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When she went limp in his arms, Cain felt his heart stop. Everything else going on around them, the alarm and outrage and confusion, faded into nothing.
All he could see was DG lying motionless in his arms; all he could feel was her heavy weight against him as she slipped away.
"Cain must stay calm," Raw informed him, breathless after his fight to get to the fallen princess. "Love for DG grounds her. Must focus on that, and let Raw and Azkadellia do rest."
Only when Raw mentioned the elder Princess did Cain realise she was there, her hands replacing Cain's own over the wound to DG's stomach, sweat beading her brow as she fought to link her light to DG's and keep her with them.
"She's fading, Raw," the elder Princess muttered through gritted teeth. "You need to stop the bleeding."
Raw nodded, his hands moving to the dagger. "Same dagger used to hurt Azkadellia," the Viewer snarled, anger infusing his words. "Meant to bring Princess DG back to palace, not to kill sister." With those words, the Viewer yanked the dagger out and replaced it with his hands. He gasped, his head thrown back as his eyes closed in concentration. "So much magic, so much blood. Not know if can heal."
"I will help." The voice belonged to the Viewer who had aligned herself to the Western Guild, Gem, who knelt beside them and held her hands out over Raw's own. "Raw focus on healing Princess. Gem focus on dark magic."
Cain wasn't sure how long they stayed that way, with him holding DG as the others worked on saving her. He thought about Raw's words and focused on how much he loved the woman in his arms, on how much he had come to need her and want her in his life. He closed his eyes and held her close as he willed her to stay with him, from his heart to hers, mind full of silent promises to love, honour and protect her for the rest of his days if only fate would allow it.
When DG eventually gasped, her eyes fluttering open, he thought it was the sweetest sound he'd ever heard. She looked at the faces around her, clearly confused until her gaze met his. The smile that spread across her face was as slow as it was beautiful, and he found himself leaning into the hand he still pressed against his cheek.
"I felt you," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "All of you, but you and Az most of all." She coughed a little, pushing herself up so she could get more air into her lungs.
Cain moved with her, supporting her, unwilling to get her go even for a second. "Marry me," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her palm.
He had the pleasure of seeing her eyes widen in surprise. "Really?"
"Marry me," he repeated, his eyes searching hers. "Here and now, DG. Marry me."
The smile that played around on her lips was thoughtful, a little wistful. "Can we do that?"
"Everyone's already here," Azkadellia chimed in, an exhausted but relieved smile on her face. "And there's a five course meal being prepared in the kitchens. It'd be a shame to let it go to waste."
"We'd have to do something again later, for the people of the OZ," DG murmured, her gaze uncertain as it returned to Cain's. "You'd be marrying a princess, Wyatt. Attention's not something we could avoid."
"I don't care as long as I'm with you." He meant it, too. Having come so close to losing her, he was willing to put up with whatever he had to as long as they could be together.
"Okay," DG said slowly, the smile growing wider. She tore her gaze from his to look around, fixing on the faces of her parents, of Jeb and Glitch. Seeing what she needed to in their expressions, she gave a small nod and glanced at him again. "You're going to need another shirt."
He looked down and wished he hadn't; his shirt was as stained as her dress, and he didn't want to think about the reminder at how close he'd come to losing her. "You're going to need another dress."
DG looked at her sister and smiled. "I think we can manage that. Now help me up." She struggled to get to her feet under her own weight, relying heavily on Cain to get her up and keep her there. Once she was standing, she reached for Azkadellia, clutching her sister's offered arm tightly as she wavered on her feet. "I'll see you in a little while, General Cain," she promised, her face pale but her eyes bright. "I'll be the one in white walking down the aisle."
His heart skipped a beat at the image and Cain swallowed the lump that rose in his throat. "I'll be the one waitin' at the altar, Princess."
With a final brilliant smile, DG was led away by her mother and sister to quickly get ready for the wedding she should have had.
*/*
They opted to keep the ceremony short, for DG's benefit more so than the curious guests who were mostly confused by the proceedings. Prince Faseem and his advisor were secured by lock and key as well as a spell Azkadellia had volunteered to cast. There would be no escape for either of them this time, nor would there be any interruptions to her sister's wedding.
The dress DG wore when she appeared at the end of the aisle was the opposite of the gown she'd worn for the would-be wedding to Prince Faseem. It was still beautiful and, to Cain's eyes, the simple style suited her far more than the dress that had been made for a princess. This one was all DG, and as that was who he was marrying, he was glad for it.
From the moment he saw her to the moment he took her hand to place the ring his father had given him on her finger, Cain couldn't pull his gaze away. DG held his gaze the entire time so he was reasonably sure she felt the same way.
They were lost in each other, in the moment that was meant just for the two of them, and when the Priestess declared them husband and wife, Cain finally felt for the first time since Zero had led the Longcoats to his door that everything was going to be okay.
The moment he could take her in his arms and kiss her as her husband would be one of those he treasured for the rest of his life, a declaration to all in attendance that she was his as much as he was undeniably hers.
The crowd cheered as they turned to face them, Cain's arm securely around DG's shoulders. Though she smiled and waved, he could tell by the way she leaned in to him that the events of the day were taking their toll and she didn't have much in the way of energy left. As quickly as he could, he led her back up the aisle after her parents, who proudly led the way, and into a small room to the side of the ballroom where the rest of the celebrations would be held.
"Are you okay?" He asked her quietly, his hands resting on her hips as he moved to stand in front of her.
DG nodded, her smile tired. She leaned forward just enough to rest her head against his shoulder. "I'm feeling pretty good considering I almost married someone who then tried to kill me." She lifted her head to look at him. "You came back to me."
"I didn't get very far," he admitted, his grip tightening. "And then my father turned up, leading King Tarik here..." He shrugged, then sighed. "I should never have left you, DG. I shouldn't have let you send me away."
"You had to. I couldn't..." She shook her head. "I wouldn't have been able to walk down the aisle towards him if I'd known you were there."
"It would've been better if you hadn't," Cain murmured, closing his eyes against the memory of her falling, blood blossoming against the front of her dress. "Gods, DG, he could've killed you. What were you thinking?"
"That if I didn't get in the way, he was going to kill you." She smiled when he opened his eyes to look at her. "You were so intent on protecting King Tarik, Wyatt, you didn't even think about putting yourself between them. It would have killed me if you died."
"So you almost die yourself. That's logical." Cain rolled his eyes but couldn't keep his lips from twitching as she shrugged. "You're one of a kind, DG."
She smiled, pleased even though she wasn't sure it was entirely a compliment. "And that's why you love me, General Cain."
"It's one of the many reasons," he agreed, the smile breaking out across his face as he continued. "Mrs Cain."
Her smile grew, her eyes brightening at her new title. "I like hearing that."
"Good," he murmured, leaning in to kiss her softly; he had every intention of reminding her she was his wife at every opportunity.
"Ahem." They turned as one to see Glitch standing in the doorway, the advisor grinning despite his embarrassment at interrupting. "Your guests are waiting in the ballroom."
"Glitch." DG broke away from Cain and walked on slightly unsteady legs towards her friend. She reached out to hug him tightly. "Thank you. I don't know what you did or how you did it, but thank you."
"Aw, Doll." Glitch hugged her back, his grin growing wider. "I didn't do much, really. Just thought it was odd the letters from Prince Faseem weren't taking long enough to be coming from IX. I'm glad the King got my letter and got here so fast, though I don't know how he did that."
"He was already on his way here after his brother," Cain supplied, walking towards them. He'd heard the whole story on the frantic ride back to Finaqua and he, too, knew he had Glitch to thank for the happy turn of events. "I owe you one, Headcase," he said, holding out his hand for Glitch.
As the two men shook hands, DG left Glitch's arms to return to those of her new husband, wrapping her arm around Cain's waist as she leaned into him. "Do we have to stay for the whole thing? I know the original plan was for it to last till the small hours but..."
"I think they'll be understanding if you need to leave early," Glitch told her quietly. His own eyes were tormented as he glanced from her to Cain and back. "You did almost die on us, DG. Your husband here isn't the only one you gave quite the scare to."
"I'm sorry," DG murmured, lowering her gaze.
"I know." Glitch sighed and shook his head. When she looked back up at him, he gave her a lopsided grin. "You wouldn't be you if you didn't go charging in trying to save everybody. It's why we all love you so much. Now, General, Princess, your wedding banquet awaits."
Arm in arm, they followed Glitch through to the ballroom where their guests rose from their seats to welcome them. It took a little longer than usual for them to make their way to their seats at the head table, DG trying not to make it obviously how much she was leaning on Cain while he tried to support her and get her to her chair as quickly as possible.
When they were seated, with Jeb at Cain's left and Sam beside him, and Azkadellia at DG's right, with their parents beside her, Ahamo rose from his seat further along the table to toast them.
"My friends," he began, "though we are gathered here to celebrate a very different union to that in which we'd anticipated, I am sure you will all agree that this is a far happier occasion than expected. Today we witness the joining of my youngest daughter to a man she loves, who I am in no doubt loves her. As a father, I couldn't have asked for anything more for my daughter. As it's been quite a trying day, I'll keep this short, but will ask you all to raise your glasses and join me in a toast to the bride and groom. To DG and Wyatt, may you live a long and happy life together."
"To DG and Wyatt," the crowd chorused.
DG felt herself blush but smiled as she was meant to, leaning in to Cain's shoulder as he took a drink from his own glass. Under the table, he wrapped his leg around hers, the light pressure a comfort to them both.
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