Three hours or so later and the party was in full swing.
Fallon and Finn were in deep conversation with my great-uncles, who’d come to visit whenever the two of them came home for the end of each term about their last few months in Yrandes; my parents were chatting with Aunt Eila; Ardan and Kélnar were having a chat with my great-grandparents Pheonala and Thäro, and I was talking with Uncle Aiolos and my cousin Arianne.
When Uncle Aiolos and Arianne’s attentions were pulled elsewhere, I checked my watch. Five to four. It was time.
Taking a spoon from the nearby buffet table, I tapped it lightly against my wine glass, and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
‘If I could have all your attention.’
The laughter and chatter around the vast room died away, and all eyes turned to me.
I smiled. ‘Thank you. We have all come here today to celebrate the final return of our wonderful and beautiful Fallon, and dear friend Finn with this brilliant party, but - ’ I paused for effect, and then carried on.
‘It is also the day I have been planning towards, and been waiting several agonising years to do.’
Placing my glass into Uncle Aiolos’s waiting hands, I walked towards Fallon through the throng of guests, who parted to create a direct path to her, where she stood completely unaware of what was about to happen.
‘Fallon,’ I began ‘we have known each other pretty much since birth, and spent our early years playing together with the other children of the human - as you were back then - members of the Elandrean Portal Guard, our soldiers and Scouts still not giving up their search, for those still missing’ I paused again, remembering the children from my past, as I knew Fallon was. ‘I regret not coming to look for you, all of you, when I was old enough. If I had, I’m sure the years leading up to you falling through the portal into the world you now call home would surely have been different; I wouldn’t have forgotten you, you wouldn’t have had to put up with those disguised beasts for eleven years of your life - but that doesn’t matter now. I found you again, and I am never letting you go.’
I tried to calm my pounding heart as I came to a stop in front of the woman I loved. ‘I have been planning this moment, with the help of our parents and Uncle Aiolos, for the past five years…’
Slowly lowering myself down onto one knee, I pulled the ring I had been holding onto for the past few years from my shorts pocket and held it up to her. ‘Fallon Niamh O’Connor, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’
She nodded, her eyes tearing up a little. ‘Yes! Yes, yes I’ll marry you!’
I smiled, elated, slipped the ring onto the ring finger of her outstretched hand, and raised myself to my feet to pull her in for a kiss as the ballroom erupted into whoops and whistles.
Wedding Day
The month and two weeks leading up to our chosen wedding date of Jeii 5th 2044 were filled with food tastings for the reception and the wedding cake, and the designing and fittings of Fallon’s wedding dress and my tux. Let’s not forget putting together the guest list, having the place cards made up and choosing the flowers, although I’d left that solely to Fallon because I knew which flowers she wanted and mostly staying out of her way, but offering my opinions if she asked for them, and a whole number of other things you have to do in preparation for a wedding.
By the end of the first two weeks of preparation the guest list, considerably smaller than the one for the welcome home party was completed, for Fallon and I are only inviting our closest friends and family, and by the end of the last week before the wedding, the remaining preparations had been finalised.
These included the flower arrangements for either side of the central aisle of the church at the end of the west wing of the palace; White Lilies, and Leñas, a bright pastel blue flower with a silver tint and a lilac centre native to the forest surrounding Feldar, which Fallon had developed a love for while studying in Yrandes, and had sent Snow Mist with a letter for Aeodin- one of the select few invited to the wedding along with Fallon’s former tutors- requesting a few bunches of them. He had sent the owl back with his reply ahead of a wagon full of the beautiful flowers, his reply saying that they were a wedding gift.
Imeria who, along with her brother Serin, had designed and made the clothes worn by Fallon and Finn during their time in Yrandes (as well as around the palace now and then), had come up at the beginning of Éja to help design Fallon’s wedding dress, and had then returned to Feldar where she had all the materials needed, to create it.
Monday morning, three days before the wedding, and Imeria had returned to the palace, accompanied by Serin and Aeodin, with the finished dress in an opaque black bag, and brought it upstairs to Fallon’s room until the big day - and Finn and Ardan were here too, helping to set everything up for the reception.
***
‘Dad, how did you feel when you were getting ready to marry mum?’ I asked, as my father helped me with the tie of my wedding suit…I have never been good at ties, they seem to be the one inanimate object I have trouble with.
‘A little nervous, but incredibly happy knowing I was about to marry the most beautiful young woman in the world, whom I loved and knew loved me back’ he replied. ‘There you are, all done’ he added, stepping back with a satisfied look on his face.
‘Thanks’ I said, turning to the full-length mirror beside me. ‘I’m so nervous. I know Fallon’s going to look even more beautiful than ever, especially if she’s wearing an Imeria masterpiece, it’s setting my heart aflutter and it’s causing me to wonder if I look good enough to be marrying her today.’
He chuckled. ‘You’ll be fine. Let’s go, it’s the bride’s job to be late, not the groom’s.’
I nodded and left his and mum’s room, where I had come to him for help with my tie, and went downstairs to meet Finn and Uncle Aiolos, Jaron and Serin, in the entrance hall to make sure Finn, who I had asked to be my best-man, had Fallon’s wedding ring in his breast pocket.
Upon entering the church, where all the guests were already seat, our family’s wedding minister at the end of the aisle, we took our respective places on the first right-hand pew (our right) and front of Caelan, the minister, and waited patiently- or in my case, nervously- for Fallon, her maid-of- honour (her mother) and three bridesmaids (my own mother, grandmother, and Imeria), to join us.
It was when the orchestra took up their instruments and started playing the traditional wedding song of all Elandrean countries, and our guests stood and turned towards the church entrance, that I knew they had arrived.
Resisting the urge to twist round as she approached, I waited until Caelan motioned for everyone in the pews to sit back down, and for Fallon and me to face each other, to look at her.
I caught my breath.
She looked beyond beautiful. Her fiery red hair fell in ringlets around her shoulders framing her face nicely, and she wore a gorgeous dress of mint blue that had the appearance of flowing water because of its material - no doubt through Imeria’s genius skills and amazing skill with materials and the magic that the Neiara are known to possess.
‘You look gorgeous’ I murmured in the small pause before Caelan carried on the ceremony, who smiled back wordlessly and blushed faintly as Caelan spoke.
‘We have come together today to witness the union of Prince Evander, and the lovely Fallon in holy matrimony. The rings?’
Finn and Imeria stepped forward, each passing over a wedding ring.
‘Evander, go ahead and recite your personal vows’ Caelan continued.
I nodded and turned to Fallon.
‘Fallon, we have known each other since we were young, though we lost each other for a while. I have never met anyone more kind-hearted, selfless, free-spirited, courageous, or beautiful. I promise to love you as completely and whole heartedly, as I can, for the rest of time’ I said, and slipped the ring gently onto her finger, as she held out her hand with a smile that put the sun to shame.
‘Evander, I have never met anyone l
ike you. When we used to play together as children, with the others, you’d always be protecting me from danger, more than you did the others. It was your protective nature, among other things, that made me fall in love with you, and I promise to love and appreciate every part of you for the rest of my life’ she said and slipped the ring onto the finger of my outstretched hand.
Holding both each other’s hands, we swivelled our heads back to Caelan, waiting for him to ask the question that would end the ceremony and begin our new life together.
‘Evander Kovah, do you take Fallon to be your wife, forever?’ he asked me.
I nodded ‘I do’ I answered, with a smile.
‘And, do you, Fallon O’Connor, take Evander to be your eternal husband?’
‘I do’ she grinned, her eyes trembling.
Caelan smiled at the two of us and spoke louder than before. ‘Thus, I now pronounce you husband and wife.’
Grinning at her, I let go of Fallon’s hands, and looped my arms around her waist; puling her to me and anchoring her against my chest, and then dipped her towards the floor; kissing her with more love and passion than I ever have, and marking the start of our married life.
Honeymoon At Arénia Lake
Two days after the wedding, Fallon and I left for Arénia Lake, where we would be spending the next two weeks on our honeymoon, following the two-to-three-day journey by air - one or two if we flew through part of the first night of travelling - rucksacks containing clothes and essentials secured tightly to our backs, so they wouldn’t slide around as we flew.
It took us only a day and half to travel to the lake in the end, although we did make a few stops along the way to rest and eat. There was no need to set up a camp when we landed by the lake’s edge after midday, because there was a cottage nestled amongst the cluster of trees a few metres from the lake, where we dropped off our bags. Changing into our swimming costumes, and grabbing towels with us as we went, we headed back to the lake to cool off, and have some fun in the pure, crystal blue water.
We had a few races from one side of the lake to the other – although she won more times than not due to the fact she could grow a mermaid tail at will; the second of the six gifts she was blessed with when she became an Avadorae, and had a appeared a month or so into her third term of study at Yrandes Palace when she and Finn found time to go to the beach to swim. After she won four or five times in a row with her tail, she stopped shifting and allowed me to win a few races, though she still won a few.
The first few full days of our honeymoon were filled with lounging on our towels after more time in the lake; reading on the wooden chairs in front of the cottage, as well as a few morning boat rides.
On the morning of our sixth day there, we were out on the porch soaking up the sunshine - which I hoped would continue for the rest of our stay - as we ate our breakfast opposite each other at the little table, when Fallon lowered her spoon back into her bowl of strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, melon and yogurt after bringing it half way to her mouth.
‘What is it, honey?’
‘I have something to tell you,’ she said, setting the bowl down in front of her. ‘Some exciting news I’ve been wanting to share with you for a few months now, though I was told to wait…I’m opening a college in Yrandes, for those who are not elfin who want to learn about them, and for half-elves who want to learn more about their elfin heritage.’
‘Really? Honey, that’s amazing!’ I exclaimed, leaning forward and hugging her.
‘Thank you! Oh, it feels so good to finally tell you after almost a year of planning, and adjusting the floor plans, etc’ she replied, once we’d pulled out of the hug, holding her hand to her chest as if in relief.
‘It’s been in the making for a year?! Wow, that is a lot of planning and building time – has it actually been built yet?’
She nodded affirmatively ‘it is in the final stages now, you know, soft furnishings, plants, etc. It’s been called “The Énira College for Non-Elfin and Half-Elfin Learning” - or “Täin Énira Czém lina Ava-netir ieta Ava-kör Lornateh”.’
If you’re wondering who Énira is, it is the name that the elves of Feldar gave her, which is Elandrean for “beauty from another land”. I was surprised, and impressed, that she had recited the Elandrean translation for the name of her newly founded college, for it the language not spoken as often as it was during Erodis’ and his brothers’ time – though my father had learnt a little from my grand-father when he wanted to propose to my mother.
‘It’s been erected on an empty plot of land twenty metres north-west of Yrandes Palace but - although it’s wide, it isn’t a large building. It has an atrium, an office for the head mistress or master and their assistant, and four large lecture halls on the ground floor, thirty-six rooms for the thirty-two students and five tutors, and the Combat Skills and Archery lessons, will be taught on the new training grounds that have been created at the back of the college.’
‘Wow, sounds awesome’ I replied, after she had finished, truly mesmerised by her description.
She smiled, pleased by my reaction ‘that isn’t everything I’ve been wanting to tell you.’
I cocked an eyebrow. ‘No? Do tell.’
She smiled again, only this time wider ‘two new subjects are being added to the curriculum. Avadorae History and Culture, and we – meaning myself and Aeodin, co-founders of the college – would like you to teach them.’
You...you and Aeodin want me to teach at the college?’
‘Yes’ she replied, chuckling a little at my expression.
‘I would be honoured’ I said, smiling, but then something occurred to me, and I frowned ‘but, if we’re both teaching in Yrandes, won’t we be away from Orfedil for most of the year?’
She shook her head ‘No, it’s going to be a summer college- the “summer” wasn’t put into the name of the college, because we didn’t feel like it fit, though it will be written beneath it “Feldar’s Summer College”.
I smiled, ‘cool, so who are the other four tutors?’
‘Déanis, Aronil, Aeodin - who’s taking over teaching Culture and Music for Déanis, to lighten her work load - and me, who will be teaching Animal Studies and Archery, and what with us being a couple, there are four rooms rather than five in the tutors’ wing.’
‘And I know you will be great.’
‘As will you’ she replied with a grin.
‘When’s the opening ceremony?’
‘In a month’s time, and since you’re going to be a tutor there, you’re coming too.’
‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world’ I grinned and leant toward her for a kiss.
The College’s Opening and Book Research
A month or so later, Fallon cut the ribbon of the college in front of cheering spectators: elves, half-elves, and humans alike, had been invited to witness its official opening if they had the time.
Two weeks later, letters were sent via messengers to each half-elfin and human household in Orfedil, Ledoran, Rendor and Idanei, along with applications for next summer, that had a note at the top of the front page, warning that only eight applicants from each country would be accepted into the college each summer though you could be as young as nine years old to apply, as long as you had permission from your parents- but that even if you weren’t accepted, your name would be kept on record in case you applied again; sometimes, persistence pays off.
In the days and weeks that followed, I began to spend more time in the library: trying to select the books that I would use in my future lessons in Avadorae History, and Culture- two separate subjects- until my mother suggested I try writing the set books myself, referencing if need be, and offering me her help if I attempted the venture. After sleeping on it, I was on board with the idea and suggested the books include both our names, since she was helping me out with writing them.
She however said she was only lending a helping hand, a sort of editor rather than a contributing author. Once my mother’s mind is ma
de up she will not be swayed from the decision, so I did not argue with on her on the matter and, a few days later, my first writing venture began.
By early Nejah, my two books had subsequently published, and copied thirty-two times for the students by Fallon through her third gift of being able to duplicate inanimate objects- but her gift did not extend to people, elf; half-elf, or human, because of various reasons.
In Éja the following year, the college welcomed its first thirty-two students through its doors and, like its primary co-founder and head mistress (this had been decided but kept under-wraps during the months following the college’s opening ceremony), became the first of its kind.
Erolin and Réna
From where she sat, reading in one of our bedroom’s moss green armchairs Fallon warned ‘Evander sweetie, don’t forget your books. You don’t want to come running back to our room again a minute into your lecture, like you did the on Friday.’
It was one of her two days off teaching, although she still had her headmistress duties, and would be heading downstairs to her office in fifteen minutes. I flew around the room, grabbing what I needed and shoving them into my work satchel – being more careful with any breakable items I needed for my lecture.
‘Thanks honey’ I replied and ran over to where I had left my books on the mantelpiece early Friday evening, having finished for the week, and dropping them into the satchel’s largest pocket, before kissing my wife gently on the top of the head, and heading downstairs to prepare for my first lecture of the day.
It’s been four years since Énira’s College for Non-Elfin and Half-Elfin Learning first opened its doors and in that time, it has earned the respect of everyone in Elandrea and receives great reviews from every person who comes to us, and many previous students have even said that they’d like to teach here themselves one day, and that isn’t even the best news I have to tell you.
Descendants of Erodis Page 28