“Is everything alright?” I asked, kneeling down beside the bed.
“Everything is fine.” She ran her fingers through my beard and gazed into my eyes. “The best it’s ever been actually.”
She was everything.
How did I ever think I could leave her?
She gave me one last bright smile before throwing off the quilt and rising with a stretch. Her braid hung down the middle of her back, the golden hairpin Marta had given her still holding tight to the strands. Humming to herself, she thumbed through the stack of dresses, pulling out a white gown with a deep emerald bodice.
“Do you think Elric told Marta?” she asked as she pulled the dress over her head.
I shook my head. “No, she would have burst through the door of the cottage last night if he had.”
Iris made a choked sound and grabbed her chest. “That would have been embarrassing.”
“It would have,” I said with a laugh. “But Elric knows I should be the one to tell her. She’s waited a long time for this.”
Iris laced up her boots before slipping on her coat. “Then let’s not keep her waiting.”
Together, we traipsed through the snow to the farmhouse, where a thick plume of smoke was already wafting from the chimney.
I lifted my hand to knock on the door, but it whooshed open before my fist could make contact.
“Selvyn,” Elric huffed. “You know you don’t have to knock. Just come on in. Especially when we’re expecting you.” He stepped to the side and ushered us through the doorway.
“Go on and have a seat at the table, m’dears. I’ll be out with breakfast in a jif,” Marta bellowed from the kitchen.
The three of us sat at the table, with Iris sitting next to me and Elric taking his place across from us.
He was in his youthful form today, and from the looks of the wide smile on his face, he was practically bubbling over with excitement.
That explained why he was so quick to come to the door.
Iris glanced at Elric, then at me, before forcing a tight smile. “Well, breakfast smells good.”
Elric tsked and rubbed his temples. “I swear if she doesn’t come in here soon…I don’t know how much longer I can wait.”
“Elric,” I said with a laugh. “You’ve waited all these years. What’s a few minutes longer.”
“What can wait?” Marta hurried out from the kitchen with baskets and plates loaded with food floating along behind her. “Don’t tell me you’re already rushing back to the caves, Selvyn. Surely you can wait until after breakfast.”
Iris bit her lip, fighting back a smile.
“Why don’t you have a seat, Marta,” I said.
She set the dishes down on the table with a loud thud and put her hands on her hips. “What is it?” she asked, cocking her head and leveling her gaze on me. “Is everything alright?”
I decided I should keep it simple.
“I’m staying.”
She slapped her hand over her mouth, rushing over to me with a squeal and wrapping her arms around me. “Oh, Selvyn,” she murmured with her face buried in the crook of my neck. “I’ve been waiting for so long to hear that.”
“I know you have.” I hugged her tighter. “Thank you for never giving up.”
Marta pulled away and blotted the tears running down her face with her apron. “I’m just happy you’ll get the chance to have a normal life.” She hurried over to Iris and enveloped her in a hug. “This is everything we hoped for, m’dear.”
“It is,” Iris said, “but we still have to come up with a plan.”
