Summary: The characters of The Crown & the Flame and their families gather in Fydoria to celebrate Tevan and Zenobia’s twentieth anniversary.
Author’s note: This was written for Round 43 of #ChoicesCreates: 20 Years Later
Tevan and Zenobia were celebrating their twentieth anniversary, and had thrown a lavish party. Guests had arrived from all the kingdoms. As Kenna looked around, she noted that just about everyone she knew was in attendance. A year earlier, she and Raydan had celebrated their twentieth anniversary. They had had a party as well, although Tevan and Zenobia’s was far more ostentatious. Thankfully there was no fighting pit. Tevan would never have allowed such a thing. He had proven to be a very good influence on Zenobia.
Kenna and Raydan’s son Adrian had rushed over to Florinda, the daughter of Florian Tartassis. He seemed quite taken with her. Raydan glanced in their direction, then turned to Kenna. “That girl is bad news.”
“Why, what have you heard?” Kenna asked him.
“Nothing, really. It’s just a feeling, but I’ve learned to pay attention to those. And her parents aren’t exactly the best role models.”
Raydan had a point. When Florian had been regent of Ebrimel, he had been a harsh ruler who focused on work and productivity. His wife Callista was much younger and was a social climber who had probably married Florian to gain entrance into the nobility. Adrian was the crown prince of Stormholt and would be seen as a very desirable marriage prospect.
Kenna touched Raydan gently on the arm. “We’ve raised Adrian to be responsible. I don’t think he’s going to rush into anything. But if I’m wrong, we’ll talk to him.”
Kenna and Raydan’s daughter Adelia stood next to Tevan and Zenobia’s son Zenon, hanging on his every word. With them were Claudius IV and Ciara, the son and daughter of Claudius Umad III and Dom’s cousin Lilia Alcantar. Adelia had had a crush on Zenon for years. Fortunately, he seemed to be a nice young man. As the crown prince of Fydoria, he was also a good marriage prospect.
Across the room, Kenna spotted Dom and Sei. She smiled at them, and Dom waved to her. She was glad that they had finally gotten together. Even after she married Raydan, she could tell that Dom hadn’t really gotten over her. Dom and Sei had been on and off for years, but eventually got serious. Now they were married and had two children: their daughter Dara, named after Dom’s mother Idara, and their son Anu, named after Sei’s grandfather. Both had inherited their parents’ fire powers. Anu was playing with Kenna and Raydan’s son Leonidas. She hoped they wouldn’t get into any mischief. Leo was such a handful. Dara was talking with Kenna and Raydan’s daughters Gabrielle and Marcelline and Tevan and Zenobia’s daughter Amantha.
Will Jackson was over by the ale with Anton Luno. Since the night before the battle with Azura, Dom and Jackson had become close friends, and occasionally more before Dom’s marriage to Sei. While spending time with Dom, Jackson had gotten to know Anton better, and they eventually began a relationship.
Val had also been by the ale, but had headed over to Adder. Adder often visited Stormholt to spend time with her brother, nieces, and nephews. Kenna was glad that Raydan and Adder had become close again. Adder had gotten to know Val better, and they had become involved.
“Kenna! Raydan! It’s so good to see you.” Noa Keawe approached and gave her a hug, then did the same to Raydan. Kenna was glad to see Noa happy again. He had been devastated after the death of his wife Luana. Kailani had helped him raise his son Koa. While visiting Aurelia, Noa had met Chrysantha. Now they were married and had a young daughter, Kaila. Kailani had gotten closer to Annelyse, and now they were a couple.
Kenna noticed Diavolos and his family passing by. Diavolos had married Andronika, a noblewoman and officer in the Abanthus army. They had two sons, Damianos and Artaxias. Unlike Luther, Diavolos had become a devoted father. Artaxias broke away from the group and ran over to Rowena, Rowan Thorn’s daughter. Rowan had never married. Kenna suspected that Rowan did not want to share leadership of Bellmere with anyone. Rowan had never revealed the identity of Rowena’s father.
Kenna put her arm around Raydan as Aurynn came closer to them. She couldn’t help feeling possessive of Raydan, even though she knew she had nothing to worry about. After all, Aurynn had had feelings for Raydan for quite some time. Perhaps she still cared for him, although she had eventually married Cedric Blaine, who was in charge of the Library of Ennan.
Nearby, Whitlock and Lia were talking. They had been close for a long time, but Whitlock was still the leader of the Technocrats, and Lia did not wish to leave Ducitora. Still, neither of them had ever found anyone else that could measure up to the other. They visited each other as much as they could. Jorrin Kal had accompanied Lia to Fydoria, along with his family. When Lia had first become empress, he focused on supporting and protecting her, but eventually he married Tamara, and they had a daughter, Jolita.
Music began to play, and Raydan turned to Kenna. “Shall we dance?”
As Kenna danced with Raydan, she thought back to the first time that they had danced together at one of Zenobia’s parties. She put her arms around his neck, raised her head, and pressed her lips to his. He deepened the kiss, and for a moment it was as if they were the only two people in the room. Finally they broke the kiss, and Kenna looked at him. “I was remembering the first party we attended in Lykos.”
Raydan smiled. “Recreating the memory?”
Kenna nodded. “Things have changed so much. Who would have thought back then that all these years later, Zenobia would actually invite us to one of her parties?”
Raydan pulled her closer. “There’s one thing that hasn’t changed, though.”
“What’s that?” Kenna asked him.
“How much I love you.”
Kenna held him tightly. She was so lucky. She and Raydan were happily married and had a family, and there was peace among the kingdoms.