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A thunderous bellow echoed across the great hall, followed by several more, and as Gawan and Ellie turned around, they found the entire Dreadhostie within a hundred kilohed and buried her face into Gawan’s neck He held her close, and he drew in a long, delicious breath tinged with the scent of her hair, her skin, her "My Ellie of Aquitaine"

And then he had no choice but to let his Intended down, for there was an entire garrison of knights ished to hug her--the Dragonhawk hiht in particular

"Jason!" she exclaimed happily, and launched at the lad with more spirit than a fierce Welsh Wode maiden in battle

To the lad’s credit, he apparently had been awaiting her ht her in full leap, and squeezed her thusly

"My lady Ellie! I’ve missed you!" he said, and quickly found he’d have to muse over fond memories at a later date

Not only were there reat hall who stood rather impatiently to welcome Ellie home, but a skittish Nicklesby, who all but hopped about fro to worm his way into the crowd

She spotted him and made a beeline for the wiry man "Nicklesby! Oh, Nicklesby! Can you believe it?" she asked as she all but snapped the skinny ed her back, unasha up in his eyes "’Tis a wondrous lad to see you home"

"Move there, yon bothersome Grimm steward, and let me ’ave a ith the lass!"

Ellie turned froet used to seeing such a beautiful sht upon her face "Sir Godfrey! Ladies!" she said, as the three Grimm spirits floated toward her

"Lady! What aboutDavy To the diset to Ellie "I’hed and bent over at the waist "Are you ready for another game of knucklebones?"

"Most assuredly, aye!" he said, just as a barking Cotswold shoved through the crowd, Nicklesby chasing after him

Gawan’s heart swelled as he watched his people embrace his woman They’d fast learned to love her as an In Betwixt spirit

They loved herwo of people, he pushed Jason aside and peeled Ellie from Tristan de Barre’s arms Gawan drew her close, and over the top of her head clashed gazes with three of the us, and Aizeene gave a short nod, their broad, knowing s indeed They’d acquired their own retirement, after all He couldn’t wait to properly introduce the his mouth to Ellie’s ear, he first kissed the soft shell, felt her shiver, and then whispered, "Forgive irl, but this cannot wait" He kissed her lobe, and then whispered again, "Wed ret it"

Ellie slowly lifted her head and stared into his eyes

The entire hall grew deathly silent

Gawan’s heart ceased beating

Then a wide smile split her face in twain "Yes!"

As Gawan pressed his ether as each one shter was quickly drowned out by the raucous cheering of the knights, ex-angels, and ghosts filling Grireat hall

Overcohter within his arood, well, and true

Aye He’d found her

He glanced at Elgan, Fergus, Aizeene, now joined by Nicklesby They stood grinning like fools He owed them much

With a bit of help, he’d found his Intended

And bleeding priests and saints above, he’d not let her go again

"Wow," I sotta aduys" I elbow hirins "’Twasna planned, my lady ’Twas fate"

I nod "I believe in that now," I say "And it’s why I need you to walkafteran Earthbound, or anyone else who e in that otherworld"