The Great Dining Hall of the Imperial Palace was usually a place of cold marble and echoing sounds, but tonight, it felt like the beating heart of the empire. The long mahogany table was laden with platters of roasted venison, honey-glazed root vegetables, and decanters of spiced wine that caught the flickering glow of a hundred beeswax candles. The air was thick with the scent of lavender and cedarwood, but louder than the crackle of the hearth was the chaotic, beautiful symphony of a family reunited.
Vaelorian sat at the head of the table, but he felt less like an Emperor and more like a man finally waking from a long, grey winter. To his right sat Riven, looking strikingly handsome in a deep emerald tunic that matched the vitality returning to his eyes. Across from them, the children were a whirlwind of motion; Aaliyah-Lavelle was busy showing Sora how to make a crown out of bread crusts, while Adonis sat with a seriousness that mirrored Duke Ashbourne, who watched his grandson with a pride so fierce it was almost tangible.
"I'm telling you, Riven," Barron boomed, his voice rattling the crystal glasses as he leaned over his plate, "if you think the training yard was a shock, wait until you have to deal with the Council of Elders. They've gotten grumpier since your absence. I think they miss having you around to annoy them."
Riven laughed, a sound that made Vaelorian's heart skip a beat. "I think I'll take my chances with a legion of knights over a room full of bureaucrats, Barron. At least the knights don't care much for tax reforms."
Vaelorian chuckled softly at Riven's words, his fingers tracing the stem of his glass. Vaelorian was very happy that his husband was sliding back into his life like he never left, but he can also see the way Riven watches everyone—like he's trying to memorize their new appearances. He knows Riven is terrified that this might be another long dream after everything he's been told. And honestly? So is Vaelorian. He keeps expecting to blink and find himself back in their empty bed, staring at the moon and wondering if he'll ever hear his laughter again.
Sir Eryndor sat beside Anya, who was currently lecturing him on the nutritional benefits of the greens he was pointedly ignoring. Mira Lune and Willow were locked in a quiet conversation with Vaelorian's mother, their heads bowed as they discussed the nuances of the children's growing gifts. It was a tapestry of everyone who had held the Empire together in Riven's absence.
"Grandfather," Adonis said, turning his silver gaze toward Duke Ashbourne. "Does Papa always eat this much? He's had three helpings of the roast already."
The Duke let out a rare, hearty laugh, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Your father has always possessed an appetite as large as his ego. It's good to see some things haven't changed."
Riven winked at his son, his mouth half-full of honey cake. "Hey, I'm making up for lost time, kiddo."
As the meal wound down and the wine turned into tea, the room settled into a warm, comfortable hum. Vaelorian's father stood and raised a glass, his eyes misty as they landed on Riven. "To our family," he said simply. The table erupted in a chorus of "To our family," and for a moment, the weight of the crown felt lighter than it ever had.
Eventually, the heaviness of sleep began to claim the younger members of the party. Sora had already fallen asleep against Willow's side, and Aaliyah-Lavelle was leaning precariously against Riven's arm. Together, Vaelorian and Riven excused themselves, each picking up a child. The walk to the nursery was quiet, the palace guards bowing with a newfound fervor as they passed.
Inside the dimly lit room, they tucked the children into their beds. Adonis gripped Riven's hand, his voice small and drowsy. "You're going to be here when the sun comes up, right, Papa?"
Riven leaned down, kissing the boy's forehead and then his daughter's. "I'll be right here. Tomorrow. And the day after that. We're together now, and nothing in this world or any other is going to change that. I promise. Always and forever."
Vaelorian felt a lump in his throat as he smoothed the blankets. "Always and forever," he echoed, catching Riven's eye over the sleeping forms of their children.
When they finally retreated to their own chambers, the silence of the room felt electric. As the heavy doors clicked shut, the public masks they had worn all day finally shattered. Riven didn't waste any time; he turned and pulled Vaelorian in for a kiss that spoke of his desperation, relief, and all the years he'd missed. To Vaelorian, the kiss felt like a lifeline, their bodies colliding with a force that sent them stumbling back against the door.
"He's so warm," Vaelorian's mind raced as his hands found the hem of Riven's imperial tunic. Riven is real. He's right here. Vaelorian could feel Riven's heart beating against his, and it's the most beautiful feeling he's ever felt. He spent years in the dark thinking of this exact moment, and no memory could ever do justice to the way Riven feels in his arms.
Vaelorian's fingers worked fast as he undid the clasps of Riven's tunic, his breath coming in jagged hitches. He needed to see every inch of him, to prove to his soul that the man he loved was truly back. As the layers of silk and wool pooled on the floor, they moved toward the bed, their skin finally meeting in a rush of heat that made the rest of the world vanish.
"I love you," Vaelorian whispered against Riven's neck, his voice breaking. "I never stopped loving you."
Riven pulled him down, his eyes dark with an intensity that burned through the shadows of the past. "I know, Your Majesty. Thank you for not giving up on me."
In the sanctuary of their room, beneath the silver light of the moon that had watched Vaelorian mourned his husband for so long, they reclaimed one another. Every touch was an answer to a prayer, every breath a testament to a love that had outlasted time and space. They made love with a fierce urgency, a silent vow that the pages of their story would no longer be empty. As the night deepened and they lay tangled together, exhausted and whole, Vaelorian knew the wait was over. The search was done. He would no longer live like with ghosts of their past; his husband was home, their future together is certain, and hand in hand, until the end of time, they'll be together.