Supplement Scene 5: (Karsh and Ileana's thoughts before the wedding)

(Warning: This chapter contains some suggestive themes which may change perceptions of some characters)

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Camryn and Alex were playing with flowers and jewelry. More specifically, they were playing with Ileana's wreath and ceremony necklace.

Ileana was seated in front of the dressing room mirror. Two of the palace servants were fixing her hair and makeup. Underneath the table, her foot was tapping incessantly against the stone floor, the bottom of her shoe creating an obvious clicking sound.

Miranda and the twins looked at her, "Are you okay?"

"Do you think I'm doing the right thing?" She asked, twirling a strand of her hair.

"You're actually worried about marrying Karsh?" Camryn scoffed at her.

Alex sighed, "She has a legitimate question."

"Why would you doubt him? You guys are like the best team ever!"

"But we argue all the time." The bride stammered.

"A lot of couples do that. Better than letting yourselves get too angry." Miranda advised her friend, taking the brush to her hair.

"She said team though. What if we're a team, not a couple?" Ileana looked to Camryn, "Remember, you didn't even think we were a couple at first!"

"Well yeah, but you totally didn't act like it at first!"

Alex grabbed her sister's arm, "Not helping!" She whispered in her ear.

Miranda took both her daughter's shoulders, "C'mon you two, let's let Ileana have a moment to herself and we'll get changed."

Camryn and Alex set down Ileana's necklace and wreath on table in front of her and to their credit, they went without much protest.

Once alone, she stared into the mirror, contemplating herself, "Am I marrying Karsh because I love him or because he's the only one I've dated in the last 21 years?"

It wasn't like she hadn't had the chance to date; there had been plenty of magic-less humans that she could've gone out with. Something about Karsh kept pulling her back to him. She knew it would have hurt him if she'd ever dated anyone else, and he'd always been true to her when they'd been broken up or separated. In that fact alone, there was at least some kind of proof that he did care for her, if his proposal didn't convince her enough.

The minutes ticked by and a knock sounded on the door, "Come in."

The door opened and Miranda peeked around the corner, "Do you want to talk or do you want to be alone some more?"

Ileana looked at her with sad eyes, "I think I'd like to talk."

The queen stepped inside and closed the door behind her, "I told the girls to go check on everything in the courtyard."

"Oh."

"What's bothering you?"

"I don't know really," She tilted her head to one side, considering. When she failed to respond with even one of her characteristic long babbling speeches, Miranda decided to broach a sensitive subject, "You're not worried about tonight are you? I know it made me a little nervous."

To her surprise, Ileana actually gave a small giggle, "No."

"Oh?" The queen looked to her advisor.

"How did you think I knew he snored?"

Raising her eyebrows as she internally brushed off the shock, the queen spoke before she thought, "When did that happen?"

Ileana looked surprised now, but felt an obligation to answer to her superior, "Right after he and I got back together for the second time. I went to see Karsh on his birthday and when I got there he was really depressed. He was just sitting there with this picture of his family." Ileana got a bit choked up, "We started talking about our families. I knew my parents were gone, he knew his father was, but he didn't know anything about his mother. So I took him out to dinner to cheer him up and we talked for hours. They had to tell us to leave the restaurant we stayed so long."

Both women laughed at this, and Ileana looked down at her hands, a little embarrassed, "We went back to his house. I guess I knew what was going to happen, and one thing just led to another. I'll spare you the details, but besides being a really great night, I just remember waking up in his arms, all warm and loved." With a pleading look, Ileana begged the queen's opinion, "Do you think I'm a bad person?"

"No!" Miranda assured her, "What you said about waking up in his arms was sweet. Can you imagine waking up with anyone else?"

"I don't think I can."

"Then you have your answer." Miranda reached over and handed Ileana her necklace, which she easily put on. Then the queen picked up the flower wreath and placed it on her friend's head. Both women gazed into the mirror silently before the bride spoke, "I can't believe I'm actually getting married."

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"Are you nervous at all?" Aron grabbed the tie from Karsh and waved off the servants. The two young warlocks retrieved Karsh's shoes and jacket, leaving their king to assist with the tie.

"Not really, no." The advisor lifted his chin as Aron pulled the tie around his neck and began to lace it up.

The complicated design was tricking up the king's fingers and Karsh offered him an out, "You don't have to tie it."

Aron nodded, "I know, the servants could do it, but you're practically family and family does this kind of thing for one another." As the knot fell apart, Aron sighed, "I haven't had to tie a groom's knot in years."

"I tied it at your wedding."

"What?"

"When you married Miranda, you got so nervous that you accidentally pulled at the ends and I had to retie it."

"Oh yes." Chuckled Aron, finally finishing the complicated pattern, "Now remember, the next person who can take that off is Ileana and only Ileana."

"Got it." Karsh grabbed his jacket and Aron helped him into it. As he did up the buttons, he looked over at Aron, "Should I be nervous?"

"No, I just asked if you were."

"What were you nervous about?"

"Before I got married? Just the basics. Would I be a good husband, eventually a good father? Would I live up to Miranda's parents expectations of me as a son-in-law?"

"Well that's one thing I don't have to worry about."

"Ileana's parents aren't around?"

"No, the Darkness took them," Karsh paused, "Just like my father."

Aron patted him on the shoulder, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay; I've had 21 years to adjust to it. At least I still have my mother… in donkey form."

"What exactly happened there?"

"Ileana met my mother and things didn't go so well."

"Your mother didn't like her?"

"She was cautious at first, but after Ileana knocked over a vase, broke a few dishes, and set the dinner table on fire, my mother hated her. Ileana got so frustrated after the whole thing that she accidentally cast the spell to turn my mother's village into donkeys. Then she ran out and I went after her."

"So neither of you is on good terms with your mother right now?"

"Nope."

"So you're not worried about any of those other things?"

Karsh gave a nervous laugh, "I'm terrified."

"You and Ileana will be just fine, she really loves you and I know you love her."

"You can see that?"

Aron took a step back and checked Karsh's outfit for any imperfections, "Take it from a man who tried to get back to his family for over two decades. I know love when I see it."

Both of the men looked out of the castle window to see the twins inspecting the courtyard. Alex and Camryn looked up at them and waved their approval.

"It looks like everything's ready." Aron patted his old friend on the back, "You?"

"I'm ready."

While the talks from Miranda and Aron had put both of the guardians at ease, it had also sent them into a joyous delirium. They were so pleased to be with one another that it made for a most interesting, and very sweet, wedding.

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Note: Thank you for all the reviews! I really love them, so please keep reviewing! It helps me know if I'm on the right track!

P.S. I'm thinking of writing the "details" for Karsh and Ileana, though I'm not sure if there would be any call for that kinda story. I wouldn't post it unless by request because of the sensitive content matter. If you'd be interested in it, private message me or email me at the address listed on my profile page. Please, no flames and I won't disclose names.