Rakshasa War Epilogue (Complete)

    “Auntie Chiyo, wake up!” I hear the soft whisper near my ear. I feel a soft paw poking at my arm. “Auntie Chiyo,” the small voice sings.

    I grunt and huff, looking over the edge of the bed to see two sets of eyes staring up at me. I sit up slowly and look down at them. “How did you two get in here?”

    They giggle and crawl up into bed with me, Himank and Dhaval have been inseparable from me. I wake up most mornings to them already in my room, like today. I love my nephews, as shocking as it is to call them that. 

    I’ve been healing at the palace for a month now, the wounds inflicted on me as well as the control that Bithus try to force on me had taken a grave toll. Mythri insisted I stay until I was all better. This was hard, especially since Othet and the remaining scout troop were taking the bodies of Chi and the others who died during the battle to be buried in Bastat. I mourn their loss profoundly, with Chi gone I felt a deep emptiness in my world. Othet promised to come back for me after the burials, but I still missed him.

    Being with Mythri was a great comfort. We had never known each other our entire lives, yet we fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. We spent most of our days together catching each other up and talking about our lives up until this point. Mythri showed me the palace, she took me to the usual places, but also taught me the secret passages and hidden doors that had gotten her into the inner circle that soon lead her to Amit. 

    Amit was a stoic man, but around his wife and children, he was warm and affectionate. He reminded me of Chi in that way. His love for Mythri reminded me of the love he held for my mother until the day he died. Ever since the battle, he has barely let go of Damini, his daughter. He’s kept her in his strong arms aside from times she needs to eat. He was overseeing a lot of reconstruction to the city outside the palace as well as to the castle itself. His primary concern was his people and seeing that they were taken care of. Needless to say, he was kept quite busy.

    Mythri went out with him a lot, but it was hard. She mainly wanted to stay home with her babies. She went with Amit, however, to deliver food and goods to the citizens. She kept a strong front for them so she could raise morale.

    “You look exhausted,” I tell her one day when she returns.

    “Do I?” She chuckles. “I feel torn several ways, but it is worth it.” She takes Damini into her arms and squeezes her tight. “Things are looking better every day. King Hebbar has been a massive help.”

    Hebbar was the Golem King and was a loyal ally to Amit. He had come to aid in the rebuilding of the city.

    “I wish there was more I could do,” I reply.

    “You’ve done enough,” Mythri scolds me. “You just need to heal, that is all I ask of you at this moment.” She then gives me a soft smile. “Seeing you gives me great comfort,” she reaches out and takes my hand, giving it a firm squeeze. “You still haven’t told me how you would like to be rewarded.”

    “Rewarded?” I laugh, and I place my hand over my bruised ribs. “I told you not to even consider it. I did what I had to do.”

    “You saved an entire country,” Mythri whispers to me. “You took a dragon and turned it towards our side. There are already legends about you. There are songs!” She laughs in disbelief. “You saved the lives of my children. How can you sit there and just tell me it was all in a day’s work for you?”

    I smile at her and chuckle. “My reward is you,” I tell her as I take both her hands. “Knowing you’re in this world with me, is all I’ll ever need.”

    She beams at me and nods. “Still, I cannot fully impart my gratitude to you without doing something.” She thinks for a moment, her expression serious. “You and Othet,” she starts. “You aren’t married are you?”

    I shake my head. “He asked me to take him before the battle,” I reply. “I agreed.”

    Mythri beams. “Then that settles it,” she squeezes my hands. “I’ll throw you a wedding!” 

    “Oh,” I gasp. “No. That isn’t necessary!”

    “Oh, but I love weddings!” Mythri sighs. “And you are my sister! Let me do this for you, please.” She grins at me. “It will be good for the country too. If we celebrate our victory and your marriage, it will be back some semblance of normalcy.”

    I take a breath and nod. “When you put it that way,” I murmur.

    She kisses my cheek and puts her arms around me. “Are there traditions in Bastat you’d like to uphold?” She asks. “Things you and Othet would like?”

    “Oh,” I gasp. “Usually, Penu just performs the ceremony in his tent,” I tell her. “It’s usually not that big of a thing in Bastat. Maybe the family makes a meal, but there is usually no cause to celebrate as we see it as an intimate thing between the partners.”

    Mythri gasps and nods. “I see. Well, I certainly don’t want to offend you and Othet with some lavish ceremony. I remember when Amit and I married it lasted three days. Hearing that, I would highly doubt you and Othet would want something so extreme.”

    I chuckle and shake my head. “Othet might want to celebrate for centuries, but if we hide the wedding in with the celebrations of the victory, I think I could accept it.”

    “If it will make you comfortable, then I’ll see what I can do.” She grins at me. “Now,” she says as she takes a serious tone. “As your big sister, I must know if Othet has been proper with you.” She looks as stoic as her husband, but he eyes are bright and smiling. 

    I grin at her and nod. “He’s been proper. Although I’m afraid, I can’t say I’ve been that way towards him.”

    Mythri giggles. “And what is that to mean?”

    I smile softly. “We’ve slept together,” I admit. “Often.” I then shrug. “A lot, in fact.”

    She nods. “I can’t say anything. Amit and I fucked like bunnies in the beginning. Why do you think the twins are here?”

    I snort and cover my mouth. “You didn’t?”

    “He insisted we get married because I got pregnant,” Mythri whispers. “It was all very rushed to hide it, but it was so sweet how concerned he was. He said he didn’t care what people said about him, he just didn’t want tongues wagging about me.” Her smile is pure and warm. “I knew Amit was a good man. He’s honest and sure with everything he does.”

    “I can tell,” I murmur.

    She then giggles. “Anyways, aside from us both being unable to keep it in our pants,” she pours me a cup of tea. “We’ll keep the ceremony quiet,” she replies. “Like you said, we’ll hide it amongst the victory celebrations.”

    “I’d like that,” I nod. 

    “What about your dragon?” She then asks. “Is he comfortable with where he’s at?”

    Addor, the dragon I saved from Bithus, had bonded with me. He agreed to stay by my side until I said differently. So for the time being, he had gone into the caves by the sea, both as a lookout and to rest after being under Bithus’ control for so long.

    “He’s fine,” I murmur. “Just...I was only under Bithus’ control for a short spell. He was under it for months. I can’t imagine what healing he’s needed.”

    “I know Amit said he would like to keep him here until Demir arrives,” she murmurs. “But you would probably let him go if you had the choice.”

    I nod. “I would like to.”

    “After how much he turned the tides in the battle, I think if we had him on our side for a little longer, it could give the Gnolls the scare they need. With Demir’s assistance, we may be able to get rid of them for good,” she sighs.

    “It isn’t over is it?” I ask. “The fighting? That was only just the first one.”

    She sets her cup down and nods. “I’m afraid so,” she whispers. 

    That evening, word arrives that Othet has returned. I race to meet him and throw myself into his arms. His warm embrace feels so good, so welcome. He kisses the top of my head.

    “You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs to me.

    I know that can’t be true. My face is covered in scratches from Bithus, and I will bear scars for the rest of my life. He kisses me, pushing away all my doubts at that moment. 

    “I missed you,” he whispers.

    I pet his face and run my fingers down his fangs. “I missed you too.” I take his hand, leading him off to my room. I have food waiting for him there, so he can eat and relax after his long journey.

    “Have they been treating you well?” He asks. “And Mythri? How is she?”

    “Everyone has been wonderful,” I tell him. “And I love Mythri so much. It was instant.” I pour him a drink, and he kisses me again. “You need to eat!” I chuckle.

    “I don’t care about food or water right now,” he kisses me again and presses his forehead to mine. “I need to apologize to you.”

    “For what?” I ask.

    “I did what Bithus did,” he whispers. “I forced my will onto you. I hate myself for it, but I didn’t know what else to do.”

    I smile at him. “If you hadn’t of done that he would still be alive. Rakshasa Country would have fallen to the Gnolls. You were able to save me,” I whisper to him. “It never even crossed my mind.”

    He looks at me with those molten gold eyes. “I still hate it. I don’t understand how Bithus could do such a thing all these years forcing his will onto other living creatures.” He shakes his head and sighs. “It felt like...it felt dirty and wrong. I was utterly disgusted with myself.”

    “He didn’t care,” I assure Othet. “Bithus has no conscious, no moral center.” I place my hand on his chest over his heart. “You are kind and sweet with empathy for those around you. Penu raised an amazing man. A man I love.” I kiss him softly, and he shivers.

    “Will you still take me?” He asks.

    I beam at him. “My sister is throwing us a wedding.”

    His eyes widen.

    “They’re throwing a celebration for the victory, something for the citizens and their army to thank them. She wants to throw us a wedding ceremony during the celebrations.” I pet his cheek and run my fingers through his golden fur. “I told her to keep it small.”

    “Oh wow,” he whispers. “I know she’s your sister but still...she’s queen! And King Amit-” he shakes his head. “This is...beyond my wildest dreams, Chiyo!”

    I grin. “I just want you,” I whisper. “That’s all my silly little heart has ever wanted.”

    He smiles at me. “You’ve always had me.” He kisses my palm. “Was that even a question?”

    “No,” I admit. “I knew all along.” I then point to the food. “You need to eat. You’ve been traveling all day and knowing you I doubt you stopped to even take a piss.”

    “I took a piss once,” she scoffs. “I help it the rest of the way.”

    After he eats and takes a bath, I wait in bed for him. My body is still to hurt to lie with him like I want, but I want to feel his warmth pressed against me and his fur against my skin. As he comes out from his bath, he sees me waiting naked on the bed.

    “My love,” he whispers. He comes to me, touching the bruises and burns on my skin. He kisses my shoulder and neck. “I feel your pain.”

    “I am fine,” I tell him pulling him down into bed with me. “I feel better now,” I whisper as I hold him.

    “I have seen your dreams,” he whispers. “I felt your trauma and misery in those moments. All I’ve wanted this entire time was to hold you and comfort you when you wake from your nightmares.”

    I hide my face in his chest. “I still see his eyes,” I whisper. “Those wild, mismatched eyes,” I shiver. “Even as I tried to force them shut they still looked at me.”

    “I know,” he whispers. He kisses my cheek and neck with his soft lips. 

    “What did Penu say?” I ask him. “I need to know.”

    Othet lays back, and I snuggle to his chest and side. He wraps his arm around me and rubs my sore back. “He cried,” he whispers. “For you, his daughter and for Bithus, his brother. He wept for your pain. He wept for Bithus’ suffering. He prayed for him and that his soul would find the peace it never got on this earth.” He then looks at me with a tender expression. “He told me to tell you he loves you and is very proud of you.”

    I sniffle, and he kisses my forehead. “I can’t promise you that you’re going to be alright all of the time,” he whispers. “But I can promise you I will be right here for you through all of it. I won’t let you down.”

    I smile up at him. “I know you won’t.”    

    The days leading up to the celebration saw new buildings erected by Hebbar and his men. They fashioned new stone buildings for the people and even helped to repair the gardens of the palace that had been decimated by Addor. 

    One day, there was a procession of Centaurs coming up to the palace. Leading them, was a centaur as dark as night. This was Demir, the fabled warlord who was plotting to unify the entire Ruby Empire under his hand. Amit had become his confidant and his right-hand advisor, he came as soon as he could, and I was told he wanted to speak to me immediately.

    Mythri takes me to the gardens where Demir is wandering around. He picks up the charred remains of a rose bush, turning the blackened stem over. He turns and looks at me.

    “Is this the hero I’ve been hearing so much about?” He asks. He bows down before me, kneeling and them spreading his arms out on the ground. “I owe you many thanks.”

    “Nuh-no,” I gasp. “Please, sir, get up.”

    He chuckles. “Mythri told me you were humble.” He rises back up and takes my hand. “I owe you a great-”

    I grunt and shake my head. “Uh, no! I am sick and tired of everyone telling me they owe me something!” I shake my head and step away from him. “Please, it’s enough. I am tired of hearing about it.”

    “Then tell me,” he says. “What is it you want to hear?”

    I scoff and shake my head, closing my eyes as I wrap my arms around myself. “I want to hear nothing.”

    “You don’t feel like a hero,” he murmurs. “Then what is it you feel like?” He stands beside me, and I glance sideways at him. He looks off into the distance, and I stare down at what used to be a flowering bush.

    “Do you feel like a waste?” He asks. “After saving a country?”

    I sigh. “I just did what-”

    “What you had to do,” he says. “But what you did was above and beyond.” he looks at me. “Do you still see blood on your hands?”

    My eyes widen, and I swallow back the hard lump in my throat. 

    “You gave him a just death by doing it with your own hands, Chiyo.” He takes hold of my hands. “For centaurs, if we want to give someone an honorable death, we drop our weapons and use our own hands.” He then holds his palms out to me. “I have blood on my hands as well. Lots of it. I know what your mind is going through. Someone who isn’t a hero doesn’t have those thoughts.” He narrows his eyes at me. “What you have is a heart stronger and truer than most. You have a power that few have. Men like Amit have it.”

    “Men like you?” I ask.

    He chuckles. “Perhaps I do. But it is people like you I need for this new world I want to build.” He stands erect again. “I need you, Chiyo,” he says. “Your bravery and heroism are what inspires soldiers and citizens alike. You have a profound gift much like your sister to inspire and give hope to the hopeless.” He waves his hand out over the ruined wall where we can see the city below us. “All of them, everyone you see walking out there is alive because of you. Just because you took one life with your bare hands, you saved countless others. And you can save even more.”

    I glance back up at him, seeing the impassioned look to his eyes.

    “The Gnolls won’t stop. Just because you took the ace up her sleeve, Bethsabe isn’t going to stop. Amit and I are taking my armada and shipping out. We’re going to fight her on her own ground. I want you, no, need you to join me. Bring the very dragon she tried to use to destroy us and use it against her. It’s poetry, Chiyo.”

    “Even if I didn’t have Addor,” I say, “would you still want me to join.”

    “Addor is irony,” he smirks. “You are the hero.”

    I chuckle softly. “I was warned that you had a way with words. I didn’t realize how well you could weaponize them.”

    He smirks. “You don’t get anywhere in life with just an army. You need charisma behind it,” he smirks and pats my back. “I told you’re getting married. I just recently got married myself. I’m hoping to be home in time for the birth of my son.”

    “Congratulations,” I tell him. “But what makes you so certain it is a son? What if you have a daughter?”

    “It changes nothing really,” he replies. “I’ve just had visions that my firstborn will be a son. After that, I hope I only have daughters, that way I can have an army of women like you and Mythri.”

    “Flattery!” I chuckle. “Has anyone ever told you it’s cheap?”

    He nods. “My wife. Countless times.”

    I smile. “Good woman then, I like her.”

    And archway is built at the edge of the city, symbolizing the lives lost in the battle as well as Rakshasa country opening their gates to Demir and the growing unification he was bringing. The celebration started with a massive feast for the citizens and soldiers who fought in the battle. Imani and Mateo came, baby Aksha as well. King Niran and his wife attended with their children, as did Hebbar and his bride. Mythri had gone out of her way and sent for Penu who came to perform the marriage ceremony. When he arrived, he brought with him something that belonged to Chi. It was a new bow and arrow, hand carved with my sigil etched into it. He had made it for me and had been saving it for the day I would marry. The strange feeling of joy and loss overwhelmed me, and Penu held me as I wept.

    In the middle of everything, while fireworks were shot into the sky that is when Penu performed the marriage ceremony. Othet and I have been given special robes, specially made by Mateo himself with unique fabrics that Imani had. Hebbar made me a tiara encrusted with ruby red jewels to signify my heroism as well as royalty in the Rakshasa court. Othet was given a circlet of opals to show his connection to the spirits and his eternal gifts. 

Penu tied Othet and my hands together with a scarf provided by Mythri. He then had us raise our joined hand into the sky for the goddess Bastat to bless it. As our hands were raised, the children ran up, throwing flowers at our feet and coating the aisle we would walk down with them.

    “My children,” Penu says with tears in his eyes. “I have raised you. I have watched you grow. My heart is heavy as I send you off but lifted knowing you have become two souls so strong and beautiful. Together, these souls make a beacon that reaches to Bastat and assures her that her blessings are not taken for granted.” He kisses us both. “My children, you are one.”

    Othet pulls me close and kisses me as the others cheer. The children throw flowers at us, and we walk down the coated pathway where Mythri has set up a special dinner for us. 

    “Can you feel them with you?” Penu asks me.

    I touch my chest. “My mother and Chi are with me, as they always were,” I reply.

    He nods and kisses my cheek. “You were a blessing in my life,” he tells me. “I never saw Othet smile after we lost his mother. But when he saw you, it was as if there was a sun again. Thanks to you, Othet is the beautiful soul he is now.”

    I smile through my tears. “That wasn’t all me, Penu. I wish it were. But a lot of that beauty that shines in him is because of you.”

    He hugs me tight. “I know you saw Chi as your father, but you were always mine, Chiyo. From the moment you came screaming into the world, I knew you.”

    I squeeze him tight. “You are my father too, Penu,” I whisper. “Never doubt that for a moment.”

    “Is this woman making you cry, father?” Othet chuckles as he comes up to us.

    Penu chuckles and hugs his son. “I was just telling Chiyo all the things I didn’t get to tell her before.”

    Othet smiles at me and takes me into his arms. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to do your words justice. She had to hear them from you.” He gives me a kiss. “Have you eaten anything yet?”

    I shake my head. “I’ve been far too nervous. There are many royals here,” she whispers. “I don’t know what to do with myself.”

    “They’re here for you,” he whispers. “It doesn’t matter what you do.”

    I chuckle and kiss him again. “What about you? Have you eaten anything?”

    “Are you kidding me?” He scoffs. “I just got married I am only raw nerves and anxiety right now.”

    I giggle and put my arm around his waist. “Then let’s go eat our first meal together.”

    “What if I get nervous tonight?” He purrs to me. “When we make love as newlyweds for the very first time?”

    I scoff and slap his shoulder. “I know you. You don’t get nervous at all when you get to do that.”

    He laughs and kisses my neck, and I can’t help but moan softly when his fangs brush against my neck.

    “Let’s go now,” he whispers into my ear. “We can eat once we’ve really earned it.”

    I smirk at him then glance around the room. “Ok,” I whisper and grab his hand. “Now!” We run from the room, hopefully, unseen by the rest of the party.

    I know eventually, once the honeymoon is over and life returns to its usual flow, I will have to leave his side for a while. I am joining the battle beside Amit and Demir as they take the war to the shores of the Gnoll Empire. Empress Bethsabe is not just an ordinary threat anymore. She attacked the children of Amit, who knows how far she is willing to go to make her point. With Addor by my side, we plan to give her back what she gave the Rakshasa before she can attack again. The War on the Gnolls has barely begun, and the War of Crown Jewels is fast underway.