Unlikely Pair: Dark Elven Princess and Her Bird [Lailah x Qrow]

Chapter 15: The Royal Wedding; A Dream Realized

Chapter 15: The Wedding of Dreams

Morning Light

Dawn broke over Vale with unusual splendor, as if nature itself had dressed for the occasion. The city gleamed under banners of silver and purple, while dust crystals floated through the air, creating ethereal patterns of light that matched the colors of House Albanar.

The Bride's Chamber

In a room high in Beacon Tower, Lailah stood before a mirror, her orange eyes bright with emotion. Her wedding gown was a masterpiece of elven craftsmanship and Valean design - flowing silk in the deepest purple that seemed to capture starlight, with silver threading that moved like liquid moonlight. Her lavender hair was adorned with crystals that matched her ears' natural glow of happiness.

Summer Rose, radiant in her role as maid of honor, adjusted the gossamer veil. "You know," she said softly, "two years ago, if someone had told me Qrow Branwen would be marrying an elven princess..."

"You'd have had them checked for head trauma," Lailah finished with a laugh that barely concealed her nervous excitement. Her ears twitched continuously, betraying her emotions.

Raven, elegant in her bridesmaid gown, smirked. "I still say we should have let Tai execute his bachelor party plans. A slightly hungover groom might have made this less intimidating for everyone."

The Groom's Preparations

Meanwhile, in another part of the tower, Qrow adjusted his formal attire - a masterful blend of hunter tradition and elven nobility. The crystal pendant Lailah had given him years ago rested against his chest, seeming to pulse with its own light.

Taiyang, standing as best man, clapped his hand on Qrow's shoulder. "Ready to become royalty, buddy?"

"Ready to marry Lailah," Qrow corrected, his silver eyes unusually soft. "The royalty part is just... extra paperwork."

Raptaryn, who had become a close friend to them all, chuckled as he helped straighten Qrow's ceremonial cape. "Just wait until you have to start attending council meetings. That's when the real fun begins."

The Gathering

Vale had never seen such a gathering:
- Atlas's delegation, led by Ironwood, stood proud in their military finest
- Mistral's representatives brought ancient gifts of blessing
- Vacuo's leaders had dressed formally while still maintaining their kingdom's practical style
- Menagerie's delegation, led by Ghira and Kali, brought rare night-blooming flowers
- The Schnee family had provided crystal arrangements that turned sunlight into rainbow cascades
- Hunters from all kingdoms stood alongside nobles and diplomats

The Ceremony Begins

The Great Hall of Beacon had been transformed into a space that bridged worlds - part sacred elven grove, part hunter's sanctuary. Above, the open ceiling revealed a perfect blue sky where Nevermores and other birds circled in unusual harmony, as if nature itself had declared a truce for this day.

High Queen Hyuuan and High King Berethon stood ready to perform the elven rites, while Ozpin would handle the Valean traditions. The combination of ceremonies had required months of diplomatic negotiations, but the result was something entirely new and beautiful.

The Promise

When Lailah began her walk down the aisle, the collective gasp was audible. She moved with ethereal grace, each step leaving a slight shimmer in the air - a special dust effect that Summer and Raptaryn had spent weeks perfecting.

But it was Qrow's reaction that brought tears to many eyes. The normally sardonic hunter stood transfixed, his silver eyes wide with wonder. For just a moment, he was back in that shared dream they'd had years ago, seeing their future unfold.

"You're staring, little bird," Lailah whispered when she reached him.

"Can't help it, princess," he replied softly. "You're kind of stealing the show here."

The Ceremonies

The wedding combined traditions beautifully:
- The elven handfasting with silver cords that glowed with dust energy
- The exchange of hunter's tokens, representing protection and partnership
- Ancient elven vows spoken in their musical language
- Modern promises of love and loyalty in common tongue
- The sharing of ceremonial wine from crystal goblets
- The exchange of rings forged from rare metals of both kingdoms

The Moment of Union

As the final words were spoken and the ancient magics settled around them, Lailah and Qrow shared their first kiss as a married couple. The dust crystals throughout the hall burst into a shower of silver and purple light, creating a cascade of illumination that would be talked about for years to come.

The Celebration

The reception that followed was as much a fusion of cultures as the ceremony:
- Elven delicacies alongside Valean favorites
- Traditional dances from both cultures, often combined in new ways
- Toasts in multiple languages
- Stories shared from both worlds
- Music that blended elven harps with modern instruments

Team STRQ's Moment

During a quiet moment, Team STRQ (plus Lailah and Raptaryn) found themselves in a private corner of the celebration:
- Summer, glowing with happiness, leaned against Raptaryn
- Taiyang and Raven stood close together, their own future plans sparkling in their eyes
- And at the center, the newlyweds, still slightly dazed by the reality of their dream
- They all raised their glasses in a private toast to endings and beginnings

A Dream Realized

"You know," Qrow murmured to his bride as they shared a dance, "this is better than that dream we shared."

Lailah's ears twitched with curiosity. "How so?"

"Because this time," he pulled her closer, silver eyes meeting orange, "we don't have to wake up."

Around them, the celebration continued - a perfect blend of two worlds, just like the couple at its heart. The vision they'd shared had indeed come true, though perhaps not exactly as they'd dreamed it. It was better - it was real, with all the beautiful imperfections and unexpected joys that reality brings.

And as the sun set over Vale, casting the city in colors that matched House Albanar's purple and silver, those who witnessed this union knew they had seen something rare and precious: a love strong enough to bridge worlds, and a dream brave enough to become reality.

To be continued in Chapter 16: Future Unwritten; an unexplored journey