Seeing Aggard appear in front of me gave me a moment of pause. Alis and I were standing on a pristine lawn of grass next to a domed hill. Just behind us was an island filled by a large expanse of tall, wild grass dotted with shrubs and copses of trees. I had not expected Aggard to appear. Especially as Alis and I were about to start, or continue, our first adventure together.

Yet here she was, the same ageless being as before, complete with the power that flowed from her. There was less sadness in her eyes and was more lively than before.

There was also something else about the way she looked. It took me a moment to realise that there was a slight smile on her face. Beyond that, she had more feminine grace than before.

Finally, I could understand why she was the goddess of beauty. Stopping any traitor thoughts, especially after Alis told me what she thought about my dependance upon Aggard, I forced my mind to think about Alis.

Alis, the one whom I had moments ago said I would marry. The one person I knew who as much dependance upon another person as I had. It was just that her dependance was upon me, and mine was upon Aggard.

Aggard had appeared, and told said she would oversee our marriage. There was little I could argue against. In some way, I was eager to be finally marrying Alis. Then some feelings I had hidden within would then be allowed out.

Those feelings that were secondary and far different from what I had for Aggard. As I allowed my mind to wander with what I would like to do with Alis, I half wondered what would Aggard say if I thought about her the same way that I did with Alis.

A momentary flash of the way her soft and pristine flesh felt like, a body, an imaginative mental mix of what could look like Aggard naked. In my mind looking somewhat between what Alis and Celameth looked like, more of Alis’ figure and Celameth’s pale flesh and smooth skin. With hair the colour of golden honey, hair which cascaded down naked shoulders. Her bright eyes looking at me with the same desire that Alis held for me.

Before I could school my mind to think about something else, Aggard turned to face me. I felt my cheeks warm up slightly under a gaze which felt more womanly than I’d seen from her before.

‘Was the thought of me like that, nice?’ I heard Aggard’s voice in my head.

I just stood there looking at her, trying to unsee that golden honey hair over naked shoulders and the hunger in those eyes.

‘I have never married.’ Aggard said into my mind again. ‘I have devoted my life to the Anthal and afterwards to the Surviving Lands and the Younger Gods. I wonder what I would do if I allowed myself to have the same feelings for you, that Alis has for you.’

Unsure if Aggard was teasing me, my whole body grew stiff. My cheeks warmed even further.

‘Now, there is no need for jealousy, Alis,’ Aggard spoke aloud. ‘I was merely telling Klarric here that you do indeed love him.’

‘If he didn’t know that by now,’ Alis said, her pretty freckled face even more beautiful than ever as she gazed angrily at me. ‘He is a fool.’

‘He’s no fool, I assure you.’ Aggard said. She then changed tone from friendly to authoritative. ‘On the other side of that hill is the Dungeon of Netherfane. In the years after the Sillenal Empire fell, but before the Isles of Dunkeltal were born the Anthal did their best to halt the spread of the Fallen Blessing.

‘As there was little time to wait to perform marriages for all those who wished to do their duty towards me and the land, a new custom sprung up. The custom of the Delve of Devotion.

‘At the height of the Sillenal Empire marriages were held twice a year. In the autumn, so that families could sprout in the spring. And in the spring, new families were celebrated when life was coming forth. After the empire fell, there was need for a change. Only families could meet in the afterlife. Promised and future-spouses were not counted as families.

‘To ease the pain of not being with the one they loved in the afterlife, a new ritual was proclaimed. It comprises a simple two part blessing. If you two decide to partake in this ritual, you shall be the first to perform it in over six centuries.

‘What say you?’

Instead of looking at Alis, Aggard was looking at me.

‘If Alis wishes, then I shall partake.’

‘Yes!’ Alis shouted. ‘Please, I cannot wait any longer to marry Klarric.’

I looked at Alis. Her freckled face was beaming at Aggard. Her eyes were bright and full of life. When she saw I was looking at her, she smiled. ‘I know I cannot be your only wife. It seems you have too much destiny for that, but being your first wife will do instead.’

‘Klarric, Beloved by Aggard and Alis and Celameth. Alis, Beloved by Klarric and Aggard. Turn to face each other.’

We turned, so that we were facing each other.

‘Reach out and take your partner’s hands in your own.’

We reached out our hands and took that which was offered to us. Alis’ hands felt much stronger than they had when I had first held them. Maybe I had focused upon others too much to pay attention to Alis. Now that I looked at her, I realised she looked more mature and stronger than before we left the fort. This woman in front of me wouldn’t’ve broken down and needed dressing before heading to the temple.

No, this woman would’ve charged into the temple and argued directly to Aggard herself.

‘Now repeat after me: In this life, or the next, I shall await for you, my Beloved, until new life blooms.’

I repeated the words at the same time Alis did.

‘You are now married in the eyes of Aggard, the goddess. May your life be full of new life.’

What, that was it? Surely there must be more?

‘Yes, there is more,’ Aggard said, ‘but that is all that it takes for you to be married in my eyes. When you have finished your Delve of Devotion, there is another part of the ritual which must be performed. For the two of you, that should be performed in the presence of Celameth.

‘Now for your blessings from me on your marriage I give you this gift, Alis.’

Aggard reached out and touched her shoulders. Alis gasped.

‘As for you, Klarric, I give you this divine tool. It will only operate for you, Alis, or Celameth. It will provide for you a safe haven which only the three of you shall ever be allowed to enter. A safe, and comfortable, haven. One which may be required upon a wedding night.

‘Now with my blessing, go complete your Delve of Devotion.’

Aggard disappeared. There, in her place, was a round, flat stone, one which looked like one which might come from a river. I picked it up. On the mottled grey surface, some splotches looked suspiciously like Alis, Celameth, and myself.

Eyes bright with eagerness, Alis grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the entrance of the dungeon.

I felt a joy rise inside, that even though Alis had grown, she still had her child-like eagerness for adventure.

Within my heavy heart, the deepest of all, the most private of them. The one I would do my best to hide from Alis. I wished Alis’ child-like enthusiasm would last forever.