Chapter 7: Together

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Epilogue

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KINGDOM had transformed in ways that no one could have predicted. The royal court, once a rigid structure governed by old traditions and unspoken rules, now thrummed with the pulse of progress.

Rhiannon, now Queen, stood at Simon's side as they looked out over the training grounds from the castle's highest tower.

The view was breathtaking, the sprawling landscape dotted with the outlines of soldiers preparing for battle, knights sparring, and training regimens taking place in full force.

But it was different now.

Gone were the days when only men could aspire to wield a sword or protect the kingdom. Women-young girls with fire in their hearts and courage in their eyes-had begun to take their place alongside the men.

They trained in the same armor, under the same grueling conditions, learning the ways of battle just as fiercely, just as proudly.

It had been Rhiannon's idea. After Simon's coronation and the moment they had sealed their vows, they had set to work on changing the laws of the land-laws that had held women in servitude, relegated them to the background, allowed them no voice beyond the walls of their homes.

Simon, who had never cared for the boundaries others tried to impose on his life, had supported her fully. Together, they had abolished the old laws, paving the way for a new kingdom. One where women could rise as soldiers, as warriors, as leaders.

"It feels different now, doesn't it?"

Rhiannon murmured, her fingers resting lightly on the cold stone of the tower's edge.

Simon glanced at her, a small, proud smile tugging at his lips.

"I never thought I'd see the day when the very foundation of our kingdom would be turned on its head. But here we are."

She turned her gaze back to the training grounds. Young women, some no older than fifteen, were sparring with the same intensity as their male counterparts. Their faces were set with determination, their movements fluid and confident.

"I never thought I'd see the day when I would be allowed to fight" Rhiannon admitted softly, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "Or when other women would be able to."

Simon's hand found hers, his grip steady and warm.

"You paved the way for them, love. You changed everything."

She met his gaze, her heart swelling with love and gratitude.

"We did it together."

Their journey had been anything but easy. They had faced resistance from those who had held power for generations. There had been whispers, defiance, even attempts to sabotage their progress.

But Simon and Rhiannon had stood strong, their shared vision of a world where anyone, regardless of gender, could fight for their place in the kingdom, driving them forward.

The laws had changed. The kingdom had changed. And now, a new generation of women-brave and bold-was rising to take their place on the front lines, breaking barriers and fighting for the future they had all helped to build.

The training grounds were filled with hope, with women who had once been told they could never fight now standing strong. And as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting its golden glow over the kingdom, Rhiannon knew their work had only just begun.

Simon stepped closer, his voice low but firm.

"You've given them the freedom to dream, Rhia. You've given them the courage to act."

"And it was you that gave me the strength to keep going, to keep fighting" she said, her voice thick with emotion.

Simon leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Together," he whispered. "We'll keep changing this world."

They stood in silence, side by side, watching the future unfold before them.

Rhiannon turned to Simon, her gaze searching his face as if committing every detail to memory-the sharp angles softened by the sunset, the quiet intensity in his eyes.

Without hesitation, she stepped closer, circling her arms around his neck, pulling him into the warmth of her embrace.

Simon exhaled, as if the weight of the world lifted the moment she touched him.

His hands settled against her waist, grounding himself in her presence.

"I love you" she whispered, the words slipping out like a truth she had held in her heart for far too long.

His grip on her tightened ever so slightly, his forehead pressing against hers.

"Say it again" he murmured, his voice rough with emotion.

She smiled, tilting her head to brush her lips against his.

"I love you."

Simon let out a shaky breath before capturing her lips in a slow, lingering kiss.

It wasn't rushed or desperate-it was reverent, as if he was trying to pour every unspoken word, every promise, into that single moment. When they finally pulled apart, his thumb traced the curve of her cheek, his eyes never leaving hers.

"I love you, too" he said, his voice unwavering. "And I'll spend the rest of my life proving it to you."

Rhiannon laughed softly, her heart swelling.

"You already have."

Simon kissed her again, and this time, there was no hesitation-only certainty.

Together, they could face anything. Together, they would continue to change the world.

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Do you believe in "my story has already been written since birth"?

Well, my mother does.

And she wrote mine.

Since birth.

« Meaning: Great Queen; Goddess. Rhiannon as a girl's name is of Welsh origin meaning "great queen" or "goddess." The title stems from the mythological name Rigantona, meaning "great queen," born by a Celtic goddess of fertility. »

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End

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