A/N: BTW, to get a better idea of what Soul's gown looks like (since it's kinda hard to describe), visit http(colon slash slash)store(dot)sewingtoday(dot)com(slash)cat(slash)10000(slash)itmimg(slash)B4315(dot)jpg (sorry about all that, but the site is being a buttmunch). Enjoy!
Chapter XXVI
I waited impatiently at the top of the grand staircase on the far right side (as you were facing the staircase). Where was Kain, and why hadn't the ball begun yet? I wanted to dance with Raziel like we used to. The vampire offspring of Kain's lieutenants as well as all other vampires from all over Nosgoth were gathered, waiting for the vampire king to appear. My friends were all waiting to join with their boyfriends and dance, even though Caitlin didn't like dancing. I sighed and played with my inordinately full skirt. I've always loved dresses with full skirts, and tonight was no exception. I couldn't wait for Raziel to see me in my amazing gown. I couldn't wait to show him what I wanted him to see in the garden. And I really couldn't wait to find out finally what he wanted to ask me! But I wouldn't be able to do any of that until the ball began. And for the ball to begin, Kain had to show up. I grumbled to myself quietly. Just when I thought Kain had changed his mind at the last minute and canceled the ball without telling anyone, he appeared – literally – on the landing of the grand staircase. The way the staircase went was like this: facing it from on the ballroom floor, there were two sets of stairs, one to either side, at the very top that came together on the landing. The landing then horseshoed down onto the dance floor. Raziel and the other males waited on the top left side, while the females (that's me and my friends) waiting on the right. From where we were standing, we couldn't be seen by those on the dance floor.
"My friends," Kain began.
"Oh dear god, he's making a speech," I groaned, rolling my eyes. Caitlin, who stood behind me, poked me in the side to shut me up. I glared at her, but I couldn't keep from smiling. We were just like that, after being friends for ten years. We couldn't stay mad, or even annoyed, at each other for very long.
"We stand on the precipice of a great new beginning," Kain continued, having not heard us (I hoped). "All those who oppose us are eradicated. The Pillars, and Balance, are restored to Nosgoth. Both belong again to the vampires, as it should be. But most of all, the tyrannous monster who called himself a god and sought to destroy us all has been eliminated. In his place rises one of our own: the legendary child of Alatáriël and Findecáno."
"Since when am I a legend?" I said softly, rather taken aback.
"And now, we gather here tonight to commemorate this most glorious day of days! The day that the restoration of Nosgoth is truly complete, and the Age of the Vampires can begin!" The vampires cheered, and even I felt moved by Kain's words. I wondered briefly how the humans in the world felt about this, and then decided I didn't care. "Let the revels begin!" Kain commanded. That was my cue. Making sure my enormous skirt was high enough so that I wouldn't step on it, but not so high as to look ridiculous, I slowly descended the stairs. Raziel came out of the shadows on the other side and descended the stairs before him. He wore a tunic of black silk with four buckles across the front and long sleeves that came to red-lined teardrops at the ends, black pants, black boots with buckles, and, of course, the shoulder drape I had made for him long ago. He looked wonderful, though I found myself wishing he were just wearing his shoulder armor and drape so I could see his delicious muscles. I shook my head briefly to clear it. Raziel was staring at me, and I could immediately tell he liked my costume. The crowd below was buzzing with "ooh"s and "aah"s and someone even let out a shrill wolf-whistle, but I didn't care. Raziel and I met on the landing, where he bowed to me and offered me his arm. I linked it with mine and together we descended the stairs. My friends, the Guardians, followed after us, and then came the lieutenants. I wasn't paying attention to them. As soon as we touched the ballroom floor, Raziel swept me away into the dance. I lost myself eagerly in his tawny eyes, pressing close to him as we danced. He smiled at me, his heart in his eyes.
We danced for a while, until I happened to glance out the great stained glass window on the landing and saw the moon was rising. I slipped my arms around Raziel's neck and whispered, "Come with me," into his ear. He nodded and took my hand and I led him to the garden. We stood for a while, drenched in moonlight, kissing. I had never felt anything like I did when I was kissing Raziel, and I wanted it to last forever…or at least until we both ran out of breath. Pulling back, I led him to the centre of the garden where there was a circle of marble columns, like the one in Vorador's garden. In the centre of the circle was a pedestal. There were mirrors placed just so on the columns so that the first light of the rising moon would be directed onto the pedestal, and would stay there was it journeyed across the night sky. The moon was completely eclipsed, a drop of gleaming ruby-red blood nestled in the endless diamond sky, but its light still shone down on the pedestal. The single rose spray growing there began to tremble, then to slowly stretch towards the sky, stretching out its green leaves to embrace the light that nourished it. A single bud extended from the stem and opened slowly, revealing glittering, diamond-bright petals. Raziel stared.
"What…is it?" he asked in wonder.
"The Moon-Diamond Rose," I said with modest pride. "My most beautiful creation, fertilized with my own blood and the light of the moon. Touch the petals, Raziel. Feel them very gently. Tell me what they feel like."
Cautiously Raziel did as I said. His eyes widened further. "Why, they feel just like normal rose petals! They don't feel like diamond at all." I smiled. Then, to Raziel's further astonishment, I reached out and carefully plucked the rose from its singular growing place. "What are you doing?"
"Giving you a great gift," I replied, carefully fixing the rose in the lapel of his tunic. It was a great honor for me to give one of my prized roses to another. Only once before had I ever done such a thing, and that was when I gave the blue rose to Janos Audron. The roses in Vorador's garden were mine as well; I had grown them for him as a favour. Stories of my roses beauty and apparent deathlessness spread like wildfire throughout Nosgoth, and many came to seek my favour that I might honor them with the gift of a Rainbow Rose, as they were called. The name was a touch obvious for my tastes, but I really couldn't change it.
Raziel fingered the rose delicately, lovingly, and smiled at me. "I believe there was something I wanted to ask you," he said softly.
"Yes, there was," I answered. Raziel put his arms around me, and I smiled, resting my head for a moment in that nook all men have between the neck and shoulder where a girl's head fits perfectly. Raziel held me in his arms, stroking my hair lovingly, then he pulled back a little, looking me in the eyes adoringly. We just gazed at each other for a time, finding no need to express our feelings any other way. Then, to my surprise, Raziel took my left hand in both of his and got down on one knee. I gasped softly as he slipped a beautiful ring on my finger: a ring of white gold twisted into a design like ivy vines with a diamond of incredible clarity carved in the shape of a rose, my favourite flower, with emerald leaves set on the top.
"Soul," said Raziel lovingly. "Nay, Aranel (Elvish – princess, for those who don't remember) Galadriël. You are amazing. You are the most beautiful being I have ever met, and the most wonderful. Never before in my long unlife did I ever feel something was missing, some part of me that wasn't there, until I met you. You complete me, my love. You are my heart, my soul, my very reason to exist."
"Oh Raziel…" I breathed, overwhelmed and at a loss for words for perhaps the first time ever.
"Galadriël, my princess," Raziel said, smiling. "I am your soldier, your warrior, your willing servant. You are my love, my life, my princess. And now I ask you: will you be my bride?"
All words stuck in my throat. My mouth moved silently, foolishly. I never thought the day would come when Raziel would make me speechless. What could I possibly say? What else was there to say?"
"Oh Raziel, of course I will!"
A/N: So there it is at last. Are you all happy now? I hope so. I don't want to end this story just yet, and no one seems willing to let it end, so I'm trying to draw it out a little more before the fat lady sings. Until next time!