Two months later...
It was finally the D-day for Elena and Calhoun's wedding. It has been two months since the warriors and soldiers of the Blood kingdom and the Kingdom of Neba all returned to their kingdoms, respectively. When Elena and her husband arrived back in the Kingdom, the people shouted in joy, chanting cheers of victory. Elena felt overwhelmed by the praise. She wasn't used to that many people liking her.
The past king and queen of Neba welcomed her with open arms. They had heard about what had taken place on the field, and they were extremely proud. A vigil was held for the warriors who had lost their lives in battle, and a monument with their names on it was erected in their favour. Families of the late warriors were taken under the care of the Royal family.
Once they finally had some private time to themselves, Calhoun didn't waste any more time and immediately started to ravish her. He missed her; immensely. As he held her tightly in his arms, he poured out the fear, the desperation, the pride and the anger he felt on the field. He was relieved that, in the end, his love was okay.
They were both okay.
The preparations to start leading the four kingdoms started almost immediately. As Elena was now connected to the three of them, the only one she thought she might have a problem with was the Kingdom of Tush. Surprisingly, their king gave up without a fight. The fight with Firoza had apparently traumatized him.
Elion and Aaron started to build their small Kingdom of Balaksa. They decided to build it in the forest surrounding the King's Castle, as the Balaksa were originally the guards of the blood king.
Calhoun gave his wife more power than he usually did when they were in the early stages of their marriage. Then, he was afraid that she wouldn't be able to take the bulk of it and that she wasn't strong enough. Still, Elena had proved to herself time and time again that she was not to be overestimated.
Because they spent most of their time working, Calhoun's mother suggested having a wedding. She said that though Elena's family never said anything, they would wish to attend their daughter's wedding. Calhoun didn't have a problem with it, and shyly, so did Elena. Satisfied, the queen proposed a date sooner than they had expected.
Invitations were sent out to the King and Queen of Neba, Wazir, Mac, and a few other officials in the Kingdom. Some other officials in Pres were formally invited to her wedding, and the same was said for the Kingdom of Tush.
Elion and Forest helped her prepare for the wedding, and it was fun watching Forest panic more than she did. Forest had grown more beautiful, even mature, since the war's end. He was now a beauty, and women drooled wherever they saw him. Forest, of course, enjoyed the praise, but she and Elion suspected a woman whose praise Forest liked more than others. They had teased him about it several times, but he brushed it off, blushing heavily.
When the day for the wedding arrived, the castle was filled to the brim. Elena had her grandmother, Elion and Forest with her.
"Oh my dear," her grandmother said, wiping off her tears. "I always hoped that this day would come. I didn't think it would come any sooner."
Elena hugged her grandmother. "You know, you can come over anytime you want. Calhoun's mother is probably tired of her husband following her around, and you both seemed to hit it off once you met each other."
"Yes. Surprisingly we have a lot in common." They both giggled. There was a knock on the door, and Elion opened it, inviting the visitor inside.
"Mac!" Elena exclaimed once she saw who it was. Mac walked over to her, teary-faced, and enveloped her in a hug.
"Oh, my dear. I can't believe I am not going to see you again." He said. Elena found herself tearing up. When she left the Kingdom of Pres, Mac was the first father figure she had. He had a special place in her heart, and that was why she helped him broaden his restaurant, "RED QUEEN," in all the four kingdoms. The restaurant never lacked customers and was the most popular in all the kingdoms. Mac had changed from being the restaurant owner of a building on the verge of collapse to being the richest restaurant owner ever. One could even see his wealth pouring off him in the attire he wore and the way he had fattened up tremendously.
"Your restaurant is now in all the kingdoms, you can always have an excuse to visit. Whenever I also come to Neba, I would make sure to make a stop at your restaurant too."
"It's our restaurant. You own it just as much as I do." Mac said, smiling proudly.
"Okay guys," Forest called out. "It's time. Let's start moving."
Mac hugged Elena for one last time, and her grandmother placed a kiss on her forehead, then they both left the room. She remained where she was, trying to curb her nervousness. Then when she had gotten most of it under control, Elion and Forest escorted her to the main hall. They handed her over to her grandfather, who would walk her down the aisle.
"You are beautiful." He whispered to her, pride in his eyes. Blushing, Elena thanked him.
The music began, and her grandfather gave her his arm, which she gently held unto. They slowly walked down the aisle, and Elena saw the faces of the friends she had made and her family; she saw her grandmother, Mac, even old man Porv. Her eyes widened when she saw him, and he passed her a discreet wink. Some of the officials from Pres were also there, like Cotan Loki and his son, Afang Loki. They bowed to her once her gaze passed them. She saw other friends she had made in the blood kingdom, and finally, she saw her husband.
He was majestic in his traditional suit. Elena had always thought him broodingly handsome, but now, she knew that was an understatement. The way he looked at her caused her to blush profusely. Knowing her husband, she already knew what was going on in his mind.
Her grandfather handed her over to Calhoun and went back to join his wife.
Calhoun's father was the one to lead the ceremony, and he smiled at her once she reached the altar.
Once he started all the formal sayings one does at a wedding, Calhoun looked at her intensely, holding her hands in his and whispered,
"I love you."
She smiled, trying to hold in her tears, as she replied, "I love you too."
And at the end of the day, when all was said and done, she again became, The Blood King's Bride.
THE END.