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As soon as Ashlynn mentioned them, the musicians exchanged wide-eyed glances across their small ensemble area, each still processing the impossible magic they had just witnessed.

The leader of the group, a veteran musician who had led ensembles at countless gatherings of the elite gladiators and wealthy merchants of High Fen City, had never seen anything that compared to the Mother of Trees’ display.

But as Ashlynn extended her hand toward Nyrielle, his professional instincts overcame the wonder.

A quick nod passed between the members of the ensemble, and they retrieved their instruments with hands that trembled slightly from more than just the evening’s excitement as each of their hearts swelled with the desire to make this precious moment as perfect as it could be.

A moment later, as Ashlynn extended her hand to Nyrielle, the gentle sounds of reed flutes blended with the beating of drums, the bright, cheerful notes of harps and the energetic, rapid music of the citole as the musicians launched into a bright and cheerful melody.

Nyrielle’s wings fluttered briefly before she appeared next to Ashlynn, taking her lover in her arms with reverent tenderness.

When their lips met, it was different from every kiss they had shared before, not stolen in secret moments or shared in the privacy of chambers, or even hidden behind Nyrielle’s wings and shadows but offered freely before hundreds of witnesses who celebrated their love.

The floating lights seemed to pulse brighter around them, responding to the magic that flowed between their connected hearts, and Ashlynn tasted not just passion but promise on Nyrielle’s lips, the pledge of forever that they had just made before all their people.

For two heartbeats, then three, and then countless more, Nyrielle said with her lips and tongue what words could never hope to convey as their bodies pressed together and they held each other tightly.

Once again, the crowd broke out in applause and cheers, now completely caught up in the romance and joy of the moment.

Milo wore a happy, silly grin before wrapping his tail around Juni, leaning in to surprise her with a deep, passionate kiss of his own while dancing motes of light exploded around them like dozens of fallen stars shooting across the sky.

The couple from the Heartwood Clan weren’t the only ones finding themselves caught up in the moment and a few of the bachelors at the celebration briefly wondered if the Mother of Trees’ magic contained more than just a bit of light and flame as they watched couple after couple sharing tender embraces and stolen kisses that ranged from chaste and tender to every bit as passionate as the one Nyrielle shared with Ashlynn.

Eventually, after giving Ashlynn a kiss that left her lover trembling and breathless in her arms, Nyrielle pulled back and smiled at the enchanting blonde vision nestled closely against her body.

"My darling, Ashlynn," Nyrielle whispered as she ran her slender fingers gently through Ashlynn’s soft, pale blonde hair. "You have outdone yourself tonight."

"So have you, my love," Ashlynn said, taking a half-step closer to rest her head on Nyrielle’s chest. "Now dance with me the way we danced in our dreams. Make this a memory we can return to again and again, for as long as we both live," she said, looking up at the vampire with shining emerald eyes.

"Always willful," Nyrielle said lightly as she wrapped one arm around Ashlynn’s slender waist and took Ashlynn’s hand in hers. "Asking me for a dance we can enjoy for eternity," she teased. "But when have I ever failed to indulge your willful desires?"

With a few quick steps, Nyrielle led Ashlynn to the center of the wooden platform before launching into a dance that her feet had never forgotten, even after more than a hundred years since Torbin last hosted a grand ball when he ruled as the High Lord of the Vale of Mists.

Nyrielle’s steps didn’t quite match the more modern music but Ashlynn didn’t care.

She surrendered herself completely to Nyrielle’s lead and the only music she truly needed was the sound of their two hearts, beating as one as they stared into each other’s eyes and let the rest of the world fall away until there was nothing in their sight but each other.

"Come with me," Heila said, tugging at Ignatious’s hand. "If we don’t join them, then the rest of the people won’t feel like they can," she said, pulling him in the direction of the table full of honored guests.

"Mother, Father," Heila called, surprising her parents as she approached them with the handsome vampire in tow. "You should come dance with us. Lady Ashlynn doesn’t want to have this moment to herself," she explained. "She wants to share it with everyone here."

"Really?" Helga said, blinking in surprise as she looked around, quickly realizing that in addition to Heila and Ignatious, Zedya and Lennart were also walking out onto the wide open space between the rows of tables, gazing into each other eyes lovingly and preparing to join the dance. "Is it really fine?"

"If she says it’s fine then I’m sure it’s fine," Achim said as he stood from his own seat and offered a hand to his wife of many years.

At the start of the evening, he never imagined himself joining in the dancing and festivities, but after drinking the healing elixir or whatever it was that the Mother of Trees had shared with them at the beginning of the night, his old aches and pains no longer troubled him and his joints felt as limber and spry as they had many years ago.

"Our daughter is asking for our help to set an example," Kaisen said with a warm smile as he pulled Helga up and out of her chair. "We shouldn’t let her down."

With couples from the high table and the tables filled with honored guests leading the way, many more couples found their way to the wide aisle at the center of the hall, joining in the festive romantic atmosphere and dancing among the thousands of glittering motes of light that hung suspended in the air.

Later, there would be vast trays of food, lovingly prepared by Georg and his best cooks. There would be countless casks of fine wine to be opened and the great hall would be filled with laughter and joy as the people celebrated the betrothal of the Harbinger of Death and the Mother of Trees.

But now, before the revels began, it was a time for love and dancing in an enchanted hall that made the troubles of the world seem as distant as the mountain peaks.

Everyone knew that the moment would end eventually, but as long as the music played and the lights twinkled and exploded around them, those concerns had no place dancing among them.