Wedding Appearance: Modest corseted lace gown with high lace neckline and long sleeves with semi-long train. Spanish wedding mantilla/veil worn on styled messy beehive bun with two side bangs revealed. Wildflowers for bouquet. Engagement ring is double halo with a princess cut diamond in white gold. [A/N: Collage below on Wattpad & Ao3]
"Amaryllis, we met thirteen years ago and since that day not a single one has passed that I have not thought of you. You walk into a room and it brightens as though the sun has never shined. You can take what are the worst of days of my life and somehow make me feel as though they are the best. When I look at you, I see hope. Hope for a better tomorrow because with you I know I have happiness. With you, I have everything I have ever dreamed. My mother used to tell me stories about dream fairies. She said that dream fairies were angels that came when we slept to make sure all our good dreams would come true and that those that were not would simple fade away. I call you my Princess of Dreams because the very first time I laid eyes on you with your sun shining down upon you, just you and those big eyes looking across from me I thought you could not possibly be anything else and thought to keep you. I had wished of having someone who would be my friend, my confidant, and you gave that to me. With James." Amaryllis laughed along with the rest of those in the church (all but one).
"Do not bring me into this!" James called from the pew, getting a few more chuckles out of everyone.
"You are my best friend, you understand and accept me as I am, in a way no one else ever has and that I whole heartedly believe no one else can. You make me a better man than I ever thought I could be. As such I vow to you that I will love you without reservation or conditions. I vow to always give more than I take. I vow that we will be partners in this life and that which comes after. I vow that my heart is yours and yours alone. I vow that I will be a man worthy of you, the husband you deserve. So today I take you as my wife for who you are, who you have been, and who you are yet to be. I love you, Amaryllis." Tears slid down her cheeks.
"Damon, when we met I knew all that I had ever known would change. Through you I have gained a younger brother. You have taught me what it is to have the truest and closest of friends and after today I will be one of far to few who can say they have married their best friend. The love I hold for you cannot ever possibly be defined by words shared here today, or ever. Let it be defined however by the time we will spend together." She took a breath to steady her voice, knowing that her joy of being here with him and knowing they would be together always from this day forth was overwhelming her.
"When I am with you, I feel safe. Everything in me recognizes you as home. I believe in you, in the person you have been, will grow to be, and the family we will be together. I promise to be supportive and always make our family's love and happiness my priority. Seeing you smile, truly smile, is one of the greatest joys in my life. I promise to always do everything possible to keep you smiling, and to fill our lives with as much laughter and happiness as possible. With my whole heart, I take you as my husband knowing and accepting your faults and your strengths, as you do my own. I will dream with you, celebrate with you, and walk at your side through whatever this life and the next may bring. You are my love and my life, today and always. For within you I have found my soulmate. And it is with that, I can tell you with absolute certainty that I did, I do, and I will always choose you. I love you, Damon Salvatore." Tears welled in his eyes as his hands reached up to cup her face and he leaned in to kiss her, unable to hold himself back any longer.
They were walking around the town square as trader's had arrived and set up shop when a glint caught her eye from a jeweler's stand and she excused herself from her husband's side as he conversed with his brother. It was the most peculiar stone she had ever seen. Cloudy and yet reflective. The stone was encased in white gold at the center of a halo of diamonds. Her hand reached out subconsciously.
"See something you like, dearie?" An older gentleman's voice asked startling her.
"Oh, yes. This one here. I've never seen such a stone before." She did not notice as the man's eyes widened before focusing upon her.
"Ah, yes. It has a certain charm, does it not?"
"Quite so."
"Take it."
"What? I couldn't possibly."
"Dearie, this is my stall and I believe this necklace calls to you. It was meant to find it's way to you." The dark-skinned man took the pendant out from it's display and passed it to her as they exchanged names.
"You are the new bride of the town, I have heard much in regards to you. In all the towns I have passed through not one has there been a single time a person has sought this necklace. I believe that this is meant for you. I will hear of no refusal, the necklace would merely collect dust with me. Take it as a wedding gift. It is said to be blessed you know."
"I beg your pardon?"
"That stone. It is said it is capable of holding great power. Wear it always. It is said that the holder of that specific stone could always reunite the owner with whomever they loved most." He said before whispering quickly under his breath, only loud enough for her ears to catch parts of the strange language.
"Of course. I will wear it always." She heard Damon call her name. "Please, excuse me." She said before making her way to him.
"I did not notice that earlier. Is that new?" He said looking at the necklace she now wore.
"Yes, apparently I am the first to even notice it despite having been through a number of town's already. The shop keep gifted it to me, in congratulations of our union."
"Then I must thank her."
"Him, my love."
"Him? Well, very well and what is this man's name so he may join us for sup." A hint of jealousy in his voice, at an unknown man gifting his wife such fine jewelry.
"Samuel. Samuel Bennet."
Spring had arrived but so too had the conscription for the war which them all in tizzies, as more and more men of the town were drafted into the Confederacy. It was at this time however, that the surprise that the men in Amaryllis' life had completed the surprise they had worked on since their betrothal. Unfortunately, it's building was due to the winter's snowfall pushed back and only just completed. A white plantation home on several wooded acres that lied between their families property built directly in front of the very great oak the two lovers had met with a swing set upon one of it's branches. And so, they began their life together for the next few years in their new home.
Damon's conscription had left her heart broken but she knew why he could not refuse nor send another in his place. It had been subtle at first but the young couple had noticed that any of the families that did so would find a younger son or brother also conscripted. Damon would not take the chance of such occurring with Stefan especially when they did not know when this fighting would end. And so it was with a heavy heart she saw him off that summer in 1861. While he returned steady during his leaves they both knew that being out their was taking its toll upon him and so when he was home she did her best. She held him as he woke from the night terrors. She helped him wash his hands of the blood he saw always grabbing an extra cloth rag so that when she went over his hand drying them, she could show his hands were no longer stained. She calmed him when a noise would startle him, approaching him slowly aware that he believed himself back on the front lines, even teaching Stefan how to behave when he saw what this war was doing to his brother. And so the cycle would continue with each leave he took.
It was early September of 1864, when a young brunette arrived at the Main Salvatore estate. Damon fingers twirling a piece of his wife's hair from behind his father and brother without a care for the new arrival. He sympathized and even pitied the girl for having lost her family so young but it did not change the fact that he had but a couple days more with his wife before he was due back in the field and would be receiving his promotion from Captain to Major.