11A/N: I imagine this as the events leading up to the image on the cover of Last Stand of Dead Men but you have to imagine that Val is in a wedding dress on the cover. AUish because Tanith does not have a Remnant inside her in this.
"Hey, Val." Tanith said gently.
Valkyrie started and raised her eyes to look at the woman standing behind her in the mirror.
"Mm? Sorry, I was miles away."
"I could see that; you look worried. Everything's going to be okay you know. Our forces are holding the American sanctuary's back, they won't get through any time soon." She stroked Valkyrie's arm reassuringly and went back to arranging the curls piled up on Valkyrie's head. "You look beautiful and if Skulduggery had the capability to cry he would when he sees you and this day is going to perfect okay? So for God sake smile a little already!"
Valkyrie laughed and did her best grin for Tanith in the mirror. "I know it'll be okay, but these past few days have been so stressful it's really made me realise how ridiculous it is, having our wedding in the middle of a war." She sighed. "Anyway, is it time?"
"It's time." Desmond Edgely said, walking through the wooden doors of the side room of the church. "You look beautiful sweetheart, and I think I look dashing if I do say so myself." He said, adjusting his bowtie in the mirror.
"I can't believe mum let you wear that thing." Valkyrie said, shaking her head in disbelief.
"I think you look very nice, Mr Edgely, very sophisticated." Tanith said, holding back a giggle.
"Thank you, Tanith dear. Right Steph, the big moment has arrived. Your audience awaits." Hooking his arm through hers, Desmond walked his daughter towards the door where he stopped briefly to kiss her on the cheek before continuing through.
Tanith, Valkyrie's only bridesmaid, walked behind them. There were fewer guests then there would have been under normal circumstances, a lot of their friends were off fighting the sanctuaries and trying to keep the attention off the fact that the Irish sanctuary's top detectives had gone missing for the day. Being mortals, all of Valkyrie's family had been able to attend and the Edgely side sat in the front rows, looking sour faced as always.
As they got further down the aisle Valkyrie plucked up the courage to take her eyes off the floor and observe her husband to be. He was stood at the alter looking at her with as much adoration as a featureless skeleton could muster. Ghastly had been able to take time away from the fighting to be his best man and he was stood next to Skulduggery, also with a look of adoration on his face- though this look was reserved for the beautiful dress that he had made and not for Valkyrie herself.
They reached the alter and Desmond kissed Valkyrie's cheek once more before taking his seat next to Melissa and wiping a tear from his eye. Valkyrie and Skulduggery turned to face each other but before either could say anything a blast of blinding red light flooded the church, reducing the guests to dust and the structure to debris. At the last moment Valkyrie used the ring she had insisted on wearing in case of emergencies to cast a shield of shadow around the both of them. The sheer force of the blast however, tore through the shadows and Valkyrie collapsed into Skulduggery's arms.
"Valkyrie?" He cried helplessly, clutching her limp body to his chest. "Val come on, wake up… Val?"
He sunk to his knees, still holding her. All around them the remains of the church burnt, sending smoke up into the sky but Skulduggery only had eyes for his Valkyrie, and with each passing second it became more and more obvious that her eyes would not open.