and reasonably healed, Albus, Eir and Bragi pulled Sedna and Theseus into the Library for a serious talk.
"I want to have the wedding as soon as we can get the events set in motion." Sedna announced quietly.
"But what of all the terrible things that have happened?" Eir sighed, "We nearly lost Daphne, Minerva, your uncle, and the baby! Hestia is dead!" She was still a bit emotional having only eased ierva into a natural, healthy sleep a few hours ago.
Bragi laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Darling, that was not their fault!"
"No, but we knew it would be dangerous, that a lot of problems would arise, which we would dealt with together." Theseus looked apologetically at Sedan's parents, "I'm sorry that I cannot offer your daughter the complete safety she deserves. But I have openly told her our life together would be far from safe."
"But I love him!" Sedna interrupted, "And we cannot let evil triumph over love!" Albus nodded, quietly.
You sound exactly as Minerva did before our wedding," Albus sighed, "Her parents were afraid to let her marry me, but she told them nearly the same thing. And they were right to worry Sedna. She's laying up in a bed, barely alive, having suffered a traumatic battle, where she nearly lost all of her loved ones! This truly will not be an easy life!" His eyes were sorrowful.
Eir stood up and moved to kneel next to her only child. "Darling, I want to see you safe. But more than that, I want to see you happy!" She stood up and Bragi pulled her into his arms.
Theseus took her place, kneeling, he took Sedna's hand, "Sedna Rynkar, I treasure you very much. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife, even after all that has happened? Sedna dove from her seat into his one good arm.
"Of course I will! I love you!" And the parents discreetly flied out of the room. The young couple had much to discuss.
Albus sat by his wife's bedside, holding her hand. "Daphne survived, but only because Hestia sacrificed herself. Theseus has a broken arm. Forseti was hit with a nasty batch of crutiatus. The baby is perfectly healthy, and beautiful. Sedna and Theseus are still going to get married, even after everything that has happened. And you! You were willing to die a horrible death for our child. I have always tried to keep you safe, you and our children. But I have failed you and I am sorry! So, so sorry!
Minerva groaned as she struggled to turn her head and smile at her lover. There were tears in her exhausted eyes. She was trying desperately to squeeze his hand and crush his fears.
"Albus… my love… I never asked… for safety..." Every word was an Olympian effort. "I only ask… to have you… by my side... And you have never… failed me in that." Her voice was a shattered vase, all the lovely ideas spilling over broken edges.
Albus could no longer contain his love, gathering her into a gentle hug. He pulled back to kiss her, then remembered, "Sedna made a declaration almost exact you the one you made to your parents all those years ago!" He smiled, remembering.
"They love each other" She warmed his heart with a promising smile.
So it was, five days later, with all healed, and the departed laid to rest, Sedna and Theseus stood under the same tent as man and wife. Bragi and Albus were trying desperately to appear as if they were not crying. But Eir and Minerva were veritable well-springs of liquid joy.
As they sat at the wedding banquet that evening, after the newest Dumbledore, little Saturn, had been put to bed. Theseus and Sedna shone at the head of the table, Eir and Bragi, and Albus and Minerva on either side.
The room was filled with the promise of futures, traditions and warm inclusion of the moment. Wonderful changes were fermenting at that very moment which would interrupt, improve, and embolden the lives of all those present.
That night, when all the guests were in bed, Minera, Albus, Poppy, Euripedes, Neptune, Daphne, and tiny Saturn were reclining around the fire in the sitting room. Minerva's wheelchair was waiting patiently, once again, to carry her. Slight threads of conversation wove among the furniture's occupants. But Minerva merely sat back, and smiled, feeling the eager heartbeat of the infant in her arms. Her eyes slid from the empty chair on her left, to the dancing flames. Something moved by the vacant chair. Minerva snapped her gaze warily back. The continuity of the room was snapped by her scream. The focus of the room flew to the no-longer-vacant armchair.
The chairs occupant stood and walked before the fire. The flames seemed to warp and twist around the apparition. The face gazed at all of them.
"I don't have much time. I will be moving on shortly. But I had to have you smiles for my next, more challenging journey," It was Hestia's voice and something like her face and body, but she had the bearing of a celestial goddess, "Daphne, I never regret what I gave you. Minerva, Neptune, and everyone, I'm sorry I never gave more of myself to you and that I never got to know you better!" I wish I could stay with you, but there are so many things waiting ahead of me. And so many wonderful promising things ahead of you as well!"
"How did you get here?" Albus gained his amazed voice back.
"The mysteries of time are fathomless, dear Albus!" She laughed, and her voice seemed to ring with enigmas itself.
"What lies beyond?" Neptune questioned urgently, all the room knew he was thinking of his wife.
"Such inexplicable, glorious things. Do not fear for death! Wonder at the adventure awaiting you!" She was beginning to glow more and firelight was eking through her.
"Tell her…" Neptune called after, but Hestia was gone.
There was a moment of silence as everyone caught up with what had transpired.
"Was that really Hestia?" Daphne stuttered.
"It appeared so, bairn," Neptune nodded, "If anyone could do that, it would be Hestia."
"Does she really mean what she said?" she whispered.
"Of course she does!" Minvera opened her arm and pulled her daughter to her, "She believed everything she told us. And she is right. We have a lot of amazing things ahead of us! And we have so much to look forward too. But much to remember as well. We cannot forget what Hestia has done, and all the other brave souls who gave up their lives. We must be grateful for each moment, and each other."
With that, Poppy and Euripides scooped Daphne off to bed, the rest of the room quickly developing misty, contemplative eyes. They spun out the silence, even after the door had been closed.
Finally, Neptune tentatively threw out, "Do you think Deadre is waiting for me? Will I see her when I get over there?"
"And Ariana?" Albus shivered. Minerva wrapped an arm around him and he reciprocated.
"What of all those we loved, who have gone before?" Minerva questioned.
The night was divulging no answers.
A/N: Again, review. I will be moving on to another fic shortly. Depending on how quickly I can actually secure full-time employment.
