652Epilogue: Pledging My Love
Forever my darling our love will be true
Always and forever I'll love only you
Just promise me darling
Your love in return
May this fire in my soul dear
Forever burn
—"Pledging My Love" (songwriters, Don Robey & Fats Washington)
ELEVEN MONTHS LATER
It had taken Queen Sophie-Anne Leclerq several months to replace those whom she'd lost the night she'd signed the pledging document with Peter Threadgill.
The night her kingdom had somehow survived the plague of Appius Livius Ocella.
Of course, some creatures could not be easily replaced. She spared a thought for Andre, still beloved by her. She would likely always miss him, but he'd lost that which she'd loved most about him by the end: his loyalty and pragmatism.
Eric and Sookie had insisted upon staying in New Orleans until the queen reinforced her defenses. After all, without Andre by her side, vultures like Felipe de Castro might have begun circling her state.
As it was, Eric's presence in New Orleans—while Pam held down the fort in Area 5 (after her maker had lifted his commands from her, of course)—had given the queen the time she needed to ensure that all of her remaining children were well, including Sigebert, whom Doctor Ludwig had miraculously managed to save. Wybert was fully healed, though it had taken him several months to regrow his arm, not that he'd been idle. As her new second in command, her wise Saxon warrior had worked with Molly and Octavia to revolutionize the security around and within Louisiana's palace and headquarters.
Sigebert had yet to fully heal, though he received blood from her and his remaining siblings once a week. According to Dr. Ludwig, he'd regrow his leg within the next month or two.
The kings who had come to her and Eric's aid against Appius had also healed in time. Russell Edgington had needed several weeks under the careful watch of Talbot. Ian Bowles had healed adequately within nights of the fight. And Peter had convalesced with Sophie-Anne for the month it took him to heal.
She and Peter had found ample enjoyment in each other—to say the least. And they'd completed their pledging ritual officially several months before.
The queen was delighted with the arrangement—as was the King of Arkansas.
Wybert entered Sophie-Anne's office, breaking her out of her memories.
"My queen," he said with a bow of his head, "the Slaughterer is here to see you."
"I have found Compton," Karin said, after approaching her queen and taking a knee in respect for her.
"Rise, Karin," Sophie-Anne said softly, affectionately. She'd come to enjoy the company of Karin the Slaughterer very much—as has Wybert, whose bed the blond vampiress now shared.
Karin had opted to stay in New Orleans and swear fealty to Sophie-Anne following the battle with Appius—what had actually been a war from Karin's perspective. Oh, she had been invited to accompany Eric and Sookie to Bon Temps—invited to live with the rest of the "family."
But she had understandably declined.
Truth be told, Karin was still troubled by her behavior. Though she could not be blamed for the effects of Hallow's spells upon her, she did feel as though the Heart's Desire Spell had shined a light upon her unresolved feelings for her maker, feelings that could never come to fruition due to Eric's love for Sookie.
Karin had made her peace with the couple when they'd been in New Orleans, but she'd opted not to live inside the bubble of Eric and Sookie's affection in Bon Temps.
Sophie-Anne could not blame her; plus, Karin had already proven herself indispensable to the queen—singlehandedly discovering Victor Madden trying to scope out the "health" of the Louisiana court not a week after the fight with Appius.
While Sophie-Anne had been vulnerable, Karin had taken care of the issue by taking out Madden, sending his fangs and sludgy remains to King Felipe de Castro—in several finely gift-wrapped packages. Each also contained a message that interlopers would be treated with extreme "hospitality" in Louisiana.
Slaughterer, indeed.
"Bring Bill to me," Sophie-Anne growled, even as she licked her fangs at the thought of the vampiress's latest captive.
Within minutes, a shackled Bill Compton was in front of the queen and on his knees. Hadley had joined Karin and quickly moved to Wybert's side.
"Please, my queen," Bill tried, "I was just following your orders."
Sophie-Anne shook her head. In truth, she blamed Bill, at least partially, for Andre's demise. Oh—Andre had been responsible for his own betrayal of his queen and maker. But Bill's actions had spurred him along.
"Should we give him to Eric and Sookie?" Hadley asked with a strong voice. Sophie-Anne couldn't help but to be proud of how her youngest child had seemingly lost her timidity since the battle. She'd truly stepped up in seeing to the care of not only her maker but also her brothers.
Moreover, Hadley had sought out Karin's aid—asking the older vampiress to help her to become capable of fighting. Hadley was determined never to be left out of a battle again.
"No. I believe that I will allow myself the right to send Bill to his maker," Sophie-Anne responded coldly. "It is, after all, Bill who led Andre to Appius. Anyway, I would not wish to bother Sookie and Eric—not so close to their pledging ceremony."
"Pledging?" Bill growled.
"And wedding!" Hadley smirked evilly.
Sophie-Anne leaned down toward Bill. "Eric and Sookie intend to pledge and to marry according to human, Fae, and Dae traditions."
Bill growled louder, ineffectually struggling against his chains.
"Where did you find him?" Sophie-Anne asked out of curiosity.
"Maria-Star called. She sniffed him out on the outskirts of Bon Temps. He didn't get close to Eric and Sookie's home, however. Later, Thalia picked up his scent and pursued him, driving him right into a little trap I set for him."
The queen chuckled. "With you, Maria-Star, and Thalia working together, Compton stood no chance."
"None at all," Karin agreed with a smirk.
Sophie-Anne shook her head at Bill. "I gave you a very simple assignment regarding Sookie Stackhouse. Soon, Bill, you will regret not following it to the letter."
"I am not Bill," the shackled vampire snarled defiantly. "I am William."
"By the time I am done with you, you will be no one," the queen responded frostily, gesturing for Karin to take the prisoner to her playroom.
"Oh, and Karin?"
"Yes, my queen?"
"Warm him up for me—will you?"
"With pleasure."
TWO WEEKS LATER
Sookie gazed at herself in the full-length mirror Amelia had brought up to her and Eric's room. She blushed a little, contemplating the possibilities that mirror might offer to her if Amelia conveniently forgot to take it back for a while.
She closed her eyes imagining what it might be like to gaze into that mirror as Eric made love to her. She could picture his muscular body moving rhythmically—gracefully—as he gave her pleasure.
Specifically, she could imagine watching his bottom. Award winning would be an understatement for that particular part of her bonded's anatomy! Of course, she couldn't think of any part of him what wasn't worthy of awards—and songs—and poetry.
"Epic poetry," she whispered to herself. "Eric poetry," she corrected with a sigh.
"You okay, Sook?" Jason asked her. "You look hot—I mean, like, hot like temperature. You want me to turn up the air conditionin'?"
Sookie opened her eyes and fanned herself a little as she looked at her brother. "I'm fine," she assured him. "But—yeah—with more people in here, it is a bit hotter than usual. So why don't you turn up the air a bit."
"Sure thing, Sis!" Jason smiled as he turned to go. "Uh—you do look pretty, by the way. Just not 'hot,'" he added, shaking his head. "It'd be wrong to think of my sister as hot," he muttered as he walked away.
Sookie chuckled.
"He is a pig in a china shop," Batanya commented, materializing about five feet from Sookie.
"Bull in a china shop," Sookie corrected with a smile. Batanya had begun to show herself more since the battle with Appius, even becoming friendly in a way, but only with Sookie and only when they were alone.
Sookie found that she liked the Britlingen very much and enjoyed learning about other realms from her. Not surprisingly, as Sookie began to think of Batanya as a member of the "family," she also became embarrassed about what the Britlingen might see during the telepath's more intimate moments with her bonded. After all, Batanya would be under contract to protect Sookie directly and up-close for an "indefinite" period—as both Desmond and Eric had explained it to her.
It was the "up-close" that concerned Sookie—every time she went to the bathroom, showered, or wanted to be intimate with the Viking.
Several months earlier, Sookie had mustered her courage and discussed the issue of "over-proximity" with Batanya.
Sookie shook her head as she remembered that conversation. That had been the only time she'd ever seen Batanya laugh. The Britlingen had explained—as if Sookie were a small child—that she, of course, was close-by whenever Sookie conducted any sort of "intimate" or "private" activity. After all, these were the times when her charge was at her most vulnerable—and least able to protect herself.
That being said, Batanya had explained that her attention was anywhere but on Sookie at those times, for she was fully attuned to watching for any threats. Making Sookie feel much better, the Britlingen had explained that she could—quite literally—tune out Sookie herself and focus on the world around her, much like Sookie could erect her shields to keep out the thoughts of people she didn't want to hear so that she could focus on those that she did want to listen to.
Though the telepath still identified enough as "human" to be a little freaked out—occasionally—that her Britlingen friend was in the room, albeit invisible, when she sought "human-needs time" or naked time with Eric, she'd been learning to get over her "modesty."
Eric, especially, was good at making her feel as if they were the only two people in the zip code, let alone the room. She fanned herself again.
"The werebear is coming," Batanya said as she whooshed back into her "invisible" state.
Sookie shook her head at the Britlingen's quick entrances and exits.
Onawa breezed into the bedroom with little Warren in her arms. Jason and she were not married, but lived together as if they were, and Onawa had quickly become one of Sookie's favorite people, due in no small part to the little boy who was reaching out his chubby arms to her even then.
"Oh no, you don't," Onawa said, even as both Sookie and Warren pouted.
"He's been spitting up like a geyser today," the werebear chuckled. "He can sense all the excitement."
Little Warren—nicknamed "Warry" and named after one of the brave guards who'd lost his life at Appius's hands—squealed as if agreeing with his mother's words. Though only five months old, he was already showing many signs that he had more going on than his mother's two-naturedness and his father's goofy charm.
Desmond had sensed a spark in Warry from the time of his birth, and it seemed certain that he—like his aunt—would be a telepath, though—being so young—Warry's mind seemed able to comprehend and react to only the emotions of those around him.
Not surprisingly, the over-excitement of a crowd of people always left the infant woozy.
Onawa smiled at her handsome son. "That's why mama's not getting dressed until the last minute possible, isn't it, Warry?" she asked in a sing-song voice, making Warren drool out a smile. She looked at Sookie. "You look amazing, by the way."
"I feel pretty amazing," Sookie returned with a smile, looking in the mirror again.
She was in an ice blue—almost blue-gray—long gown. The dress itself was an amalgamation of the heritages she wished to honor—and reflect—that night. It was of a style that could pass for a human wedding gown, to be sure. Demons, according to Desmond, traditionally wore blue for bonding ceremonies; Sookie had chosen a very light shade of that color—to more emulate the traditional human white. Fairies, Sookie had learned from Claudine Crane, a new addition to her life during the last several months, wore clothing that honored nature when they were joined by marriage rites. Her dress, therefore, had inlays of leaves on a thin gossamer-like outer layer that looked similar to lace. That part of her dress was composed of materials from the Fae realm, and—though Sookie had no idea what it was actually called—it was truly lovely over the silk of her gown. Also representing her Fae side, Sookie wore an elaborate comb in her hair that resembled pearls and diamonds, though Claudine had told her the gems were also from Fae. In truth, it looked more like a garland than a comb, but after Claudine had styled her hair into an elaborate updo that complemented the ornate jewels, Sookie had loved the effect.
To honor Gran, Sookie wore her matriarch's wedding ring on her right hand. She sighed and closed her eyes, praying that her grandmother was somehow watching her from heaven.
"Do you need anything?" Onawa asked as she smiled at Sookie in the mirror. "I just heard someone downstairs mention that the ceremony will be ready to start in about ten minutes, so I better get into my dress."
"I'm good," Sookie smiled.
"Okay, Sook. Thalia is right outside the room, but she said she prefers her current vantage point since this room is so heavily warded. So—I can't send her in to keep you company; you know how she is," Onawa rolled her eyes. "Oh—but Tara said she'd come up and wait with you if you wanted. And I'll tell Jason to come up. He was supposed to be up here anyway," she added with a shake of her head.
Sookie chuckled. "He went down to turn up the air conditioning. And make sure that Tara does NOT come up here. I already feel bad enough making her stand throughout the wedding! Make sure she sits until the last second—okay?"
"Sure thing," Onawa agreed as she bustled out of the room.
The telepath just shook her head. It was exactly like Thalia not to become at all caught up in the revelry of a wedding/pledging day. Though Sookie felt closer to Thalia than almost anyone else in the world, the fierce vampiress was as stoic as ever. Sookie had learned to love her for herself, however.
Sookie's friendship with Maria-Star, who was still the head of her daytime security, was also a close one. However, true to form, Maria-Star had chosen to lead the two-natured guards' security around the house that evening.
The losses her and Eric's household had suffered because of Appius—Willow and Warren—had caused irrevocable harm. And—of course—the vampires of Area 5 had suffered, losing Indira and Palomino. However, life had moved forward.
In addition to baby Warren, Tara was weeks away from having her and Tray's first child. That couple had eloped to Niagara Falls a week after learning that Tara was pregnant.
Despite the fact that Appius was gone for good, Eric had added a few guards to the household, notably a werehawk named Megan and a werebear named Kuruk, both of whom had once worked for Kenshin, who had been staying in Area 5 for almost 9 months—ever since the vampires of Nevada had sniffed around Louisiana. Seemingly, Felipe de Castro's interest in the state ended with Victor Madden's death, but Eric had learned that it was better to be overcautious in such situations.
After a few months of vacation, Mustapha opted to rejoin the household, which included four in-residence two-natured guards—including Maria-Star, Mustapha, Megan, and Kuruk. Onawa was on maternity leave and lived with Jason, but she planned to resume guarding duties part-time when Warry was a year old. Tray—too—worked for them part-time, but he and Tara lived in Tray's home. To there two-natured guards were added three full-time vampires: Thalia, Bubba, and Chow.
Chow had replaced Padma as a guard in residence in Bon Temps when Maria-Star and Padma's passionate affair had ended a few months earlier.
Sookie sighed, wishing that everyone, especially Maria-Star, could be as happy as she was. However, neither Maria-Star nor Padma had been ready for a long-term commitment. Moreover, Padma was still grieving the loss of her vampire sister. Sookie was glad, though, that Padma had opted to stay in Area 5. She'd taken over the position of lead bartender at Fangtasia, which was now being co-run by Pam and Maxwell Lee.
Sookie still held out hope that Maria-Star and Padma would find their way back to each other.
Eric was content to run Area 5 from Bon Temps or from an office he'd rented in Shreveport, conveniently located down the hall from Sookie's own—now thriving—telepathy business.
Even as she heard Jason's mind coming up the stairs, Sookie smiled proudly to herself. She now boasted 35 vampire and Were clients—mostly monarchs, sheriffs, and packmasters—from eight states: Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, New York, California, Texas, and New Mexico. It was no coincidence that her network of clients corresponded to Eric's network of contacts and "friends," as well as people he respected.
Together, they were compiling quite a collection of allies. If the fight with Appius had taught them anything, it was that having friends and trusted allies was essential, even if vampires weren't prone to trusting each other.
"Hey, Sis!" Jason greeted as he came into the room. "I—uh—turned up the air conditionin'," he relayed as he glanced at the vent, which was—indeed—blowing colder air. Looking back at Sookie, he was clearly pleased that she no longer looked flushed.
"Thanks, Jason," Sookie smiled, even as she went to pick up her bouquet from the dresser. Friends in high places meant that she'd been able to arrange for a myriad of flowers native to the region where Eric had spent his human years to be shipped to the local florist.
Her bouquet was composed of bellflowers and cornflowers, creating a purple and blue cluster that she'd worried would clash with her dress until she saw the two next to each other. Sheathed inside the specially-crafted bouquet holder was a ceremonial dagger that she would present to Eric during the vampire pledging part of the ceremony.
"Ready?" she asked Jason, hearing with her telepathy that the group of guests had taken their places outside—where the ceremony was to be held under a new gazebo in the backyard.
"Almost," Jason answered, looking a bit unsure of himself for a moment. "Uh—Sookie—uh." He paused for an uncomfortable moment. "I—uh—just wanna say how proud of you I am—how proud Gran and Gramps and Mom and Dad would be of you."
"Thanks, Jason," Sookie smiled. Part of her did wonder if, perhaps, her brother was wrong when it came to their mother, but she appreciated his words, nonetheless.
"I—uh—love you, sis," Jason continued. "And—uh—I'm gladder than I can say that you're happy with—uh—your vamper—I mean vampire—and your new job and such."
Sookie went to embrace her brother. She couldn't help but appreciate the lughead.
TWENTY MINUTES EARLIER
Eric had learned patience over his thousand years, and—though he was anxious to pledge and wed Sookie—his thoughts and actions were unhurried as he waited for all of their guests to arrive and be settled so that the ceremony could begin at the appointed time.
He'd awoken that evening with Sookie in his arms, and he'd already spent a fair amount of time working with her to consummate their wedding/pledging night.
And he was certain that they'd spend even more time in their bedroom consummating it again—and again—within the next few hours.
But, for the time being, he was pleased to greet and speak with those who came for the ceremony—actually the group of ceremonies—that would bind him to Sookie in all the ways that either of them could desire.
Sophie-Anne had agreed to perform the vampire pledging portion of the ceremony, though she was not able to be ordained to perform the human portion. Even though such ordinations were available for free on the Internet, a recent Louisiana law had blocked vampires from becoming clergy members, an irony, given the fact that Eric knew for sure that at least two of the popes in the 1800s had been vampires. Also ironic was the fact that Octavia Fant, a witch, had no problem being ordained. She would be conducting the "human" ceremony and would also be adding a witches' blessing to the proceedings.
Desmond Cataliades, who had relocated to Shreveport to be closer to both Sookie and Jason, with whom he'd become incredibly close, would offer words that would seal their union in the Dae tradition. Finally, Claudine Crane, a fairy cousin of Sookie, would be conducting the Fae rite.
The guests had all been told to expect a long ceremony, but—at the end of it—he and Sookie would be wed according to human law, bound by Dae tradition, joined by Fae rite, and pledged by vampire ritual.
Eric dared anyone to mess with him and Sookie after all that!
But—of course—a big part of him knew that none of the various ceremonies were needed. After all, the bond that had cleaved Sookie and he was enough to fuse him and his beloved for all time. Eric knew that as well as he knew anything.
Any additional bindings was just a bonus!
"Good evening, Eric," Claudine greeted him brightly—as if she wasn't in the same space as more than two dozen vampires. Thankfully, for her, she could conceal her scent.
"Claudine," the Viking nodded, even as she scurried off to hug Amelia. He remained wary of the fairy's new presence in his mate's life. Indeed, he remained wary of fairies in general.
A month after the battle with Appius, Niall Brigant made himself known to Sookie.
Eric, of course, had already met the fairy prince, who had turned out to be Sookie's great-grandfather. Niall's enemies among the other Fae sects made the prince hesitant about spending time with Sookie; however, he did introduce her to Claudine, who was made available as a "fairy godmother" and teacher.
The fact that Claudine was a cousin to Sookie cemented her into his mate's heart, for family was not something Sookie could overlook.
Truth be told, one of the reasons why Eric had kept Sookie's guard detail in place, even strengthening it as he found trustworthy creatures, was the idea that Niall's enemies might become Sookie's enemies. Already, Maria-Star had caught Neave and Lochlan, an insane fairy duo of assassins, sniffing around the Bon Temps homestead. Maria-Star and Batanya had "warmed" the fairies up for Thalia, who learned that they were scouts for Breandan, Niall's nephew. Thankfully, they did not know that Sookie was related to Niall; however, they were aware that she was a Fae-hybrid, and they had been tasked by Breandan to kill all human-Fae hybrids.
Needless to say, Eric had killed Neave and Lochlan before making arrangements for their "sparkly remains" to be found in Nevada near a Fae portal close to Lake Mohave.
Felipe de Castro hadn't been a threat to Louisiana since his lapdog Victor Madden had been slain; however, Eric was happy to provide the Nevada king with whatever trouble he could. Thanks to Niall, only one Fae portal remained open in Louisiana, and Eric had it guarded constantly; therefore, any future Fae interlopers would be easy to intercept.
With Appius gone, Eric no longer feared any threats that might come at him or Sookie, but he wasn't going to let his guard down because of that!
Eric nodded at other guests, stopping for a moment to speak with Dr. Aphra Smith, with whom he and Sookie still had bi-monthly appointments. He felt none of Sookie's guilt over the deaths of some of their guards during the battle with Appius; after all, they died with honor—true warrior deaths. However, Eric respected his bonded's need to process her feelings over the losses of Warren, Indira, Palomino, and Willow, in addition to many of the queen's people.
As for Eric, he still consulted with the part-Britlingen counselor because of baggage left behind in his psyche by Appius as well as bitterness over the actions of the Ancient Pythoness, who—it turned out—was Eric's own "grand-maker."
Pythia had disappeared back to wherever she dwelled not long after Eric killed Appius. Oh—she'd offered cryptic words for why she'd turned Appius in the first place and why she'd not stopped him sooner. But those words had not quenched Eric's need for answers. Pythia had also offered Sookie advice about her new "seeing" ability, which had allowed his bonded to envision many scenarios and outcomes all at once as she'd gone into battle with Appius.
Pythia claimed that Sookie's "new gift" was Fae in origin, but a rare fairy gift. The only "good news" the ancient seer had offered was that Sookie's gift would only come to her during times of great need; therefore, she wouldn't have to deal with visions all the time as Pythia did.
Future sight was a handy gift—to be sure—but Eric didn't want it to turn his bonded's life inside out!
Thankfully, the unexpected Dae gift that Sookie had also developed during the fight with Appius—literally shooting a fire ball from her hand—was something she had already learned to control, thanks to the tutelage of Desmond Cataliades. To be sure, the use of the gift was a "last resort" defense, given that Sookie could shoot only one or two fireballs over the period of an hour or so. Therefore, it wasn't a practical offensive weapon for his bonded. But it was something added to her bag of tricks.
Most significantly, Sookie had quickly accepted these new abilities as a part of herself, even seeking to learn more about the cultures of the Dae and the Fae. Indeed, she had carefully planned the wedding/pledging down to the most meticulous detail in order to celebrate "their family, their friends, and their love in all of their cultures"—as Sookie had said many times.
Eric was happy to celebrate all of those things—and even happier that Sookie hadn't overtaxed or pressured herself to make the "perfect" event.
Pam had tried teasing him about Sookie becoming a "Bridezilla"; however, his bonded had not done that at all. Oh—Sookie had thoroughly enjoyed planning their wedding/pledging, but she'd enlisted the help of many others.
The proof of her hard work and her thoughtful management of the event was in the many small touches that Eric saw around him—from the beautifully lit yard where they were to take their vows, to the flowers she'd arranged to be shipped in from his homeland, to the people she'd placed on the invitation list.
All were family and friends, and all were welcome in their home.
Russell Edgington, Talbot, and Betty Joe Pickard approached him, having just arrived. Indeed, Eric reckoned they were the last on the guest list to get there.
"Ah, Eric!" Russell greeted with a slap to the groom's back. "It is a delight to be here!"
"Sookie will be very pleased you could all make it," Eric responded.
"I just received a report on that package you asked me to keep an eye on," Russell informed, as Betty Joe and Talbot made their way to their seats.
"Ah—how is Herveaux?" Eric asked.
Alcide Herveaux had been strongly encouraged by Colonel Flood to relocate to Mississippi full-time after the whole Debbie Pelt debacle. Russell had been glad to accept Alcide into his ranks and had even hired the Were to help him deal with the V-addiction among the Jackson pack.
Of course, Eric felt that King Russell had helped to create the V problem in his state, given the fact that he'd used vampire blood as a reward for his pack. However, the Viking wasn't about to quibble over the king's policies—not when Russell had saved the life of his bonded and helped them to defeat Appius.
"I've been keeping Alcide very busy," Russell explained. "And I believe that he has begun a romantic relationship with a human woman on my staff. Talbot indicated that the couple is serious."
Eric nodded. "As long as he has no designs to move back to Area 5 or bother Sookie, I have no issues with Herveaux, and I hope that he will serve you well."
Russell bowed a little. "I will take my seat. Congratulations again, Northman."
Eric bowed a little as the Mississippi monarch moved toward his small party, and then he went back to taking in the environment that his bonded had created.
He smiled a little, simply feeling how "best" his life had become—how "right."
Breaking him from his thoughts, Octavia touched his arm lightly and nodded toward the gazebo, signaling that it was time to begin.
The elder witch, Sophie-Anne, Desmond, and Claudine took their places near the gazebo, and Eric moved to his place as well, where he was joined by Pam and Karin.
He smiled proudly at his two children. Karin had, unfortunately, not come out of the Appius situation unscathed, nor had she accepted his and Sookie's invitation to join their household, but Eric was happy with the sway of his relationship with his eldest child, nonetheless.
They spoke about once per week now, and Karin had traveled to Bon Temps for "family functions"—as Sookie called such events. Eric could tell that Karin was becoming more and more comfortable being around him and Sookie. More than that, she was blossoming in her role as Sophie-Anne's head of security and chief enforcer, and her relationship with Wybert, who'd become the queen's second following Andre's betrayal and death, was flourishing.
Indeed, Eric was extremely glad to have both his children in the same state as he was.
After Amelia used magic to start up some lovely music, Tara and Onawa walked down the makeshift aisle one at a time, moving slowly to the cadence of the song.
Then it was Sookie's turn.
Eric couldn't contain his smile as he saw her. He'd seen her in lovely gowns before, but she looked downright ethereal as she walked toward him on her brother's arm.
Lost in his bonded's eyes as well as in the utter joy that their bond was transmitting, the vampire had to concentrate to keep track of the service.
Octavia said lovely things about love and the joining of souls before prompting Eric and Sookie to exchange rings.
Then, Desmond spoke a blessing in the Dae language.
Next, Claudine sang the Fae marriage rite before entwining Eric and Sookie's wrists with a vine—an action that reminded Eric of a similar practice in Viking culture.
Sookie then gave Eric the ceremonial dagger, and Sophie-Anne stepped forward to conduct the vampire pledging.
And, finally, Octavia ended the service by announcing that they were joined in matrimony.
A kiss later, and the service was done.
But that was only the beginning of the night—of their eternity of nights.
The End.
A/N: I really hope that you enjoyed this story! And—so sorry again for the huge hiatus in the middle of it. I appreciate everyone who stuck with me! I hope that you will take a moment to leave a review or a thought about the story.
All the best to you,
CKat