Final Chapter: Love
"And that's the end of the story"
"Aww! That was so cute, Father!"
"Tell us another one!"
"Hmm…I'm sorry children, but it's too late for another story now. Maybe I'll tell you another story tomorrow night"
"*sigh*…you never let us stay up late"
"That's because you need to sleep so you can become big strong boys one day!"
"Like you, Father?"
"Oh no, I'm not a very strong man. Maybe like…Lord Hector of Ostia himself!"
"Wow! He's so cool!"
"Indeed he is. Now if you sleep, I promise I'll take you all on a trip around the fields tomorrow"
"Okay…"
"…Father, will you tuck me in?"
"Of course I will. There you go"
"Thank you Father"
"Goodnight you three. And remember, noise to a minimum!"
Closing the door, he breathed out a sigh of relief. That story took out a lot more of him than he ever thought it would. Of all the bedtime stories that he had been told, that was the most encumbered he had managed. It took twenty whole days, segmented so that the story would remain fresh in their minds, for the story to reach its climax.
It was a story he personally enjoyed though, and as he extinguished the candles in the hallway on the way to his own room, his thoughts fell back to the previous five years and everything he had accomplished since the time the story took place. He really felt he had come a long way, and he was still young. There was so much of life left to enjoy, it filled him with a familiar warmth that usually accompanied a session of reminiscence.
Extinguishing the last of the candles, he opened the door to his lantern lit room. Hanging is robes against the back of the door, he slipped into the bed and pulled the duvet over him, laying his head against the large pillow.
Turning his head, he lay his eyes upon his beloved.
"Goodnight, my darling" he said to her, kissing her forehead.
"Goodnight sweetheart" she replied, taking his hand and stroking her thumb across the top of his hand. As he extinguished the final lantern, sinking the room into darkness, he felt his beloved holding onto him, caressing his body and filling it with warmth. Kissing her once again, the two slowly fell into the deep slumber that they had always dreamed of sharing five years ago. They had yet to formulate plans to marry; they were happy enough with the consummated relationship they shared. They hadn't even thought of starting their own family; all that mattered to them were the safety of the orphanage and their lasting love for each other.
And sat beside their bedside was the empty little vial that had brought them together, a vial which still carried the scent of bergamot and vetiver.
The end.
Decided to upload last chapter and this ending quickly, seeming I'm going away on holiday next week. I had fun writing this, I hope you enjoyed the story as much as I did writing it! I suppose you could assume its canonical, although a little imagination would be required to determine how things work out and such. Anyway, check out my other stuff if you like, I'm going on holiday! Bye!