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It was a beautiful sunny morning when Riftan and the rest of the Remdragon Knights finally arrived back in Livadon. It was late Sunday morning, so most people were in the sanctuary attending the morning church service.
The last few months of the war had been very chaotic. Due to the increasing dangers on the front lines, the knights were unable to send any updates back to the church, therefore Maximilian and the other wives, sisters and relatives were unaware that their loved ones had returned.
The men removed their armor before entering the narthex at the back of the church as it was not proper to wear battle armor in a place of worship.
The men stood just beyond the doors to the sanctuary and could hear the gentle voices of a lovely women’s choir. Their delicate voices sounded strange as the men had grown accustomed to the loud deafening roar of battle. It seemed almost as though fate had meant for them to arrive at this very moment as the choir began to sing their next hymn:
I have wandered far away from God
Now I’m coming home
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod
Lord, I’m coming home
Coming home, coming home
Nevermore to roam
Open wide Thine arms of love
Lord, I’m coming home
Just as the men were about to push through the doors the voices grew quiet. Riftan carefully opened the large wooden doors slowly to not disturb the tranquility of the service.
As the doors opened a single voice pierced the air, both elegant and confident. Riftan felt his heart begin to race in his chest as he immediately recognized the redheaded soloist.
It was her, his Maximilian. She had stepped forward from the choir loft and now stood on the edge of the platform across from the pulpit. She wore a simple blue gown that matched identically with the other performers behind her.
Her eyes were closed as she lost herself in the music. She sang the lyrics in prayer hoping that her words might somehow reach her beloved husband as well as his men whom she considered to be her extended family.
My soul is sick, my heart is sore
Now I’m coming home
My strength renewed, my home
Lord, I’m coming home
Maximilian could not help but smile as she sang while she thought of her husband. She also smiled because singing had helped to greatly increase her self-confidence. Some of the wives had pressured her into joining the choir and to Maxi’s delight she soon discovered that when she sang, she did not stutter, not even once.
Riftan looked upon his wife in absolute awe. He could hear the joy, love, and anticipation in her angelic voice. The late morning sunshine caused the intricate stained glass above the choir loft to shimmer. The room began to glow in a dazzling rainbow of color. If Riftan didn’t know better, he would have thought he had just opened the doors to heaven itself.
Home, he thought . I’m here Maxi. I am so close. I am almost home.
She opened her eyes as she finished the song and her smile brightened further as she saw her husband standing at the back of the church. The congregation erupted in applause with some even calling for an encore. She barely heard them. Maxi was perfectly content with the extremely lifelike hallucination she was having of her husband standing at the back of the room.
One of the clergymen who had noticed the knights quietly entering the sanctuary quickly made his way up to the pulpit.
“Thank you Lady Calypse and the Livadon Choir. Lovely as always,” the clergyman said. “Ladies and gentlemen, before we conclude our order of service, if I could please direct your attention to the rear of the sanctuary. Please join me in welcoming Lord Calypse and the Remdragon Knights who have just returned victorious from the Second Monster War!”
Maximilian’s brows furrowed, as the congregation once again erupted in applause and cheers. She looked back and forth between Riftan and the clergyman standing behind the pulpit. Her eyes went wide as she realized she was not hallucinating… he was really here. He was standing just 80 paces from her, safe and seemingly unharmed.
She smiled brightly and her eyes became glossy as she fought back tears. Ignoring all proper etiquette, she leapt off the stage and began to sprint down the aisle, laughing and crying all at once. Riftan began to run as well, meeting her halfway down the aisle. He dropped to one knee and embraced her with open arms as she crashed into him with such enthusiasm that Riftan rocked back a little. She buried her face in his neck as her cries grew louder. She was lifted off her feet as he stood up holding her close. She felt her hair flying around behind her and she let out a soft giggle as she realized Riftan was joyfully spinning her around.
She looks radiant, he thought. Her hair was down, and wild after her short run. He had buried his face in her fiery mane of crimson curls, breathing deeply as he was surrounded by her sweet scent of lilac and honey.
Once the room stopped spinning, she leaned back in his warm embrace to get a proper look at him. His smile was blinding. His hair was windblown and messy from days of travel. There was a slight stubble on his face as he also likely had not been able to shave for some time.
But his eyes were what surprised her most of all. Maximilian had seen a variety of intense emotions in her husband’s eyes over the years, rage, desire, sadness, and passion. Now she witnessed a new emotion staring at her through those black onyx eyes: peace and unbridled happiness.
She had never seen him like this, truly relaxed and full of joy. He looked beautiful and she hoped she could always keep him smiling like he was now. Despite the large crowd of onlookers, she couldn’t resist gently placing her hands on either side of her husband’s strong jaw as she pulled him closer to her. Their lips met in a short but sweet kiss, once again reassuring themselves that this was real and not a dream.
He chuckled softly at her boldness. If he had initiated the kiss her cheeks would surely be flushed a deep shade of red by now. His kiss would have also been far more heated and passionate. They would likely have been frowned upon by those present in the chapel, not that he would have cared. His lips longed to reacquaint themselves with every inch of her soft porcelain skin. He groaned inwardly as he closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers as he fought against his desperate need to kiss her again.
He gently placed her on her feet but kept his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, not ready to let go of her anytime soon.
“This calls for a celebration!” cried the congregation. “Quickly! Prepare a sumptuous feast for our brave heroes!”
Upon hearing this the knights, who had been living off stale rations for the last several weeks, rejoiced.
The congregation, clergymen, priestesses, and knights began to file out of the church, but Riftan and Maxi stayed put. They continued to stare at one another in disbelief while grinning from ear to ear.
“Riftan, I am so h-happy you’re back and y-you’re alright.” Maxi said as tears of joy continued to fall down her cheeks. “Relief doesn’t even b-begin to describe what I am feeling right now.”
“I know Maxi,” Riftan said breathlessly. “I can hardly believe that it is truly over, and this is real, that I am here with you. Please Maxi, do not let me wake if this is a dream.”
“I promise,” She spoke gently, as she nuzzled her face into his strong, firm chest. “This is not a dream. Perhaps you will finally feel like it is over when we return home to Anatol.”
Riftan bent down and gently squeezed the gorgeous petite woman in his arms.
“I am already home.” Riftan spoke in a quiet gruff voice against her ear, sending a delightful shiver down her spine. “You, Maxi, are my true home. Wherever you are, so long as I am in your arms, I am home.”
She sighed happily at his overly sappy words. She took his hand; his large hand easily dwarfed her dainty one. Before they departed from the sanctuary to join the others in the feast and festivities she looked up at the courageous, handsome man standing before her.
“I am your home just as you are mine,” she said, her voice tight, full of emotion. “Your love is all the safety and comfort I will ever need. I will be blissfully content for the rest of my days if I can stay by your side, always.”
He smiled warmly at her and gently kissed her forehead before leading his wife out of the sanctuary. Hand in hand they walked together towards the dining hall which was already overflowing with laughter and joy. A joy that was no match for the serenity they felt to be in each other’s company once more.
Home, indeed.