Thanks again to all of you who have favorited and reviewed this story! It's been a lot of fun and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! Long live Kenric x Oralie! :) ;) :)

•••

Oralie pulled her knees to her chest as she sat down on Kenric's bed, resting her head against his shoulder. She had to appear before the council later that day, so she was more than happy to distract herself with Black Swan question-and-answer time. They tended to be nicer than her fellow councillors.

"Okay, why don't you start from the beginning," Tiergan told Kenric, from where he stood in the doorway, his Granite disguise long-forgetten. It had been one week since the raid on the Ogre's dungeons and everyone was curious to know how Kenric had survived. Of course, he'd already told Oralie everything, but that was because she had scarely left his side all week. Now though, the rest of the room was filled with other Black Swan members, plus Alden, Elwin, and Grady and Edaline. Everyone's goblin bodyguards waited in the hallway.

"Well, Fintan sparked Everblaze, I dove at him, and the moment I touched him, we both vanished." Kenric rubbed his neck and chin, his only visible scars. "Fireproof clothing is amazing by the way- even though it's unfortunately not Everblaze proof. However, we did reappear in a damp dungeon cell so we really weren't even exposed to the amount of fire you guys were."

Kenric's voice remained even, but she could tell that knowledge had haunted him for a long time. While she had been mourning for him, he had been worried over her safety.

"Fintan locked me up and disappeared for a couple days. That was probably the worst part of the entire ordeal. Not only did I have some pretty serious burns, and no water, but I didn't know what had happened to anyone. I didn't know who had gotten out." Kenric cleared his throat. "Anyway, the Neverseen- in their dark capes as always, came to finally feed me and they told me I would someday prove useful to them. Once a week I had err...interrogation sessions..." He shifted slightly and Oralie felt bad he had to relive the memories of his torture. The scars on his back were already permanent reminders- even she could feel them when she hugged him.

"There's no need to worry though," said Kenric, "I refused to tell them anything. Of course, they didn't like that very much, but they were ordered to keep me alive in case they ever needed extreme leverage with the council or something. And then they found out about my cache. And then they got the cache."

Oralie saw Sophie wince. While the majority of the Black Swan didn't trust Keefe, she knew that Sophie and his other friends were coming around. Oralie hoped the time he was currently spending with his father was doing some good and not making the situation worse.

"So once they had the cache, they really had to keep me alive- so I could open it." Kenric half-snorted. "Seriously, they still thought I might change my mind and decide to help them..." His grin faded. "But then they started a more productive activity during interrogation time. They started threatening Oralie and Sophie." As Kenric's gaze wandered to Sophie, Oralie scooted closer to him and squeezed his hand, beyond caring that people were watching. They were her friends. She trusted everyone in the room with her life. And besides, the Black Swan had already agreed to marry her and Kenric as soon as he was fully recovered. If anyone in the room didn't know her illegal feelings, they would in a few days.

"So, well, I finally told them that Sophie could open the cache. And you can. I originally didn't want them to know that so they wouldn't come after you. But I thought that if they needed you alive, it would cut down on the danger you would be in." Kenric shook his head slightly. "Of course, it didn't change anything."

"What about Oralie?" Alden shifted his arms. "Did you have to tell them anything to save her?"

Kenric grimaced. "No. They told Gethen to kill her, but I didn't believe it. And even if Gethen did, for some reason, decide to go on a rampage, I figured Oralie didn't need me to give council secrets to the Neverseen to save her." He glanced at Oralie, then down at their intertwined hands. "I heard how close Gethen came to succeeding. If I had known..."

"There's no point in worrying about it now," said Alden, in typical Alden fashion. "Kenric's no longer imprisoned by the Neverseen and we're all safe."

Oralie almost reminded him that Mr. Forkle wasn't, that he had been killed by Gethen, but she thought better of it. Kenric didn't need extra guilt. She didn't need extra guilt. No one did.

"And now the agreement is to stay hidden with the Black Swan for a while?" Grady asked, changing the subject.

"Well, the council will meet with Oralie shortly, and I expect they will have quite a bit to say about the Ogre catastrophe," Tiergan reminded everyone. "Fortunately, the Ogres don't really want anything to do with us for the time being, but we can be assured we're not on good terms with them."

"And the council knows what we did?" Sophie stood by her parents, listening attentively.

"Yes. Unfortunately, they found out it was the Black Swan and that Oralie played a big part in it. It's likely that she will be expelled." Tiergan bit his lip as he responded. Oralie didn't feel all that worried, though. She certainly would never regret what she'd done. If the council yelled at her and publicly kicked her out of office, she might cry a little- later, but it wasn't something that had the potential to wreck her life.

"Speaking of which," Oralie stretched her legs and slid off the bed as gracefully as she could muster. She didn't normally wear pants, but she had ran out of clean dresses while staying at the Black Swan base. She could have easily gone home and gotten a few more, but that would have required leaving Kenric and also risking Alina spying from the neighboring windows. And so, Oralie was readjusting to the non-formal way of life.

"My meeting is in fifteen minutes. I should probably go."

"As should we all." Elwin put in. "I'm sure Kenric needs to rest."

"Me? Never?" Kenric made a face as Physic approached with a sleeping draught. People began filing out of the hospital-like room, but Kenric caught Oralie's eye and she waited.

"You know you can tell them," he whispered. "I'd almost feel better if the councillors knew I was alive."

"The Black Swan thinks we should keep it a secret. Allow you to do work without the high-profile."

"Oralie, darling," he whispered reaching for her hand and pulling her closer, all while ignoring Physic who still stood to the side with her sleeping draught. "I'll love you no matter what, so go with whatever the situation calls for. But I don't want to be dead forever." He winked and Oralie fought against rolling her eyes as she leaned forward to give him a quick kiss.

"Fine. I'll tell them. It'll be very...interesting..."

•••

"Have you gone mad?" Bronte had already asked her that twice. Emery had asked her the same question four times. Apparently it was the common concern.

"I assure you, I am perfectly sane." Oralie smoothed the front of her tunic and lifted her head a little higher, meeting Councillor Alina's gaze as she spoke next.

"Come now, we all know Oralie has been distraught. She is not thinking straight and her grief has addled her mind." Alina crossed her arms and smiled almost cruelly.

"That is not the case! I, in full knowledge of what I was doing, broke into the Ogre kingdom, and helped in the raid on the dungeons- which succeeded." Oralie stared at every councillor. "I understand the gravity of what I did, and I am prepared to accept the necessary punishment- even if it means expulsion from the council." She swallowed and finished with, "I do not regret my actions."

Immediately the group erupted into debate and Oralie stared at the ground, trying to steady her breathing. She'd been in numerous debates, and even been the subject of few, but this one was more serious than any other- she had committed multiple major crimes. The council- if they were being just- should expel her. It was only fair.

"You've made this hard on us Oralie," said Terik, leaning toward her while everyone else continued to fight. "How did you expect us to respond?"

Oralie gave him a sad smile and thought about what Kenric had said. She could trust Terik. Right? "I appreciate what you're trying to do for me, but really, I don't mind getting kicked off the council- I'm going to step down in a few weeks anyway."

"What?"

"I'm going to join the Black Swan full-time so that I can still serve my world. And I'm also going to get married." Oralie had to keep herself from laughing at the look on Terik's face. It was evident he was beginning to think she really was losing her mind.

"Oralie! What are you talking about? Who are you marrying?"

She dropped her voice to a whisper and explained as quickly as possible. Terik still took a step away from her though. She obviously sounded insane. Oralie internally sighed.

"Listen, you and Bronte have supported me for quite a while, so do me one last favor and come with me- after this meeting. I'll prove to you that I am not crazy."

Terik didn't say anything, but he finally gave her a dubious nod.

The rest of the afternoon was spent with lots of arguing, but Bronte and Terik were finally outnumbered. Oralie could no longer be allowed to serve as a councillor. At the end of the week, she would return her cache, submit to a minimal memory wipe, and new election proceedings would commence. She was the first councillor to be expelled in over a thousand years.

It almost felt like an accomplishment of sorts.

"Sorry about the blindfolds," Oralie told a grumbling Bronte and Terik after everyone light-leaped away. "The Black Swan wouldn't be happy if I gave away their hideout."

"I still can not believe I'm doing this." Bronte crossed his arms as Oralie finished tying a dish towel around his head.

"It'll be worth it," she grinned, "Kenric will be very surprised."

She could tell by Bronte's huff that he thought she was loopy. Somehow, that made it all the better when she took the blindfolds off several minutes later and Kenric cheerfully greeted his ex-coworkers.

There was so much shouting Physic ran into the room to make sure no one was being murdered. Eventually, the two councillors calmed down and visited for a bit, then Oralie took them back to Eternalia and made them promise to keep everything they'd seen a secret- for a while at least.

The following days were busy. Oralie had Sophie make copies of all the council secrets that were scheduled to be erased. Sophie and Sir Tiergan even looked through Oralie's cache. She knew they'd found something when they returned it to her, but they had promised not to tell her unless she needed to know. There was a reason councillors locked away secrets. Guilt was a powerful emotion, but it was also dangerous- especially because the council wasn't always innocent.

"I'm sorry you had to lose your position because of me." Kenric told her the evening before her expulsion. He was feeling well enough to exercise a bit, so they'd gone on a walk around the Black Swan base.

"Don't blame yourself. I'm more than ready to give my position up. It came in handy when Sophie needed it, but now, even Alina knows the Neverseen are truly the bad guys. I don't think the council's as messed up as it was a few years ago. A lot of their flaws have been exposed, and it's caused them to reconsider some of the biggest issues."

"Like skills and abilities?" Kenric was still trying to get up to date on all that had happened while he was 'dead.'

Oralie nodded and smoothed the front of her dress. She'd finally returned to her house- since she had to clean it out before her replacement moved in- and had gotten her old clothes back. Though, honestly, they seemed a bit formal for the Black Swan work she'd be doing now. She was living at the headquarters, and she would be until everyone knew Kenric was alive. He would also be working for the Black Swan, so actually, they were still in just as much danger as before. There was always a chance that Oralie would lose him again. But at least she got to be with him- even if it was only for a few more days.

And she got to be his wife. That made everything better.

"Are you still feeling well enough for the ceremony tomorrow?" Oralie asked Kenric as they started another lap. He did look much better than the half-dead prisoner they had found him as. She didn't even see the scars when he smiled- he was himself. And she was desperately in love.

"Ceremony? Isn't Sir Tiergan just going to read us the traditional wedding stuff?" Kenric grinned, "It's not like we're having a big event or anything. I mean, I am dead."

Oralie swallowed slightly and leaned her head against him. "I just meant, no second thoughts, right? I'm not exactly going to be popular with anyone after tomorrow morning."

"Ah, but tomorrow night you'll be popular with me." Kenric winked and kissed her forehead. "You'll be the popular with me for the rest of my life." He frowned slightly. "I'm not entirely sure that made sense, but you get the point. You're my favorite, Oralie."

Oralie stopped walking and turned to face him- his crazy red hair and big grin and broad shoulders. "I can't wait for tomorrow."

•••

Oralie stood on stage while Emery read her crimes in his booming voice.

It was not the happiest moment of her life, for sure- but she tried to distract herself with thoughts of her future.

"For these reasons, Councillor Oralie will hereby be dismissed from the council and new election proceedings will begin." Emery led a scattering of applause and Oralie's mind drifted back to when she had first received the job. To imagine that the young, shy councillor she had been sixty years ago would do so many crazy stunts and then get expelled... She smiled picturing her younger self nervously curtseying before a similar round of applause, preparing to take the oath- the promise to put her world before herself. Oralie decided she hadn't actually broken that oath. She had served her world, - but through the Black Swan rather than the council.

"Thank you all for attending this important event," Emery told the crowd, "and thank you Oralie for your previous years of service." He nodded respectfully and she took her cue to leave the stage; to leave the council she had worked with for so many years that she knew them better than her own family. It hurt, more than she ever wanted to admit, but she was stronger than she'd ever been. She didn't have to fake the courage anymore. It had been engrained into her very spirit.

That evening Oralie dressed in a pale, bluish-white dress and gathered in the open courtyard at the Black Swan base. The Vackers and the Ruewens and the Dizznees and Tam and Linh, and Physic, and Elwin, and several gnomes and dwarves and goblin bodyguards all crowded the area. Oralie and Kenric had asked Sophie to be their traditional attendant, and so she stood in a silky blue dress holding Oralie's bouquet of flowers. Kenric stood next to Tiergan at the front of the courtyard, grinning like he was about to burst. Everyone else milled about waiting for Oralie and Sophie to start the traditional walk.

"I've never been to a wedding." Sophie confessed as Oralie finished pulling her hair back. "And certainly not an elvish one. Sorry ahead of time if I mess something up."

"Don't worry about a thing." Oralie told the girl, feeling a bit like Alden. "It's very informal, -just enjoy yourself. There will be a dance afterward- so have fun with your friends."

Sophie blushed slightly at the mention of a dance and Oralie couldn't help the smile. Even though the day had had a rough start, it was shaping up to be the best day of her life.

As she stood in front of Kenric and Tiergan several minutes later, and exchanged vows with her best friend- Oralie knew it really was the best day. There was no telling what the future held, but in her mind's eye she could imagine it: the constant laughter that came with having Kenric at her side, the worry of long nights working for the Black Swan not knowing if their friends were dead or alive, the hope of an eventual victory over the Neverseen, and the joy of new life found in children- hers. Life was truly crazy- only a few weeks ago her future had looked utterly and completely different. Which made change terrifyingly powerful- and wonderful.

As Oralie took Kenric's hands and felt his joyous emotions, she beamed all the while Sir Tiergan pronounced them husband and wife. Then they were kissing and dancing and visiting and dancing some more, and Oralie laughed, imaging what the council would say about her beautiful, secret wedding.

Sophie took turns dancing with Fitz and Dex and Grady. Alden and Della spun around and around and even Sophie's bodyguard, Sandor, danced with another female guard for nearly every song.

As the sun set across the courtyard, bathing everything in purplish light, Kenric sat down with Oralie on a bench overlooking the party.

"I don't think I ever imagined this level of happiness in my future- even before our twenty-year-deal got interrupted." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she found herself agreeing. Having Kenric 'die' had changed her- she was brave enough to break the law, to never take their relationship for granted.

"The deeper the sorrow, the more our hearts sing," she quipped, moving to kiss his cheek. He shifted though, catching her kiss full on the mouth.

The sunlight slowly faded and their friends continued to dance.

No matter what came next, Oralie was ready. Her dreams had finally come true.