The Light of Asteria (46 page)

He willed the curtains open, and I nestled in
my favorite spot, admiring the full lilac moon. My heart filled
with joy. In just five short days we would be joined, and I would
belong to Gavin forever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 30—The
Ceremony

The winsome purple haze of the night
lightened to various shades of lavender and blues, as the sunshine
peeked over the horizon. I stirred in the empty bed. It was
unsettling to not wake in Gavin’s arms, but I reminded myself that
this was the last time that would ever happen. The queen had
insisted that we follow the elfish tradition of solitude the day
before the mating ceremony. I stared out the windows at the
activity below.

The courtyard was already buzzing with
excitement. Long golden benches surrounded a large pavilion, which
had been built in the middle of the ancients’ statues. Hundreds of
sprites twinkled around the marble containers that now framed its
periphery. My heart warmed; the healing of the sprites had begun. I
willed the curtains closed and quickly dressed.

“I have summoned the finest stylist in the
kingdom to shape your hair.” Elaine’s voice rang up the winding
staircase as soon as the bedroom door opened. I was forever
grateful for her love of all things fashion. She was right; my hair
now fell past my waist.

The elf that entered the room was dressed in
burgundy. Her sleek black hair wound around her head in a
traditional style worn for formal occasions. She bowed, and her
gaze never left the floor. She stood behind me with a brush and
scissors. Snipping sounds reverberated, as the quiet screamed in
the room. I almost thanked her, but the sheer discomfort of her
emotions kept me silent. A mirror had been strategically placed on
the wall. The cut was simple, but elegant. I smiled, and she bowed,
her eyes darting from the reflection. She left without meeting my
gaze.

“Am I ever going to be able to speak to
anyone other than my family?” I grumbled.

“Nora, we will confront that difficulty
later; let us not mar this day with negativity,” Elaine said.

It had been almost two weeks since Mia had
escaped through the portal. My muscles no longer cried in pain, but
my stamina was ridiculously weak. I had no idea how I was going to
physically make it through the ceremony. Rena’s concern
swirled.

“You must rest; we have a long day,” she
insisted. My heart stilled under Rena’s gentle touch. I slept
through the manicure and a pedicure. Luckily, no one in Kailmeyra
had heard of make-up, nail polish, or any other trivial aspects of
human life. When I stirred, I was surprised to find that it was
past midday. In Kailmeyra, mating ceremonies were always held at
dusk. This symbolized the first union of time, when day joined
night. They remain separate entities, yet they are connected for
eternity.

The door opened, two guards presented Elaine
with a large octagonal box.

“It is our tradition that the male give his
mate a gift. The prince commissioned this piece as soon as he
realized that you had made it through the portal,” she
explained.

My stomach flipped as she lifted the lid. The
amethyst tips of the crown peeked out of the box. Faceted, round
diamonds beautifully curved in a lace pattern, reminding me of the
sprite’s wings. Alternating emeralds and light brown topaz lined
the base. My nerves heightened as the weight of the crown pressed
on my head. Elaine intricately wove my hair through the bottom,
securing it in place. I glimpsed at the mirror for a moment, and
quickly looked away. I had successfully avoided the thought that I
was marrying royalty all day long.

Rena left for a moment. She came back with a
long gossamer garment that glittered under the orbs’ soft glow.

“My lady, it’s time to put on your
dress.”

My pulse almost jumped out of my throat.
Suddenly, every nerve in my body prickled, and my stomach wildly
flipped. Everyone in the kingdom would be watching me. I didn’t
like being the center of attention ... what if I fell? Rena turned
in frustration; her jasper brown eyes rock hard.

“Nora, what are you thinking? You can take on
an army of Dokkalfar, be the first one to be taught by the ancients
in over a millennium, teach the entire kingdom a lesson that no one
has been able to do since the history of our people … and you are
afraid of walking?” A smile played on my face.

“All right, I’ll give you that one. But I’ve
never been to a mating ceremony, and I only went to three weddings
back home.” Rena’s expression softened, and Elaine came and stood
by my side.

“Everything is going to go as planned. Please
do not expend energy on worry; just enjoy this day, my lady.”

That was easy for her to say. She wasn’t
getting ready to walk in front of the whole world backless.

I took the dress upstairs and laid it across
the bed, needing a moment to think. The windows were like a siren’s
call, and I simply couldn’t resist peeking through the curtains. My
heart almost stopped. A deep purple runner led from the castle to
the pavilion, which was draped in the same rich fabric. The
courtyard now held thousands of elves dressed in festive bright
clothing. Hundreds of formal silver uniforms milled throughout,
watching for anything that might be considered dangerous. I guess
Mia’s little stunt with the knife would now meant that Gavin wasn’t
going to take any chances. I slammed the curtains closed and slid
down the wall. Panicked, I put my head between my knees; the tip of
the crown touched the floor.

“My lady, are you okay?” Rena timidly
knocked; I took a deep breath.

“Uh… yeah … give me a minute ... I’m getting
dressed.” Gavin would be waiting; everyone would be watching the
prince. And then there was the queen. The devotion the elves had
for her comforted me. They were the royalty; I was merely marrying
into the family. By the time I made it back to the dress, I had
convinced myself that I would practically be invisible.

Golden threads delicately shimmered through
the silk, and I slipped the lighter-than-air material over my head.
What was I thinking? The sweetheart line was low, and the air
streamed past the small of my back. Sweat beaded on my forehead;
panic ran amok.

“My lady, I can feel your doubt all the way
downstairs. Let me see,” Elaine commanded through the door.

“Come in,” I called, bringing back the blue.
I held my hands out, and sighed.

“Well?” I asked a little defensively.
Appreciation shone in her emotions.

“Turn around, please.” Dutifully, I twirled,
feeling the material sway at the edge of my spine.

“Nora, you are positively breathtaking. This
is the perfect dress.” Her sincerity could not be missed.

“Are you sure it isn’t too skimpy? … I feel
naked.” I finally admitted.

“I would never let the future queen dress in
anything that did not befit her station.” Elaine was slightly
offended.

“True enough.” I smiled.

“I have something for you,” she said,
changing the subject. Her jade eyes glittered as she reached into
her side pocket. She handed me a golden band embedded with a row of
topaz gems.

“This ring is made of the same precious metal
as Gavin’s amulet.” The weight of it was surprisingly heavy, but it
was exactly like my sketch.

“How can I possibly thank you.” My voice
broke as tears brimmed.

“Just you take care of your Gavin,” she
softly murmured. I smiled, putting the band on my thumb for
safekeeping. We headed toward the door.

Rena’s gasp echoed up the stairs, but I kept
my focus on my feet. My nerves were already running on
overtime.

Elaine’s deep voice filled the room. “Malachi
tells of your land’s tradition of something old, something new,
something borrowed, and something blue. Your dress is new, the
jewels in your crown are old, and your shield is blue, so we are
only missing something borrowed.” Her expression warmed. She turned
and picked up a large, square box that lay inconspicuously by the
chair.

“This was what Queen Lera wore for her mating
ceremony, and was also worn by her mother, Queen Naomi.” Elaine
unlatched the top of the box and laid it to the side. She took the
jewelry from its silk encasement and held the delicate necklace to
the light; the gold pattern laced throughout the diamonds was as
intricate as the spiders’ webs that had saved us so many times. How
perfect that they should be with me today.

“Wow.” I was overwhelmed.

“You can say that again,” Rena whispered. “My
best friend is wearing Queen Naomi’s wedding gift from King Frey,”
her voice crescendoed.

If she said my lady right now, I’d have to
smack her. Rena giggled as she guided me to the door.

Malachi was waiting in the hallway. His
golden uniform clashed with his eyes, and his stark white hair had
been combed back for the occasion.

“You are absolutely exquisite, my Light,” he
declared. The walls flashed blue as I took his arm, and I
double-checked my shield.

“You are fine, my princess. It is I who am
having difficulty not expending such joy on this occasion,” he
admitted; his expression grew tender. “I was never blessed with a
child, never claiming a mate, Light. But if my life’s tapestry had
a daughter woven in its pattern, I would have wanted her to be like
you.” Tears finally spilled down my cheeks. I stopped for a moment
and held both of his hands in mine.

“I always considered Edna my true mother …
and now I’m glad to finally have a father, too. Thank you for
making this day perfect.” He smiled and patted my hand, pulling me
forward.

My heart picked up its pace when we stepped
on the purple silk runner in the front foyer. I cleared my mind and
searched; Gavin was less than a few hundred yards away. The first
chords of the traditional wedding march sounded from beyond the
castle doors and my senses heightened.

As we stepped into the late afternoon light,
a sea of elves knelt. Enormous marble vessels of rare flowers
surrounded the pavilion, making the structure seem as if it was
nestled in a botanical cloud. Hundreds of sprites flitted around
the ancient flora, their lights dancing with joy.

My grip tightened on Malachi’s arm as we
neared the steps. A choir of elfin children stood silently behind
the queen. Their health radiated round them in a golden hue. The
king of the butterflies came to mind, and I knew what he meant when
he said that he had not seen Gavin this beautiful since he was a
child. The purity of their spirit was reflected in their faces, and
I now understood why this culture was so enamored by their
young.

Gavin stood toward the end, dressed in a
formal uniform. As soon as our eyes met, his emotions coursed
through so strongly that it took my breath away. I held his gaze as
we drew near. My only thought was on the one that stood before me.
The one I loved more than air.

Malachi turned and kissed my cheek. “Remember
your commitment to your love, and keep your intent pure, Light,” he
softly murmured as he took my hand from his arm and placed it on
Gavin’s.

“Remember to keep her the priority above all
else. She is a gift like no other.”

“I vow to you, I will,” he murmured. His deep
voice sent shivers down my spine. We faced the queen; she smiled
and then nodded to the children.

A single clear voice sang out a simple
mountain melody. My heart almost burst as the rest of the choir
joined the soloist. Edna’s sunshine song harmoniously lilted in the
afternoon breeze. The tone so innocent, I could feel the power
within me hum. Every living being quieted; the breeze even stilled
to enjoy the dulcet tones. The song ended softly, and I was simply
moved beyond tears.

The queen gracefully lowered her head to the
children, obviously thanking them for their service. Their faces
beamed, and the smallest elf in the front giggled. They all bowed
to the queen; she was still smiling as she turned to us. Her eyes
filled with tears, and the silence stretched for a moment.

Queen Lera’s voice rang out over the
multitude. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it
does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not
self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of
wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always
perseveres.
… ”

“Gavin of Frey, Prince of the Alfar, heir to
the throne, do you vow that you will love, honor, and cherish this
woman, forsaking all others throughout eternity?”

“I do.”

I could feel the words bind to him, and my
heart sang with it.

“And do you Nora of Asteria, last Light of
the Ancients, vow to love honor and cherish this man, forsaking all
others throughout eternity?”

“I do.” My voice shook with the tears that
threatened to flow once more.

“As Queen of the Alfar, I grant my blessing
on this union and hereby declare that these two shall be joined as
one.” The courtyard was silent; even the animals seemed to hold
their collective breath.

Gavin bent to one knee, his fingers wrapped
around the clasp of the amulet; it popped open. He took my left
hand and laid his soul stone atop my wrist. Love and commitment
seeped into every part of my being. Gavin’s emotions doubled the
feeling, and I wasn’t sure my heart could handle the strength of
it. The precious metal warmed, the ends moved of their own accord
and fused together seamlessly, forever locked in place. Gavin rose
from his knee, and took my hands. I willed my mind almost solid, as
the overwhelming need to open up nearly made me lose control.

Bringing his left hand to my face, I kissed
his palm; desire surged. Taking the ring from my thumb, I slid it
on the third finger.