Chapter XXVI: Wedding

Lyla walked through the gardens, her mind in turmoil. It was two days before the wedding, and she was a nervous wreck. The planning had been very stressful, that was for certain, but that was not what was troubling her. She had been plagued by paranoia for the past several days, and it only worsened as the wedding drew closer. She knew that she loved Glorfindel and that she wanted to marry him; however, memories from her previous wedding had been flashing through her mind, consuming her thoughts. Deep down, she knew that Glorfindel would never do what Jared had done to her, yet she still could not shake the fear. She paused before the statue of the lovers and sighed. I have got to calm down and stop doing this to myself. Glorfindel is nothing like Jared and I know that. But why can't I shake this fear? A gentle hand touched her shoulder, and she jumped. Spinning around, she saw Elhael looking at her, a strange mixture of amusement and concern written in his features. She glared at him.

"Do not ever scare me like that again, Elhael!" she snapped.

His eyes widened and he flinched. "I am sorry."

She rolled her eyes and turned back to the statue. She could feel his eyes on her, and she sighed.

"Lyla, are you all right?" he asked.

She raked her hand through her hair and turned to face him again. "I am sorry. I did not mean to be cruel. Please forgive me."

He gave her a gentle smile. "Of course. But what is bothering you? Are you nervous about the wedding?"

"Nervous, anxious, terrified."

"I felt the same way when Caleniel and I were married. But I was unbelievably excited as well." He looked at Lyla and frowned. "Are you not excited?"

She sighed. "I love Glorfindel, Elhael, and I want nothing more than to marry him. But I am afraid. Not of being married, but…," her voice trailed off. "I cannot explain it."

He squeezed her hand. "Try. Maybe I can help ease you fears."

"Memories of my previous wedding have been weighing heavily on my mind the past few days. I guess I am afraid of it happening again."

Elhael frowned. "Glorfindel loves you, Lyla. He would never do anything like that."

"I know! My heart knows that he would never do that, but my mind refuses to accept it."

He put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Listen to your heart, Lyla. Glorfindel loves you, and he will never love anyone but you. I have never seen him as happy as he has been the past few days."

She lowered her eyes. "I know."

He tipped her chin. "Forget the past. Trust in the love that you two share. You were meant to be together."

She smiled at him. "Thanks for the pep talk."

"The what?"

She laughed. "An English phrase. It means thanks for encouraging me."

"I am here any time you need me." He put his arm around her shoulder. "Come. Caleniel has been frantically searching for you. Something about a dress."

Lyla grinned. "Lead the way."

They left the gardens and headed for Elhael's home. She looked at him and smiled. He was such a good friend, and he had managed to ease her fears somewhat. However, she knew she wouldn't be completely at ease until she had the ring on her finger, and she and Glorfindel had said, "I do."

Lyla lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. It was the night before the wedding, and she found it impossible to sleep. She had barely seen Glorfindel the past few days, and that was making her even more nervous than the wedding was. I hope he hasn't changed his mind. She sat up as someone knocked softly on her door. Opening the door, she found Glorfindel standing there, a sweet smile on his face. She moved aside, and he entered the room. She slowly closed the door and took a deep breath before she turned around to face him. He ran his knuckles down her cheek.

"I have missed you. It feels like I have not seen you in days," he said.

She put her hand over his. "I know. I was just thinking the same thing."

"I am sorry for the late hour, but I had to see you." His mouth curved into a mischievous smile. "Tomorrow night we will be married."

He moved to kiss her, but Lyla pulled away. He frowned. "What is wrong?"

Lyla sighed and walked toward the balcony. "Are you sure you want to marry me? Are you sure you have not changed your mind?"

He caught her arm and turned her around to face him. "What? How can you ask me that?"

She winced at the hurt in his eyes and turned her face away. "I… I just want to make sure you have not changed your mind."

"Lyla, look at me." She turned her face back to him, but refused to meet his eyes. He tipped her chin. "Look at me." She raised her eyes to his and winced again.

He tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear and ran his hand along her cheek. "I love you and I want nothing more than to marry you tomorrow. Why would you think otherwise? Do you doubt my love for you?"

She disentangled herself from his arms and sat on the edge of her bed. He sat beside her and took her hand. She sighed. "No, Glorfindel. I do not doubt your love."

"Then why did you ask me if I had changed my mind?"

"I am sorry. I am just… afraid. My last wedding did not exactly turn out well."

He sighed and took both of her hands in his. "Lyla, I love you more than anything, and I would never do anything to betray you. I know that you were hurt, but I would never do that to you. I could never leave you."

She gave him a faint smile. "I know, but I just needed to hear it. I love you."

He kissed her, and she sighed against him. Her worries and fears began to slip away as she responded to him. Her mind began to cloud with pleasure, but the realization that they were sitting in a rather dangerous location hit her like a bucket of cold water. She gently pulled away and smiled impishly at his disappointed expression.

"Easy there, Casanova. We are not married yet."

His eyes filled with confusion. "Who?"

She laughed and stood to her feet. "I think we both need to get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow."

He smiled and followed her to the door. "Do you want to meet for breakfast in the morning, dearest?"

She laughed and shook her head. "No. We cannot see each other until the wedding."

"Why?"

"It is bad luck."

He sighed. "If you insist, love."

She laughed and gave him a gentle kiss. He dug his fingers into her hair and pulled her closer to him. Her senses began to swim again, but she managed to pull away while she still could. She smiled.

"Good night, my love."

"Until tomorrow, dearest." He kissed her again, but she gently pushed him away. She gave him a light push toward the door and laughed. "Out!"

He grinned. "I love you."

"And I love you. Now, go away!" she teased.

He laughed and left the room. She closed the door behind him and flopped onto her bed. She sighed and grinned. Tomorrow I will be Mrs. Lyla… She froze and began to giggle as she realized that Elves did not have last names. Oh well. Who needs a last name anyway?

"Lyla, will you hold still! You are making it nearly impossible for me to weave these flowers into your hair," Caleniel said in exasperation.

Lyla grinned. "I am sorry, Caleniel. I am too excited and too nervous to hold still."

Caleniel laughed softly. "This brings back memories of my own wedding."

"I wish I had been there. What was it like?"

"Small, simple, and beautiful. Exactly what Elhael and I wanted. Neither of us wanted anything large or elaborate."

"I know what you mean."

Caleniel weaved the last flower into Lyla's hair and smiled. "You are finished."

"Can I see myself now?" Lyla asked, her mouth curving into a wry smile. Caleniel had forbidden her to go anywhere near a mirror until she was completely ready.

"Yes."

Lyla rose and slowly approached the elegant, floor-length mirror in the corner of the room. She stood before it and smiled at her reflection. She looked exactly like she had always dreamed she would look at her wedding. Her dress was white and fashioned in a simple, yet elegant design. Her hair was partially pulled back and had niphredil flowers weaved throughout. She sighed. Her dress and hairstyle from her previous wedding had been far more fancy and elaborate, mainly because that was what Jared had wanted. He had always been so much flashier than she had ever been. But now, as she looked in the mirror, she felt like herself instead of what someone wanted her to be. She lightly touched her hair and smiled at Caleniel.

"Thank you, Caleniel. It looks wonderful."

"You look beautiful," Caleniel said.

Lyla hugged her friend. "Thank you for all you help. I could have never gotten this wedding together in two weeks without you."

"Of course you would not have. You were so distressed that I was forced to take pity on your plight."

Lyla laughed. "Very funny. But, very true."

Caleniel gasped. "Lyla, I forgot your bouquet." She patted Lyla's hand. "You wait here. I will be right back."

Lyla's stomach lurched as Caleniel said this. This was exactly what happened the last time, right before she had seen Jared and Rachel. She shook her head and took a deep breath, trying to force herself to calm down. Glorfindel is not Jared. He loves me and he would never do anything like that. She watched Caleniel as she neared the doorway, but a soft knock caused Caleniel to freeze and Lyla to jump. Caleniel cracked open the door and peered outside. Smiling, she opened the door so the stranger could enter. Lyla smiled as she saw Elhael's familiar, beloved face. He looked her up and down, grinned, and handed her a bouquet of niphredil and elanor.

"You look beautiful, Lyla," he said.

She smiled at him. "Thanks. How is Glorfindel doing?"

Elhael's mouth broke into a huge grin. "When I left him, he was so nervous that he was pacing the floor. I tried to say something to calm his nerves, but I do not believe he heard me. He also had turned this rather delightful shade of green."

Lyla laughed. "The poor, sweet Elf."

"Are you implying that you are not nervous?" Elhael asked.

Lyla looked down at her trembling hands and gave Elhael a sheepish smile. "Not at all. I am a rock."

Caleniel and Elhael stared at her for a moment before they all began to laugh. Caleniel patted her shoulder and smiled. "I am going to go see if I can ease poor Glorfindel's nerves." She glanced at Elhael. "See if you can do the same for this rock, my love."

"I shall try, my dear."

As Caleniel left, Elhael turned to Lyla and took her hands in his. "It is almost time, Lyla. Are you ready?"

Lyla gave him a shaky smile. "I am terrified, but I am ready."

He smiled. "You and Glorfindel will be happy; as happy as Caleniel and I are."

"I know." She looked into his eyes. "You know I love you, Elhael. You are my brother."

"And I love you, my dear sister."

Lyla kissed his cheek and hugged him. After a moment, they drew back and looked at each other. Elhael smiled. "It is time." He offered her his arm. "Shall we?"

Lyla linked her arm with his, and they headed for the gardens, where Glorfindel and her new life were waiting.

As Lyla walked toward the front of the gardens, all she could see was Glorfindel. He looked devastatingly handsome, clad in white, gold-trimmed robes and with his hair hanging loose. He looked at her with such love and awe, and she could do nothing but look at him the same way in return. He took her hands as she reached the front, and her heart fluttered as he whispered "I love you."

The rest of the ceremony was a sweet blur. She vaguely remembered exchanging small gold bands with Glorfindel, and she definitely remembered kissing him at the end, but everything else was hazy. As they walked arm in arm to their wedding celebration, Glorfindel leaned down, a mischievous glint in his eye, and whispered in her ear, "You look beautiful, my beloved wife. Must we attend the celebration?"

Lyla grinned and slapped his arm. "Of course we must attend the celebration, you naughty Elf."

He laughed. "Very well. But I will not refrain from saying that I hope it is a short celebration."

She giggled. "Are you always going to be like this?"

"I am afraid so. But now you cannot escape me."

"I have no intention of escaping, dear husband."

They both laughed and continued on to their reception. As the line of well-wishers continued to grow, Lyla glanced at Glorfindel and was forced to stifle a laugh. The look on his face and the way he kept squeezing her hand made her realize that he wished this line was much shorter. She grinned as she realized that she wished the same thing.

Several hours later, after all the gifts had been given and all the well-wishing had been done, Lyla and Glorfindel walked hand-in-hand back to their room. Lyla entered the room and smiled as she heard the door shut and lock behind her. She turned and faced her husband who was looking at her with love-filled eyes. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I love you," he said, reaching up to loosen her hair.

The flowers from her hair scattered on the floor behind her. She smiled. "And I love you."

He kissed her, and when her mind finally cleared, she found herself fiddling with the ties on his shirt. He grinned at her, but his look quickly turned serious. He looked into her eyes, his own shining with all the love he felt for her.

"Are you happy, my love?" he asked.

She smiled and gently brushed her lips against his. "Yes. I have never been happier. Are you happy?"

"Oh, yes."

He kissed her again, and her heartbeat quickened as she felt him slowly unlacing the back of her dress. He paused for a moment, looking down at her with desperate, questioning eyes. She smiled and brought her lips to his.

Soon, all they knew was each other. As the sun rose, gracing the world with a new day, the lovers slept, gently entangled in each other's loving arms.