Zarvan saw Fiore dig her hands into the dirt, the soil bubbling and re-surfacing all the injured and survivors. She looked unsteady as she walked towards him. She grabbed him by the collar, careful not to harm him, she smiled a desperate smile as she questioned, "Are you happy Zarvan?". Zarvan held Fiore in his arms finally having her within reach, "Very".

     Fiore blinked and blinked once again, her mind steady as she saw herself in the mirror. Dressed in white satin, she was made into a full-fledged Empire bride covered in the finest fabric and jewels. She never dreamed her wedding day would be like this, all alone, waiting to be summoned She stood and wandered the halls of the castle she was in, there were no servants or guards. He knew she wouldn't run, but she saw the most wonderful sight as she made it to the open garden. How many years had it been since she saw him, he had wavey black hair, and milky brown eyes now, dressed in an all-black military suit, his face angelic the moment he saw her.

     Faris stood guard by the connection between where the bride and groom sections. There was a garden in the middle, so when it was his turn to take a break he wandered into the open section. As he admired the garden he remembered Fiore, it had been 5 years since he last saw her and with each day he missed her more and more, but he felt he didn't deserve to be next to her. To the man who murdered her father and who could do nothing but watch as her territory burned to the ground. As he wallowed in self-pity he gritted his teeth, with the new body he had he could decimate cities, but he couldn't help the woman he loved go free. As he lifted his head he noticed the flowers began to bloom, he turned around and saw her.

     Fiore ran to her beloved Faris and kissed him like it was the final time she would ever see him. Faris returned the gesture as he held her tightly trying to keep themselves connected for as long as possible. Fiore felt herself growing desperate as she clawed at Faris, dragging him back to her room and he followed. Shrouded in darkness they felt like they could finally be together.

     Fiore and Faris dreamt of their wedding day, the villagers helping Fiore with her peach-colored dress, they would laugh as she helped braid flowers into their hair. She would meet with Nyssa as he gave his blessing to Faris. She would then walk hand in hand with her beloved to the altar. Flower petals would fall and flowers would bloom for them and finally, when the village head would bind them forever, they would lean in. But, before they could join for a kiss, their fantasy ended. 

     Zarvan felt a disturbance at his center, a sense of happiness and warmth that wasn't his. Zarvan had never had a saint connected with him so the feeling was new to him. He then turned to one of his Knights, "Where is Faris." 

"It was time to change shifts, your Highness, the last guard saw him leave towa the garden. It has already been about an hour, sir". 

     Zarvan ran out of his section and through the corridors and concentrated on where Faris was. He could feel like he could see something through Fari's eyes and saw Fiore in the dark her eyes, glowing looking down at him before the image disappeared. He growled as he made his way to Fiore's section and broke down the door. Zarvan became enraged as he found them both still entwined, Fiore, beaming at her groom as she lay on her lover's chest. 

     She covered the room in a thick veil of roses for privacy, but it was taken away just as fast as Zarvan made them wither. However, the couple had already stood and bowed, innocently as Zarvan was seething with rage. Zarvan raised his hand at Faris and struck him, cutting him across his face, but Faris only smiled as the wound healed. He knew Zarvan couldn't kill him because it risked Fiore leaving after the wedding, so he made it so they would willingly stay apart. "After today if Fiore sees you, you will kill anyone around you then yourself, Saint Faris", Zarvan said as he pulled Fiore to his side. Faris's smile disappeared but his face was still determined as he bowed and left. 

     Zarvan looked at his beautiful bride, pulling Fiore's face close, and attempted to kiss her, but she slapped him away as she sat before her vanity, "Our deal was marriage, you took my beloved, my father, and even destroyed my village. Do not think will go beyond that". Zarvan scoffed, "I have given you a new start my darling, nothing holding you back, and a pristine kingdom we have built together is nothing to scoff at". 

     "Built reluctantly I may add. Can you please leave I don't want to see you more than I have to", Fiore said stoically. Zarvan smirked, "You will see it my way, it's just a matter of time".

     Fiore opened her eyes and was in front of all her guests, and they could all tell something was wrong with this farce. The ceremony was held outside, everyone was dressed in black as the decorations, flowers, and satins were all in white, the Emporer couldn't help but turn away from his brother. Even though he didn't know the entire story, he knew Fiore wasn't there willingly. Fiore made it to the altar but drowned out all the noise. The promises, and the trials and tribulations she would have to promise, she couldn't help but think of only Faris. The Emporer continued, "Zarvan do you take Fiore to have and to hold for as long as you may live,", Zarvan beamed with pride, placing a diamond ring on her finger. "And you Fiore, do you-", as the Emporer repeated she stared at Faris who stood behind Zarvan with the rest of his knights. She missed how he used to look but it was still him, she then heard the Emporer end his sentence and as she looked at Faris she somberly smiled, "I do".

     There was no reception and Fiore and Zarvan rode back to Fiores new reformed kingdom. As they rode close, you could see how the kingdom let off a beautiful pink hue, how roses bloomed in every corner, and the new castle looked like crystal poking out from the center. Zarvan and Fiore stepped out of the carriage as the servants greeted them at the entrance, no one could take their eyes off her. As Zarvan looked around, everything was perfect, even some of the people looked more beautiful.

     As they entered they found themselves alone. Fiore immediately turned to her husband and gave a curtsey, "This is where we part, I don't want to see you ever again". Zarvan looked confused. "You keep spouting nonsense my darling. Why don't we sit and talk-". Fiore turned her back on him. "The day we chat will be your final one", she then disappeared as he talked, leaving him all on his own. The start of a loveless marriage commenced.

     Years passed like this and Fiore refused to see Zarvan. The kingdom grew prosperous but no one saw Fiore, she would have seen more like a myth if she were not ruling from the shadows. Zarvan spent day by day trying to get her attention, even a glimpse of her was impossible, but she never gave him the time of day. It took a toll on his psyche, having the love of his life so close, but unable to touch her was torture. Gone were the days he laughed with her, talked to her, looked at her. Years went through like a daze until he caught a glimpse of something peculiar in the castle gardens. Trying to feel a morsel of her he saw something basked in sunlight, a tiny figure with a familiar aura. His eyes widened at the revelation, feeling like he turned back time. As he approached, she turned: big rainbow eyes and an aura of beauty, an innocent facade he had seen long ago in their first meeting.

     Fiore ran through those empty halls as a little boy resembling her, ran with her, "Adora!", she cried trying to find her quickly. She soon made her way towards the gardens and went pale as she saw a horrific sight. Zarvan held on to Adora tightly, Adora crying to be let go, Fiore ran at full speed screaming, "GET AWAY FROM HER!". She collided with Zarvan, grabbing her little girl. Zarvan was still in his daze, but the moment he saw Fiore...he felt a surge of questions coming to mind. He began to laugh maniacally, "Is this what has taken up all your time, a little prince and princess...if you are going to leave me you have to give me one. Come on don't be selfish". Fiore looked at him with disgust, " Have you gone insane?". Zarvan gritted his teeth, "Insane, you know what's insane? Hiding two bastard children when your husband is right there. Do they even know their father?". Fiore looked on in horror, as she felt his next move would be the most possible one. She held on to her children closed her eyes and heard Zarvan say, "Faris! Would you please introduce me". 

     Faris opened his eyes and he was now in front of Fiore, he was immediately horrified as he saw his two little ones crying out to him. Zarvan laughed as he ordered, "Make her open her eyes or I'm killing you while you hold the children". Faris could not resist, but Fiore shouted, "Wait!....meet with me. I will open my eyes and end all of this, just....give me an hour...I will stop running". Zarvan stopped his command as agreed, "One hour, not a second after".

      

     Zarvan waited with Faris and then a maid came to get. She led them to an isolated room, it was quickly closed off and the only thing that could be seen was Fiore facing away. She kneeled as she caressed a flower-decorated urn on the floor. He felt it odd but paid it no mind. He felt like he had finally won and all that was needed was just one final hurdle. He then directed Faris to Fiore.

     Faris turned her around and gave her one last kiss, "My dearest Fiore, please know I will always love you and maybe this was the only way to get back a semblance of your freedom". Fiore's tears began to fall and as she slowly opened her eyes, Faris dug a knife deeper into her throat. When she fully opened them, she only saw his corpse on the floor. She would have hoped he would have turned back to his original self, but it was too much to ask. She again turned away, trying to help herself calm, it was all going to be over soon