Hey everyone, here's the next chapter. It's a bit short but please review - I feel unloved! Anyway, enjoy...
The day of the wedding dawned bright and fresh. The tribe was gathered in the hall at the bottom of the stairs. Amber appeared from her room on to the landing, wearing a long white dress with her pale brown hair free of their usual zulu knots and instead hanging in loose ringlets around her face. Her make up was plain and simple, but it set off her blue eyes and pale skin. She wore a thin white veil, which she let drop over her face as she reached Jay. The effect was amazing; Jay couldn't help but gasp as she appeared.
"Do I look alright?" she whispered.
"You look stunning." Jay reassured her. He softly lifted her veil and kissed her on her cheek.
"Good Luck", he said, giving her a bright smile, then "Ready?"
She nodded, and he took her arm and together they walked down the main stairs and through the aisle between the chairs that held the rest of the tribe. Salene and Bray stood at the end, waiting.
They reached the end of the aisle, and Amber and Bray stood facing each other. Jay took their hands, hesitated, then pushed them together. With a small smile at Amber, he went and sat next to his brother on the front row. Chloe sat on the other side of Ved; Jay noticed that they were holding hands.
Destiny sat at the back, her golden hair brushed and hanging loose. Her head was bowed and a curtain of hair hid her face, which was composed into a mask of calm, hiding her true feelings. She knew what she was going to do next. Jay had comforted her a little, the day he'd found her hiding in the shadows. She remembered how kind he'd been, but she couldn't even confide in him. She had gone to Ved afterwards and told him that she didn't love him anymore, and she was sorry that they hadn't made it work. She had told him that she wished him and Chloe the best and didn't mind them being together. Suddenly, sitting watching the ceremony, she realised that it hadn't all been a lie; she didn't really mind Chloe, because Ved was happy. She realised, as she watched Amber and Bray exchanging their wedding vows that the hurt that had plagued her since she had woken from the coma had left. It felt like a burden had been removed from her shoulders and she lifted her head up and smiled properly for the first time in ages. Nothing mattered anymore, because Ved was happy and she was too. Soon she could start a new life, all it would take was a few small steps...; she pulled her attention back to Amber and Bray.
Salene paused at the front, a small frown upon her face. "I must ask everyone gathered here that if anyone knows of a lawful reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."
There was silence. Amber looked at Jay. It had been nearly a month since Jay had spoke to Amber and then had found Destiny crying under the stairs and he was still trying to figure out the mixture of feelings that threatened to overpower him. But as he looked into Amber's eyes, an image of Destiny appeared before him and one feeling seemed to stand out from the rest – love. He stared at Amber for a long second, trying to understand how he could feel such a thing. He remembered a frightened, lonely girl and then the woman she had began to mature into over the past few weeks. He realised he did love her, but it was far too soon... He looked back at Amber and then gave a small shake of his head. She gave him a small, grateful smile in return and turned back to look into Bray's eyes.
"Then, by the power infested in me by this Tribe, I pronounce you Man and Wife. I don't need to tell you to kiss the bride, do I?" Salene asked with a twinkle in her eye.
"I don't think so." Bray said, and embraced his new wife in a passionate kiss. Everyone began to clap and cheer. They broke apart, slightly breathless and looking a little embarrassed.
Destiny watched as the rest of the tribe surrounded the happy couple to congratulate them, and a wave of sadness past over her as she knew she had to leave. With a small sigh, and a shake of her head she turned and walked out towards the exit, without looking back......
