Telling The Dead Men

~Tanith POV~

Tanith laid on Ghastly's chest as he slept, admiring her ring in the sunlight that shone through the window. It truly was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. The diamonds encrusted in it reflected in the light, the bird engraved in the middle illuminating. The ring had been Ghastly's mothers, his father had it specially made for her. Tanith laid her head and hand gently back onto Ghastly's chest as she gazed out of the window, wondering what her wedding dress would be like.

Leathers? No. Ghastly wouldn't allow it. She thought. Lace arms, of course. A long skirt and trail. A low, lace necklace. Perhaps two slits up either side of the skirt. She frowned. It can't be too revealing. She raised her eyebrows. Or can it? I'm sure it can.

She heard Ghastly chuckle and her eyes glanced upwards. Ghastly was grinning at her.

"What're you thinking about?" he asked, his voice deep and tired. Tanith smiled.

"Our wedding day." she replied.

"Go on then." Tanith propped her chin up on Ghastly's chest and she left her mind to wander free.

"Well," she began. "I was thinking about my dress, and no you can't make it, before you ask. It'd be a white wedding, and a small one, only friends and well, my one relative invited. Everyone would of course be in white, except Val and the rest of the dead men, they'd be in black. It'd be outside, and there'd be snow, lots of it. The chairs on either side of the aisle would be covered in black fabric with white ribbon wrapped around them in the shape of bows. At the one end there'd be an arch, decorated with black roses. All eyes of course would be on China, the only one in a red dress, leaving the guests to fall hopelessly in love with her. The attention though would soon turn to me as I appeared at the end of the aisle, the snow falling as I walked toward you, my brother at my arm, the snow crunching beneath my feet. Val and Skulduggery stood beside you, Val doing that sheepishly cute grin of hers and Skulduggery retracting his facade, leaving it down. My brother would kiss my cheek and sit down, leaving me to stand with you. It'd be, heaven." The two of them were silent for a moment and Tanith gazed up at Ghastly, who's eyebrows were raised.

"That sounds, perfect actually." he finally said. Tanith grinned. "I had an idea of who would be the marriage officiant." Ghastly added.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Anton." Tanith paused and then smiled.

"Actually, that'd be great. I will of course be asking Val to be my maid of honor. I don't doubt that you'll be asking Skulduggery to be your best man?"

"He'll hate it but, he'll have to do it." Tanith chuckled and hauled herself up from Ghastly, wrapping the bed sheet around her as she clambered off the bed. Ghastly's fingers closed around her wrist. Tanith turned and looked at him.

"I love you." he said. Tanith grinned and leaned back over him. She kissed him and pulled away.

"I love you too." Tanith got up from the bed and wandered into the bathroom.

~Ghastly POV~

Ghastly laid still on the bed, listening to the water run in the bathroom, Tanith's humming flowing into the room; he couldn't make out what song she was humming to though. His mind ran over Tanith's wedding scenario, realising just how perfect it sounded. He was, of course, a little disappointed that Tanith wouldn't allow him to make her dress, but he knew he could tailor his suit, his friends suits and Valkyrie's dress. He was certain that Skulduggery would hate having to be his best man, but there was no one else he'd want to ask. Ghastly knew how each of them would react as they both told everyone they were engaged. Valkyrie, Dexter and Saracen would overreact immensely, Skulduggery and Anton would be calm and subtle with their congratulations. Erskine would come across as a little jealous, but be happy for the two of them, and as for China, well, he thought she'd not care.

Ghastly relaxed back on his bed, his hands behind his head as Tanith walked through the door, wrapped in a towel rubbing another at her hair. From where he was laid he could see the scars that Sanguine's razor had left behind, but he thought she still looked as beautiful as ever. He watched her as she walked about the room, picking up her clothes and rubbing the towel at her hair. She stopped and looked at him, shaking her head as she changed in front of him, buckling up her belt and buttoning up her tunic. Tanith looked back at Ghastly who was still laid with his hands behind his head, his grin not leaving his face. She walked over to him and grabbed his arm, hauling him up from the bed.

"Get up. Our engagement isn't going to tell our friends itself, now is it?" Ghastly smiled and wrapped a sheet around the lower half of his body, walking out of the room and into the bathroom.

(..)

Ghastly pulled on his coat and watched Tanith as she slid her sword into it's sheath, pulling on her coat afterwards. He left the shop after her and watched as she swung a leg over her bike, slotting in the key and starting the engine up. He wrapped his coat around him and walked over to her. Ghastly had called Erskine and asked him to hold a meeting in the main hall at the sanctuary, making sure to invite Val, along with China and the other dead men. Erskine hadn't asked too many questions and agreed, telling him that he'd send a car to pick him up. Tanith revved the engine, kicking up the stand.

"Erskine's sending a car over from the sanctuary." Ghastly said over the rumble of the engine. Tanith grinned.

"I'm not waiting for that to arrive. See you soon, lover boy." Tanith flashed him a smile and sped off, the back tyre squealing against the tarmac. Ghastly watched her until she disappeared out of sight, that smile never leaving his face.

The car arrived shortly after and Ghastly was at the sanctuary in no time. Tanith's bike was parked in the parking lot and Ghastly entered through the heavy doors. The administrator, Tipstaff, busied himself around Ghastly, following procedure as he always did. He handed Ghastly his robes and Ghastly waved his hand, Tipstaff taking them away. He returned and lead Ghastly down to the main hall. Ghastly could find his way around the sanctuary with his eyes closed, but Tipstaff was keen on following the rules and procedure, so Ghastly often let him. The cleaver stepped aside from the double doors and Ghastly entered the room as conversation flowed to his ears. The dead men, Valkyrie and China were sat around the main table, chatting among themselves. Tanith was stood against one wall as Skulduggery leaned against another. Ghastly reached the foot of the table and the conversation died down. Tanith joined Ghastly at his side.

"So, why have you gathered us all here on this fine morning, Elder?" Dexter asked.

Saracen sighed. "We're not going to war are we? I've been in enough wars to last me a life time."

"No. No wars, no fights. Good news actually." Ghastly replied, and everyone sat up in their seats, apart from China. Ghastly glanced over at Skulduggery who tilted his head forward a little and resting it back against the wall. Ghastly smiled as he knew his friend knew what he was going to announce. Tanith stood beside Ghastly, and he slid his arm around her waist.

"We've got something to announce." Ghastly looked down at Tanith who looked out across the table. She flashed her hand up, the ring on her finger.

"We're engaged." there was a few brief seconds of silence before they all cheered, everyone apart from China. As Ghastly had suspected, Valkyrie, Dexter and Saracen overreacted. Skulduggery stood with Anton and they smiled between themselves. Erskine tried his hardest to keep a look of jealously from his face, and China sat with no expression on her face whatsoever. Valkyrie was the first in to hug Tanith almost to death, as Dexter and Saracen jumped around Ghastly, hugging him as Ghastly stood still. Tanith turned to Erskine who hugged her and congratulated her, and she kissed his cheek. Ghastly moved to Skulduggery, who shook his hand, but the two of them fell into a hug. Anton shook his hand and quickly hugged him, trying to keep himself from the awkward situation. Ghastly walked over to China, who was stood with her hands clasped in front of her. She smiled and lightly hugged Ghastly, subtly congratulating him. China and Tanith didn't hug, but China congratulated her with a brief smile. Tanith and Ghastly stood back together, waiting for Dexter and Saracen to stop shouting before they continued to talk.

"We've been thinking, and we want you, Anton, to be the marriage officiant." Ghastly smiled and Tanith bit her lip. Skulduggery patted Anton on the back and he smiled.

"Good luck with that." Skulduggery said to him. "You'll need it."

"Not so fast, Skulduggery." Ghastly said and his shoulders sagged. "I want you to be my best man." Everyone was silent as they stared at Skulduggery.

"Fine." he muttered and Ghastly smiled. Tanith turned to Valkyrie who's smile kept spreading across her face.

"I want you to be my maid of honor." Tanith said and Valkyrie squealed as she jumped up and down in joy.

"What about the rest of us?" Saracen said quietly. Tanith smiled and put a hand to Saracen's face.

"You all get to stand around and look beautiful for us. I'm sure you can all manage that can't you?" Saracen's frown turned into a grin.

"There is, however, two people we're unfortunately missing." Ghastly said, and the others fell quiet as Valkyrie frowned.

"Who?" Valkyrie raised her eyebrows in realisation. "Oh." she said quietly. Hopeless and Larrikin. The nine of them stood silently, as the six dead men took their time to remember the two they'd lost. Tipstaff silently scurried into the hall, placing a tray of 9 glasses filled with wine on the table. Each of them took a glass, even Skulduggery, and Ghastly raised his glass, Tanith sliding her arm around him.

"Hopeless and Larrikin." the others too raised their glasses.

"Hopeless and Larrikin." they all said in unison. Eight of them drank their wine as Skulduggery placed his back onto the tray, and they all went back to celebrating Ghastly and Tanith's engagement, even China.