It was Myranda- beautiful, flawless, perfect Myranda. She was over me, her face smeared with smoke and bruises beginning to show.

"Yes, beloved. I am alive, alive and ready to get home."

"Then let us go," said Moonflame.

I called upon Majestrix again to open a bridge between D'rk 'Ysle and the Carousel as he had done so many weeks before. With a loud boom, a bridge opened and we stepped into it. We exited into Neverwhere for rest and solitude, away from the Carousel and its worries.

On the second day, a chariot of fire drawn by eighteen horses of flame descended from the sky. Within were Ayryon, Lord of the Winter Sun, Sharmayn, Goddess of Beauty and Love, his betrothed, and Roland. Roland approached, but the other two held back in the chariot.

"Hawklok."

"Roland, welcome."

"We do so hope we are not interrupting."

"No. The work is over. We are resting. Why are you here?"

"Yes, well, I have been asked on behalf of the new gods- all of them, I might add, those of Chaos as well as Law and the Grey Lords- to express thanks and greetings. Sharmayn, in particular, felt she owed you something. She and Ayryon have come to attend and perform your marriage ceremony. Do you accept?"

"Readily, but does Myranda?"

I looked to Myranda. Her bruises had healed miraculously once we returned to Neverwhere, as had my wounds. She smiled and nodded.

"Oh, I'm so glad. It's been too long since we've had a good wedding around here."

Roland motioned for the other two to come. The ceremony was swift and delightful for all involved, which was just about everyone in Neverwhere.

"And now, the ring, please, Hawklok."

Sharmayn asked me this, as a ring is required in the Carousel's wedding ritual, but I had not prepared for the wedding.

"Give me one that you have, then."

She winked at me. I looked at her, then reached into my pocket for the ring she had blessed, the one I had won from the succubus.

"May you now be man and wife, and live long and love forever."

I kissed Myranda then as I had never done before. The gods stayed briefly, providing food and drink for all, then left.

That is my story. There have been many more since then, but that is the first. As I said, it is not unique, nor is it, in my opinion, obsessively captivating, but, then again, what, besides Myranda, would captivate me?

Thank you for your time and for the honor of being here. It has been a pleasure, and I hope you have gained something as well. Goodbye.

-The End-

Epilogue
In the darkest recesses of what modern scientists have called the anti-universe, a restlessness disturbed the fluctuations of a universe without order. Two red novae erupted into existence in the darkness, gaining strength and fire while drawing power and energy from the surrounding nothingness. They expanded and flew apart, away from each other. Then, as they slowed, the gaseousness of their flares became more dense, congealing into two red, burning points of light against a blacker-than-black chaos, and a long, low laugh broke out into the infinity. A voice like Death's spoke calmly, but full of hatred, into the darkness.

"There cannot be one without the other, man-child. That too is law."

To Next Hawklok Installment: Return of the King