After Happily Ever After

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After Happily ever after

All stories have a start, middle, and an end. For the special loves, ones with 'Happily ever after,' this could be what happens next.

Wulfgar laid next to Loren, her breath in soft short takes. He knew her time was nearing. As he moved next to her, his mind started to race. Memories of years gone past filled his mind. Remembering her tears of happiness at their daughter's wedding, the mock fits she played out when he and his son sparred with the swords.

The walks on moonlit paths with sand between their toes, hand in hand, watching the sunrise time and time again. Her sweet voice, gentle touch, the memories flooded him, and his heart grew sad. He held her hand, pulled her tight, tears running down his cheeks.

"I love you, and for all eternity I will always love you, my sweet flower," he said softly towards her ear.

Her voice just barely a whisper, "and I you, my love."

He closed his eyes and prayed.

Oh God of Gods, I plead of you, do not make me live through this pain. Time and time again I have lived through this, and yet I cannot bear it. This, the Pain of all pains that I suffer now, save me. Please, let me be with her throughout all eternity.

His mind came to focus on their wedding day. It was the day when the Goddess Aphrodite and the God Zeus made their presence known. His curse removed; his immortality traded for a life with Loren.

Zeus himself presided over the ceremony. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he remembered that day. The heavens shook with laughter and merriment, Aphrodite made the skies sparkle with the warmth of Loren's love when Zeus pronounced them married.

Time once again flew to another moment when their son, Theodore, was born. His memory saw the motes of dust swirl in the delivery room and form into the face of Zeus and Aphrodite, as his eyes saw it now, in this room.

Yet again, his mind raced forwards in time, to when their daughter Amanda was born. And again, the faces appeared. Wulfgar knew Zeus was watching them then, and now. The memory of the faces returned in a flush of excitement as the faces once again appeared in the room before him.

"Old friend, it has been many years since we last spoke," the dust mote face spoke in deep tones.

"My lord," Wulfgar said, struggling to stand.

"Nay, my friend, stay as you are. I have come to be with you at this time."

"Be it your will, not mine," he said, lying back down next to his dying wife.

"She and you have lived a full life my friend, her time is at hand."

"I have not regretted a minute of it my lord."

"What be your will Wulfgar, my friend, had you the choice to make?" The deep voice asked.

"To be with her for all time, my lord," his reply was steady, unwavering.

A soft voice spoke, like the sounds of birds talking, "Your time will come Wulfgar, then you will rejoin her."

"I love her so, Goddess of Love, I could not live without her." was his soft reply.

The soft voice spoke again, "Do you wish it to be so?"

A dust mote hand reached out and touched Wulfgar as he inhaled to speak. Softness engulfed his mind and heart; in an instant he knew his Loren would be waiting for him when his time came. Peace came across his mind, heart, and his soul eased its torment. Tears ran a steady path down his cheeks.

"I so wish it," his reply was soft.

Aphrodite's dust mote hand reach and touched Loren's body. Loren slowly sat up and turned to face her husband, arms outstretched to embrace him.

"My love, you mustn't think such things. I will be waiting for you."

"Loren, my love, I have spent my whole life looking for you, I can't bear to be without you. Be it Zeus's will, I will be with you." his reply was soft but firm.

The deep voice answered, "Be it your will, it will be done this day my friend. You and Loren shall have each other again, this time throughout all eternity."

The softly spoken voice added, "In this time and for all time to come, your love for each other will live for all to see."

"And so, it is done. Come, children of Wulfgar and Loren, and have peace with your parents," the deep voice said. With that, the doors to the bedroom opened, Amanda and Theodore walked into the room.

Aphrodite and Zeus's dust faces formed into solid bodies, resembling people. As the older children walked in, Zeus touched Wulfgar's shoulder and strength surged through his body.

Aphrodite did the same to Loren, and the two stood with the God of gods, and the Goddess of love, in full splendor and strength. For the two younger adults, it was as if their parents have never aged.

Theodore looked at Zeus, and as recognition set, he knelt, crossed his hands over his chest, palms out and bowed, "God of Gods,"

Zeus interrupted him, as Amanda knelt in similar fashion, "Children of Wulfgar and Loren, today your parents will join me high on Mount Olympus, for all to see and know of their love."

As he spoke, tears started flowing from Amanda's eyes, a soft sob caught in her throat.

Aphrodite reached to and touched her shoulder, "Cry not little one, for they are honored here, now, for all eternity, and for all to see. This is a grand day for your father and mother." as she spoke, contentment and peace replaced the pain and loss she was feeling.

Wulfgar moved to the mantle place over his bed and removed his great sword. Memories of wars decades old flashed through his mind. Battles fought and won in his lord's name. Defending the defenseless, helping the helpless and dispensing justice. All duties of man cursed to show humankind was capable of love.

His mind raced through the years spent wandering the earth, searching for, and showing how a single man can make a difference. Then, the day when he met Loren, it all changed. His cruel benefactor demanded segregation and solitude, his heart and soul demanded more. He sought and won her love, withstanding the torments cast on him.

This is when Zeus saw Wulfgar was truly a man among humankind. The day of his ultimate battle, Zeus himself oversaw the challenge, and watched this man defeat a messenger of Hades. The battle raged for days. Where mortal man would have quit, he pressed further. Even when Hades kidnapped Loren, he did not give up hope.

Descending into the depths of hell, not knowing of Zeus's help, he rescued Loren and killed Hebe. This was the dawn of the ninth day, the day when Zeus and Aphrodite rejoiced in his success and removed his curse. This was the day when Loren and Wulfgar were married by the God of Gods and the Goddess of Love, and a God named a man a friend.

As Wulfgar approached the gathering of people, he turned its point down, with its handle to Zeus.

Kneeling before Zeus, Wulfgar spoke in a deep tone, "As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, my sword is at your bidding my Lord."

Zeus smiled at Wulfgar, placed a hand on the hilt, gently pushing the sword back, "I bid thee, Wulfgar, to use the sword as you bid, and stand beside me as I name thee, a friend."

With that, Wulfgar turned to Theodore, who looked up and witnessed the exchange between a God and mortal, his eyes wide with amazement at having heard a God declare a man a friend.

"Son, I bid thee, take this sword, and live these words I say: Your loyalties are yours alone to give, for no man or god can take them from you. Use caution when you give them," Wulfgar said solemnly. There the two stayed, in silent communication between father and son.

Loren moved to a small pedestal and removed from it a great book. The bindings old, yet strong, told a story of ages gone by, of now, and soon to be. A present from the God Athena on their wedding day, it told the story of a mortal man, who's pact with a God concealed in clothing of an old nag went sour, the mortal lost and was cursed to prove a mortal was capable of unselfish love.

The young man, learned in the arts of war, who fought against all who dared to fight against him. The book when on to describe his heroism, courage, and selfless deeds. It was Wulfgar's story. So detailed was the story, his burying of his opponents in well-marked graves, saying the king's prayer and his suffering for each of the deaths of all fallen under his sword followed each story.

So vast the volume, it covered the full 905 years of Wulfgar's life. Notwithstanding his years with Loren.

As Lauren walked to Amanda, she closed the book, and held it is cover for Amanda to read, "Your friends are yours alone to pick daughter, for no man or god can pick them for you. Use caution when you pick them," her voice as solemn as Wulfgar's. Mother and daughters' eyes were locked on one another, in the same silent communication as father and son.

Zeus and Aphrodite took hands, as Zeus said, "It's your friends' loyalties you have no choice but to accept. Of this I know, for your father has shown me."

"Let the story in the book of Wulfgar be done, completed on this hour, and you Amanda, will read and share the stories for all who will hear it," Aphrodite said. With that, the book in Amanda's hands grew warm, and then went cold as the last pages wrote themselves, telling the last 62 years of Wulfgar's and Loren's life.

As Zeus spoke, a chariot started to form from the same dust motes Zeus and Aphrodite started as, "Theodore, let the sword stand for the loyalty, honesty and brevity it has served for many years, and assist you in guiding others to its standards."

The four stood in silence as the chariot formed. Dressed in deep velvet, gold ropes, and four massive horses stood at the front.

"The time is here. Come my friend, we are done here," Zeus said in a soft voice to Wulfgar.

Theodore stood and hugged his father, as Amanda did Loren, Zeus and Aphrodite moved to the door of the chariot.

"I never really believed you dad," Theodore's voice was soft and shaky.

"I know son. Now, you are part of the stories. Have faith and believe."

"I will miss you dad," Amanda softly said as she hugged her father.

"And I will miss you, Amanda. Remember the good times, and I will be there," his soft reply.

"Mother, I," Theodore started to say.

Loren placed a silencing finger across his mouth, "You believe now, as I have always believed, there's more to life than seeing."

With that, Loren turned and mounted the chariot, Wulfgar beside her. As he entered after her, their bodies started dissolving. As the door shut, their former selves appeared on the bed, holding one another, their breath signs slowly fading.

The chariot lifted from the floor and started dissolving into bright dust particles. The two remaining held their breaths as their parents fully returned to their older forms.

As the chariot dissipated from view, the booming voice of Zeus said, "And let the lights of Olympus be seen from earth this night, for all to celebrate the arrival of a hero to his home."