After their lovemaking, Miria and Asher remained lying against each other near the spring, still a little short of breath. The moon was reflected in the water, and the silence was disturbed only by the soft lapping of the spring and their breathing gradually calming.
Asher was absently stroking Miria's hair. Then, without a word, he sat up slightly, searched in the pocket of his jacket lying nearby, and took out a small dark box.
Miria rose on one elbow, surprised.
"Asher…?"
He half-knelt on the blanket, opened the box, and revealed a simple but elegant ring, adorned with a stone that seemed to capture the light of the moon.
"Miria… I spent centuries finding you again. I lost you, I searched for you, and I loved you in every life. I never want to let you go again. Not in this one. Not in the next ones."
He raised his eyes to her, his gaze deeply sincere.
"Will you marry me?"
Miria remained silent for a moment, tears in her eyes. Then a luminous smile lit up her face.
"Yes… Yes, of course yes."
Asher slid the ring onto her finger, then pulled her against him in a long, tender kiss. They remained embraced for a long moment, their hearts finally at peace.
---
Months passed.
The wedding day arrived.
In the girls' suite, the excitement was at its peak. Miria was sitting in front of the mirror while Katrina, Isabella, Kira, Marlie, Diana and Alix busied themselves around her.
"Don't move, I'm going to attach your veil," Katrina said with an emotional smile.
"You're magnificent," Isabella murmured.
"Asher is going to lose all composure when he sees you," Marlie added, laughing.
"He already looks like he's about to have a panic attack," Alix said. "I ran into him earlier, he was white as a sheet."
Miria smiled, a little nervous herself.
"I just hope I don't trip while walking."
"You won't trip," Diana reassured her. "And even if you do, we'll be there to catch you."
On the other side, in the boys' suite, the atmosphere was different… but just as lively.
Klaus brandished a bottle.
"Come on, a drink. For courage."
Asher raised an amused eyebrow.
"It's a bit poorly timed for my bachelor party, isn't it?"
"Too late for that," Klaus answered while pouring the glasses. "Besides, while the girls are in their lounge doing girl stuff… the men have to keep busy, right?"
Everyone nodded. Gale, Ray, Axel, Eiden, Bryan and Asher raised their glasses.
"To Asher," Gale said. "And to the woman who had the courage to marry him."
They clinked glasses and drank in one go.
Later, at the ceremony site, Asher was waiting in front of the altar, visibly nervous. Eiden leaned toward him.
"It's normal to be stressed. It's the most important day of your life. But if you want to back out… there's still time."
"No," Asher answered immediately. "Never."
At that moment, Bryan arrived running, looking panicked.
"Asher! Asher!"
"What now?"
"Miria called me… she said she's not marrying you anymore."
Asher's eyes widened, the blood draining from his face.
"What…?!"
Bryan burst out laughing.
"I'm kidding!"
Asher punched him on the shoulder.
"You're really an idiot. You're stressing me out even more."
A soft music then rang out. Alixia and Ikan entered first, followed by Katrina, Isabella, Kira, Marlie, Diana and Alix. Then, finally… Miria appeared.
Asher remained frozen. His eyes widened so much it looked like they were going to pop out of their sockets. She was magnificent. The veil, the dress, the smile… everything about her seemed unreal.
The ceremony unfolded in a palpable emotion. The vows were simple, sincere. When they kissed, the applause and the tears mixed together.
The buffet that followed was joyful, noisy, filled with laughter and toasts. For the first time in a very long time, there was no more war on the horizon. Only life.