A week passed by, quickly. The blizzards finally stopped two days ago and the temperature started to get less cold.
'Sakuno?" Ryoma called her gently. "Wake up."
She stretched herself and looked at him, still sleepy. It was early in the morning.
"Good morning." She smiled, opening her eyes. "Is everything okay?
"Yes." He kissed her gently. "The snow stopped. We can finally go back to the capital."
"Really?!" she sat down, quickly, a big smile on her face.
"Hm." He watched the elf queen ran to the balcony's closed windows and she saw the sunshine after so many freezing days.
"It is so beautiful!" the snow was glistering.
"Let's go have breakfast so we can start packing after."
"Yes!"
When Sakuno opened the closet, she stopped, surprised, as recognizing the beautiful furisode hanging there. It was dark green and there were sakura flowers scattered all over its fabric. The obi was dark red, making a beautiful contrast. She touched it and her heart was beating fast. It was a gift from her father to her mother when she was still a child.
She turned around and looked at Ryoma.
"Why is it in here?"
"Syuusuke-san brought it last night. He said it was your favorite."
"What do you mean? Syuusuke is here? Why?" she was truly confused.
"So we can get married." He showed her a small smile.
"What?!" Ryoma stood from the bed and stood in front of her, holding her hand.
"I asked Amaya-san to help me. She wrote Syuusuke-san asking if it was possible, according to the peace pact. He wrote back and said there was nothing prohibiting a widow queen to remarry. He organized everything with Amaya-san. We could not sneak out to get married. You have so many people around you that really care about you. It would not be fair to them. And I want everyone to celebrate this with us." He kissed her hand, before looking at her again and Sakuno was sure the golden eyes never looked more beautiful. "I want everyone who helped us so far to be with us and wish us happiness."
"Ryoma…" she was on the edge of tears.
"So, do you accept it? Everyone is waiting."
The elf queen jumped on him, holding him tight. She kissed him deeply and Ryoma held her close.
"Yes!" she replied with a big smile, filled with absolute happiness.
##########
Amaya, Kayo and Yura looked at Sakuno proudly. They were helping the elf queen to get ready. Her hair was tight on a ponytail and there were a couple of hairpins with small violets on them. It was Amaya's gift.
"You are so beautiful, My Queen!" the shorter elf said, finishing to fix her kimono.
"Very much indeed." Yura touched her hand. "Ryoma-kun must be anxious to see you. Syuusuke was helping him with him to get dress."
"Thank you so much, all of you. Yura-san, I am so sorry about you and Shuichirou-san, I…"
"Do not worry about it." She smiled kindly at her. "Today is a happy day, to happy thoughts only."
"Let's go?" Amaya smiled at her.
When they crossed the hallways, Sakuno stopped as seeing Shuichirou there. It was the first time she saw him without the general's armour on a official event. He was wearing a representative outfit, Syuusuke insisted and he was very handsome.
"My Queen.' He made a reverence. "It is a pleasure to see you again."
She ran to his side and held his arm, tight. Once again, he would deliver his daughter and, this time, his heart was absolute certain she had found real love.
"You are very beautiful, Yura." Syuusuke said, as she was by his side and he offered his arm to her. She was also wearing a representative outfit. Her dress was dark green with golden pieces, but her long ears had blue earrings on them. There was a small hydrangea brooch on the strap of her dress. He noticed her eyes did not leave Shuichirou and he smiled.
"Isn't Shuichirou charming today?"
"Ah!" she averted her eyes, embarrassed. "I was just thinking it is strange he is not wearing his armor."
"Well, he is not the general anymore." He looked at her with the corner of his blue eye. "He asked to resign a while ago."
She was too shocked to ask anything else. They had arrived to the intern gardens, kept as a greenhouse. Since it was closed with glass, there were still some flowers inside, even with the cold weather, making a lovely background with the violets. Ryuu was there with Amaya. Ryoma showed a small smile as seeing Sakuno. He was wearing traditional groom attire. The hakama was stripped with fine lines of black and grey. The kimono was entirely black and he looked so grown up.
Shuichirou held her face between his hands and kissed her forehead, looking at his daughter with watery eyes. They were in front of the priest.
"Be happy."
"Yes." Sakuno replied before Ryoma held her hand.
"Thank you, Shuichirou-san."
"Take good care of her, Ryoma-kun."
"I will. I promise."
The priest was a very short elderly female elf with long silver hair. She had dark eyes and a gentle expression. She smiled as the bride and groom were in front of her, looking at each other.
"It is a great pleasure for me to celebrate such union. Our beloved queen already suffered enough. It is her time to find happiness too." She looked at Ryoma and the weight of his love for her was obvious on his golden eyes. "I was informed briefly about your relationship with our queen, young man, but I am sure you deserve her affection. Being ready to die for her sake shows your feelings are genuine and real."
"Sakuno, I changed in the minute our paths crossed. Since the first time I saw you, my heart changed. You saved me not only once and I don't know if I could ever reciprocate properly everything you have done to me." He touched her face. "But I can promise you, for the rest of my life, I will give you nothing but happiness. I want to build a future with you, the future you granted me and help you with any burdens we find ahead as well."
Amaya sobbed, happily and Ryuu held his wife, drying her tears with a small handkerchief. Sakuno giggled at her before looking at Ryoma again.
"You were the one who taught me about love, real love. Because of you I stood up for myself and I was able to be free. I am sure that, even if we have any difficulties ahead, we can deal with them, together. I love you. I love you very, very much."
"I hope that fate favour you two and this love can florish on the red country, for many years to come." The priest smiled at them. "You may kiss the bride."
Sakuno and Ryoma shared the first kiss as husband and wife with a small share of dry flowers the representative tossed gently over them. It was the first time Ryoma showed a big and sincere smile, as holding the elf queen close.
##########
The celebration continued and it was night already. They all had dinner together. Kayo and Syuusuke were drinking together with the priest. Sakuno and Ryoma were sitting with Amaya and Ryuu.
"My Queen, when do you plan on going to Murasaki?"
"Tomorrow morning we are going to return to the capital. Maybe a couple of days more or so. Yura-san and Kayo-san are going with us as well. Kunimitsu is going to stay and the rest of us are going to the human country.
"I am so sorry I cannot fulfill by duty and go with you, My Queen."
"Do not worry. I would never let you travel in your condition. This baby is very precious; we must do everything to protect him or her." She smiled at the couple. "Do you prefer a boy or a girl, Ryuu-san?"
"I just want the birth to be safe and the baby and Amaya can be healthy. I know she is going to give me a beautiful child either way." He kissed his wife's cheek. They were so in love with each other.
"What about you, Amaya-san?"
"I want our child to have Ryuu's beautiful skin." She rubbed her belly.
"Is it easy to happen?" Ryoma asked.
"Not really. She has the most powerful bloodline." Ryuu answered, but he was not bothered by it. "But we can try with the next ones."
"Oh, so you want more children?" Sakuno asked.
"Yes! At least two more. Ryuu is really good at making love; there is no way I am having just this one!"
"It is because you inspire me, Amaya." He kissed his wife's hand.
Sakuno giggled at the violet elf's enthusiasm and Ryoma blushed from head to toe.
"What about you, My Queen? Does Ryoma-kun perform properly? A good lover makes a marriage sweeter."
He felt his heart dropped to the floor and he wanted to disappear. The teenager was sure Sakuno was not going to answer such private question, but she smiled gently, like they were discussing about the weather.
"Ryoma is simply wonderful. I am very, very pleased. His body is amazing and he always makes sure I am completely satisfied."
"Very good, Ryoma-kun." Ryuu smiled at him, no embarrassment whatsoever. "It is important to make our wives happy and loved."
"Ye…yes." He whispered, feeling the sweat dripping from his body. He wanted to die.
##########
Yura was looking at Ragna's mountain from the castle main balcony. She had left the party without anyone noticing. The cold wind blew her long silver hair. Suddenly, Shuichoru's voice called her attention and she turned around, surprised.
"Are you okay?" he asked, very gently and she noticed he was a little shy.
"I am, thank you." Her heart was racing and she looked up again, trying to disguise it. But, it did not work. He removed the cloak of his clothes and put over her small shoulders.
"I know you are coldish. It is winding a lot here."
"Thank… thank you."
There was a deep silent between them, only the wind blowing could be heard.
"Syuusuke told me you resign." She was finally able to speak, but still not looking at him. "Why did you do that?"
"You were right. It was time." He smiled at her. "Sakuno-sama will be just fine and I need to find a new path for my life. I could not hide from life inside that dark armor forever." Touching his face, he remembered her warmth. "I need to talk you for giving me the push I need to improve myself. Thank you very much, Yura. You were always making me a better person. I was so lucky you were in my life. I am forever grateful for everything we share. I am so sorry I ruined everything."
Big, round tears started to fall from the dark blue eyes with that touch and his words and she did not even notice. Averting her face, Yura felt extremely ashamed.
"Yura, what is wrong?!" he was surprised and concerned.
"Why are you asking such a thing?!" she tried to dry her tears with her hands, quickly. "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for me to be so close to you?! Do you have any ideia how much it hurts?!"
"Yura…"
"I miss you." She looked at him, the blue eyes glistering with tears. "I miss you so much, Shuichirou."
The taller elf kissed her deeply and fiercely. She tried to push him away but the taste of his lips and the feelings she had inside took her strength away. It took them a long time until Shuichirou separated their lips and looked at her, seriously, the moonlight over them.
"Please, accept me again. I am all yours if you still want me. I will never make you cry again, except for happy tears. I want you, Yura. It can only be you. The new me, the new person I am going to be away from the general position, I want to discover that with you by my side. Please. Can you forgive this clueless and slow old man? Please."
"Yes." She whispered after a while, finally showing him one of her sweet smiles he already loved so much.
"Okay then!" Shuichirou grabbed her body and carried her on his arms, running with the blue elf to the inside garden area, startling everybody.
"Madam Priest, can you officialize another marriage?! " he asked, with a wide smile on. "We cannot waist any more time!"