To Defend A Bride (Entangled with the Enduar #3)

First Epilogue

First Epilogue

RA’SA

T ravel is slow but graciously uneventful. Days pass, and more humans join us along the way.

Every night, we stop for camp and leave messages for others still traveling behind us.

With thousands of humans scattered and traveling along the way to the mountain, I feel the pressure of responsibility and the shame of falling short.

It keeps me focused.

I refuse to allow myself peace even when the black mountains come clear into view. Even when we pass through the ice passage and the frozen sea, I don't let my alert drop.

Melisa, the girls, and I walk alongside each other at the front of the group. Guiding us into a new life.

Feelings from long ago return.

I had once brought my mother and brother to this cave, knowing that once I stepped inside, nothing would be the same. The same is true again tonight. Once we cross that barrier, our futures will be irrevocably changed.

There is no question whether or not I will accept this new fate.

It happened the moment I laid eyes on the beauty at my side, my cave flower—meant to blossom below ground. I did not even know it then, as it manifested into protectiveness.

Melisa, somehow sensing my thoughts, looks up at me. She gives me a knowing smile, but I look away, concealing the curve of my own lips.

When we are near enough for the humans to see the red veins swirling and the carved golden metal of the door, I halt.

Melisa sighs, and I feel the potent relief flow freely between us. But the girls draw close, intimidated by such a massive sight.

For the first time, observing the children at my side, I understood how the Enduar mountains could be a thing of terrifying stories.

Showing Enduvida’s majesties excites me.

I cannot wait for Thea and Wren to see the Ardorflame Temple, to behold the crystals, and to hear their song. They love that simple red beryl I gave them. How much will they love to see mushrooms the size of me?

I turn back to the humans, letting the essence of the mountain seep into my pores. I feel the thrum of the magic—of my home.

"Humans, friends, brothers and sisters," I call, using the stones of the mountain to project my voice so that the thousands traveling behind will hear.

"My family and I will enter this cave. We intend to stay, but you are not obligated to do so. I know what you have heard in the past about my people, and I know some of you still believe it. Rest assured that your first act will be one of choice. Choose to join us—it matters not if just for a few nights or forever—or choose to go your own way. I will not sway your decision."

I don't wait for them to respond; I merely turn around and walk to the massive, golden entrance.

The girls run up to me.

"Papá Ra'Sa," Wren says, pronouncing my name correctly for the first time. I grin down at her. "Is it safe here?"

My eyes burn. "Very safe, my starling girl."

She looks unsure, so I say, "Would it help if I carried you in?"

Both she and Thea nod, and I scoop them up into my arms as the door opens, revealing the tunnel down to the main cavern. A girl on each arm, I begin down the walkway.

It feels like the gods themselves bless my steps. I savor the feeling, letting my eyes grow misty as Melisa walks next to us.

The faint pumping noise, the sulphuric smell, the song, the warmth; it all comes back to me in an instant.

When we reach the lights of the open cavern, it is somehow more majestic and brighter than I remember. The reds and blues dotted the ceiling, the gleam of the Enduar Palace, the glow.

It is... beautiful.

Thea lets out an excited squeal, and she grabs onto my head, using it to stabilize herself as she points at the enormous focusing crystal near the Enduar Palace.

Being home makes old feelings swirl. I wonder if my family smiles down upon me, proud of all I have accomplished in the last few months.

A part of me can't believe how much I have changed. Grown. My heart, I believe, has grown the most.

We barely reach the first main bridge before we are met by King Teo and Queen Estela.

The king looks tired, but wears all the finery of a festive meal. The queen glows.

I blink, expecting the sight to be a simple trick of my eyes. It isn’t.

My gaze drops from her luminous aura to the enormous babe in her arms. It looks like a giant.

Though I tense at the sight, Estela opens her free arm wide and embraces Melisa.

“My friend. You made it home!” the queen says excitedly.

New emotions flood through our bond from Melisa. Nervousness, shyness, gratitude, relief, affection.

She doesn’t trust others easily. Their display softens something inside of me. If my wife cares for the sovereigns, perhaps I could make more of an effort to tolerate them.

"We escaped,” Melisa starts. “We took as many as could walk, but there are more on the road.”

The queen begins inspecting Melisa, glancing at me between her and ensuring she has no cuts or bruises.

“How long were you walking for?” Queen Estela asks.

At that moment, the girls start to squirm on my shoulders, and I move to put them down. It's then that King Teo's eyes find mine.

A part of me recoils, but another part of me is just... cautious.

I nod, and he nods back.

"Well done, Lord Ra'Salore," he says quietly.

I straighten my shoulders as the women continue to talk about the journey, but then, behind the king and queen, other Enduares begin to congregate.

My mother's face catches my eye. Strange that she would be out of her home for a festival without me.

And then...

Oh gods.

A tall, angular troll stands next to my mother. His hair has faded from gray to pure white, and his body is sinewed, with some darker blue spots scattered over his face and arms. He wears crystal spectacles, and his face has deep lines.

“Pater,” I gasp.

My father, flesh and bone, yet a ghost as far as I had known.

I leave the girls to stand next to Melisa, but I push forward, eyes burning, until I force myself to stop two paces before him.

“You are a phantom,” I choke out.

My mother looks at me with tears in her eyes.

"Salore," she starts. "They found your father under the sea."

"But how?" I ask, confused by his smile, which is familiar yet different with age and harsh living. Guilt strikes true. “I left you to die along with Sera, Orena, and Anina.”

My father shakes his head, a sadness morphing his soft expression.

“No, you didn’t. Your sisters... there was no way to save them. But they called on me to guard the king. It was a futile mission. We sunk into the ocean with the rest of the cities. The Ardorflames kept us alive.”

Ragged breaths are torn from my chest. “And you survived.”

His smile brightens. “While you have been gone, your new king, a fine man, has started to bring the battalions up from the depths."

My eyes burn, and I reach across the distance, embracing him tightly. His hands clap against my back.

"I did the best I could, but I failed. I failed Tirin," I recall through tears.

He shakes his head, and the movement rustles my ragged slave clothes.

“Please. Your mother has told me of all you have accomplished—how you have led. I am sorry you have been forced to live with such loss," he says. “I am proud of you, my son.”

Over the last five decades, I have imagined what words my father would say to me. These exceed each invented scenario. My attempts to recreate him in my mind never compared to the goodness of his vibrant, loving soul.

At last, I pull away and turn behind me. There, standing a ways back, is Melisa. She watches, unsure.

Come, I beckon with both mind and hand.

" Mater, Pater, this is Melisa. My human mate. These are her daughters, Thea and Wren," I say joyfully.

Melisa shifts her position, but the girls hide behind her. "I know your mother. We met while she was tending to her mushrooms."

My father laughs, the sound rich and warm.

"She loves her garden. The cook Ulla has already started to use hers over the royal garden’s mushrooms.”

My mother preens.

"I am a woman of many talents," Mer’Leuel glows.

A part of me marvels at the sight of her. Without my father, she had shriveled with grief. Just as I had shriveled without family. Love changes people. Children. Brothers. Fathers. Mates.

Wren peeks out from behind Melisa, and my father notices. He crouches.

"My name is Ra'Tirsa," he starts in the common tongue.

Thea appears.

Then my mother kneels at his side, making herself less tall for the little ones, and says, "And I am Mer'Leuel."

The girls stare, unmoving.

"We are... Ra'Sa's parents," my father continues. "We would be your grandparents."

Wren looks up at her mother, confused by the word.

"Granparnt?" she says, tripping over the word.

My heart squeezes. Humans are pouring all around us, people getting to work, shouting for food, for houses, but I wouldn't move from this spot for the whole world.

"Abuelos," ? 1 Melisa clarifies in her tongue. "Es tu abuelo, y ahí está tu nueva abuelita." ? 2

Thea and Wren grin like I've never seen them smile before.

Wren squeals, "Lita!"

She throws her hands around my mother’s neck, and my father laughs as Thea hugs him, too.

My parents stand, holding the little ones, and I wrap Melisa in my arms.

"Come," my father says. "Let's find you a new home."

A part of me relaxes. Leaving my mother alone in her home no longer worries me. "One near yours."

"Obviously," my mother starts. Then makes a funny noise. "We'll need all the time we can with these little ones."

Wren giggles, and they join the sea of humans and Enduares.

Melisa hangs back. I turn to look at her.

“What is it, my love?” I ask.

“You have… parents,” she breathes.

I nod, a smile playing on my lips.

“Will they like me?” she asks. “I don’t know how to act around them.”

A grin spreads over my face. “I will tell you what you know about my customs until I have no breath left in my body, but perhaps I should consult with the king and queen."

She tilts her head to the side. "Oh? Why?"

I smirk. "We could have classes on each other's culture."

For some reason, this makes her grin. "Do you fancy yourself a professor?"

I raise one eyebrow. "Would you like that?"

"I find your intelligence quite attractive. So yes."

The conversation feels good. Normal, after so much time of pain and uncertainty.

"Well, now I must ensure this matter is raised to the highest levels of Enduar government," I tease.

A small laugh escapes my mate’s mouth, and it turns into yet another sigh of relief.

The emotion bubbles up suddenly, moving me to speak.

"I love you," I say, marveling at the words.

"I love you, too.” Melisa grabs my hands and turns.

From here, I can see more children join Thea, Wren, and my parents.

“They didn’t make it far, did they?” Melisa says.

I laugh. “No.”

Though their play seems chaotic, it brings peace to my heart. To play out in the open, safe.

This is joy. This is freedom.

Once again, my heart… stirs.