"It's time, Elena," Jeremy called out from the hallway and his words repeated in her head several times before she fully grasped that the ceremony had finally arrived.
She looked in the mirror for a final time, inspecting herself carefully and ensuring she was completely ready. Her hair and makeup was flawless, Rebekah had touched it up before she changed and her dress flowed beautifully around her.
It was 4:50pm, everyone was ready to take position, the wedding party was downstairs awaiting Elena's arrival and she was ready, all she needed was her bouquet of roses and she was all set.
She opened the door and saw Jeremy waiting for her. His facial expressions completely changed when he looked at her and he smiled as only a brother could when he saw how beautiful of a bride Elena was, "you look beautiful, Elena."
"I can't believe you're in a tux," she said with a grin as she took the arm he offered her and he started walking her down the corridor, "you look incredibly handsome."
Her mind was racing and her heart pounding through her chest, this was the most nervous she had felt in her entire life and all she could think about was Elijah and how much she couldn't wait to be married to him.
They reached the staircase and she took a hold of the banister, taking a deep breath, she walked down gracefully and kept a tight hold of Jeremy for fear of falling down. She saw the entire wedding party waiting at the bottom and they all stared at her with looks of awe.
Elena's dress was perfect, it featured a fresh ivory lace with a rose design and dimensional pearlescent thread. It had a delicate eyelash trim, satin lining and covered buttons, it hugged her figure perfectly and had a flare silhouette.
A low-V scalloped neckline with lace eyelash trim detail and Italian illusion tulle insert at the bust highlighted her upper-half perfectly, Angled waist seam and curved hip panels feature a geometric trim that contoured and elongated her body with wide supportive straps to finish the top of the dress.
It had an open back with scallop edge lace wings and trim panel detail, Ruching and satin covered button detail at centre back to accentuate curves, a silk chiffon skirt godets and small train create a dimensional layer over the lace and a delicate lace eyelash trim finishes the hem.
She wore a one tier veil that matched the length of her dress and it was made from a silk tulle that shimmered and flowed down her back perfectly.
"Your beauty is unmatched, little warrior," Klaus was the first to speak once they had all got past their moments of staring and she could feel how emotional he felt looking at her.
"I'm not dressed like a warrior today," she said with an amused grin as she smoothed her hand over the top of his arm and admired his suit, "you look amazing, not murdery at all," they chuckled at her words and he loved her smile.
"It's not too late to runaway together," Kol said playfully with a wink as he took her hand and kissed it, his eyes fixated on her beauty whilst she laughed quietly at his words, "you look exquisite."
"I think, on some level, way deep down, I'll miss your inappropriate teasing," she said with a grin as he released her hand and met her amusement, "you're dashing in your tux, Kol."
"Elijah is one lucky man, you're breaking hearts everywhere," Marcel was last to speak as trying to get a word in past the siblings was almost impossible, they adored her.
"You rock a tux, Marcel, how will the girls out there be able to contain themselves?" She grinned.
"It's 5pm, positions everybody," Cynthia came in from the outdoor area and opened the double door entrance, ready for them to start taking their places at the altar.
She looked out at the ceremony, it was beautiful, the trail of candles down the aisle where all lit, the fairy lights and lanterns in the trees all radiated a warm glow, the arch around the altar was lit and all the guests stood to their feet.
They all paired up and stood in a line in the order they were going to enter the ceremony and Cynthia waved her at the band, they started playing the wedding march acoustically, it was the most beautiful melody she had ever heard.
Camille was lead by Klaus down the aisle, Davina and Kol were next, followed by Bonnie and Caroline and they all stood in their respective positions around the altar and Kol took position as officiant.
"Ready?" Jeremy turned to look at her and she took a deep breath, collecting herself as much as she possibly could before nodding her head and giving Rebekah and Marcel the all clear to get into position.
The band changed the song to the bridal march and she started walking like she was on auto-pilot, her heart raced as Jeremy lead her onto the aisle and her eyes instantly fixated on Elijah.
The hundreds of guests had become non-existent and all fear washed away when she looked into his eyes, they both had a wide grin spread on their lips and she was completely enamoured with him.
Jeremy lead her to the front and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before releasing her to Elijah, he had given her away to the man she loved more than anything in this world and she took position in front of him. Rebekah took the bouquet from Elena and Elijah held her hands.
"You look perfect," his voice was filled with emotion and his face had completely softened, he looked upon the most beautiful and precious woman in the world to him and he was at her mercy.
"So do you," she had to fight back the tears of joy in fear of messing with her makeup and she had a smile filled with love and excitement.
"You can all be seated," Kol announced and each of the guests all sat down, Elijah and Elena were still staring deeply into each others eyes and their smiles where unwavering.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in front of family, friends, vampires, witches, werewolves and fewer humans than there should be," a low chuckle radiated across the area as Kol spoke with an air of amusement in his tone of voice and Elena loved it, "to unite my brother and his bride as one."
"After a thousand years of violence and bloodshed, being a family or daggered in a coffin, I never thought I was going to be a part of a moment so special and beautiful as this. I'm grateful for what we have, whilst we have it and I for one am grateful for today and for all of you."
Elijah looked from Kol to Elena and they shared in a warm smile, her eyes glistened in the lights as they began to well up slightly and she was soaked in happiness and contentment.
"Elena, when we first met, long before New Orleans, I never would have predicted you would become my sister and be the one to bring together and complete our family, you're strong and beautiful and deserve nothing but the best in life," she caught Kol's gaze and his words etched into her heart forever.
He turned his gaze onto the groom and continued, "Elijah, you've been my brother forever and although we haven't always seen eye-to-eye, I still look up to you as the big brother you are, noble, honourable, moral and loving, in your own way. Your torment came to an end when you met Elena and you deserve nothing but the pure and unconditional happiness that she brings you."
"You are both the very best of us and even destiny can't fight it, you are meant to be, always and forever."
She smiled happily and returned her gaze onto Elijah, there wasn't a dry eye amongst her bridal party and she could feel the emotion that radiated from everyone in the ceremony.
"Elijah, if you would like to say your vows."
"Elena, since the day our journey began, I've had faith in every step that lead us to here, to this day when I can call you wife and my life would be complete, I vow to always be by your side and cherish you in every way possible, to say I love you isn't enough, there is no amount imaginable to express how I feel about you but I will spend an eternity trying to tell you."
She couldn't contain the single tear of joy that rolled down her cheek at his words and she was completely consumed by love.
"Elena, you're up."
"Elijah, before we met my life had very little meaning, I had an emptiness within me that only you could fill and I've been completely enamoured with you since, through all of the good and the bad, you are the one I will keep choosing, from now until forever, you have my heart and I will love you more with each passing day until I take my last breath."
"I wasn't expecting you to say such beautiful words," Kol said emotionally as he flickered his gaze between Rebekah and Klaus, "Rings, please?"
They all chuckled lightly at Kol's emotional response and she watched as the best man and maid of honour fumbled to get the rings and hand them over. Bonnie had already blessed them as part of the ritual and they were ready to be worn.
"Do you, Elijah, take Elena to be your lawfully wedded wife? Whether the times be blissful or life and death and swear to honour her until the day you die?"
"I do," he had so much heart in his voice and he poured all of his love into her as he took his final vow to be with her completely.
She slid the ring onto his finger, the Cartier D'Amour wedding band that was made of pure platinum, had bevelling along the edges and the words 'always and forever' engraved on the inside of the ring.
"And do you, Elena, take Elijah to be your lawfully wedded husband? Whether your life is filled with light or darkness and swear to guide each other through even the most perilous times?"
"I do," she was a mess of emotions as he slid the ring on her finger, the Vera Wang platinum oval eternity ring that was adorned in 41 diamonds and a pavé setting. The inscription 'Always and forever' had been engraved on the inside of the band also and they hadn't planned it, it was courtesy of Rebekah and they loved it.
"I now pronounce you married! Elijah, you may kiss your bride," they smiled excitedly at his words and he looked at her with such a passion as he brought her into him and crashed his lips onto hers, the crowds clapped and cheered and he dipped her slightly, they poured all the love and heat they had into their first kiss as man and wife.
"And now for the next part," Kol said as he took position between Klaus and Marcel and Bonnie walked to the back of the altar, taking her place behind the ritual setting and focusing purely on Elena and Elijah.
Everything had already been pre-prepared, there was hand-fasting cords sitting in small piles at the edge of the table , the copper bowl had all the natural and mystical ingredients within it, including the blood they had spilt yesterday, there was several candles surrounding the items and she drew the eternity symbol in salt around it all.
"Ready?" They both nodded their heads at her words and she started.
She held her hands out beside her and level with the altar table as she began to chant, a blast of air encircled the entire wedding party and enveloped around Elena and Elijah as the two separate hand-fasting cords hovered into the air and began to entwine together, they floated quickly towards their joined hands and wrapped around both their arms and knotted, binding them together.
The chanting intensified as she poured the blood mixture into two glass chalices and handed them one each, they brought the glass to their lips and took a sip.
They instantly felt the spell start to take effect within them when the blood elixir passed through their systems; she saw a white light emit from her fingers and transfer into Elijah through their joined hands, it radiated beneath his skin as it spread through his entire body.
Bonnie continued to chant and Elena felt the vampire nature course through her from Elijah's fingers, the veins beneath her skin turned a darker shade of red and they coursed through her until they reached her eyes and they returned to normal.
She inhaled a sharp breath when she felt the veins beneath her eyes darken and her hues flashed a bright iridescent golden colour, indicating she was an official witch and vampire hybrid.
Bonnie handed a dagger to Elijah and continued to chant intensely as he slid it across his free palm and passed it to Elena, she repeated the same step and they joined hands, a wave of energy blasted through the entire area and they felt each others abilities surge through them, they became bound by blood through the ritual and the perfect mirror image of each other.
Elijah felt the magnitude of her power surge through him and heighten every strength and ability within him, he felt more in tune with the elements around him and even though he couldn't access her magic, her power was strong enough to make him invincible.
The spell came to an end and the ritual was complete, Elena held onto Elijah as she adjusted to the new euphoric feeling and strength course through her.
She could hear everything more clearly, her vision was impeccable, every touch felt magnified, her emotions were heightened and she felt stronger than she ever had before. She could hear his heartbeat beneath his chest and it took over her Empath gift, causing a blast of emotion to flow through him and they were complete as one.
"It's done," Bonnie said as she held her hand over the hand-fasting cords and they both slid their arms out of its hold. Elijah took her by the waist once again and her arms wrapped his neck as they kissed once again, he spun her slightly and landed her back on her feet gracefully.
The band began to play the closing song and they walked down the aisle holding hands whilst the crowd stood from their chairs and clapped for them, the vampires cheered and the wolves howled as they passed by until the whole wedding party where back in the main building of the venue.
The newlywed couple returned to the suite whilst the wedding party set up the reception area, gathered the guests inside and set up the DJ, the room was already dressed and prepared and the caterers where just waiting for the word to set the food up.
They closed the door behind them and remained completely magnetised to each other, their hands were interlocked and she rested her head against the side of his as they walked further into the room and she turned her body to face him.
"We're married," she said with a wide grin on her lips as she reached for the veil clip and pulled it gently from her hair; she let it float onto the futon and it felt as though a weight was lifted from her head and she sunk into Elijah completely, "I don't think I could feel any happier."
"You've made me the happiest man alive, Mrs. Mikaelson," he said with a grin and she felt her heart race that touch more faster than it already was.
"And I will continue to do so for the rest of our lives," she rested her head onto his forehead and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in and lingering her lips over his, "I love you, Mr. Mikaelson."
"I hope the day never comes where I disappoint you, I love you, Elena, always," his voice was shaky and his vulnerability had been taken to a whole new level, he felt a deeper connection to his emotions and his humanity.
"You could never," he pressed his lips onto hers at her words and she completely fell into him, she pulled him in as close as he could be and they shared in the most heartfelt and passion fuelled kiss they had ever experienced. Their new found abilities brought new sensations to their intimate moments and everything was heightened.
The kiss came to a natural end and they stayed as close as they could be for a few minutes longer. Elijah smoothed his hand down her arm and grasped hers, holding it up slightly to reveal her palm, "How do you feel?"
"Amazing," she looked down at her hand and the wound she had from the ritual had completely healed, only verifying it more that the ritual had worked, "everything feels more intense and powerful."
"The perks of being a vampire without any of the weaknesses," he said as he trailed his fingers along the curve of her face and smoothed his hand around the back of her neck.
"We have forever together, that's all that matters," she trailed soft kisses along his cheek and jawbone, feeling a deep desire to constantly be touching him, "do you feel different?"
"Immensely, everything feels more real and emotional, deeper somehow, like I'm connected to everything and more awakened," he grasped her hand in his and felt the electricity surge through him from her touch as he brought them between their chests, "is this how you always feel?"
"The perks of being a witch without the responsibilities, the troubling headaches and nosebleeds that comes from too much power," she said with an amused tone in her voice and a playful smile, "Yes, there's a deep connection that runs through the earth and channels into me, it's intense."
"It's incredible," he spoke on her lips in a hushed tone and his breath on her sent a surge of emotion through her.
She heard her phone vibrate on the dressing table on the other side of the room and a small disapproving breath emitted from her lips when their moment was broken. She reluctantly pulled away from Elijah and retrieved her phone, she saw a message from Rebekah and read it out loud.
"Everything is ready, time for your first dance."
They walked down the corridor hand-in-hand and saw the double door entrance that lead into the ballroom; she took a deep breath and turned to look at her now husband, they shared in a kind and reassuring smile before he lead her inside.
He held up her hand slightly and they crossed the threshold, their families stood in two lines at the entrance and lined the path for them to walk through to the dance floor. The clapping and cheering started as they passed by and the guests stood in a large circle that lined the dance floor.
"Introducing, for the first time as man and wife, Mr. And Mrs. Mikaelson," the DJ announced as they played their first dance song, Calum Scott - You Are The Reason and Elijah lead her to the centre of the dance floor.
The lights dimmed and a spotlight radiated across the dance floor, her heart began to race as they became illuminated and the song they had chosen filled the room.
He held her by the small of her back and held her hand up beside them as she placed her free hand on the back of his neck. He lead her across the floor in a classic waltz style dance and she matched his steps perfectly.
And there goes my mind racing
And you are the reason
That I'm still breathing
I'm hopeless now,
In that moment, there was no-one else in the room, not a thought in her head or any other emotion she could feel besides his as they stared into each others eyes and moved together in perfect sync.
I'd climb every mountain
And swim every ocean
Just to be with you
He spun her into a dip and lingered his lips over hers for a long moment before returning her to an upright position, her heart had never raced as fast as it was and their chests rose and fell in a slow and laboured breathing.
And fix what I've broken
Oh, 'cause I need you to see
That you are the reason
She didn't know it was possible to love someone as much as she did Elijah, when she looked at him, she saw a whole future with him that brought her true happiness and she had everything she could ever want.
Be a little closer now
Just a little closer now
Come a little closer
I need you to hold me tonight
"I love you," Elijah whispered onto her lips just before the song came to a close and he lowered her into a dip once again but this time, he kissed her like it was the first time they ever did, with all the promise and hope of a life spent together, just them.
He returned her to an upright position and they separated their lips to turn and face the crowds that cheered for them before the next song came on.
Jeremy walked onto the dance floor as it was time for the bride to have her first dance with her closest relative and considering she didn't have a dad to dance with, she chose the next best thing.
Elijah placed a soft kiss on the top of her hand before returning to his siblings and Jeremy started to dance with her to the song Plumb - Go, she chose it because there was several lyrics in the song that rang true to their relationship and she loved it.
"I'm proud of you, 'Lena," he said with a smile as he continued to lead her across the dance floor, "you've built an incredible life for yourself here and I know mum and dad would be proud of you too."
"Thank you, Jer, for everything," her eyes welled up at the words he spoke to her and her heart felt huge, filled with love and admiration for her younger brother, "I'm really proud of you too, you've grown so much and become the man I always knew you would be."
"I'm going to miss you when we head back to Mystic Falls."
"Me too," even though she loved her life in New Orleans, a part of her would always belong to Mystic Falls and she missed everything and everyone within it.
When the song was halfway through, Elijah and Rebekah joined on the dance floor for the grooms first dance with his closest relative and they danced together.
Towards the end of the song, the rest of the wedding party all paired up and joined on the dance floor. Klaus and Caroline came together for a dance, followed by Kol and Davina, Bonnie asked Stefan and Damon asked Camille, all of her family together once again.
The song changed once again and it was time for the families to each have a dance with the bride and groom, best friend to the bride, Bonnie took over for Rebekah and the best man joined with Elena.
The DJ played the song Angel by Broken Door to showcase the love amongst her girls after the heartbreak they had each endured before meeting their right one.
I never ever felt like this before…
If you believe in a future, when were together
I wont let you down
If you want to stay close, Ill never let you down
"Congratulations, Mrs. Mikaelson, you're officially one of us," Klaus said with a smirk as he held her against him and lead her, "who would have thought the doppelgänger would join with the Original family?"
"How strange life is," she grinned amusingly and held onto him as he moved her across the dance floor.
"Indeed."
Cause you are my angel, you saved me from danger
With you Im no stranger, I wont suffer any more
Cause you are my angel, you saved me from danger
Some of the guests started to pair up and join on the dance floor and Elena glanced around quickly to see all of her friends and family smile, enjoying in the dance and seeming happy.
All she ever wanted was to see everyone she loved be happy and live full lives.
If youre ready to move on, let life give you energy
You keep me safe from darkness and
You show me how to be a better man
Cause we are ready to make it, forever thats for sure
"You make a beautiful bride, Elena," his face softened and a small smile curled up on his lips as he admired her beauty
"Hopefully first and last time I have to do this, it's super awkward when everyone looks at me," she chuckled lightly, being the centre of attention had never been her favourite moment and since she had moved to New Orleans, she found herself at the helm quite a lot.
Cause you are my angel, you saved me from danger
With you Im no stranger, I wont suffer any more
Cause you are my angel, you saved me from danger
With you Im no stranger, I wont suffer any more
"Do you think you'll get married one day? The world's mightiest hybrid tamed by a good woman?" Elena said with a somewhat amused tone but she was entirely serious, they were close and she often worried about her now brother-in-law.
"I highly doubt it," his voice changed, more hollow and clandestine, he was usually unreachable to everyone but family and she was surprised by his sudden vulnerability.
"Why? You deserve it as much as anyone else," her head tilted to the side as she gazed at him, trying to see what was rattling around his damaged mind but he closed off.
Cause you are my angel, Im sure
I never ever felt like this before
Cause you are my angel, Im sure
I never ever felt like this before
Before Im sure
His silence was deafening, along with the eye piercing stare he was driving into her eyes as he thought, contemplating his next words carefully as he moved her effortlessly across the dance floor,
"I believe you only get one, maybe two great loves, Elena and I've used up my quota," he spoke in such a low voice, she just about heard him and even though she could hear the ache in his tone of voice, she tried to lighten his heart and the mood.
"Dare I ask who has once captured the heart of the mighty Klaus?" Elena said with a grin and a tilt of her head. Klaus looked at her with saddened eyes, parted lips and a contemplative demeanour, she could feel the hand on her lower back press tighter and his heartbeat fluttered.
--Is that what that was like? To hear another's heartbeat, something she wouldn't likely get used to right away.
"Mind if I cut in, brother?" Kol appeared beside them in a flash with a smirk and his hand extended towards Elena, as if he was there to save him from an overly personal conversation she had made him endure and he was happy for the relief.
After a long moment of more stares and awkward tension, he reluctantly released his hold of Elena and took a step back, "Not at all, thank you for the dance, sister."
"Calling each other brother and sister constantly is not something I will be partaking in," they both grinned amusingly at her playful teases as Kol took her hand and swept her away as far as he could from that situation.
"Congratulation, Mrs. Mikaelson," Kol was an excellent dancer, he was smooth on his feet and kind his words, she was happy to be joined with their family and be able to call herself one of them.
"Thank you," she said with a warm smile as he twirled her and brought her back into him.
"Are you happy, Elena?" His question had took her by surprise, it was a nice one and filled with compassion and care for another person, definitely not his usual forte.
"Never happier," he didn't have to be an Empath to feel her true happiness radiating around her and he believed her, her love for Elijah was unbreakable and he knew he didn't have to worry.
"I'm glad, little sister," a smirk graced his lips, one of his usual kind of sarcasm and attitude and she loved it.
"I'm not doing it," she shook her head once and brought her lips together in a thin and amused line.
The song ended and so did their dance, she dipped her head playfully at him and popped out her dress, she was grateful for all the etiquette classes growing up, "thank you for the dance, brother..." a shudder crawled up her spine and she laughed it off, "nope, not doing it."
"Well, I'm honoured I was the first and last trial run of our labels," he dipped his head playfully in response and she continued to chuckle before spinning on her heel and returned to Elijah's side.
Without any warning, he grabbed onto her waist and lifted her slightly before twirling her above the crowd and bringing her slowly back down to her feet. She caught his lips on the way down and slid her arms around his neck, bringing him into a forceful kiss that ignited her senses.
"My beautiful wife," he trailed soft kisses along her cheek and tightened the hold he had of her.
"My dashing husband," her smile was unwavering as she brought him in closer, moving with the beat and catching a rhythm in their dancing. She could stay like this forever, frozen in this moment of happiness and pure contentment.
A few minutes later, when the song had come to an end and she looked just over Elijah's shoulder, she saw Caroline requesting a song with the DJ and she saw the slightest of smirks on her husbands lip.
She was suddenly swept away by an overly excited Rebekah and Bonnie, Cami had a tray of shots and Davina and Caroline had started dancing to Marry You by Bruno Mars and they surrounded her in a group as they sang at the top of her lungs.
"To Elena, she finally got hitched," Rebekah held up two shots and dangled one in front of Elena's face. She couldn't stop the outburst of laughter before she took it and they all clinked the glasses together, each of them doing it in one and reaching for another.
Another song came on, then another and another and before she knew it, they were shrouded in an alcohol induced fog mixed with some terrible dancing and hysterical laughter.
The inner circle joined in along with Marcel, then Damon, then Jeremy and like magic, everyone she loved was surrounding her and having a good time. All smiles, all laughs, just like she had intended.