It was time.

Was she ready?

She'd been born for this moment. The moment she would get to marry Sylvanas. Finally.

Finally.

But still, she wondered. Would she be a good wife? Would she be able to support Sylvanas unconditionally, no matter what she did within Azeroth? She was warchief now, the foremost authority on all Horde matters. What if she did something that Faith didn't agree with?

She's always doing stuff you don't agree with, and you always work through it, she said to herself. Stop looking for excuses… everything's going to be fine.

She smiled a little and put on the dress slowly, closing her eyes as she felt its silken folds caressing her body. An old memory came to her as she did so, one of her and her siblings playing Princes and Princesses, pretending to be locked in a dungeon while waiting to be rescued, or, on a memorable occasion, actually playing the rescuers, which had ended with them in hysterics. She vividly remembered wearing one of her mother's old gowns on that day, a soft green dress that had brought out the amber of her eyes.

"I wish you all could be with me now," she said to the empty room, using magic to button the back of the dress.

A gentle wail reached her ears, and she smiled.

Taegan. He had shown up just as Sylvanas had left the room, and she'd been stunned to notice that she could actually see the shape of him.

He was more transparent than any ghost she had ever seen, and wasn't able to form words, but the priests and shaman who had worked on him had been able to alter his appearance so that he looked less like a wraith and more like one of the spirits that haunted some of the ruins in the Ghostlands.

"I know, Taegan," she whispered. "You're here."

It could have been anyone, really, because while she could see his shape, she couldn't make out his features. But she felt a connection to him, the same one she'd felt when she'd first seen his form in Windrunner Village.

"I'm so sorry, brother…" Her voice trembled, but she managed not to cry. Taegan glided over to her, gently bumping her forehead with his. She felt nothing but a whisper of cold and humid air when he did this, but the mannerism was familiar enough to make her smile. "I love you too."

Moving away from him, she walked to the closet, where a long bridal cape was hanging. It was white, like her dress, but spangled with silver sparkles in the shape of little stars. The material was almost completely transparent, and when she fastened it around her neck and shoulders, she felt a surge of emotion so strong she felt as though she'd been caught in a monstrous wave.

There was a soft knock at her door.

"Come in," she said in a voice that wasn't quite steady.

The door opened, and Rotvine took one step forward before stopping in his tracks. He stared at her.

"By the gods, Faith… look at you."

She turned around, facing him, "I haven't worn white in decades," she whispered, looking at the floor.

"You look magnificent. Oh, sweetheart…" He blinked, "I can't cry, but every dead cell in my body is telling me that this would be my react reaction if my tear ducts hadn't rotten away."

Faith burst into giggles, "Carrick, you sure know how to talk to a woman. Do you think Sylvanas…"

"I think Sylvanas is going to be stunned speechless when she sees you. I mean it, you know. She already loves the way you look. This… this would kill her, if she weren't already dead."

"That's definitely what I want to do, kill Sylvanas before she and I have a chance to get married." She smiled gently. "I don't know if I can do this…"

"Of course you can do this. Just think, in a few minutes, you and Sylvanas will be married. You'll finally be together in every sense of the word. She will be your wife, and you will be hers."

"Her wife…"

"Exactly." He linked his arm with hers and began to lead her out of the room, "Come on, she's already waiting for you."

Faith nodded, licking her lips once, "Okay…"

The courtyard that surrounded the ruins of Lordaeron was virtually unrecognizable. Little shimmering off-white lights were everywhere, swirling around tombstones that had been decorated in white bridal mist, those fragrant hanging flowers that had been so popular in Quel'Thalas once upon a time. The flowers also climbed along the walls, held there by sparkling magic that Sylvanas recognized as Rotvine's. They were also on the ground, forming a path that led to a corner of the courtyard where she could hear voices.

"Are you ready?"

She started. "What?" Why was her voice so squeaky?

Lor'themar smiled at her, "Oh, you're nervous!"

"No, I'm not. There's nothing to be nervous about. I'm only about to marry Faith Everstone, a woman I've loved my entire life, so why should I be nervous?" She said this very fast, her eyes widening with each sentence.

Bursting into laughter, Lor'themar hugged her. You're going to be just fine, you'll see. You're going to love her and cherish her and she will love and cherish you, and you'll both be happy. You'll be a family."

A family.

Faith would be her family.

Her chest began to get curiously warm, as though a small sun had settled there, bringing her peace and harmony.

In just a few moments, she and Faith would be married. And all would be right with the world.

"I wonder if things will feel different between Faith and I once we're married," she said to Lor'themar, taking his arm. "What do you think?"

"I honestly wouldn't know. But you and Faith love each other so much that you can't stand to be apart anymore. You love each other so much that you're willing to spend eternity together. I don't think I like anyone that much…"

"You're picky," said Sylvanas. "You always were."

"I'm not picky."

"Lor'themar. You're pickier than I used to be before Faith came along."

The regent-lord of Quel'Thalas stared at her, pursing his lips, "We're not all as lucky as you have been with Faith, okay?"

"Lucky. It took us nearly a century to finally kiss, and that was just before I died and was raised as a banshee."

"That's because you were both stubborn fools, and you know it."

Sylvanas pulled at the collar of her uniform, "Maybe."

A smile, "Hey, I think Liadrin's ready," he said, turning his head to see her walking towards them.

"Faith's coming," she said.

Sylvanas' skin began to hum with energy. Faith was on her way.

Music began to play, an old wedding march that had originated in Quel'Thalas, winding itself through the very air and around everyone assembled in the courtyard. There were people from every Horde race there, and even some unexpected guests: Alexstrasza and Chromie, who were sitting in the back, along with Taran Zhu, and, surprisingly, the August Celestial Niuzao, who had come in the form of a Sin'dorei with golden eyes and glowing black and silver hair.

All of them turned when Sylvanas began to walk down the aisle on Lor'themar's arm. She looked beautiful, and only those who knew her very well detected just how nervous she was.

"She's terrifyingly beautiful dressed like that," commented Chromie to Alexstrasza, keeping her voice low. "Faith won't be able to take it…"

Alexstrasza smiled, "I wonder how Sylvanas will take seeing Faith dressed as a bride."

Chromie laughed softly, "We're about to find out."

Sylvanas reached the end of the aisle, stopping under a tree that had been magically brought from Eversong Woods, its golden boughs seeming to shine even in the dim light of Lordaeron. Looking up at it, she realized that the music was actually coming from the tree. She'd witnessed this a handful of times back home, and remembered having been awed by this simple piece of magic. Tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked once, allowing them to roll down her cheeks and turn to dust there.

People began to murmur, and Sylvanas turned around.

There she was. Her Faith.

"Oh, by the Light…" she whispered.

To call her pretty would have been to speak a lie. She was breathtaking, this creature who was walking towards her, accompanied by a very emotional Rotvine and the shade of her brother.

The dress suited her perfectly, accentuating every curve of her body. It shimmered in the light, and created the perfect contrast to the black and red bouquet she was holding.

Making you look like the princess that you are… oh, my Faith.

She felt her knees getting weak, and thought suddenly that she was going to faint.

Liadrin reached out a hand, grabbing her arm to steady her, "It's okay," she whispered. "Everything's fine."

Everything was fine. Faith was right there, walking towards her. They were going to be married. She was going to be hers, this elusive creature she had loved for so long. Finally, they would be joined as one, after all this time. She caught Faith's eye, and nearly burst into laughter.

Faith looked stunned, staring at her as though she'd never seen her before. She was petrified. But beneath the fear was a love so intense it could have burned down worlds.

She steeled herself as Faith came closer, closer.

"Finally," she whispered, taking a step forward.

With a hand that wasn't quite steady, Rotvine handed Faith to her. Faith kissed his cheek, and after half a second's hesitation, Sylvanas did the same.

"Thank you," she told him in a low voice. "For everything."

Rotvine tried to speak, but found that he couldn't. Nodding once, he went to join Lor'themar to the side, taking Faith's bouquet with him, then watching as the two women looked at each other, the world falling away around them.

There was nobody else. Only them. As they took each other's hands, feeling an irresistible pull, their eyes locked. Everyone assembled felt their bond, something that not even death had tarnished.

It was really happening…

"Today," began Liadrin, her voice soothing as the tree's music softly dissipated, "we are here to honor the love Faith and Sylvanas share for one another. It is a love that knows no bounds. A love that has remained strong, even in death, binding them to each other in ways many of us cannot even conceive of."

She took Faith and Sylvanas' hands within hers.

"Their bond is like water, sustaining life around them." Water flowed through Liadrin's fingers and over the two brides' joined hands. "It is like fire," she said as tongues of flame danced above their fingers, "burning bright and warm. It is like the earth, rich and dense, solid as mountains. And it is like the air, flowing freely over the world, capable of being a pleasant breeze or a powerful hurricane." As her voice lowered, an air current carried away the rocks and sand that had begun to spin around their wrists, sweeping them over the crowd.

Lor'themar wiped a tear from his face, swearing then and forever after that a grain of sand had gotten into his eye.

"If there is someone here who feels that these two women should not be joined in marriage, I invite you to speak now, or hold your peace until the end of time."

Nobody said a word, everyone waiting with bated breath. Faith's hand twitched, and Sylvanas gripped it tighter, lacing their fingers together.

"I love you," whispered Faith.

Sylvanas smiled softly, "I love you." She turned her gaze back to Liadrin, who was blinking back her own tears, "Oh, don't start, Liadrin," she hissed. "We're barely holding each other together as it is!"

Liadrin laughed, and the rest of the audience chuckled. Clearing her throat, she spread her arms, her hands beginning to glow with holy Light. "Love has many different meanings for everyone. It is the love of a mother for a child, or the love of a brother for a sister. But it is also the love two beings share for one another, one so strong that it causes them to decide to spend the rest of their lives together."

She touched Faith and Sylvanas' fingers, "Everyone here has witnessed your acts of love. Without wanting to swell on the bad, people remember Sylvanas' sacrifice for Faith when Quel'Thalas fell. And they have seen time and again the way Faith has thrown herself in the path of danger to keep Sylvanas safe. It brings me great joy to finally unite them in matrimony." She looked out into the audience. "Is there anybody here who wishes to speak of their love?"

"I will," said Lor'themar, stepping forward. He cleared his throat, willing his voice not to shake. "I have known Sylvanas since we were nothing but lowly rangers just starting at the Farstrider Academy. She had lovers here and there, as is only natural, but I remember the day – and her sisters would back me up if they were here – but I remember the day Sylvanas found out that Faith liked her."

Faith pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. Next to her, Sylvanas closed her eyes, chuckling.

"She was stunned. You sent her cookies, Faith, is that right?"

Faith nodded, the memory bursting into her mind, warm and bright.

"Cookies. That was all it took. Sylvanas was never the same after that. I remember the way she tried telling herself that it was impossible, that Faith was too young, that they were both women, that Faith's brothers actually were her rangers…" his voice trailed off for a minute. "I remember the day she came back one day from Everstone Village, looking stricken. She was holding a small painting of Faith in her hands, and would look at it every few minutes when she thought she was alone."

"Were you spying on me or something?" asked Sylvanas in a whisper.

Lor'themar ignored her. "We all watched as Sylvanas fell in love with Faith." His voice shook just once as he went on, "And the rest is history. When Arthas came to Quel'Thalas, I saw Faith's world shatter. I was with her those first few days after Sylvanas died. I think all of you here remember what it was like for her. She cried every tear in her body, and then some."

Several people in the audience nodded, and Sylvanas squeezed Faith's hand tighter still.

"I can only imagine what it's like for someone to love another the way Faith and Sylvanas do. I have seen them fight, and I've seen them resist each other. I've seen them cry together, and today, finally, I will get to see them joined. For evermore."

For evermore.

He nodded and went to take his place by Rotvine again, but not before Sylvanas hugged him briefly. She hadn't hugged him in decades, and if he found it strange to hug her now, he didn't mention it.

"Thank you, Regent-Lord," said Liadrin. "We have heard one testimony of the love Faith and Sylvanas have for each other, and I'm sure that if I were to ask more of you to share your stories of them, the tales would be the same. You would mention how Sylvanas rescued Faith from the Scourge on more than one occasion. How Faith went to Icecrown Citadel when she found out that Sylvanas had decided to go there on her own to confront Arthas. You would share stories of the way Sylvanas acts when Faith isn't around – how she's much more irritable to work with."

"Am not…" muttered Sylvanas as the crowd chuckled.

"Yes you are, I've seen it myself. But the same goes for Faith. When the two of you aren't together, she's more on edge, and she's always, always thinking of you. The length of time you're apart doesn't matter. The second the two of you are out of each other's sights, she misses you."

"And I miss her…"

Liadrin smiled. "Now… I think the two of you have something you would like to say to each other. Sylvanas?"

Sylvanas found that she wanted to take a deep breath, something she hadn't wanted to do since before she'd died. But she felt scared enough that her body tried to fall back on a long-forgotten response. She turned to Faith, taking her other hand as well.

"My Faith, my love. You and I have been through our fair share of trauma. I didn't think we would make it here. I always felt that something would keep us apart somehow. First, it was our families – they seemed accepting, but we both knew that they never would have allowed us to truly be together."

She wiped a tear rolling down Faith's cheek before going on.

"Then it was the Scourge who tore us apart in the most unimaginable way possible. Arthas killed me, and turned me into this. And yet you returned to me, and you loved me so much that I had no choice than to love you again the way I'd loved you before my death. More so. Even after your own death and rebirth, you continued to love me. And I love you so much, honey. I love you… so much."

She cleared her throat, wanting to look around, as she could swear she heard more than one person crying, but there was no way she could tear her eyes away from Faith.

"I cannot imagine my life without you, Faith. We belong together in every way. You are mine. And I am yours. Forever."

It was done. She had said her piece. Her body trembled, but she felt as though her heart had filled with light and warmth. With peace.

There was silence. Sylvanas glanced at Liadrin, her eyebrow raised, and Liadrin took a deep breath, composing herself. "Faith?" she asked.

Faith gave a nod, rubbing Sylvanas' knuckles with her thumbs. "Sylvanas, you have been the love of my life since before I can remember. I wanted to be with you so badly when we were alive. It was physically painful for me to be near you without being with you, you remember."

Sylvanas gave a wide smile, "I remember," she whispered.

"When the Scourge attacked us, I made a promise to myself that I would never leave you again. That promise lasted exactly five days. You were taken from me, and things were never the same. There were days I didn't think I'd survive the despair I felt at knowing you were dead. But you made it possible. You were there for me. I loved you… and you tried not to love me back, didn't you?"

She had tried so hard not to love her again… what a fool she had been. She nodded.

"I love you. I don't know how else to say it, Sylvanas. I love you. And I'm always going to love you. You are my heart, you are my soul. You are my light in the storm, my calm in the night. And nothing will ever change that."

"Oh, Faith…"

Faith smiled, putting a hand on Sylvanas' cheek and caressing it softly before turning back to Liadrin, who swallowed the lump in her throat. She looked at the audience, giving people a moment to compose themselves. A moment later, she raised her hand, which began to glow with golden light.

"Faith and Sylvanas have declared their love for each other, and the Light blesses them both." The glow diminished, and she turned to Rotvine, who stepped forward with a box in his hands. She took it from him and opened it, revealing two rings inside, one slightly smaller than the other, made of silver gold with a black inscription on it in flowing Thalassian script. The inscription read, simply: "Two hearts as one".

Sylvanas picked up the smaller ring, repeating after Liadrin. "With this ring, I, Sylvanas Windrunner, promise to cherish you, Faith Everstone, all the days of my life. I will hold you, and love you, in health, in sickness, through joys and sorrows, all the days of our lives." She slid the ring onto Faith's wedding finger, feeling her eyes widening slightly as she did so.

By the Titans, she thought, shocked. I just put a wedding ring onto Faith's finger…

It took Faith a few seconds to snap herself out of the state of shock she was in. Her hand shook as she took the remaining ring from the box. "With this ring, I, Faith Everstone, promise to cherish you, Sylvanas Windrunner, all the days of my life. I will hold you, and love you, in health, in sickness, through joys and sorrows, all the days of our lives." She slid the ring onto Sylvanas' finger and looked at her, mouth parted, as though she couldn't believe what had just happened.

Sylvanas smiled.

Faith smiled.

"With these rings," said Liadrin, "Faith and Sylvanas have declared their commitment to each other, sealing their bond in the eyes of all the forces of Azeroth, in the company of people who love them." She looked at Faith and Sylvanas, positively beaming. "By the power given to me in the name of the Holy Light, I now pronounce you married, two hearts as one."

The End

Author's Note:

This seems like the perfect place to end this part of the series.

I wasn't planning on it – Evermore (the novel) was going to span until Legion or Battle For Azeroth, but it was going to be way too long, as I mentioned in a previous chapter. So I'm adding a fourth installment to this series, which is called Roses & Thorns, which you will be able to start reading… immediately, because I'm going to upload both of these on the same day!

As I'm writing this (on October 25th, 2018), I'm grinning from ear to ear.

Allow me to fangirl for a second: OH MY GOD, THEY'RE FINALLY MARRIED! IT'S ABOUT TIME! I've been waiting to write this wedding for the past two years, ever since I did the scenario for the Broken Shore. And no, I didn't skip ahead and write this scene two years ago. So, I know all of you have been waiting forever for this wedding to happen, but trust me – so have I!

There are quite a few people I would like to thank here, but the list is going to be too long to list you all by name, so you'll have to forgive me if I'm brief.

To you, my darling, my love. We met through this series. You've encouraged me in ways I didn't realize I needed, and built me up. You crashed through my defenses and have – to use Sylvanas' words – wormed your way under my skin. I have no words to express how much you mean to me.

To everyone who has stuck by Faith and Sylvanas all this time (has it been more than three years, or am I hallucinating this?), thank you. Thank you for your patience, your comments, your ideas, your excitement, and your discussions. Thank you for reminding me that it's okay to get stuck and that I should take my time.

To those of you who have taken the time to create fan art and music (MUSIC!) for Evermore – thank you. That doesn't seem like an adequate thing to say – I'm still floored that my little piece of fanfiction has inspired you to create works of art for Faith and Sylvanas. Wow. Thank you.

I hope that Roses & Thorns will be a good experience for all of you, And, remember, if you'd like to catch me on Facebook, you can – just search for Lunarelle Everstone, and you'll find me!

With that said, I wish you all a happy reading experience. And… OH MY GOD, THEY'RE MARRIED!

Love,
Lunarelle