Today was the day. I put my beautiful dress on and Nuala helped me with me hair.
"Oh Arainia, you look gorgeous." I took her hands and smiled at her,
"I couldn't have done this without you Nuala," I gave her a hug, "you are my best friend. And I am so happy you are here." She smiled at me,
"I am so happy for you and my brother. He is lucky. You both are." I smiled at her but I was still slightly sad and she read it in my eyes,
"Tell me, what ails you?"
"Well, I just wish that your father would accept me. I wish he and Nuada would get along more. I know all to well what it is like to not have a father around and it pains me to see Nuada have one but not get along with him." She took my hand and forced a smile on her face,
"Arainia, they have their moments," I gave her a look, "Ok they have a lot of moments, but deep down they really do love each other. Even if they don't see eye to eye most of the time."
"I suppose you are right."
"Suppose?" I laughed,
"Alright, you are right." She smiled and pulled me up,
"That is right, now come. You have a wedding to go to." She opened the tent flap and the music began. I walked down the aisle and stood there with Nuada who was in a blue robe with gold trim. He smiled at me and took my hand,
"You look beautiful." I smiled at him,
"You do not look so bad yourself." He smiled and we looked to Mauro. He smiled at us and began to speak,
"We are here today to join Prince Nuada and Lady Arainia together as one. To live and honor one another for the rest of their lives. They wish to share this day with us and if anyone has any objection to the union of these two speak now. And if anyone does they will answer to me." Laughter spread through the crowd and even Nuada and I laughed. He smiled at us before continuing,
"Now since no one objects. Nuada do you take Arainia to be your wife. A woman not of noble birth but of noble heart. A woman who will love you. Who will follow you. And will stay with you through everything even in the worst of days and best of days. A woman who has given everything including her heart to be with you."
"I do."
"Will you take care of her, and love her, and watch over her."
"Yes." He smiled at me and I could feel my heart swelling and my eyes were threatening to tear up.
"Do you Arainia take Nuada to be your husband. For more than just a prince or royalty. But someone to love you. To follow you. And will stay with you through everything even the worst of days and best of days. Someone who has given everything including his heart to be with you."
"I do."
"Will you care for him, and love him, and watch over him."
"Yes." I smiled at him and Mauro smiled at us,
"Then by the power that has been given to me. And to the witnesses here today, You are now husband and wife. Prince and Princess. Lady of the Blackwood and Lord of the fey, you are now one." Nuada leaned forward and kissed me tenderly on the lips.
Cheering erupted and flowers were thrown. Mauro gave each of us a hug and kiss on the cheek. Nuala, with tears in her eyes, hugged each of us and kissed us. Nuada helped me onto a black horse with gold entwined in his mane and tail with a gold saddle and reins. We waved to the group of people and I waved to Mauro and his wife and then to Nuala before taking off. We rode out to the lake that had a little shack beside it. It wasn't run down and looked like it was very well kept. He lowered me off the horse and I took his face in my hands and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around me and scooped me up off the ground. I wrapped my arms around his neck and laughed as he carried me inside. He lowered me onto the bed and not once broke the kiss. His kisses were warm and sweet. His hands roamed my body and he deepened the kiss. My mind was reeling and my heart felt like it was going to burst. Everywhere his lips went they left a burning trail. Little by little there was nothing more left between us and his golden eyes met mine. Silently asking me if what he wanted to do was ok. I didn't say anything but simply leaned up and kissed him ever so lightly on the lips. Not light enough to be unnoticed but not hard enough to beg. Just enough to make him go crazy. He smiled at me and the rest of the night was simply heaven. The next day I woke up and lazily rolled over to be face to face with my love. He was still asleep but I knew how light of sleepers elves were. I leaned over and kissed his lips. His eyes fluttered open and he kissed me back. For a long time we simply laid there holding each other and stealing kisses before we finally got up and got dressed. We got back on the horse and made our way back to camp.
When we got back we were expecting to be greeted by happy faces but found sad ones instead. I found Mauro's wife crying outside a tent and Nuala holding onto her with tears in her eyes as well. We made our way over to them,
"What has happened?" Mauro's wife burst into sobs and Nuala looked at me with tear filled eyes,
"Muaro is dying." My heart stopped. Nuada was paler than he already was and opened the tent flap to reveal a sick old man.
Mauro was really dying.