A/N: The moment we have all been waiting for.

the ancient mystic: Maybe...
How long until he gets to acknowledge him as his own son?

Katlin Dragoon: They get married!

Evangella Akriti: Wow, that's bang on!

"You want to do what?" Animus questioned, staring at his daughter.

"I said I would like to go on pilgrimage," Shayla responded, not understanding why it was such a big deal.

"It is not safe to go by yourself. A woman should go on pilgrimage with her husband." The Princess rolled her eyes. Husband? Just when would her father stop trying to get her married... again?

"Father, I will not marry again," Shayla declared. "It would be disrespectful to Prince Anwell's father."

Merrick, who was in the room along with Ransik and Lucas, smiled inwardly. Technically speaking, she wasn't wrong in saying that. He really wouldn't want her to get married again; it would be strange for Anwell. However, to the King, Viktor was Anwell's father.

"Very well," Animus replied, thinking it a bit strange that Shayla had become so loyal to her husband after his death. But how could he argue with that? If she wanted to honour Anwell's father then he should allow it.

"I still do want to go on pilgrimage though," the Princess repeated. "Enter!"

Animus looked up in surprise, the door opening to reveal a woman who looked like a high priestess.

"Your Grace," the woman greeted, curtseying respectfully. "Your Highness."

"Tell my father of the pilgrimage," Shayla requested, looking at the woman expectantly.

The high priestess nodded. "Your Grace. I will soon leave to embark on a two-year pilgrimage in the mountains near Silver Hills. I am taking a rather large group, most of them my students, with me. I assure it is very safe and we will definitely be back as soon as possible, upon completion of the pilgrimage."

"See? I will not be alone. I will take my protector with me," Shayla announced. Animus' eyes flickered to Merrick who stood tall, his face not giving away any emotion. It was very hard to tell what his intentions were.

"It would also be beneficial if the young prince could accompany his mother," the high priestess spoke, gaining Animus' full attention again.

"If I go away for two years, Anwell will have to be with me. There is no other option. I will not allow anything else," Shayla stated firmly. "And I do not want to wait until he is older either. I would like to go now to clear my mind."

"Why is it necessary that you go now?"

"Viktor's death hit me really hard. I am finding it very difficult to move on. I know that I was against the marriage at first," she lied. "But every time I look at Anwell, all I can think about is his father. I long to be close to him. I think that being close to nature will help me be close to Anwell's father."

This time, Shayla smirked inwardly. She wasn't lying; Anwell was very much like his father and she did long to be close to him. Just not in the way that her father was interpreting her words.

"Very well, you may go, under one condition," Animus started. Shayla listened carefully, hoping it wouldn't be a request to leave either Merrick or Anwell behind. "You must send word regularly otherwise I will send my men to search for you."

"That would be a disruption to the pilgrimage," Shayla argued. "But I will do so to ensure that you do not have to send your men."

"It is agreed then," Animus said, looking to Ransik. "Make sure that she leaves properly."

Ransik nodded. "When do you plan to leave?" Lucas questioned.

"In three days," Shayla replied. That would be enough time to set everything up for her wedding and ensure that the high priestess and her group did make it to their pilgrimage.

Five days later

Merrick and Shayla beamed as they stood in the middle of the circle, as the sole bride and bridegroom. They thought back to the last time they were here, in this exact spot, getting married for the first time. At a time when they had yet to confess their blooming love for each other, a time when everything was so uncertain and scary.

And yet here they were. They were now aware of their mutual love for each other and were also first-time parents to their wonderful love child. Furthermore, this time, their closest friends were here to witness their union. Although it was still a secret from Animus, it seemed so much more natural than the last. It felt right.

Merrick's mother was crying somewhere in the circle, along with his and Shayla's female friends, his male friends were proudly standing around them and the high priestess was standing just less than five feet from where he stood, speaking a very clear voice, and yet all Merrick could see and hear and acknowledge…was her.

His bride.

He remembered how it was when he came to get her from his mother's house.

He found the door open and silently entered, hiding himself away behind the door while listening to her emotional voice as she talked to the women. He leaned forward and saw the top of her head, covered in a crown of flowers, as she moved forward to hug her friends, including her stunned handmaid. The women all looked like they were going to start crying, even Taylor, with handkerchiefs already dabbing at their eyes and noses. Taylor, Alyssa and Kendall all bid her 'good luck!' and disappeared to get to the wedding circle before her. Now it was just his mother and Siobhan left. After a very brief talk, Brenna kissed Shayla's cheek and then stepped out of the way, finally allowing him to take a glimpse of her.

Beautiful was not an adequate word to describe her.

Neither was breathtaking, even though that was what she was.

He couldn't stop staring. He couldn't move or speak! But his heart raced, the swelling increasing as he gazed at her.

His bride.

Siobhan finished doing the last minute touches and then Shayla grasped her hand and squeezed it, giving Siobhan a kiss on the cheek. The maid left, leaving the two of them alone together. Shayla, who was turned away from the door, lowered her head and squeezed her eyes shut as she seemed to lose herself in prayer.

And then he moved.

Shayla heard footsteps behind her and didn't need to turn around to know who it was; a hand she knew so well gently slipped into hers and curled around her fingers. A long, shaky breath was released as she turned her head and lifted her eyes to meet those of her son's father. He was here. He was standing right next to her. He was smiling and tenderly squeezing her hand.

"Merrick..."

"Shayla..."

"How is this possible?" he whispered, turning her towards the door. "You are so beautiful…"

Shayla swallowed the lump in her throat, her eyes swimming as she gazed up at him.

"What…what are you doing…?"

He smiled again, his face bashful as he glanced out at the distant circle.

"I just…I thought that since we have been waiting together for so long... it only makes sense that we take our next steps together…as we become husband and wife." Her heart leapt at his words and a watery smile spread across her face. She simply nodded her head because she honestly didn't trust her voice. Merrick grinned and then lifted their joined hands to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of hers. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," she managed to whisper, bringing their hands to her lips now and kissing the back of his.

"Together," he murmured and with their hands still clasped, they took their first steps towards the circle.

As he felt Shayla's fingers squeeze his, he was so thankful he had chosen to join her instead of going separately because he honestly couldn't imagine what it would have been like to make this walk by himself.

Before long, they had reached the circle. The high priestess addressed the circle and everyone made way for them. That's how they ended up in the circle, at this very moment, about to be married.

Princess Shayla was his bride.

He couldn't look away from her; he didn't want to. How many times had he dreamt of this moment? How many years had he imagined this day? Her, standing there by his side, adorned in a beautiful dress, a crown of flowers on her head...

"Bridegroom?"

Oh! He was being addressed. The high priestess was addressing him!

"Yes...?" he mumbled, a bit louder than he had meant to, earning a chuckle from a few of the circle who had heard him. Shayla was silently giggling herself as she squeezed his hands, the priestess looking at him rather pointedly.

Merrick and Shayla both said their vows together, remembering the words quite well:

"You cannon possess me for I belong to myself
while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give
You cannon command me, for I am a free person
But I shall serve you in those ways you require
and the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand.

I pledge that yours will be the only name I cry aloud in the dead of night
and the eyes into which I smile in the morning
I pledge to you the first bite of my meat and the first drink from my cup
I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care
I shall be a shield for your back and you for mine
I shall not slander you, nor you me
I shall honour you above all others, and when we quarrel we shall do so in private
and tell no strangers our grievances.

This is my wedding vow to you.
This is the marriage of equals."

Tears were running down Shayla's cheeks and Merrick wished for nothing more than to lean forward and kiss them away. But now everyone was looking at them and the high priestess was saying something... something about a ring...?

"The ring?" the high priestess asked, looking between Merrick and Shayla who were busy gazing into each others' eyes.

"I have it," Siobhan spoke up, stepping forward.

Shayla snapped out of the spell and smiled at her maid, despite the tears, silently thanking her. When she had asked her to come to the wedding, the young woman had been ecstatic. She couldn't believe that the Princess thought of her as a friend, let alone a close friend. The Princess trusted her to keep the marriage a secret and also trusted her with the ring. It was an honour to be here.

"Thank you," the Merrick said, having also torn his gaze away from Shayla's, taking the ring from the young maid. His heart lifted and soared as he looked into Shayla's eyes once again, her beautiful chocolate brown eyes captivating him. He took a deep breath before slipping the ring onto her finger.

It was a perfect fit. Like it had been made for her. Like she had been made for him and he for her.

They had spent ages trying to weave the locks of their hair together in the form of a ring. It had been hard, not only because the actual process of weaving was hard, but also because Animus had been keeping a very close eye on them lately. It was actually surprising that he didn't suspect anything now, especially since all of the warriors and Shayla weren't present in the palace. Anyway, after around four attempts, they had succeeded in making the ring.

Shayla admired how the ring looked on her finger, his black locks intermingling with her chestnut brown perfectly. Looking up, she caught something out of the corner of her eye. Siobhan and Max. Wow, that was a development. She remembered the time when Siobhan blushed after they were told that the warriors were coming back from war. It all made sense now. Everywhere she looked these days, all she saw was love. And she was so happy that now, she and Merrick could finally be together.

Merrick looked at her, his vision becoming blurred as tears filled his eyes. And yet despite that blur, he could still see her beautiful, smiling face so clearly.

Sounds of weeping and noses blowing were heard everywhere. The high priestess cleared her throat as if trying to regain some sense of order to the emotional ceremony.

She took the same piece of cloth that she had used before—Shayla had held onto it after the first handfasting—and bound Merrick's left hand to Shayla's right. Shayla squeezed his hand, a lovely grin spreading across her lovely lips. The high priestess went on to bless them:

"In times past it was believed that the human soul shared characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. It is in this tradition that a blessing is offered in support of this ceremony.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East.
Communication of the heart, mind, and body
Fresh beginnings with the rising of each Sun.
The knowledge of the growth found in the sharing of silences.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South.
Warmth of hearth and home
The heat of the heart's passion
The light created by both to illuminate the darkest of times.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West.
The deep commitments of the lake, the swift excitement of the river
The refreshing cleansing of the rain
The all-encompassing passion of the sea.

Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North
Firm foundation on which to build
Fertility of the fields to enrich your lives
A stable home to which you may always return.

Each of these blessings emphasizes those things which will help you build a happy and successful union.
Yet they are only tools.
Tools which you must use together in order to create what you seek in this union."

With a raised voice so that everyone in the circle could hear, perhaps even beyond, to the King in the palace, The high priestess declared that after the exchange of vows, putting on the ring and the handfasting, the young couple were now officially husband and wife.

Husband and wife.

A mighty applause went up from around the circle but nowhere did it come louder from where his mother stood.

Lady Shayla Baliton.

Shayla was a Baliton now. Shayla…was his wife.

And he was her husband. Husband and wife, just like the high priestess had said.

It was finally done. After years of waiting and wondering if she returned his affections, if she loved him enough to leave everything behind…and then after months, waiting for her impending marriage, waiting for Viktor to be out of the way…and then after weeks, waiting until they had a plan that would fool her father, waiting for this week, this day, this hour to come…

And just like that, it was over.

The waiting was finally over.

Sir Merrick Baliton had taken Her Highness The Crown Princess Shayla, the one and only daughter and child of King Animus XIII, as his wife. And she had taken him, a warrior, her protector, as her husband.

Princess Shayla had become Lady Shayla Baliton and all because she loved him.

The people in the circle cheered and rejoiced as they were all invited to go to Baliton house for the post-wedding feast. The actual couple themselves were too happy to care what happened next, as long as it wasn't something bad. Of course, there wouldn't be. For after the feast, it was their wedding night.

A/N: The marriage has happened.