One Bite ✔️ (#Wattys2017)

Chapter 25...

Antonius and Lavender walked to King Draco's and Queen Hermione's tent, their hands locked together and hidden smiles on their faces.  They paused outside the tent and turned to each other. Lavender looked up at him, love glowing from their eyes.

    "Should we tell them?" she asked in a quiet voice.

    Antonius glanced at the tent beside them, "I think it would be best in case we die tomorrow."

    "We're going to die tomorrow, again, aren't we?" Lavender asked, her eyes watering.

    "We are not, Lavender," Antonius stated, "I know with what I said before makes you think that, but we're not," he raised his hand to cup her cheek, "We will make it through tomorrow," and leaning down, he kissed her lips gently. Lavender's tears disappeared and she smiled up at him when he pulled away.

    "Alright, but let's tell them anyway," Lavender said, "They deserve to know."

    Pulling back the fabric of the tent, they entered, but the first room was dark and empty. The two servants made their way over to the small room where a light glow could be seen. Before entering, Antonius asked, "Your Majesties? Can Lavender and I speak to you?"

    Suddenly the fabric was pulled back to reveal a bare chested god, a silk blanket wrapped around low on his waist, "Of course, Antonius," and stepped away back into the room covered in pillows and silk sheets. On the floor amongst the pillows sat Hermione snacking on a bowl of fruit and Draco sat down next to her, "What can we help you with?"

    "Lavender and I wanted to tell you that we are getting married and we would like your blessing, King Draco, Queen Hermione," Antonius announced.

    "Actually," Lavender interrupted, "King Draco, could you marry us now? I know that servants are not supposed to do this, but we love each other."

    "Wait, Lavender," Antonius turned to her, his initial shock turned into a smile, "Is that what you want?"

    "Yes, it is, Antonius, I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Lavender said and turned back to Draco and Hermione who smiled at the two of them, "Please, your majesties, could you do this?"

    "Well," Draco thought for a moment, not quite sure what to think about his two personal servants getting married. His thoughts though got the best of him regarding love and freedom and all the other reasons they were fighting this war, "Of course," he smiled at them and stood up, Hermione standing up next to him.

    Lavender and Antonius practically got down on their knees before them in response, "Oh, thank you, Your Majesties."

    "Of course," Hermione replied.

    "You two ready, now?" Draco said as he clasped his hands together.

    Lavender turned to Antonius with a smile on her face. Antonius mirrored her and grasped her hand, "Yes, yes, we're ready."

    "Then, do you, Lavender, promise to be faithful to Antonius as you are to the gods and promise to fulfill every wish he asks of you if it is in your power?" Draco said the vows.

    "I promise," Lavender sealed her end, her smile so bright.

    "And, do you, Antonius, promise to be faithful to Lavender as you are to the gods and promise to fulfill every wish she asks of you if it is in your power?"

    "I promise," Antonius replied.

    "Lavender, your hair please," Draco turned to her and passed her a knife that Hermione had passed to him.

    Lavender took the knife and taking one of her locks of hairs, she raised the knife to it. Hermione took on the torches nearest her and held it out to Lavender, symbolizing the end of her girlhood, "Goddess of love, lend me your bright powers that my essence may sparkle. Draw to me my own true beloved and spark our beings with the magic of love. Let no impediment hinder our path to bliss. Guide our pairing with wisdom and fill our hearts with tender devotion. Let us dance the love and passion of equals and radiant, joyous beings sipping from eternity's cup, "she cut through her hair and once she completed the prayer, she burned the hair in the torch Hermione provided.

    "Antonius, do you have an arm band for her?" Draco asked him as Hermione placed the torch back down in its place.

    "I do," he replied and pulled from his belt a decorative, gold, arm band. Flowers, frozen in metal, were hammered into a decorative circle formation, "O gods who know the worth of a life's companion, the solace of a story shared, a journey taken hand in hand, we ask your blessing," Antonius slipped the golden arm band onto Lavender's right arm as he spoke.

    Draco and Hermione smiled as they felt the blessing brush against their auras, "We hear you and your blessing is received," they responded.

    "You are married," Draco announced, "You may now go off and... do whatever," Draco smirked.

    "Thank you, Your Majesties," Antonius and Lavender said with a bow and they dashed off into the hills to finish their wedding ceremony.

    Draco and Hermione turned to each other; an odd smile crept up onto Draco's face. Hermione looked at him oddly, "What's with that smile?"

    Draco stalked toward her, "Just thinking about what you are going to look like on our wedding day."

    Hermione smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, "Well, if we win tomorrow, you'll get to see it and my dress."

    Draco pupil's widened, his eyes darkening with lust, "Ooooo... aren't you being sneaky. I think I'm rubbing off on you, my darling."

    "Only rubbing off on me the good parts," Hermione said and kissed his lips gently.

    "Good," Draco smirked and kissed her lips lightly.

    "Come, Draco," Hermione pulled him down to their bed, "We must get sleep tonight if we are to win tomorrow."

    "Hmm," Draco moaned in agreement as he lay down next to her. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled Hermione next to his body, "Wining will be sweet, tomorrow."

    "That it will be, my love," Hermione replied as she nestled closed to Draco, "That it will be," and they fell asleep in each other's arms dreaming of the battle to come tomorrow.