The whole group arrives at the entrance to the guild. Railings decorated with boughs of holly. Sounds of conversation and clinking of glass pitchers travel to the outside.

Lively music makes Will's feet tap. "Sindy, is Nerdeani here?"

"She should be helping Herman out with the cooking."

He quickly runs away to their confusion.  "Be right back!"

He returns with a large bouquet of pink tulips, white peonies, and lavender flowers for his niece.

He brings out his mandolin and strums quietly.

"Even after my time has passed,
May this spell always last.
May these flowers keep their color,
So that she may never see them get duller."  

His magic touches the flowers which sparkle upon contact. Sindy's eyes well up from his final gift to his niece. Always thinking of others is what she will miss about him.

He crouches down and gently grasps her hands. He squeezes them as if he's giving her his strength to continue. "Do you need some time, Sindy?"

She swallows the lump in her throat. "I will be okay." He knows it was a lie, but he doesn't push her.

His family follows him from behind. He scans around and sees varieties of orcs, dwarfs, cat like people, humans, and elves drinking and playing cards.

Hastrabena is snuggling with her husband near the fireplace with a blanket over them.

"Mother!" Ghulnea calls out.

She looks over to see the group. Her auburn eyes blink multiple times as if some joke is being played on her. She thinks it's just the amount of ale that she drank. She taps her husband's arm and they get up.

"Happy Winter Solstice!" They greet to everyone as they walk over. She hugs her daughter and granddaughter.

"You both look so cute!" She cheerily says.

"Barriba looks just like her mother," her husband compliments.

"Gwaah!" Barriba proudly responds in a periwinkle onesie.

"Hastrabena, it's good to finally see you," William chimes in. The dwarven couple is about to laugh until the bard crouches down to their eye levels. Hastrabena's jaw drops in disbelief from seeing black pupils instead of white.

"C-Can you really see us?" She asks to clarify. He softly grasps her hands without needing to feel for them. He looks directly into her eyes.

"You're just as I imagined in my head. Your auburn eyes suit you," he warmly smiles.

An exhale leaves her mouth as her mind tries to process his words.

"Mother and father-in-law, my dad used a spell to see," Gulak bluffs to hide the real reason.

A beaming smile from ear-to-ear forms on her face. She latches onto him. "How does it feel to see everything and everyone?"

"It's a blessing."

"It sure is. You must have been happy to see what your family looks like."

"I really am. I wanted to enjoy the winter solstice with all of my senses. Let everyone know," he encourages.

She shakes her head. "Announce it, you mischievous bard."

"Why do you call him that, honey?"

She hides the blush on her face from her husband. "It's an inside joke," before kissing him on the lips.

William Bennett-Ramirez takes a deep inhale. "Let's drink to regaining my vision!"

Silence drops onto everyone. Heads turn in his direction.

"I remember your voices, but it's good to put them to faces. Let's drink to get reacquainted," he waves to everyone in different parts of the room. Mel holds the flowers for him.

All of the guild members hop from their seats to see for themselves. Exhales and shouts of joy erupt past the ceiling.

"Do you remember me?" A woman with a "chocolat" accent walks over. asks. Her long blonde hair curls at the end to complement her soft face and brown eyes.

"Julia. I can never forget your accent," he quickly answers. She gives him a quick peck on the cheek for answering correctly.  She steps back out of respect for his wives.

His guild lifts him up in the air and take him to the bar. His family and friends follow after him.

"Elajor!" A female elf with short brunette hair calls out.

"Yes?"

"Herman needs your help with the pudding!"

The male elf blushes, knowing the man from Germ he loves is as good a chef as him. The cups of pudding had been settled without issue. Herman wipes the sweat off his head with a clean towel. His short brown hair gets rustled by Elajor's hands.

"You said you needed help, but everything looks fine."

"It was getting crazy, liebling (darling), but I do need help with one thing," he brings out two spoons and two pudding cups. "Taste test. I recommend small spoonfuls."

Elajor is curious why he's acting like this. He decides to listen and takes a small spoonful. He tastes it......and smiles.

"Pleasant, my freund (boyfriend). Absolutely wonderful."

"Keep eating," Herman eyes him carefully. After a few more spoonfuls, the flames of the stove dance on something sparkling.

"Did you add glitter? No, it's too bright for that."

"Dig it out," he casually tells him.

He almost drops the cup, but Herman catches it.....right into a kneeling position. The elf is choking up on happy tears as Herman cleans up the diamond ring.

"Elajor, I appreciate your company and time. I want to be your husband. Will you marry me?"

The elf shakes his head up and down as he tries to speak.

The man from Germ is perplexed. "Are you saying no?"

The elf crouches down to cup his soft face. "I want to marry you. I accept."

Herman grins and places the ring on his finger. The human and elf smooch. Elajor runs out of the kitchen with his fiancé in tow.

"We're getting married!" He announces to everyone. More cheers erupt for another joyous occasion.

"More beer is needed! Have a happy marriage!" Will raises his pitcher. Bumva and their family raise their glasses as well. They all drink.....

Hector makes a disgusted face from the sip of his beer. "Nanka, do you-"

His jaw drops as his sister keeps drinking until it's empty. She stops and wipes her mouth. She then takes Hector's pitcher and does the same thing.

"I don't see a problem with it. Maybe it's youuuu," before stumbling a little bit. Will catches his daughter to regain her balance. "Why am I - hegh- dizzy?"

He helps her into a seat. "You need to take it slow since you're part human. I think you hit your limit, but it will get better once you're older." He keeps watching to check her condition. Her body shudders and he thinks she's about to....

BEEEEEEEELCH! She covers her mouth. "Ex-Excuse me!"

"Just like her mother!" Yarlg half jokes. The others laugh which makes her feel better.

"Your mom can drink almost anyone under the table. Including me," her father mentions.

"No - hegh- way," before her head leans onto his arm.

"Shhh. Shhh", he strokes her hair. Her eyes feel heavy until they slam shut.

"She's out like a light," Hector jokes.

"Beer is definitely her thing. Maybe wine is yours?" Melody guesses.

"Nope. I gave him some, but he made the same face. Not an alcohol person," Jaime answers.

Some time passes and Nanka wakes up with slight pain in her head. She rubs her temples.

"Drink some water," her father had prepared several glasses for her. She gladly gulps them down. A plate of warm, fresh bread is set before her by Elajor.

"Never drink on an empty stomach," he advises. Nanka rips off a piece and offers it to her father. He smiles before taking it into his mouth. His daughter eats the rest to offset her mild hangover. Thanks to her orc genetics, it subsides.

"Feeling better?"

"I am. Thanks, father," before embracing him.

"How's the beer?"

"Perfect."

The bard notices what she really meant and hugs her back. "You will have more memories along the way. Your mom has several drinking games she can teach you."

"Hopefully, I won't be a lightweight like Hector," she jokes before slowly letting go. 

"Hector, is that you? I almost mistook you for a knight," a familiar voice chimes in. Will's ears tell him exactly who she is. He smiles upon seeing his niece, Nerdeani, for the first time. Her braided summer blonde hair stops in the middle of her chest. A fitting blue dress with sleeves keeps her warm.

"He will be a great knight, niece."

"Hello, uncle. I-"

She thinks her eyes are deceiving her. She rubs them with her hands just to make sure. Mel gives William back the bouquet to give to her.

"You look just like your mother," he compliments his niece while giving her the bouquet. 

Her orange irises eyes well up from the sad revelation of this day. She latches onto her uncle tightly with tears staining his shirt.

"T-Thank you. These are really nice, uncle."

He gently pushes himself back to wipe her face with his handkerchief. He wipes so her mascara won't run down. "I'm glad I get to see the people I care about. May these flowers give you hope when you need it."

His words only make her cry harder. She fights to keep the painful wails inside of her. Sindy grasps her hands to let her know that she's not alone in feeling that way.

Melody and the others go to the bar to give them a moment. She feels a tug on the sleeve of her jacket. Nerdeani's pulling it towards her.

"Tia Mel," she utters out with a shaky breath. The former Queen embraces her as well. The other guild members feel the tension of dread that is slowly falling onto them. They don't know what it means, but they try to cheer her up.

"If something happened, it's okay. We're here for you."

"You will always be a part of our family."

Comforting words that almost reach her heart. William wipes her face again while holding onto her.

"Nerdeani, have you ever done ice skating at the festival?"

That question catches her off guard. "What?"

He repeats the question.

"I-I-I have. Multiple times. Why?"

"Can you teach me? I never got to do it before because of my condition. I will really appreciate it. I might fall on my arse though."

A well needed chuckle escapes her lips. She takes a deep inhale and catches her breath. "I will be honored to be your teacher."

"And if he falls, I will pick him back up," Mel assures with a laugh.

Nerdeani cups her face. "I know you will. You're really strong," a secret compliment for overcoming her past.

Jaime walks over with a glass of water for her to drink. She accepts and chugs it down.

"Thank you, Jaime. Oh, let me put these flowers away," she takes them and looks for a vase.

 "Jaime, will you be rrrunning the stand again?" A cat-like mage named Elizabeth purrs her question.

"I certainly am!" He proudly boasts. "Gash, Jr, and Hector will aid me in security for the night."

Her whiskers twitch in response. "You did an excellent job last year. But I wonder...."

"What?"

"When will you find a lover?" Her emerald eyes stare at him.

"I'm not focused on that at the moment. Maybe in the future."

"Just let me know and I can set you up with a friend. Someone younger than me of course," she clarifies at the end.

"I will let you know." He checks the time. Four hours before the festival. "Oh, I need to get the wine ready for heating."

Gash, Esmerelda, Javier, Hector and Emilia pat him on the shoulder to let him know they're coming too. The six run out of the guild back home. Bumva looks on as Will and Nerdeani share a drink together. After he empties his pitcher, she leans into her husband's right ear.

"As your goddess, I command you and Melody to follow me," she whispers. He gets up from his chair and waves at Melody to come with. She holds his hand and follow the warrior down to her room.

"We're just going to talk. Be right back!" She calls out to their children.

-----

Will sees the bear rug on her floor that reminds him of their time in the forest. Several weapons hang overhead on the wall and fireplace with a battle dummy set in one corner. A large bathtub sits in the corner close to the hearth for warmth.

"Servant, sit down on the bed. You're free to do what you want to do, Mel."

They pick up the change in her tone that there's something on her mind. Will sits down while Mel chooses to stand.

"I need to be honest with how I'm feeling right now," she takes her axe from the wall.

"Be honest, my goddess. Let me know everything," William obliges. She goes over to her battle dummy that has nicks all over its body.

She does a shaky exhale as her body shudders. She grips her battle axe and swings it into the dummy rapidly.

"I'm.....I'm so damn furious. I hate House Vinum! I wish they never existed. They would have never hurt you, Mel. You would both be able to grow old! They took that away from me! I would have chopped them into unrecognizable pieces. Their blood would run all over the streets of Engla! Damn them!"

She goes for another swing, but she sinks into the floor. "I just wish....there was more time. To grow old and hold hands with my lovable husband. To see my sister continue to be happy. To see our grandchildren get older," her angry and sad tears drip to the floor.

A wave of guilt hits her as she feels awful for souring the good times they had today. "I'm so sorry for-"

The warms arms of her husband and sister embrace her from both sides. She hears liquid dripping near her. Not just her tears.

"Don't ever feel sorry for how you're feeling, my goddess. You have every right to feel that way," while he tenderly wipes her face with his hand.

"We feel the same way as well. We just didn't want to worry the children," Mel sobs.

"I thought you were okay with dy-" Bumva can't find the strength to say that word.

"I'm not afraid to die. I am afraid of what's going to happen to you and our children. To see you all in pain breaks my heart. I wanted to cry when they were, but I thought they needed me to be strong. I've been struggling not to break down into tears," her husband confesses.

"Igual. So many good memories we had. To leave you here while we pass on. I don't regret the choice I made with William because I regained love. In letting go of my pain, I gained a familia. I love you, hermana," Melody sniffles between tears. 

Bumva sees the pain in her magenta irises. "I love you too. I'm sorry for what happened to you. Nobody deserved that."

"It's okay. I want to tell my parents and my people the life I had. The amazing family and experiences. They would be so happy."

"Hector, Emilia, and Luis will be happy to hear their names will continue on," Will adds.

They start to catch their breaths while holding onto Bumva. The orc warrior clutches their arms tightly.

"Husband, I know you told me to move on in time, but I refuse!" She turns to face him. "You loved me without knowing what I looked like. Your smile, your wit, your touch, your warmth. I rather die alone than have a false copy of that!"

She places her hands on his cheeks. He holds her hands there.

"My orc goddess, I just don't want you to feel guilty for loving someone else. You deserve to be loved the way you wanted. Any man would be lucky to have you in their life. So beautiful on the inside and out. A flawless diamond, that you are."

"Don't. There isn't a man like you out there. You're my soulmate!" Her voice breaks again.

He pulls her head into his chest. She releases all of her sadness and anger into that sweater. He softly strokes her braided hair.

"You and Mel have made me the happiest man in the world. I couldn't imagine my life without you. Bumva, I'm glad we met. The day where I could finally sleep in peace assured me that I was in love with you. 

The only regret I have is not telling you sooner. When I was on that mission with Garth, I was so close to death. However, the thought of you kept me going through those impossible times."

He lifts her head to see her emerald eyes. "I love you, Bumva "The Brutal" Bennett. Even in death, I always will. Continue to be there for our family but allow yourself to cry. They love you too," before tenderly kissing her lips.

They break it slowly. Mel wipes her face with the sleeve of her jacket. The orc gives her the biggest bear hug possible.

"Continue to watch out for our witty bard up there."

"I will make sure he will stay out of trouble". The trio lightly laughs, knowing how he is.

"But it's been so long," he playfully whines.

"Be silent, servant," Bumva asserts with newfound authority. "Mel, can you distract the children for me?"

"Certainly." She hops over the bed to the door. "Just leave him energy for the festival," she winks before closing the door behind her.

Bumva then hears something soft fall to the ground followed by the unbuckling of pants. She turns to see her husband fully naked. He takes her hand to cover over his heart.

"I made my goddess cry and I deserve maximum punishment for two hours. Purify me," he requests with all the love and lust he has in his body. She throws him on the bed and pins his arms with her strong hands.

She lets go of him. "Actually, this goddess has one request.......Twist and bend my body to completion. I will not resist you."

She turns her back to him. He zips down her dress while kissing her shoulder blades. Her dress softly falls to the floor along with her undergarments.... He stops to kiss her veiny calves before resuming like a wild animal. Multiple explosions occur between their bodies as they go around the room...

She rests against the headboard as he slides back in. He wraps her legs around him and enjoys this position since he can trap her mouth with his French kisses.

"I love you, Bumva!"

"I love you too!"

A pleasurable roar dances with an exhausted grunt. Their bodies shiver until they go limp into each other's arms. He rests where his heart overlays hers. Their hearts pound to the same rhythm with one hour left before the start of the festival. 

"You have taken away my stress," she pants.

"Glad to be. Just need to take a bath before we go."

After a nice soaking bath, they get redressed to join up with their family. Mel's in the middle of teaching their kids several drinking games until they show up. She and Bumva lead their husband by his hands as Nerdeani takes them to the festival.

It will be his first and last time to witness such an event. He plans to cherish every minute of it.