THE STARS REFLECTED OFF THE STILL WATERS OF THE LAKE, as their light shimmered faintly as Artizea and Rhyssand approached the familiar spot. The cool night air wrapped around them, carrying the faint scent of flowers and the distant hum of nocturnal life.
Artizea folded her arms as she stopped by the water's edge, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Why here?" she asked
Rhyssand stepped closer, his eyes holding hers. "Because this is where everything changed for me," he said quietly. "When I realized I could not go through with my plan. When I fell for you. I was sent to destroy you," he continued, stepping closer. "To use you. But that night, and every night after, I knew I could not do it. I saw you for who you truly were—not just a Crown Princess but a woman who deserved so much more than what the world had to offer her."
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she reached for him. "You could've told me then," she whispered.
"I did not deserve to," he said, his voice breaking slightly. "Not after the damage I'd done already."
"Two flames,"
"A dragon and a sparrow. "
"They will burn brighter than the stars… or destroy everything in their path."
As she realized the moment had come—the moment that was foretold in the stars.
Her eyes locked onto his. The intensity in his gaze made her heart ache. "Rhys…I have to tell you something."
He tilted his head, his expression curious but calm, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You go first."
Artizea hesitated, the words catching in her throat. She had faced countless enemies, wielded unimaginable power, and carried the weight of an entire kingdom's expectations. But this—this was harder than all of it.
She swallowed hard, suddenly unsure of how to begin. The words were there, burning in her chest, but they felt impossibly heavy.
"I…" Her voice cracked, and she took a deep breath. "Rhys, I love you—but —don't say anything yet, I am not finished."
For a heartbeat, he just stood there, stunned. His eyes widened, his breath hitching as her words sank in. Artizea opened her mouth to say more,
Artizea hesitated, her hands fidgeting with the edge of her cloak. "For most of my life, I've carried the weight of a crown, of a prophecy, powers I did not fully understand. I thought love was something I could not afford, something that would only make me weaker."
She looked down, her voice growing softer. "But then you came into my life, you challenged me. You saw me for who I am—not just the inheritor of Tiamat. You saw me."
Rhyssand's gaze softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
She took a deep breath, her fiery eyes locking onto his. "I was just too afraid to say it, too."
For a moment, he was silent, his expression unreadable. Artizea felt her heart hammering in her chest, a flicker of doubt creeping into her thoughts.
Then, with a soft, almost disbelieving laugh, he stepped closer, closing the distance between them.
She shot him a glare, "What is it about me that is so funny to you?"
"Maybe It is the fact you have always had a way of surprising me, Princess," he said, his voice warm with affection.
His hands cupped her face with a gentle urgency, his gaze locking onto hers for a heartbeat before he leaned in and kissed her.
The world seemed to fall away—the smoldering ruins, the weight of their responsibilities, the remnants of the battle—all of it disappeared in the heat of the moment.
His lips were warm and firm against hers, a tangible answer to the emotions she had struggled to voice.
"You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that," he murmured, his voice low and filled with emotion.
Artizea's breath hitched as she froze, her heart racing, but then she melted into the kiss, her hands gripping the edges of his armor as if anchoring herself to him.
Time seemed to stretch, every second etched into her memory as his presence surrounded her, grounding her in a way nothing else ever could.
When they finally broke apart, their foreheads rested against each other's, their breaths mingling in the quiet air.
Rhys' voice was soft but filled with a quiet intensity. "Say it again," he whispered.
Artizea's lips curved into a faint, trembling smile. "I love you," she said, her voice steady despite the tears brimming in her eyes. "Your turn."
"Well," he began, his voice tinged with both humor and self-deprecation. He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as his wings gave a small, nervous twitch. As the silence lingered between them, Rhyssand took a deep breath, taking his hands, gently held hers, grounding them both in the moment.
"I have loved you from the moment I saw you the first time, the second, the third…" he began softly, his voice carrying the weight of every unspoken feeling. "Gods know I did from the very beginning, and those incredible fire eyes…" His voice grew quieter, his smile softening. "Those eyes, Tizea, are meant for curses…meant to shy away anyone who glances, but I remember praying to every star – I prayed you would one day look at me and say—" He paused, his words catching in his throat as a chuckle escaped him. "Tell me what you said. Just one more time."
Artizea smiled, a faint blush dusting her cheeks as she squeezed his hands. Her voice was warm, carrying a mix of affection and teasing as she said, "I love you."
Rhyssand's eyes gleamed as his smile widened. "That," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "I prayed you would one day feel what I felt, hunger, obsession, devotion…love." He pulled her closer, his forehead resting gently against hers as they both let the moment settle. For a moment, he was silent. Then, with a sudden burst of laughter, he swept her into his arms, spinning her around despite her protests.
Artizea leaned back slightly, her eyes narrowing playfully as a smile tugged at her lips. "Are you going to tell me why we are here, or do I have to guess?" she asked, crossing her arms and narrowing her dragon-bright eyes at him.
Rhyssand, now standing a few steps away, looked up at the sky. His eyes reflected the starlight, and there was a flicker of something vulnerable beneath his confident exterior. "I had a whole speech planned..But I fear nothing will top yours."
She giggled. "That was not your speech?"
"No, that was me being spontaneous, as your people call it. So Tonight, the stars will speak for me."
Before she could respond, he raised his hand toward the heavens. The stars seemed to shimmer in response, as though obeying his silent command.
Slowly, they began to move, shifting and connecting, their brilliance intensifying with each passing moment.
Artizea gasped as the constellations transformed into glowing words, suspended in the vastness of the night sky:
**"Will you marry me?"**
Her heart skipped a beat, and her breath caught in her throat. She turned to Rhyssand, who was now kneeling before her.
It was unlike any she had ever seen, crafted from starlight and infused with a radiant, otherworldly magic.
"Artizea," Rhyssand began, his voice steady but thick with emotion, "You are my sun, moon, and stars. You are my equal in power and my superior in my heart. From the moment I met you, you have been the axis my world turns upon. I've walked through fire, defied heaven, and would face a thousand more battles just to stand here with you now."
Her heart pounded in her chest, a fierce warmth spreading through her.
"Our love has defied every expectation, every obstacle," Rhyssand continued. "But I am here, standing before you, because I cannot imagine a future without you. I want to spend every moment proving how deeply in love I am with you, how unworthy I am of you, and how desperately I still want to be yours."
Tears glistened in Artizea's eyes, and she was struck speechless. In his hand was now a small object. A golden ring with a single crimson gem gleamed faintly in the moonlight. "I had asked your father for his blessing, but this was always meant to find you. One way or another."
Artizea's eyes widened as he took her hand, sliding a ruby ring onto her finger. "The real question is—will you have me, Artizea Pendragon?"
"Yes," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. Then, stronger, "Yes, Rhys. I will marry you."
Rhyssand's smile was brighter than the stars above as he pulled her into his arms. Around them, the constellations shimmered, as if celebrating their union, and the stars above them seemed to pulse with joy, their light casting the world in a silver glow. As they kissed under the constellation of his love, Artizea felt something profound settle in her soul. They were no longer just two beings bound by fate; they were now something eternal, their love written in the stars for all of eternity… For a moment, they stood there, lost in each other. Then, Artizea broke the silence. She had a complex, forgot about something very important.
Ba dum Ba dum Ba dum
This sound…
Artizea had heard it four times now. It was a high rhythm that could mean anything, but she knew…its true reason.
"Rhyssand," she began, her voice softer now, trembling slightly
He pulled back slightly to look at her, concern flashing in his eyes. Full name meant one or two things: Trouble or Trouble. "What did I do..?" he asked causiously.
Artizea tried so hard not to chuckle, but a giggle escaped as she reached for his hand, guiding it to her stomach. She took a deep breath, her fiery eyes meeting his yellow wrath. "I think I am pregnant."
He froze, the weight of her words hitting him like a wave. "What?"
"I said, I think—"
"You think?!" His eyes widened, then darted to her stomach, "But I did not…I swear I didn't—" his eyes shot back at her red robes, searching hers for confirmation, and when she nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. He immediately perished the impossible task of knowing the how and why, then dropped to his knees in front of her, his hands resting against her stomach as if he could already feel the life growing inside her. His hands, trembling slightly, rested gently on her hips. "Hello there," he said softly, his voice breaking with emotion as he leaned closer, resting his forehead against her stomach. "I am your dad."
The simple words carried the weight of worlds, and Artizea felt her breath hitch as tears welled in her eyes.
He rose to his feet to embrace her. His wings drooped slightly, encircling them like a protective cocoon. His arms slid around her waist, pulling her closer as he closed his eyes, letting the enormity of the moment wash over him.
Artizea's hands moved instinctively, her fingers threading through his hair before she wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close. "Promise me something," she whispered.
Tilting his head slightly to look up at her, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "Anything"
She smiled through her tears, her fingers brushing against the nape of his neck. "That we are in this together, Rhys. All of it. A Real Family, not whatever sick, reconstructive bullshit you have up there."
He chuckled then nodded, his forehead pressing firmly against hers once more, as though committing himself to this new life they were creating. "Together," he echoed, his voice filled with quiet determination and boundless love. "I swear it."
In that moment, the battle, the chaos, and the pain felt distant. All that mattered was the bond they shared and the life they were about to bring into the world.
Before the solemnity of the moment could fully settle, a familiar flurry of wings interrupted the silence.
Fin, Rhyssand's ever-opinionated sparrow, swooped in and landed unceremoniously on his shoulder.
"Well, well," Fin chirped, tilting his tiny head as if scrutinizing the crown atop Rhyssand's head. "I leave you alone for one second, and now you are a Father? I wonder how long you have been without knowing."
Rhyssand sighed, his lips twitching with the beginnings of a smile. "Fin, this is neither the time nor the place."
Fin puffed out his chest indignantly. "Oh, forgive me, Your Majesty," he said, his voice dripping with mock reverence. "But Someone still owes me," he perched on Rhyssand's shoulder, his tiny chest puffed out with pride. "Now that you are king, I expect a raise."
Rhyssand raised a brow, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "A raise? In what? Seed varieties?"
Fin huffed, fluttering his wings. "A cheap king, aren't you?"
Artizea could not help the giggle that escaped her lips, the sound light and melodic. "I think Fin does deserve a rise, after all he has done and sacrificed."
"Finally! Appreciation!" Fine chimed, nuzzling into her neck.
"Dramatic." Rhyssand scoffed. Then he turned to her, his expression exasperated but affectionate."And you are not helping."
Artizea covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. She extended her hand, and Fin perched delicately on her finger. "I think you are wonderful, Fin," she said, her voice teasing. "And you are going to be a wonderful guardian."
"Guardian?! Really?"
Rhyssand rolled his eyes, though his smile lingered. "Yes, well, only if you wish the commission."
Fin puffed up his tiny chest. "I will take it with the utmost pride! do not worry, your highness, I will not fail the little guy like how lord rhyssand failed you, one a upon a time—"
"That's enough out of you." With a gentle flick of his fingers, he shooed the sparrow off his shoulder, and it fluttered off. He shook his head, a chuckle slipping past his composure. His focus returns to Artizea.
"How good are you at lying..?" she asked.
"Very good, actually."
"Good, good."
"Why?"
"We need to hide this baby for at least 2 months; your life depends on it." She smiled sweetly.'What?"