I'm glad you like it so much, everyone! Thanks so much for your reviews! I'm sure you will enjoy the ending.
Ethan pulled Sapphire's chair closer to his, wrapping his arm around her waist. He smiled, and used his other hand to drink from his glass. They were at the eating stage of the wedding. They had already done the toasts, which had been embarrassing. Marwyn and Falric had spoken of Sapphire when she was a stupid little child, and Lethumo had made several suggestive comments about Ethan's prowess in bed, and the boy had been grabbed by Arthas before he could attack the night elf.
The less intact undead had been dismissed. It might have been hard to eat with them around. But Tryg, the undead that followed Sapphire everywhere almost, sat in a corner, eating some of the meat prepared. Sapphire had felt guilty not letting him have some. Rot and Terra were crawling underneath tables and scrounging for food at the feet of the guests. Most were cutlists. But some of the deathknights had stayed, and were very appreciative of the wine.
Sapphire was hungry, but Ethan would not let her go to get the food. The smell of meat and spices was enough to tempt him eventually, but would not let her go. Autum happily went off to get Sapphire food. Lethumo went off to get Ethan's. Cultists poured the drinks.
Arthas sat on Sapphire's side, and Jaina on the side of Ethan. An effort on behalf of the newly wed couple. Since the Lich King was more or less alive now, he ate as well, and of course the cultists waited on their Master.
Autum came back with a plate of food for Sapphire, and handed it over. Then, she sat down next to the Lich King with her own food. She smiled at the man. He sighed.
"Hello, Autum..." Arthas growled.
"If I get a boyfriend, would you marry us too?" She asked curiously. Ethan snorted.
"If you get a man that can tolerate you, for as long as you live, then yes. I will," Arthas promised darkly, scowling. Autum smiled, and then looked at Sapphire.
"Oh, guess what? Karanda is betrothed to Anduin!"
Sapphire looked to Ethan, who responded, "Prince of Stormwind."
"Oh! Well, that's wonderful," Sapphire said, never having met the prince.
"Yeah, she's not old enough, but when she is, they are going to get married in the Cathedral of Light! They should get married here. I like this place. It's all dark and scary..."
The Lich King grabbed the wine glass in front of the girl. "I think that's enough for you."
Autum frowned in confusion. "But...I haven't even drank any of it."
Sapphire saw the frustration and veiled anger in her father's eyes, and looked to Autum.
"Hey, have you seen Medivh? Why don't you go sit with him?" The older girl said to the younger.
"Oh, all right!" Autum got up and left.
Lethumo came back with Ethan's food, and the boy took it gratefully. "I hope you didn't put anything into it."
The elf sat next to Jaina. "Never! Hello, Lady Jaina. How are you?"
The mage smiled at the night elf. "Fine, Lethumo. And you?"
"Great! I have a girlfriend. A lovely troll. Who knew they were so sexy..."
Ethan rolled his eyes, and pulled Sapphire closer, then examined their food.
"Hey, is that chicken? Must have been difficult to get it here, Arthas."
The man chuckled, and drank from his glass, muttering, "You wish it was chicken..."
The look on Ethan's face made Sapphire laugh.
"He's just kidding. Here, just try it."
Sapphire cut a piece from the cooked meat, and picked it up with a fork. She held it out to Ethan. He ate it, and started. He quickly grabbed his glass of wine, and drank from it.
"Light, that's hot. What kind of spices were those?"
"I don't know. I told the cooks to prepare whatever they wanted. Lady Proudmoore, would you like some soup?"
That was the first time Arthas had spoken to Jaina since he had become the Lich King again. Sapphire and Ethan looked at him in surprise. But, the mage responded.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," She said politely, with formality. She did not even look at him.
The cultist around the table made as if to get it, but Arthas got up.
"I can get it myself. Go relax," He ordered to them.
Lethumo raised a hand. "Can you get me-"
"Get it yourself, pointy ears," The Lich King snarled.
Ethan shook his head, and looked at his own food. Sapphire smiled when he broke off a piece of bread, and held it out for her. She took it and ate it. They shared their food, and when Rot and Terra came by, slipped the two some of the spicy meat that might not be chicken.
After dinner, they cut the cake together, and when it was time to look at the wedding presents, two chairs were set up for them. Sapphire did not know what most people got as presents for their wedding, and had never really gotten many birthday or holiday presents. So she attacked the wrapping paper like a child would.
Heavy silver goblets, glass and porcelain plates and bowls, books and scrolls of necromancy from cultists, a fresh goblin head from Marwyn, magical items from Medivh and Jaina, pieces of jewelry and a couple of dresses for Sapphire, a decorative sword made of steel and gold with jewels in the hilt for Ethan. Autum gave them flower seeds to plant wherever they decide to live. But Arthas gave them the best things. He had already given Ethan the crown that was on his head, but he also gave his daughter a cloak lined with fur from a bear he had killed just for the occasion.
And a key. It was a simple one, and rather small. A curled ornate C was carved into it, and Ethan nearly broke into a sob when he saw it.
"My father's house..." Ethan said when the man dropped the key into his hand.
"I can be very persuasive," Arthas said with an evil grin.
Ethan jumped up, and hugged the Lich King tightly. "Thank you..."
The man pushed him away, not hard, and gave him another key. This time adorned with a skull.
"This one is only for the next week. I want that back afterwards."
Sapphire frowned when the boy sat down. "What's that for?"
"Honeymoon."
The girl felt herself grow cold. She quickly looked down, and took a deep breath. But Ethan gently touched her arm.
"Hey...Do not worry. I will wait as long as it takes."
Sapphire rubbed her eye, sniffing. "Really?"
"Of course, my beautiful wife."
The girl had been curious as to the location of the honeymoon, but it had been kept a secret from her. She wondered where it was.
"Where-"
"Uh uh! Not a chance," Ethan said, smiling.
Sapphire unwrapped a package, and found a large jar full of a type of pepper. She frowned, and looked at who brought it.
"Lethumo...What is this?" She asked. The night elf gave her a mischievous look, and leaned down so only she and Ethan could hear.
"Both of you eat that right before you...consummate the marriage? It will make it much better. And increase the chances of you having multiple children at once. Also, Ethan squeeze some juice out of it, and rub it-"
"Okay! I will definitely not be doing that. Thank you, Lethumo, never the less," Ethan placed the jar as far away from them as possible.
Sapphire's father came back, and took Sapphire by the arm. "All right. It's time for you two to get going. Sapphire, you need to change."
The girl nodded, and quickly looked for her mother and Autum. She found Jaina, but the younger mage was no where to be found. Sapphire grew worried, but then spotted Autum. Then, Sapphire's mouth dropped.
Somehow, Autum had found Captain Falric, and not been killed by him. Instead, he was smiling warmly, and held her hand. Falric, the moody deathknight that would have enjoyed to torture and mutilate Sapphire multiple times. Autum was talking amiably, and the man seemed interested in what she had to say. He laughed at something, and the girl seemed quite exuberant at the reaction.
"Oh no..." Sapphire restrained a smile, then turned to her mother.
"I can't find Autum. You can just help me change."
Ethan took Sapphire's hand, and held out her bouquet.
"Here. Throw this behind you at the crowd. Whoever catches it is going to be the next to get married," The boy joked, smiling.
Sapphire saw the crowd of the wedding guests, and saw they had snowballs, ready to hit the couple when they left the Cathedral. She looked down at the purple flowers in her hands. Then, she turned around, and tossed it up to fly over her head.
Cries of joy, and then the sounds of disappointment and surprise. Sapphire quickly whipped around, and smiled.
Arthas looked in surprise at the flowers that he had nearly been hit by, and caught only out of reflex.
Sapphire snatched at Ethan, and they ran.
Snow pelted them as they descended the steps. Sapphire now wore leather and furs, and traded the dresses skirts with leggings, with boots on her feet, so they were able to sprint down the stairs. But that did not stop those wanting to him them.
Ethan let Sapphire go ahead of him, so most of the snow hit his back. They laughed uproariously.
"Invincible!" Sapphire cried out. The horse galloped toward them.
When he got to them, they quickly mounted him, and the horse raised his wings to protect them. Sapphire laughed, and adjusted the crown on Ethan's head. They waved goodbye, and the horse ran into flight.
The girl would have buried her face into Ethan's shoulder, but then she saw something. She gasped.
"Ethan!" The girl pointed. The boy looked down.
Jaina and Arthas had separated from the rest of the group, and had their arms around each other. Sapphire now laid her head on the boy's shoulder. She smiled, and felt the pocket of her pants. She had taken some of the peppers Lethumo had given them. Just in case.
Arthas pressed his forehead against Jaina's, eyes closed.
"I am so sorry..." He whispered.
Jaina did not reply, wrapping her arms around his neck. She looked like she wanted to cry, but would not. Arthas was glad. He did not want to see her tears. She looked up at the man, and they stared at each other. Then, Arthas leaned down.
He kissed her gently, trying not to hurt her, or frighten her. She kissed him back, and twined her finger in his long, white hair. He put a hand against her cheek, and the kisses grew more passionate.
Then, Arthas stopped himself when he felt himself grow too bold. He drew back.
"Sorry, again-"
Jaina took his hand. "May I spend the night here?"
Her voice was small, almost fragile. Arthas looked at the guests, then back to her. He kissed her softly.
"Follow me..." He whispered, and made a deathgate behind him. They looked back at their daughter flying off, and went through the deathgate, holding hands.
Waves lapped over the sand on the beach. Seagulls cried overhead, and pelicans flew low over the surface of the water. Crabs skittered along the warm sand, and fled from the waves. The sun was high in the bright blue sky above. Puffy white clouds moved slowly along. Trees shaded the small house that sat near the ocean side.
The house only had three rooms, but also had a large porch. A small stable stood nearby, where a horse, skeletal with large batlike wings, slept. A plaguehound lay in the sand on the beach, and occasionally flicked his ears. He was napping, but the cry of seagulls annoyed him.
The undead dog looked over at the house. Songbirds chirped, fluttering about. He saw the two occupants of the house on the porch, under a wooden shade. There was a contented sigh, and murmuring. Ni'kua saw the thin blankets move, and one of them got up. The animal snorted, and looked away. Sapphire yawned, and pulled her clothes back on. She looked down at Ethan.
"Ethan...Wake up. Come on, get up!"
The boy groaned, and sat up. His hair was spiked up in all directions, and he winced at the sunlight.
"What?" He asked sleepily. Sapphire pointed to the ocean.
"I want to go swimming."
"Ugh. I'm tired. Can we have breakfast first? And please. No more peppers," He groaned, laying back down. Sapphire knelt down and kissed him.
"All right. I'll make something. You lay there. I love you."
Sapphire went back into the house. Ethan yawned, and brushed his hair back with a hand. Wind blew over his skin. They had already been there for three days. Only once did they even use the bed provided. And been only in the house for the necessities.
How Arthas had discovered this isolated beach in Stranglethorn, Ethan did not know. But he would be sure to thank the man for it. The little house, and the beach were perfect. Ethan could stay there forever.
When the ground began shaking, Ethan did not feel it at first. Then, Sapphire cried out. The boy jumped up, and Sapphire came out of the house.
"What's happening?" She asked, hugging him. He held her reassuringly.
The earthquake grew in power, shaking the land violently. Glass shattered inside the house. Both humans fell to the ground. Ni'kua and Invincible both made sounds of protest, the plaguehound running around. Another tree fell closer.
It ended eventually, but left Sapphire utterly confused and frightened. She had never experienced an earthquake. The girl was shaking. Ethan stroked her hair.
"It's all right. Just an earthquake. Sometimes happens. I heard that there have been more and more earthquakes recently. Don't worry. It's nothing."