Episode 101: E is for Ever Part 3 (Eurydice)

Summer scents permeated the night heavy night air. Every flower that decorated the outskirts of the palace garden entranced Eurydice as she stepped outside, beside her father. One arm was looped with his and the other held a bouquet of peach and white flowers with green sprigs mixed in.

Endymion watched her every step, his eyes fixated on every inch of her. She watched him too, with his squared shoulders and chestnut brown hair. He had dazzling eyes that she could see more and more as she approached.

When she reached him, her dad set her hand free and kissed her cheek. She smiled at him, hoping for more than those few steps.

Endymion took her hand and smiled, and she was his. 

Her body was a warm glow of fire, like embers once the flame settled into small leaping waves.

“Hi,” she said.

Sparks danced between them.

“You… wow. Hi.”

Waves of heat churned through her and she grinned, “You look wow too.”

A full laugh rumbled from his chest as he led her the last few steps, to where his mom stood with a large goblet.

Endymion turned to face her, and held her hands in his.

It had begun.

His mom, Aadya, the queen, her almost mother, spoke the words to them and led them through their commitment to each other.

She could hardly hear the words as she repeated them back to Endymion, so when he spoke she listened closely.

“Eurydice of the Upper Dell, I give you my hand and my heart, as a sanctuary of warmth and peace, and pledge my love, devotions, faith, and honor.”

Eurydice’s heart pounded and she knew their fire had created an arbor of its own, surrounding them in a world of their own; impenetrable by any other force except that of a small, deep purple, dragon that flew to her shoulder and nestled against her skin.

He continued, “I will dream with you, always and everywhere, celebrate with you, and walk beside you through whatever our lives may bring.”

As he spoke, the heat built between them. As his voice wove through the last lines, she understood why he went second, as an Alandrial; It was his fire that defined their strength. He began glowing, brighter with each word, a blaze building inside of him. She met it with her own, strengthened through the bond they shared.

He glanced at the dragon again, in the expanse between words. Then smiled, the last lines prepared for him. “Your people will be my people. Your god will be my god. For you are now bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, and fire of my fire.”

Their bodies burned together, and they each took a sip from the goblet.

His mom pronounced them husband and wife.

Hear heart beat in fury as he reached behind her back and arched her toward him. She leaned with his pull, and their fires merged as one, his lips pressed against hers. He held her there, in the first moment of time that they would be each others, until the fire began to recede and the noise of the audience became audible again.

She was his, as surreal as standing in front of him as his wife was. Every scent and light and sound felt less real and more intense than anything she had come across yet. The waves of uncertainty subsided into a pool of love for Endy.

It was entrancing, impossible, true.

“How are you?” he whispered, as he led her down the rows of family and friends.

“Better than imaginable,” she replied. “You?”

Endy smiled and squeezed her hand. “Having the best day of my life.”

Eury felt the heat of fire building again, but she washed it away with the soothing flow of water, “I had tea.”

It had been a long afternoon, running around looking for a dress that she loved and sorting out how to get tea, so that she could avoid becoming a parent until some other time. She knew the Alandrials were pro-reproducing, but talking to Aadya had calmed her concerns about it being an urgent need.

She felt Endy’s skin tingle with waves of heat in her hand, and his body radiate beside her. “First person in my family to bother with the stuff,” he teased.

Eury laughed. Adjusting to him, and how easy he was to talk to, after so long thinking conversation would be impossible, was her favorite part of the day. Just being with him felt soothing, beyond what her magic offered.

It was exciting too, She had hopes for new adventures and the endless potential of what they could spend their lives doing.

Their wedding was a representation of what their lives could be. They had a few hours and the family had thrown together a beautiful ceremony. Her family was there, thanks to the travel packs. There was an unlimited potential with him, that she knew she could fill her life exploring.

“How was your evening? Torture?” she asked Endymion.

“So good,” he replied. “Too long, but in a good way. What about yours?”

She was curious how he had spent all of the time. Her skin glowed with affection for him. “It was mostly good. Your mom is nice and Dreya came. She’s nice too.”

Dreya was Endymion’s twin sister. Eury was relieved they got along, because she could tell Dreya was important to Endy. Most of the twins were really close, as far as Dreya knew. Indigo was fun to be around, but a little intimidating. His mom was warm and attentive, everything Eury had expected and more.

“Dreya?” he asked, his pitch raised in surprise. “She’s… probably my favorite person ever, besides you. I hope Indigo was okay, she can come off wrong sometimes.”

“She didn’t,” Eury replied. “There was a lot of laughing; it was fun.”

They had almost reached the area set of for the reception, which was the seating area planned for lunches and tea during the upcoming festival. The tables were surrounded in trellises with flowers and ivy hanging along them and lights intertwined with the wood. The tables had peach tablecloths across their dark wood stain, and white and peach flowers filled vases running down the center. There was an archway of cotton candy they walked under. Eury took a piece as they passed beneath it.

“Everything is so pretty,” she told him. “I don’t think I could have planned something better with more time.”

“I’m shocked,” he replied. “I was expecting just simple because of time. I’m… you guys did an amazing job.”

She kissed him, and let her lips melt into the warmth of him.

“So, what do you want to do, now that you’re married,” she asked him.

“Go to a party?” he joked, his voice strained.

She wanted to go cuddle in his room too.

“It will pass quickly, I think” She hoped, at least.

He kissed her, his hand sliding from hers to behind her back. “What do you want?” he asked. “My mom gave us the rest of the week off from school.”

His hand fell from her back and he pulled a chair out for her. She kissed him before she sat down.Their table already had glasses of sparkling drinks, a tray of flat bread, and a lamb roasting across a fire – the sacrifice for their union.

As he sat, his hand rested on her back again.

“I want us to each show the other something we love doing in that time,” she replied.

The tables began filling with various faces, including some of the guests that had been staying at the palace in anticipation of the summer festival. Eury didn’t mind; she loved sharing her day with people who cared about Endy’s family. It was hard to be in the spotlight, but she had Endy. It was worth it.

“I guess each other doesn’t count?” he joked.

“Twice the time for the same thing?”

“Works,” he replied. He leaned back in his own chair and wrapped his arm across her shoulder. She loved the constant touches. She wanted him, more and more with every second that passed. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he kissed the top of it.

“But something for each of us too,” he added. “Mine will have to wait until we go back to school.”

“What’s yours?” Eury asked.

“Professor Kibel. There’s this thing you can do in his class which is hilarious once you notice.”

She tried to think of what it could be, but her mind came up blank. She had her idea though – she liked going to the shopping area near the pond and listening to student bands play music while snacking on different foods. Every week a different restaurant would host, which made the meals cheap.

“Okay. Mine will have to wait for tomorrow night. I’ve never seen you there, so you either don’t like it or you don’t know about it yet.” She hoped he would like it.

“Where is it?” he asked.

“The southeastern corner of the palace grounds.”

“So I just get to be surprised tomorrow?”

“I could tell you…” she teased. “Do you like music? or people?”

“Yeah, what kind? I like most stuff.”

“A variety. Students who play instruments go down to the shops at night and play,” she explained. She left out the other components, so there would still be some surprise.

“That sounds fun. Are they any good?” he asked as he tasted a FOOD.

“Some are amazing, some are lucky no one has burned their instruments.”

Endy laughed, “Do you play one?”

“No. Do you?”

Her skin burned a little, flush. “You may hear me sing,” she confessed. “I’ll try not to. I sound like an idiot.”

Phemia teased her all the time for her shower-time-opera and her homework humming.

“I bet you don’t,” Endy countered. “We should sing karaoke and make Nell’s night.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, maybe. Would you want to?”

She smiled and kissed him, “It would be memorable and fun.”

It would also be terrifying, but she wanted to do try it because the idea excited Endy.

“What song?” he asked. “No one’s ever done this at a family wedding before.” He buzzed with energy and his skin glowed. “Something we can’t sing right, for fun? Or something we can get mostly right, for each other?” he asked.

“Both,” Eury replied. She stood and took his hand in hers. “Start with one we can sing so we don’t scare people away, then one for us.”

Endymion smiled. She could feel a wave of content wash over him. “Yes. That’s perfect. And I’d mean every word of it, singing it to you.”

She took a deep breath as the heat washed over her body. Everything was so new and so right, everything had fallen into place with Endy.

She leaned in and kissed him again, flares of passion pulled their bodies closer.

When she pulled away, her cheeks burned with humility. She wanted him, more than anything she had ever wanted before, but they had hours of fun to fill their time with.

Endy pulled her toward the stage, and he spoke into the speaker. The band started, and they sang to each other. Then others took the stage and they ate the various dishes that represented both Dells. They danced, with each other, Endy with his mom and his dad’s girlfriend, her with his dad and her dad.

Her eyes never left him for too long; the way he moved across the floor without hesitation, the way he looked at his mom, how he was around all of his family.

Finally, it was just them again. Her chest hurt from laughing from a duet with Dreya. Endymion was waiting just off the stage and caught her in his arms. He pulled her against his chest and kissed her.

She looked into his eyes, his hands hot against her.

She leaned closer and whispered, “Let’s go upstairs.”

His hand slipped into his jacket, and he pulled a potion from his coat. “You ready to go?”

Before she could answer, he kissed her, and they were invisible thanks to the potion.

He led her away from the party and toward the stone edge of the main palace – her new home.

“This was a good idea,” she whispered.

“My family says too many embarrassing things,” he replied.

He kissed her again, his lips fire against hers. As he pulled away he slid a hand behind her back and another beneath her knees, lifting her into the cradle of his arms.

He kissed her again.

“This is our wedding, our night.”

Her body erupted in the chaos of water and fire and lust and love, building piece by piece from the strength of their bond.

She had never been so happy to have a bond, to have something so strong attach her to someone.

“How many days should I wait to tell you how I feel?” she asked him, teasing and alluding to the tide of feelings.

“Why are we waiting?”

Eury laughed, and he held her closer; secure against him.

“Because it’s fast,” she replied.

“It’s very fast,” he replied. “Did you panic?”

Cool water rushed over her, leaving bumps across her skin until her fire warmed her again. “A little. About some things.”

She had panicked in the dress shop, about intimacy and expectations and tea and anxiety. About the pace of the decision.

“Me too,” he replied.

She curled her body closer to him, “But, then Indigo said some horrible things and I remembered the bond doesn’t make mistakes.”

At sea, they were married the moment the bond formed. It was her upbringing that changed things; land.

He opened the door to his bedroom.

“It doesn’t,” he replied, “but I want you to know, even though today is because of the bond, forever is because it’s you. Getting to know everything that makes us us will be fun.”

He carried her into his room. It was lit by the light of dozens of candles, spread across the room. Little lanterns hung from his ceiling by invisible threads, and looked like they were floating. In the glow of the room, he was the brightest light. His skin was warm and he waited, while she took in every detail.

“Endy,” she said, breathless. She caught his eyes. “I love you. Even if it’s a lot bond, it’s true. I always will.”

It was possibly ninety percent today, but everyday she knew it would be more him and less the connection that clung between them tightly.

He laughed, the sound of his voice rich and full of fervor, “So not waiting at all about feelings?”

She laughed into his chest.

“I love you too,” he added.

She lifted her head toward him, her hand wrapped behind his neck, and kissed him. She deepened the kiss and let the evening, the day, the bond build between them.

Her lips brushed against his as she spoke, “You’re amazing.”

“You planned the wedding, I planned this. It’s nothing next to what you did, but I wanted it to be special for you.”

The anxious feelings were back, mingled with excitement and trust and love.

“It’s unforgettable,” she told him.

Endymion lowered her to his bed, their bed, and kissed her. His body was flush against her and she could feel his desire for her. His hands found her chest and he pushed against her. She wanted him, just as much, more. Too soon, he pulled away.

“Is your dress as complicated as it looks?” he asked.

Eurydice took deep breaths to slow her racing heart. “It’s just lacing.”

She turned onto her stomach, away from him. “Go ahead and free me,” she said, her voice shaking and her body quivering. She took a few deep breaths as his fingers trailed along the top of her dress, across her spine, and down the lacing. He settled on the bow, and began unlacing her. Every few seconds he would run his hands up her back, his fingers tracing her neck and burying themselves in her hair.

He kissed her, with each pause in progression. His soft kisses left burning memories on her skin.

Finally, he ran his hand up the center of her dress, beneath the loose lacing, then back down. Eurydice turned to face him, one hand pressed against the top of her dress as she stood.

He stood with her, and kissed down her body as the dress fell to the floor. He paused, with a hand encompassing each side of her, and kissed her.

He kissed back up her body, and found her lips.

He was her Endymion.

“Your turn?” she asked, in the calmest voice she could find.

He pulled her hips against him, then let her work on his own clothes. Piece by piece, she undressed him. She returned each kiss he had caressed her body with, with a kiss of her own. When he was free, standing before her, she tasted him for the first time.

His skin sparked and glowed and his fire built across his skin until it became impossible to tell which tendrils of fire belonged where.

He kissed her again, their lips melding as their bodies discovered the new sensation of each other’s skin. He led her back down onto the bed, and ran his hand down the center of her body until he found the core of her desire.

She let herself get lost in each touch, until the cool air of the room gave her a moment to open her eyes and look into the blue depths of his.

“Ready?” he asked her.

She took a slow breath. “Yes.”

Endy pressed himself into her, their bodies encased in flames, and the elixir – their life together- truly began.

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