Dove was the most extraordinary person Graydon had ever met. And on top of that, she had saved the world twice. The quest to save Airk and then the world had bonded them in a way neither expected (the same held true for the whole party, actually). It was nice to be home and not have to worry about the next crisis, however. But in hindsight, choosing to kiss her in the hallway in full view of everybody - even though they were alone - may have been a mistake. "I love you."
She gasped. "You love me?" a shocked Dove questioned. She and Airk had quickly broken up on the battlefield right before everything shifted and their world turned upside down. Her survival had been a miracle, one they weren't taking for granted (especially after her temporary death).
Graydon nodded and beamed at her. "I do."
Dove blew out a breath and surged forward to kiss him again, which is how Sorsha and a recently recovered Madmartigan found them. An amused Sorsha cleared her throat and the two of them jumped apart. "This isn't what it looks like?" Graydon tried, cringing at his attempt to lie. He was technically still betrothed to Kit, after all.
Sorsha huffed out a laugh. "It's alright, Prince Graydon - you can relax. Now that Elora - Dove - is out of hiding and ready to become empress, the king and I have broken our children's betrothal." Her eyes twinkled. "And Kit has already re-introduced Jade to me as her beloved. Madmartigan was pleased to meet the woman that his daughter is in love with. You have nothing to worry about."
"Really?" he responded, tilting his head at her.
"Don't press your luck," Dove hissed at him.
Sorsha and Madmartigan both chuckled. "Sort of," she amended.
The years of imprisonment and torture had worn on Madmartigan and he yawned. In addition, he was exhausted after a reunion with those he loved and their kingdom. "I'd like to get to know the man my other daughter is in love with but not right this instant," he rasped.
"We'll get you a device that will allow you to use your voice soon," Sorsha fretted. She turned her attention back to Dove and Graydon. "I suppose I have another engagement to look forward to soon?"
They both balked for a second. "Sorsha," Madmartigan warned, grinning at her behavior and Graydon and Dove's awkwardness.
"What? It's my right as queen and mother," she teasingly chided before the two of them walked away, leaving Dove and Graydon alone again.
Dove grabbed his shirt, opened the door, and pulled him into her room. "I do want to marry you but not quite yet," she admitted after they sat down on the bed.
"Same here. Kit and I were both against our marriage for a multitude of reasons but there's nothing getting in my way of marrying you someday," he promised her.
Dove teared up and let Graydon pull him into her arms. He pressed a kiss on the top of her head, marveling at her recently restored red hair, and the two of them struggled to relax for the first time in weeks. She sighed. "I think I'm ready now."
Graydon cocked his head and glanced at her in confusion. "Ready for what?"
"To be called by my rightful name. It didn't feel right before, like it didn't fit me, but it does now. I still prefer the name Dove - my loved ones can refer to me by it - but I'm ready to be Elora Danan again."
"You're sure?"
She nodded. "Completely."
"Then Elora is who you shall be again."
She beamed at him, feeling at peace for the first time in as long as she could remember. Hopefully she wouldn't need to save the world again but was ready to do so if called for it. "I want to cook," she murmured. She needed to feed the man she loved and the others, if they so desired food. Her magic had always been with Elora - a constant, warm companion - even when she hadn't yet realized it.
Elora had saved the world again but with Graydon and her family's help, she would finally unite the kingdoms and bring peace to them all.