Chapter 30- Newlyweds, and Epilogue

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Emilie couldn't contain her joy as she and her new husband walked out of the church and into the street. They paused at the bottom step in view of passersby, turned to one another, and kissed deeply in front of a half-dozen strangers.

"They were just married!" Adelaide said excitedly as she looked on. A few Parisian citizens smiled and clapped at the sight of the happy couple, celebrating a brand-new stage in their lives.

After the embrace and kiss, Gaston and Emilie joined arms and walked to the brand new hotel that he'd helped build with his own hands- the property owned by Marquis Antoine. The nobleman had given Adelaide and Emilie some money to stay in two separate rooms for two nights- Emilie with Gaston, and Adelaide all by herself, which she was beyond excited about.

"I heard that they have room service!" Addie told them as she tagged along next to the newlyweds as they held hands. "His Honor said you just ring a little bell on your door, and they deliver you breakfast! I'm going to feel like royalty for once! At least, just for two days!"

"Only the best for my bride," Gaston said, giving Emilie's small hand a squeeze. They neared the newly built, tall building on the busy street corner. "You deserve it."

"It does sound like fun," Emilie said in a quiet voice, feeling a bit shy and nervous again.

The thought that she was now a married woman hadn't sunk into her mind and heart quite yet. She was certainly old enough now, nearing twenty-three, to have the maturity needed to be a man's wife. She was young enough to have not been labeled 'spinster.' Emilie was eleven years Gaston's junior, something that bothered her at first- what if he grows old and dies ten years before me someday?- but she knew that his health and vigor would serve him well for a long time. That 'vigor' was also something that made her nervous- regarding what he had planned for the hours ahead.

He caught her eye, sensing her nerves and jitters, and wrapped his arm around her close, giving her a feeling of assurance and protection.

"Do you see that east wall? I remember laying it out myself, brick by brick. With Jean's handiwork too, of course!" Gaston pointed out as they came up to the building, now completed only five or so months since. "Jean said that it was supposed to be completed around Christmas of last year, but I caught that wretched smallpox, you know. And then, he and I went off the crew to go work on the Marquis' house. The hotel wasn't finished until March- three months late! It was because of Jean and I not being there."

"It's beautiful here," said Emilie, as they opened the great front door. "You and Jean did a great job," she added, always knowing that he loved praise and words of affirmation for his efforts, past and present.

They entered the lobby, which reminded Emilie of a small version of Adam and Belle's castle- a foyer with an elegant curved staircase, a party and dining hall off to one side. Like the castle, it was busy, bustling with people. Instead of servants, it was swarming with doormen, desk clerks, baggage carriers, and many customers- mainly those of wealth and prestige.

Gaston, Emilie, and Adelaide were dressed in their best clothes and hoped to not give themselves away as mere servants and working class. Emilie and Adelaide spoke quietly, trying to walk in slow, poised, tiptoeing steps, the way Evangeline and Marie-Juliette always walked when entering a building or a public arena.

"Monsieur et Mesdames!" a man's voice called out in the lobby. They ignored it at first, but then he called to the ladies by name.

"Adelaide and Emilie!"

They turned to see someone very familiar. The middle-aged man dressed as one of the hotel employees- with their matching black vests and culottes- was none other than Aloysius Guérisseur.

"Aloysius?" Gaston exclaimed in shock. "What are you doing here?" He tried hard to hide his scowl. As much as he'd liked Aloysius when he'd been a servant at the estate, he'd had quite enough with 'Enchanted' folk to last the rest of his life. Why was he working at the hotel, and not washing dishes in the Marquis' kitchens?

"Aloysius!" cried Adelaide excitedly, losing all of her ladylike decorum she'd been trying to assume for the last few moments. She rushed to the man and give him a warm embrace. "I was waiting for you!"

"Welcome!" the man replied after hugging the grateful young woman back. "I heard congratulations are in order," he said warmly, keeping his attention on the two women at first. When he locked eyes with Gaston, his demeanor turned apologetic. "Toutes nos félicitations, Monsieur Lu- I mean, Gaston!" he faltered.

Gaston could not hide his frown any longer. "Were you in on it?" he accused.

"I beg your pardon, Monsieur?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about." Gaston glanced over to see if anyone in the crowd was paying attention to the four of them; they were not. "The curse. And breaking the curse!" he said in a low whisper. "I hope she never leaves her prison, by the way. Tell her she's lucky she didn't destroy my life. She could have, you know."

Aloysius gave Gaston a kind but apologetic look. "That's what I wanted to speak to you about, if I can do so privately. Let me show you to your rooms. I work here now. Adelaide, may I carry the luggage?"

The secretive sorcerer bent down to pick up the two carpetbags from the lobby floor, leading the three of them to the ornately carved dark-walnut desk. It was attended by a young man wearing a fake silver wig on his head, a stack of papers before him.

"Next," the clerk announced.

"Let's get you all checked in," said Aloysius cheerfully.

The four of them went to the wigged man and gave him the money that the Marquis had gifted the sisters with; a very extravagant and generous amount. The clerk handed two keys to Gaston and Aloysius respectively, as if he either thought that women had no ability to open doors with keys, or assumed that they were two married couples. They walked towards the staircase landing.

"309. The third floor. We'll get a view," Gaston noted, looking at his key. "Now, Aloysius- as much as I'm fond of you, I want an explanation on your part. The last I've heard from you was when you were-" he lowered his voice again- "a disembodied floating head in Prince Adam's library! Which I didn't see, but I heard enough of it. Emilie saw it up close, and I'm relieved that she didn't die of fright from it."

"I want to have a short talk with you about all of that, Monsieur Gaston. Regarding Agathe, mainly."

"Good. Because I want answers." His eyes narrowed with a hint of threat.

Emilie gently touched his arm. The sorcerer was unfazed by Gaston's firm stance, and retained his friendly air.

"Only briefly, so you can go enjoy your honeymoon." he replied, then turned to the still-unmarried sister. "Adelaide, you can spend the evening with me if you'd like-"

"What? Wait- whoa!" Gaston interjected, putting a strong arm between the middle aged man's shoulder and Adelaide, separating them. "Addie, is there something going on between you and him that you've neglected to tell me about? Isn't he a little old for you?"

"Gaston-Luc!" Adelaide chided, appalled. "What are you talking about? He's a friend. We're going to have dinner together and talk for awhile. As friends. What's wrong with that?"

"But I thought you were still in love with Marcel. Remember him? The warlock who's actually your own age?"

Adelaide's eyes began to tear up.

"I am!" she said in sudden distress. "And that's why...I'm going with Monsieur Aloysius tonight, because he has a lot to tell me about Marcel and Agathe. Where their prison is. Which is down underground, beneath the city. I can't go there because I'm Sans-Magie, but Aloysius has a plan! And I...might not be back home Monday. In fact, Emilie, I...I think I'm pretty certain that I won't be back for...a long time." Her expression and mood seemed to change so suddenly, from cheerful to worried.

"What?" Emilie said in shock.

"I'm going off on my own. But he will watch over me," she insisted, gesturing to Aloysius.

Emilie knew something had been up with her sister for the last few weeks. When Emilie had returned home, she'd found Adelaide still depressed about having lost touch with Marcel, possibly forever. But very recently, she'd started spending an excessive amount of time in a chummy manner with Aloysius, when he was still the household's dishwasher. He'd only recently switched to working in the hotel.

"I'm so sorry. I love you, Emilie, and I respect Their Honors. But I made up my mind. I might go stay at Maman and Papa's for a few days. Not long, though," Adelaide declared, her little round chin set in determination.

"Where else will you be staying?" Gaston asked.

"Here...with Aloysius. He has an extra room, a very nice place. And I can help out in the hotel. Plenty of maid duties. Cleaning. But we-" she turned to Aloysius nervously- "we have other plans we need to work on."

"Let me get this straight. You're staying alone with this man?" Gaston asked in exasperation.

"I have an extra room, Monsieur," said Aloysius. "My intentions are nothing but that of a friendly companion. She wants to help me, and I need to be seen in public with a companion, especially a lady, who isn't someone of...certain powers."

"Is this something to do with all you Magical people, and your infighting?" Gaston asked. "Adelaide, you should go home and forget about this. Don't get mixed up in this sorcery nonsense. You'll never be one."

He glared at the man by her side. He knew that the older man's intentions with the girl were more that of a mentor, or fatherly role rather than romantic, but that did not mean no harm could befall her.

Adelaide and Aloysius both put their fingers to their lips to 'shush' Gaston, which irritated him. "Don't shush me!" he whispered fiercely.

"Gaston, please don't be angry. I think she'll be all right," Emilie said, trying to calm her husband. "Let's just go up to our room, okay?"

She touched Gaston's shoulder lovingly, running her index finger up to his chin and cheek- a flirty gesture that she was still shy about doing. 'Flirty' was never a word that described Emilie Fortier. But he was her husband now. She was Madame Emilie Legume, his other half, free to express affection.

He's my husband. Her knees felt weak for a moment, a shudder of nervous energy went through her.

"Gaston-Luc," she whispered, giving him the most loving gaze she could, standing up on her tiptoes as if to give him a kiss.

His scowl transformed into an eager, bright smile. "Emilie...yes. Let's go upstairs." He took her offer of the kiss, leading to a passionate embrace while Aloysius and Adelaide looked on.

"So romantic," Addie whispered to him.

The four of them walked up to the third floor hallway together, where Gaston and Emilie's honeymoon suite door, 309, was found.

"Well, then," said Gaston to the other two, holding the room key up. "Now...this is where we part ways."

"Oh, just a moment!" Adelaide took her own travel bag from Aloysius. She opened it and pulled out a pink stationery envelope with her handwriting, addressed to Marquis Antoine and Marquess Marie-Juliette.

"Emilie, before I leave you, please give this to His Honor. It's my letter of resignation. I promise to visit Maman and Papa. Don't worry about me. Aloysius is going to watch over me just fine!" She took the man's arm and gazed at him admiringly. "Merci for your help."

"You're very welcome," the sorcerer replied.

"Now- wait a minute," Gaston said firmly, dropping his hand with the key dangling from it. "I'll ask you again, because I'm your family now, Addie dear. Are you sure you've thought this through? Are you sure you want to associate with, you know- his kind of people? Aloysius- where's your magic wand and secret potions and all that sort of stuff? Tucked inside your sleeve?"

"I may or may not have them. As you can see, I have not been using them," he said in a calm and matter of fact tone. "I don't wish to use any of it in public, and I ask again that you please keep your voice down about such things."

"Evil Enchanters are everywhere- Oh! I'm sorry, I should keep my mouth shut too, Aloysius, I'm sorry!" Adelaide said, looking down the staircase and hallway in a paranoid manner.

"Gaston, mon cher, let's take our key and let all of us in our room, so we can talk," said Emilie.

"But Emilie," he argued, "I'd always imagined picking you up and carrying you through the threshold- alone."

"You still can!" she laughed fondly.

Gaston scowled in frustration, truly hoping that the insufferable warlock, and his own sister in law, would take the hint and leave, so he and Emilie could be finally alone.

"Mademoiselle- I mean Madame, and Monsieur Gaston-Luc," Aloysius said, "It doesn't matter if we are in a confined room or in the hallway. If certain ears want to hear our conversation, they will hear. It's no use. I've put some protective charms on your speech already, Adelaide."

"You mean no one can hear me? But- I can hear myself," Adelaide said sheepishly.

Aloysius sighed in impatience. "Just trust me, dear."

He turned to Gaston and his tone went serious. "We will both be leaving, you'll be glad to know. I only wanted to let you know one thing. She...and you know who I mean by 'she'- did not mean you any harm. She never, ever planned for it to break."

"Is that so?" said Gaston skeptically.

"She never planned for you to return to that castle. It was an unfortunate coincidence, due to the Marquis' ties to Prince Louis and Prince Adam. Please don't hold her at fault."

"You're telling the truth?" He thought it over for a moment. When Agathe was in her old-aunt persona, she had truly seemed to care for him. It would have been all an act if she didn't- an extended act that lasted a whole year. She may have been a witch, but she seemed human enough, hadn't she?

The sorcerer nodded. "Please believe me, Monsieur. She even tried to get Marcel Clement to whisk you off to another place in his carriage, once she learned you were going to Prince Adam's. Of course he didn't obey her. He wasn't exactly her best ally. He'd been working for- that other man."

Adelaide glanced nervously around the empty hallway, as if she were expecting the boogie-man to pop into the quiet hall.

"Is that so?" Gaston's face brightened. "I was the subject of controversy and intrigue among you warlocks?" He gave a little amused laugh. "I must be important in both worlds."

"Not important. You were a victim," said Aloysius.

"What? I was no victim!" Gaston exclaimed, outraged.

Emilie gave her offended husband an look of gentle reproach. Back when he'd been in the dungeon at that hearing, she recalled his rants about being the 'victim' of Agathe's curses. So now he changed his mind?

Aloysius sighed. "Yes, Gaston-Luc. You were. Just like Prince Adam, you were the victim of her power trips and pride. She meant well, but as always, she went about it the wrong way. I've had to deal with her for years. She's family. But- she did grow to care about you. She started thinking of you as almost a son, and she used to weep for you," A sad look came over the man's face. "She wasn't an evil person."

"Doesn't matter now. I'll never see that woman again," Gaston said, swallowing an unexpected lump in his throat. "If you ever see her again, tell her thank you. It was all worth it in the end." He wrapped his arm around Emilie. "She helped me. So I'll tell you again, I was no victim!"

"I'm glad you feel that way," said Aloysius. "She's paying her dues for what she did, this very moment. And so is Monsieur Clement, for his own misuse of magic in that castle." He glanced at Adelaide, who nodded sadly. "As for me personally, I'm keeping a low profile, but I fear that I'm the next to go."

Adelaide nodded again, her eyes growing tearful. Emilie stepped forward to hug her sister.

"I'll see you later," Addie said.

"Where is Lorette?" Emilie asked, noticing that she was without her constant furry companion. "She was with us in the carriage, and then you took her somewhere before we went to the chapel. Are you keeping an eye on her?"

"She's in Aloysius' room. She's fine. Catching mice there," Adelaide replied.

"So you and Aloysius planned ahead of time to meet here at the hotel, and move the cat here?" Gaston said.

"Addie...I agree with Gaston," Emilie said in warning. "I also think you should go home on Monday, and stay there. Don't quit. This sounds so dangerous. I know you want to find Marcel someday. I know you liked him a lot, and you want to help, but all this- you cannot understand-"

"I'll be fine!" Adelaide assured her sister. "Monsieur Aloysius is a brilliant and powerful man. Not just...his 'medicines' but other things. After all, he's her cousin. It's in their blood-"

In an almost parental way, the Enchanter put his finger on Adelaide's lips to shush her. "Shh, let's go have some dinner. There is a restaurant downstairs. Let's let the newlyweds be," he urged her.

Adelaide nodded, and took his arm to walk downstairs. "Have a wonderful and passionate honeymoon," she said cheerily.

"They're finally gone," Gaston said, his face turning scarlet.

"I hope she'll be all right."

Gaston raised his own index finger and put it over her lips. "Shh, ma cherie. She's in good hands. He healed us both, remember? The kiss of true love?"

"Of course I do."

"I want to carry you over the threshold now."

"All right," she agreed with a nervous laugh.

He put one arm around Emilie's shoulders, and with the other, he scooped her up under her knees. He lifted her, as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

With quick fingers, he jammed the key in door 309, turned it, and it fell open. He carried his bride to a small, elegantly furnished guest room with one tall window covered with a dark red curtain. A little beam of early evening sunlight dappled over the comfortable double bed, adorned with a burgundy and gold satin quilt. The place was perfect.

He lowered her to the bed and hovered over her body, one knee on the mattress, the other on the floor, his lips lowering and claiming hers. He undid her hair tie and unbraided her hair so that it fell free, spreading over the soft pillow.

"My love, and my bride," he whispered, breaking the kiss for only a moment, then diving in again for what seemed like hours.

He held her close, kissed her, touched her, easing her through the initial stages of physical affection and love. From her lips, to her neck, to her dress bodice, he allowed her to feel comfortable and secure, paying the utmost attention to her words, her responses, her breathing. This was a first for him, as well.

The loving husband broke through his wife's shyness and modesty, little by little, layer by layer. Their fingers trembled as they cast away fabric and caressed each other's skin.

Dusk was falling over the little room by now. It was dim, warm beneath their cozy quilt, and quiet by the time his bride was ready, her fingers kneading his shoulder, kissing his skin with newfound boldness.

"I love you...I love you so much," she whispered.

"Are you okay? Truly okay?"

"I am. I'm fine...please," she said with a joyful sigh.

The moment when he could finally unleash his passion- and hers- came at long last.

...

Epilogue

Gaston and Emilie Legume began their married life in their modest little Paris apartment, short on money, but big on love. For six months, Gaston worked driving carriages in the streets. One day, however, he came upon an incident where an impoverished old woman was being attacked by robbers.

Though a policeman was present- mostly ignoring the poor street woman- Gaston himself charged forward and took matters into his own hands. He grabbed one man in a chokehold, wielding a horse whip. The police chief arrived on his steed, and when he saw the stranger in action as the other officers stood idle, not caring for the victim, he was impressed with Gaston's willingness to take charge. He seemed to care for even the most lowly in the city. His efforts were praised as heroism.

Within a year, Gaston had taken training and had become a patrol officer for the police. Not a lofty or lucrative career, but one that made him proud.

Within two years of their marriage, they moved into a slightly larger home, hoping to soon fill it with children. 'Six or seven! At least three of them are to be strapping sons.' Gaston proudly teased his wife.

However, to Gaston and Emilie's despair, they were unable to conceive a child.

Three, four, then five years went by. The couple sought out common doctors, even Enchanted healers such as Aloysius- for anything that might bring hope of their dream of a large family. But even Enchanted magic and potions had their limits. Emilie's womb and the little extra bedroom remained empty. The couple blamed the smallpox both had suffered in the past.

One day, when Gaston and Emilie had been married for over five years, they were approached by a man they had come to know as a friend. He brought to their home a pair of orphans- a boy and a girl. The man was the bearer of tragic news- these little ones had just lost both parents so suddenly.

They grieved the loss of the parents of the two beautiful children, and they welcomed the baby boy, and toddler girl, with love. It was a bittersweet blessing and a trying time. Though the children, named Eugene and Arielle, were not his by blood, Gaston came a very proud Papa, raising his family with Emilie by his side.

…

A.N. - Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I've had such a fun journey with this story over the last year! As always, I'm sad to bring another story to a close.

For those who were asking about Agathe, Marcel and Adelaide, I'm starting on another story focusing just on them. It will describe the adventures Adelaide joins in on, more detail about Marcel and Agathe in their magical prison, Sauvageon the wicked officer, and a brand new character I named 'LeLoup.'

'Le Monde des Sorciers,' French for 'The Sorcerers' World' is the title of the new story, a historical fantasy/romance. The first chapter should be posted soon!