At Last

Chapter Nineteen

Unedited.

The dress was the exact design of Sophie's human mom's. It still remained the most beautiful dress Sophie had ever seen.

Despite being an elf, and the weird looks she had gotten from her family and friends when she said she needed something borrowed, something blue, something old, and something new.

Biana and Linh with wide smirks presented her with a teal blue garter, they weren't dropping the subject of having their kids be friends, and now that Sophie was getting married... Melody let her borrow a pearl and green hair clip, Sophie wore a new pair of stylish boots, that were hardly noticeable under her dress, Edaline and Della presented her with a veil Della had bought for Biana, but Biana had chosen a different want. Sophie met Fitz just outside of the reception.

"W...." He breathed not even able to finish his words, Sophie blushed under her veil. Fitz looked amazing. He wore the traditional Elvin green, his tunic stretched across his strong chest, showing his toned muscles, his hair was fixed and even the stubborn strands obeyed for the special occasion. Sophie drank up the sight of her soon to be husband, and took his hand. "Are you ready my love?" He transmitted. Sophie took one more deep breath to settle her nerves, "Ready when you are." She replied. Fitz grinned, before standing up straighter he held his arm out, his palm up. Sophie rested her arm on his, clasping their hands together they walked to the reception.

It was an outside reception with a building behind it, in case it got to cold. For the wedding of a ex-councilor and a Vacker, the whole council of twelve showed up, and nearly everyone in the lost cities. Ogres, gnomes, goblins and trolls showed up as well. Even though the ogres and goblins had to stay on opposite sides of the reception. Even Mr. Snuggles showed up. Sophie spotted Ambra sending her a small smile, and Mr. Williams who thought she'd never become a representative. Melody and the guy she was often with, that Sophie was never introduced to. Even though many of the people she loved were missing, like her human parents, Kyle and Rose, Calla, Alvar, Josh and Nick, the one that mattered most was walking right beside her.

Sophie spotted Grady brushing away a few tears and Alden looking as proud and puffed up as he had at Biana's wedding. Della had tears in her eyes but none fell. Sophie smiled at Wylie, Oralie, Terik and even Bronte spared her a tight lipped smile, and the council looked like they were about to faint with one of the weddings that would be the biggest in Elvin history. Sophie and Fitz kneeled before the council.

Blessings were given by all twelve councilors and finally Fitz and Sophie faced each other. Joining hands Fitz sent her a smile, as he spoke his vows. Then it was her turn. Sophie had gone over and memorized each word.

"You cannot possess me for I belong to myself but while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give. You cannot command me for I am a free person, but I shall serve you in those ways you require and the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand.

I pledge to you, that yours will be the name I cry aloud in the night, and the eyes into which I smile in the morning. I pledge to you the first bite from my meal, and the first drink from my cup. I pledge to you my living and dying, equally in your care, and tell no strangers our grievances, this is my wedding oath to you. This is a marriage of equals."

Fitz smiled at her, and at the council's word he lifted her veil, and there they stood. Then they both kissed, Sophie didn't blush as the air shook with cheers and whistles. When she pulled away she did blush, Fitz said something but the cheering was so loud it drowned out his voice, but Sophie didn't need to hear it. "I love you too." She mouthed back. Fitz and she turned to the cheering crowd. Mr. Snuggles was roaring a congratulations with the ogres, Sophie had befriended at her time in Ravagog, Sandor and other goblins were stomping their feet as they cheered. Trolls who had their own special seats, so not to be crushed cheered with their small voices and the horns they brought, which was a tradition at troll weddings.

Elves were cheering and whistling as they clapped and the gnomes were jumping up and down even the Exilium teachers showed up. Harley was trying to out whistle Keefe as they cheered, it may have been a trick of the light and it might not have been, but Sophie was sure she saw the outline of a gnome and elf standing calmly at the edge of the reception.

Calla and Alvar, hand in hand they walked away before vanishing. Sophie smiled as she spotted several members of the Black swan nearly out roaring the ogres and Mr. Snuggles. Sophie looked over at Fitz he grinned and held their hands up, Sophie picked up the skirt of her dress, all hell was about to break loose and by the evil glints in Keefe and Harley's eyes, Sophie wanted to get past them as fast as she could. She and Fitz ran back down the aisle. Flowers were thrown by gnomes, and the elves who all seemed to be in on Keefe's pranks threw small pink splotchers. Sophie squealed as she nearly tripped, a splotcher staining her skirt, Fitz swooped her up making the crowd cheer louder as he carried her away from the mass splotching.

~

"That's the last of them." Fitz said and Sophie breathed as she looked up at the blessing archof knowledge she had set above the library door. Fitz's hands wrapped around her waist, his head resting on her hip, before kissing it. Thankfully the gnomes had been able to get the pink out of their clothes.

Sophie felt heat run up her body as Fitz's lips pressed through the fabric. He helped her down off the stool she had been on. "Well Mrs. Vacker..." He said tilting her head up. Sophie grinned, "That was certainly thew best wedding in the history of weddings." He said. Sophie blushed as she pulled away and set the stool back where it belonged. "It certainly was massive." She said, as she slipped her hand in Fitz's. They walked out of the library, and walked down the hall. "At least we don't have pranks in here." He chuckled testing his words as he opened the linen closet. Sophie laughed, at the memory of Keefe's wide eyed red faced anger, when he found out they had denied everyone but Sully and themselves access to Heartlock.

"Ugh, he had to choose pink." Fitz chuckled. "Did you hear him shout, make Fitz pretty pink?" Sophie laughed as they reached their room. Fitz grinned, "Yeah I heard it." At the sight of their room Sophie felt her mouth go dry, and her nerves start twisting. The bed....there was only one in the room.... And now that she was married it had a lot more meaning to it. Fitz didn't seem to notice her change off mood as he went to the bed, where he got on all fours and reached under the bed. "Yup....I knew it." He said as he pulled out what looked to be a pillow. "Keefe was doing something in here when I invited him earlier this morning." He said before sending Sophie a smile before hugging the pillow. A rude sound filled the silence.

Sophie chuckled, "Ew." She said wrinkling her nose as she nervously approached the bed. Fitz grinned "It reloads too." He said letting go, and the pillow returned to normal. "I don't think Dex out blocks on our imparters, he knows I can just take them off." Sophie said, as she fingered the soft blanket, Fitz tossed the pillow in the corner of the room, and stood. Sully had taken Iggy's cage 'to be cleaned' downstairs, a few days ago, and the room felt empty. Very empty besides Sophie and Fitz.

"Are you nervous?" Fitz transmitted as he wrapped his arm around Sophie's waist, and placed the free one on the edge of the bed, next to hers. Shyly Sophie nodded, her face probably as red as a tomato. Fitz kissed her temple, his own face tinging red. "Don't be." He transmitted softly. Sophie closed her eyes and leaned in to his touch.

~

A kiss on the shoulder woke Sophie up. "Good morning my lady." Fitz whispered. Sophie felt the memories of the night before running through her head, her face burned but Fitz kissed her shoulder again. "Look up." He said. Still half asleep and confused Sophie rolled over and looked up. On their headboard was a blessing arch she had never seen before.

Weaved with hundreds of different kinds of trees, all the blessing stones known to elves was embedded carefully in the wood. "Is that my...." Sophie couldn't finish her sentence, as Fitz nuzzled her neck. "Morning gift." He finished for her. Strength, knowledge, resilience, love, health, eternity, and many more were on the arch. But what was most unique of the arch was that it was bent and weaved in the shape of a heart.

Sophie turned to Fitz and kissed him. "Thank you."