-Break-

Location: Animal pens

As we approach the animal pens I see everyone from the campsite. Then when we arrive in front of them, I say, “It wasn’t nice to abandon me!”

Edward says, “I called you multiple times but you were so lost in your own thoughts that you just blocked me.”

“So I came to get you,” Charles says.

“Well, so what are we supposed to do no-,” I pause for a moment as I realize something, Mariana is standing there even more beautiful than ever.

Upon seeing me she hides behind Sandra and says, “Don’t look at me!”

“Why?”

“The groom isn’t supposed to see his bride until the ceremony.”

“That makes no sense, my parents were always together from the moment he proposed till they drank the other's blood.”

“Well that’s not how we do things on my island, and what do you mean they drank each other's blood are your people demons!”

“That’s simply how we showed our love! But I don’t want to talk about that because you look amazing right now.”

Mariana hides behind Sandra, and says, “Don’t tell me that or I might start bleeding from my nose again!”

Sandra says, “We took apart the old dress she had when she came here and used it to decorate her current clothes.”

Another member of the campsite, Lia says, “Mariana kept very good care of her old clothes so even now they look as good as new.”

“You’re right she looks amazing!”

“SHUT UP!” Looking over towards Charles, she says, “Why did you even bring us here? How have none of the beastkin come to stop us? And where the hell are my pigs!?”

Charles says, “Catch me if you can,” Then runs away into a nearby forest.

After making a series of very frustrated expressions, Mariana says, “EVERYONE AFTER HIM!”

I say, “YOU HEARD THE BRIDE ALL YOU BASTARDS BETTER FIND HIM!”

We all run towards Charles who is moving slower than usual, is he trying to let us catch up to him? Looking at Mariana's face, I noticed all the shyness she was feeling had vanished.

While smiling, I say, “You little brat!”

-Break-

They chase Charles through the forest, and as the group does they see flower petal fly their way. But undeterred by this they keep running and run into more and more flowers.

Then after a few moments, they break through all of the trees and find an area surrounded by trees filled with sunlight. And throughout that area, even on the trees are countless blue flowers the exact same shade as Charles's hair.

Standing in the middle of those blue flowers, Charles says, “Surprise!”

Everyone looks around in amazement, and I walk up to Charles and says, “What is this?”

“Your wedding area. It is must nicer to be married here than in the hut, I think. And in case you get sad, you can look at all the flowers and get reminded of me!”

I laugh then rub Charles's head, and say, “You’re right about that.”

Whilst turning around, I say, “Isn’t this beautiful Marian-.” But I stop as I see Mariana staring at the flowers with tears falling from her eyes.

Erratically moving over to her, I ask, “What’s wrong?”

Wiping her tears, she says, “These flowers, are from my country. I had thought every single one had burned down with the country, but some are still here.”

“What, how could that even be possible?”

“I don’t know but these are without a doubt from my country, they are the same ones mom always kept on her.”

A voice from afar says, “I planted them in my garden.”

The voice is one I have heard all to often, it is Dónal. He says, “I took the flowers from a dead woman and planted them over her body. Theirs kept growing over the years and I just gave some to Charles to pull off this ridiculous plan.”

Angered I say, “Hey what kind of thing is that to say on her wedding day.”

But as I speak Mariana gets up and walks past me all the way over to the trees Dónal is sitting behind. “Mariana, where are you going?”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

As Dónal hears Mariana approach he says, “Do you have something to say to me human?”

Standing in front of the sitting Dónal she bows a bit and says, “Thank you,” With tears falling from her eyes.

Dónal is dumbfounded by this and as he sits there in confusion, Mariana says, “That flower was something that my father cultivated just for my mother, so she had always held onto to it tightly.

I have been scared, no terrified of what has happened to my mother over the years. I had suspected that she had died a horrible death and somewhere her body was hanging on a pike to be used as a tool of fear against others.

But knowing that is not only not true, but that she got buried under such flowers as well brings nothing but joy into my heart. I thank you because today the one thing that bothered me most in life has left.”

Dónal looks away from Mariana's face, and says, “Whatever, I just gave this because I had excess and Charles asked, it has nothing to do with you in the slightest.”

In the moment Charles flashes back to when they took the flowers from the garden and remembers that all but three flowers were taken to make this area and the smile Dónal had on his face while doing it.

With a sweet yet sour tone, Dónal says, “You can do with them whatever you want, it is not like I have any use for them, so take them, idiot human.”

Nero says, “Hey watch your tone!”

But Mariana just bows, and says, “Thank you so much.”

Running back over to Nero, she says, “Let’s get this started!”

A noise echoes through the area which causes, Mariana to say, “I know those oinks anywhere!”

Soon her pigs rush out from the forest and tackle her. Rubbing them, she says, “I missed you guys. You’re so adorable I can’t I missed you.”

“I asked Dónal to let me bring them,” Charles says.

“THANK YOU!” Mariana screams.

Dónal then says, “They were getting sad because you wouldn’t see them nothing more nothing less. It is only a logical decision, no emotion attached.”

Walking up to Nero, I ask, “Hey what about my-.”

“Then are here as well, just deeper in the forest we just need to guide them back.”

Sandra says, “Now that we have your flowers, can’t we add the finishing touches to the ceremony?”

“She’s right!” Mariana says with vigour. “Wait if we can move stuff around, there is a bit of redecorating I would like to do!”

Clapping her hands Sandra says, “If you would groom please give us a few moments with the bride.”

-Break-

Everyone and all the animals sit on the flowers, and in front of them, Mariana and Nero stand facing each other holding the other's hand tight. with Charles and Edward standing behind them.

The area where they stand has been decorated with flowers in a specific pattern by Mariana's request. Throughout both of their clothes are flowers, and on their heads are crowns made of flowers.

Mariana stares at Nero while shaking, and he does the same back to her while shaking. Then in the middle of the both of them, Charles shakes as well barely holding in his excitement.

With his head, mere minutes away from exploding Nero turns to Charles and says, “Please begin.”

Turning to Edward, Charles asks, “What were my lines again?”

Edward whispers something in his ear, and then Charles says, “Today both this man and woman will be joined in holy marriage.”

Edward giggles a little as Charles the usual calm and collected boy messes up his lines. But then Charles looks at him for his next lines, and Edward whispers in his ear again.

“Now speak your hearts,” Charles says.

They both freeze unable to say anything, but Mariana looks at him, then says, “I don’t like being here. I like the people, and all of my animals you all mean a lot to me, but without a doubt I would have been happier if I got to stay in my home for the rest of my life.

But you Nero make me doubt that resolve completely. Simply being with you makes me just as happy. So even if god makes me a king tomorrow, or even if I am in the pits of hell I would want you right there beside me.

Wait no, I don’t want you to go to hell, I am sorry!”

I laugh, then take a deep breath, and shout MARIANA I LOVE YOU!”

All the animals start to get giddy and Mariana's face turns scarlet red. “Mariana I don’t really have faith in anything. Not god, not the world, not myself, and the only thing I had faith in my friends and family is something I have for better or for worse in my heart given up for.

But meeting you makes me believe that maybe god does exist because the fact I could find such a light in hell could only be the hand of god. So even if I can’t fully put it into words, I just want you to know Mariana I love you.”

Both Nero and Mariana have completely calmed down and are staring at each other. Seeing calms Charles as well who says, “Nero from this moment on do you fully in mind, body and soul vow to eternally unite with the existence that is the woman before you, in all of life, and all of death.

“I do.”

“Mariana from this moment on do you fully in mind, body and soul vow to eternally unite with the existence that is the man before you, in all of life, and all of death.”

“I do.”

“Now exchange flowers.”

Mariana takes a flower off and prepares to give it to Nero, with Nero doing the same. But before the exchange, Nero bites his finger and covers it in blood.

“What are you doing?” Mariana asks.

Well since you won’t drink my blood this is the next best option.”

Mariana opens her eyes, and then does the same with her flower. They both hand each other their flowers covered in blood and add them to their flower crowns.

Charles then says, “You may now kiss the brid-.”

Before the last syllable leaves Charles mouth they already start to passionately kiss in front of everyone. They kiss so much that everyone in the area is shocked by the scene unfolding in front of them.

But to Mariana and Nero, no one else exists at that moment but the two of them. Pulling back, Nero says, “I love you.”

Mariana looking back at him says, “I love you too.”

Everyone in the area proceeds to celebrate the joyous day, unable to hold back all of their happiness. Seeing them one would never guess that those who were smiling so happily were all slaves.

-Break-

Location: Beastkin dorms

Φ Smashing his bottle on the ground, Ryan says, “How dare breastmilk talk to us like that. Did you see that smug look on his face yesterday, he looked at us as if we were beneath him.”

Smashing his foot into the ground, Finn says, “We need to punish that annoying twat.”

Cian says, “But what are we going to do about it? He keeps all of the records of our unworked pay close to hand, so if he was to die and they send someone to investigate we will be at the top of the list.”

Daniel says, “What if we faked it.”

“What are you on about.”

“His death, what if we faked it.”

“Didn’t you hear what we just talked about!”

“Yeah, but what about Samhain, if we make it seem like he got attacked by some spirits? They probably won’t investigate it too much.”

“But that would require us to get rid of his body with no trace, so it can’t be sniffed out.”

Ryan sitting up, says, “The moat.”

Suddenly everyone in the room was attuned to what Ryan was saying. “Also remember that Liam should be coming back around that time. So if we were to get him to launch an investigation into breastmilk’s disappearance, he could probably spin it favourably for us.”

Finn says, “Are we all serious about this?”

With a smile, Ryan says, “I am, even if I have to do this alone. Breastmilk you’re days are fucking numbered.”