Maethorion bound their hands together with a leather strap and said, “With the binding of their hands, we have bound their souls together for as long as they both shall live.” He then took the crown recovered, and cleaned, from the ashes of the late Queen Bronwyn and placed it on Zabrina’s head. “I now present Megildur and Zabrina as husband and wife, your High King and High Queen of Aerynth. You may now kiss your bride.”
Megildur took that opportunity to grab his new bride and give her a long and intense kiss. Even the cheering crowd did not deter him from his objective. He stepped back, turned himself and Zabrina to the crowd, and raised their hands, still bound by the leather strap.
Megildur announced, “My people, I promise the following.” He took a deep breath and gathered his strength, “From the rubble, we will rebuild! Out of the chaos, we will bring order! We will restore Aerynth to its former glory!”
He unsheathed Shadowbane from his waist and thrust the sword into the air. An intensified light shown from the sky onto the sword and the blade seemed to absorb the power from the sun. The pommel, guard, and the exposed hilt, reflected the bright light. The black blade emitted a dark glow. From the sky, a powerful roar of thunder emanated and an object descended from the Heavens. When the object reached the ground, everyone saw, it was the All-Father. Everyone, including the new High King and High Queen, knelt before Him.
“Rise, my children,” the All-Father commanded. He turned to face Megildur. “You have done well, High King Megildur. I knew you would prevail in the quest for Shadowbane.” He reached down and motioned for Megildur to hand him the mighty weapon, which the Aelfborn was more than willing to accommodate this request. The All-Father looked over the sword, “Thurin is such a brilliant craftsman. He always put a bit of himself in his work, such as the magnificent ring you wear, High Queen Zabrina.” She looked down at her ring and then to Megildur. Both were surprised by the fact that Thurin crafted the wedding ring. The High King looked back at Zeristan, who was grinning by this point.
The All-Father handed Shadowbane back to Megildur and continued by addressing everyone within Mellissar. “Megildur has restored my faith in all of Aerynth, which I must admit had faltered after I witnessed such betrayal against your previous High King. From this day forward, the gates to Heaven and Hell are open once more. Every mortal shall have only one life to live on Aerynth, so live it well. Of course, with restoring mortality, I would imagine conflict on Aerynth to take on a new meaning. Megildur, Zabrina, and their heirs will establish law and order to this once forsaken world.”
Megildur interjected, “Mighty All-Father, being Aelfborn I will be unable to sire offspring.” He glanced over to his bride who was saddened by this fact.
The All-Father reassured, “Do not worry my children. Immortality on Aerynth is not the only curse I lifted.” The God then placed a hand on Zabrina’s stomach, “She already carries your heir.”
Zabrina’s sorrowful expression changed to amazement with this news. She would now be able to have children with her new husband. She reached up and hugged the All-Father, “Thank you Almighty One!” The All-Father returned her embrace and turned to face the rest of the crowd, Megildur and Zabrina rejoiced at this information.
The All-Father proclaimed, “The Age of Strife has come to an end. All should rejoice as Aerynth now enters the Age of Aelfborn!” The God over Aerynth raised his arms and an intense glow radiated from his body. The people of Mellissar shielded their eyes. After a few moments, the blinding light was gone and so was the All-Father.
Over the next few weeks, Megildur secluded himself and Zabrina from the woes of Aerynth, to gain more bearing within their own lives. They both needed to contemplate everything that had occurred. In one day, Megildur became a King, a husband, and a Father…and his greatest challenge was yet to come.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
By day, Paul Francois is a mild mannered IT professional. He has been in the technology field for over 20 years. One day, in 2011, he started pondering story ideas until they leapt out of his brain and onto paper… onto the computer to be precise.
Join him as he discovers which genre suits his writing style best. Fantasy, Sci Fi, Thriller, or perhaps...all of the afore mentioned genres. The road is dreary and his journey long, sit back and enjoy a tale as we travel it together.
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--Paul Francois
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Shadowbane: Age of Aelfborn Page 26
