Making the Match

Chapter 23- The Wedding (pt. 3)

A/N: The part you've all been waiting for- the wedding itself!!

I'm super sorry this took so long to write. My internship had kept me unbelievably busy for the majority of the summer, and any free time I have is taken up by college applications. Nonetheless, I managed to write this over the span of many five-minute breaks and I really hope you enjoy it!

Also!! I posted above this drawing that I finally finished of Sophie and Fitz at this exact wedding based off of all the details in Making the Match. It actually took FOREVER to finish it. And while drawing I realized that Fitz looks a LOT like Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice (and he acts like it too in the first book). Anyways, enjoy the chapter!!

Sophie stood outside the door, gripping Grady's hand tighter than she ever had before. Below the soft music playing in the hall, she could hear the shuffling of guests as they filtered into the room. She could hear the quiet chatter and the final planning. And quietest of them all, she could hear Fitz's worried whispers towards Keefe on the stage.

Grady took one look down at Sophie and smiled. "Don't be so anxious!" he calmed. "Today is supposed to be the happiest day of your life. It's just Fitz as usual- nothing different. And I promise, I'll be there by your side the whole way."

Sophie nodded, pressing a hand on her bodice to calm the butterflies in her stomach. Grady was right- it was just Fitz. But it was also nearly a hundred other elves sitting in rows in the audience, witnessing what many had called "The Wedding of the Century." With the fame of the Vacker family and Sophie's renowned status as a war hero, the news about it seemed endless.

But one worry stood out among them all.

"You won't let me fall?"

Grady laughed. "Have I ever let you fall before?"

"No," Sophie admitted, putting on a small smile and breathing out a sigh. "You most certainly haven't."

The ornate doors burst open, revealing a beautifully decorated hall with rows of jeweled benches seating friends and family. Large chandeliers lit up the room, highlighting everything from the jewels on the walls and tables to the glittery flowers in large vases at the corners of the room. But Sophie's eyes only focused on one thing.

Fitz standing at the end of the aisle, his teal eyes gleaming and his wide smile lighting up the room, far more than any of the chandeliers did.

The rest of the world disappeared as Sophie slowly walked towards him, every step feeling like it took a lifetime. When she finally reached the bottom of the steps and looked up at Fitz, her smile grew into a large grin. She stepped onto the stage and took his hands in hers.

*~*~*~*

When Fitz saw Sophie elegantly walk through the doors into the hall, he had to grab Keefe's arm to keep himself standing. Just feet away she made him weak in the knees.

Now holding his hands and standing right in front of him? Fitz's heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. His eyes met hers and he felt the pressure of friendship, Cognates, and now marriage between them. From the moment he had met her, Fitz knew there was something special about Sophie Foster. It wasn't until years later that he had realized that something was everything about her.

Oralie's soft voice brought him out of his trance and he nodded towards her, ready to begin.

"We have all gathered here today to witness the marriage of Sophie Elizabeth Foster and Fitzroy Avery Vacker," she announced. "These two elves have done more for our cities in the past years than we could ever imagine. Their bond goes farther than trust and friendship. It is something that we strive to find in our thousands of years alive- it is love.

"We will begin with the traditional family crest exchange ceremony between the Ruewen and Vacker families."

Fitz met Alden and Della's eyes in the front row of the groom's side, and then Edaline's in the bride's side. Their eyes gleamed with pride and Fitz's mind flashed back to all the times he and Sophie had left them worried and put themselves in danger. Yet here they were, fulfilling the dreams of a lifetime.

Slowly, Fitz unpinned the Ruewen crest at the neck of Sophie's dress and handed her the Vacker crest, looking to Grady for a reassuring smile.

"A marriage," Oralie continued. "Can be a daunting commitment that lasts for eternity. It requires responsibilities and understanding that can be difficult to interpret. Thus, we are also to discuss the meaning of this commitment."

And so it began- a seemingly eternal period of tradition and formalities. Oralia had promised to speed it up, but some legal requirements just couldn't be avoided. It wasn't until she had called for the vows that Fitz broke out of his trance and pulled out the small piece of parchment.

"Every elf has a duty," Fitz began, brushing a finger over Sophie's knuckles as he spoke. "I never felt like I truly knew mine until I met you: Sophie Foster. An unexpected girl, an unexpected turn in my life. But it's one I wouldn't trade for the world. You showed me new adventures and new perspectives, and now I want to do the same for you. An elf's life is nearly eternal, but that still doesn't capture how long my love for you will continue. And I plan to show you that every step of the way."

*~*~*~*~*

Sophie couldn't help it. Fitz's vows had very well brought tears to her eyes, but she managed a close-lipped smile to calm the flutter in her heart. With a squeeze of his hands, she began reciting her own.

"Fitzroy Avery Vacker." Fitz grinned at the name. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here today. Your kindness and understanding when first showing me the Elvin world was just the beginning of a long road to love. Every step of that road showed me a new side of you that made me just love you more. Your bravery in the face of any life threatening event. Your reassurance when at odds with overwhelming circumstances. And most importantly, your care for everyone you loved when the time came to fight. You were the one by my side through every crazy journey that we've been through so far, and I want to by my side through every one we'll face up next."

Oralia nodded, placing a hand on her heart. "Oh that was so sweet." Laughs tittered throughout the crowd. "Alright, the rings?"

Sophie stared up at Fitz, wanting nothing more than to press her lips against his as he slipped the exquisite ring on her finger. When she did the same, Fitz's impatient grin seemed to suggest exactly that.

Oralie smiled as if she knew exactly what was going on in Sophie and Fitz's heads, which Sophie assumed was sort of true since she was an Empath, and gave them a slight nod. "You may kiss the- oh!"

Fitz's lips were on Sophie's even before the sentence had finished.

A kiss that felt like the first real kiss they had ever had- a kiss that ended the tentative part of their relationship.

Because the truth was, this was just the beginning.