“Come on!” Emmeline said as she moved the branches and brush out of her way.

“Where are we going?” Silas said, furrowing his eyebrows.

“You’ll see,” Emmeline said, tugging on Silas’s shirt. Silas grinned shyly and stepped forward. Emmeline stared at his blushing face and laughed, “What are you thinking about, pervert?”

Silas’s face grew deep red as he coughed. He took a step forward, trying to quickly pass Emmeline, but he tripped on a twig in the path. Emmeline giggled as he tripped slightly, and she grabbed his arm to steady him. 

“Did you drink too much?” Emmeline laughed, grabbing Silas’s hand and guiding Silas through the brush.

“Maybe?” Silas said, laughing, “They kept giving me drinks, and I couldn’t turn them down.”

“I can tell.” Emmeline laughed, emerging from the brush to a small clearing. Silas gasped as he looked around, taking in the breathtaking scenery. The clearing was a small meadow with a quaint pond on the far side, with ducks gently floating in the calm water. Fireflies let off little lights as they buzzed around Emmeline and Silas. It was their own little hideaway.

“How did you find this?” Silas asked incredulously, laughing, “I thought we found all the hidden meadows like this.”

Emmeline grabbed Silas’s arm again and pulled him forward, “I found this while you were gone. I wanted to show you earlier, but I wanted it to be special, so-” Emmeline held out her arms and turned around, “Here it is! Do you like it?”

Silas approached Emmeline and turned her around, grabbing her waist and giving her a gentle kiss, “Shouldn’t I be the one showing you something like this?” Silas asked, raising an eyebrow. Emmeline playfully slapped Silas’s arm.

“When have we ever followed the rules?”

Silas paused, thinking.

“You’re right. Why start now?” They laughed as their lips met once more.

“Alright, wait! There’s one more thing we have to do before that!” Emmeline said, pulling away slightly from Silas. She looked around, listening, “It should start any second now.”

Silas furrowed his eyebrows with curiosity, but remained silent as Emmeline listened to the birds singing to each other and the small breeze gently moving the grass in the meadow. Emmeline closed her eyes, and Silas followed her lead, listening.

That is when Silas heard it.

The quiet sounds of music, quickly crescendoing.

Silas opened his eyes in surprise as Emmeline also opened hers. She smiled at Silas’s happy confusion.

“It’s the music from the party?” Silas asked.

“Yeah, we’re not far from the band.” Emmeline said, “And I have this!” She pulled out a magic amulet from a poach tied to her dress, where the music from the party was clearly coming out. 

“Where did you get a sound crystal?” Silas said, looking at the light pink amulet, which had the ability to project sound from anywhere.

“I borrowed it.” Emmeline said, putting the jewel around her neck as the quick, rhythmic music came to an end and a traditional, elven slow song began to sweetly sing from the crystal.

“Well, may I have this dance?” Silas asked with a dramatic bow. Emmeline laughed and fanned herself with her hand, pretending to swoon.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Silas swept Emmeline in his arms and the two looked into each other’s eyes as they danced, spinning to and fro as time seemed to slow around them. It was the perfect ending to the perfect day, though the two laughed as they thought about everyone’s reactions when the village realized they disappeared.

With that thought, the music from the amulet abruptly ended, which was replaced by voices calling out for the newlywed couple. They both laughed a little as they released each other and began the walk back to the villagers. But as they began to clear the brush and re-enter the village, Emmeline pulled on Silas’s arm one more time. 

“Silas, wait.” Silas stopped and turned as Emmeline looked down and bit her lip nervously, “I want to tell you something before we return. I know this is a horrible time to mention it, so I just want to say it and then let it go, okay?” 

Silas laughed, but his face quickly turned serious as he saw how agitated Emmeline was, “What’s wrong, Emmeline?”

She took a moment to collect her thoughts before she said, “When I’m… no longer in this world-”

“Emmeline!” Silas said, shocked at Emmeline’s sudden turn of mood. Emmeline quickly held up her hand to hush Silas.

“No, I need to say it. If I don’t, I’ll always regret it.” She took a shaky breath in, “When I’m no longer here, I want you to be happy. And I want you to be able to find someone else-”

“For the Gods’ sakes Emmeline, we just got married! I don’t want to talk about death or losing you!” Silas said, holding Emmeline’s arms as he grew concerned and slightly annoyed. Emmeline shook off Silas’s arms and sighed in frustration.

“I don’t want to either, but when I saw you back there, in the meadow, so full of happiness-” She stopped, trying to hold back tears, “If I were to die tomorrow, Silas, which is a strong possibility with my illness, I want you to know that you’ve made me the happiest I’ve ever been, and I want you to be able to find that happiness with someone else after I leave you.”

“Emmeline, I love you. I don’t, and won’t, want anyone else, but you.” Silas shook his head, as he whispered, “I will never love anyone as much as I love you.”

Emmeline stepped up to Silas and took his gentle, distraught face in her hand. It hurt her so much to say these things to Silas, but her fear of dying suddenly and not being able to tell him forced the words out of her mouth. 

Silas in return brought his hand up to Emmeline’s hand and wrapped his hand around her’s. “Just promise me you won’t mourn me too long, okay? Promise me you’ll find happiness after I leave you.” Silas squeezed his eyes shut and did not respond, “Promise me, Silas. Please.”

Silas remained silent as the voices of the villagers began to grow closer to them.

“Please?”

As the villagers began to approach, howling and laughing at the returned couple, Silas opened his eyes and whispered, “I promise.” 

Emmeline smiled and closed her eyes, letting a tear run for a moment down her face before she wiped it away and laughed at the approaching elves.

“We just wanted some alone time!” Emmeline called with a laugh, stepping away from Silas. Everyone laughed and cheered, but Emmeline walked up to them and began to lead them away.

“Come on, Silas! We’ve still got some partying to do!” One of the young elven men cried, lifting his drink.

“Yeah, I’ll be right there.” Silas said dismissively as he passed by them and walked in the opposite direction of the party, “I just need to sober up a bit first.”

The other elves became quiet as Silas walked away, but Emmeline forced herself to laugh as she led the group back to the party.

“Come on, Silas just drank too much! He’ll be right back after he sobers up! Let’s get back to the party!” Silas could hear Emmeline say as the two split in two different directions.

The cool night air stung Silas’s red, flushed cheeks as he stumbled away. His eyes were watery, clashing against his childish face. Silas wanted to walk further away, but as his legs began to feel fatigued, he decided to stop. He found a tall tree in the thin forest he had stopped in and climbed up quickly. When he finally reached the top, he balanced his legs on two sturdy branches and let the gentle breeze caress his tired face.

Why would Emmeline say such things? Especially on our wedding day?

Silas could not help but feel frustration building up in his chest, but he tried to push it down as he looked at the landscape and the clear night sky. As he glanced out, Silas could not help but think of the night he and the other elves broke into the humans’ palace and murdered all those people. His hands tingled as he remembered strangling the knight to death.

But then in his mind flashed the young child Silas had saved.

But had he really saved that child?

Did the child live once he was outside the castle?

Or did someone or something end his short life once he left Silas?

Silas suddenly burned with a curiosity to know what happened to the young child. Silas could ask around, but he knew he would have to be careful. Elves would not take kindly to hearing Silas asking about a human, especially one he saved.

If only I could see that child one more time. Then I would know for sure.

And then Silas would know that out of all the violence he partook in, one good thing came of it.

...