Chain of Iron

Chapter Twenty-Eight

"Oh, Layla, you look absolutely beautiful."

Cordelia smiled at her mother's words as she twirled around in long mirror before her, her golden gown glittering brightly. It was the morning of her and James' wedding and Cordelia was standing in the music room of Institute; Tessa had converted it into a makeshift dressing room for Cordelia. Tessa was also present in the room, as was Lucie and Anna Lightwood. Cordelia had asked Anna to be one of her bridesmaids, alongside Lucie, and she had gratefully accepted.

"Your mother is right." Tessa smiled warmly. "You look stunning."

"Thank you." Cordelia smiled at both Tessa and her mother. "Aunt Tessa, you have outdone yourself with styling my hair."

Tessa had used her magic to style Cordelia's hair into long curls that fell down her shoulders and Cordelia thought that they looked beautiful; she usually did not wear her hair in such a way.

Tessa beamed. "I am glad that you like it, Cordelia."

Cordelia smiled and turned back to the mirror, feeling nervous. She was about to get married to James Herondale, the boy she had loved ever since she had been ten years old. Being in her dress still did not make it feel real. From beside her, Anna seemed to sense her discomfort and offered her a reassuring smile. Tessa and Sona then exited the room to go check if James was ready and Cordelia turned to Lucie and Anna.

"I feel very nervous." Cordelia frowned. "Even though this is not a real marriage."

"Do not feel nervous, Daisy." Lucie took her hand and squeezed it. "You look absolutely beautiful and the wedding will be finished before you know it."

"Try to enjoy it." Anna suggested. "You look beautiful, as Lucie said, and I am sure that the party tonight will be very enjoyable."

Cordelia and Lucie giggled at Anna's words and then the door to the music room opened. Matthew stood in the doorway and Cordelia's heart dropped at the sight of him. He was dressed in a tuxedo and he looked handsome; so handsome that it made her heart hurt for a moment. Cordelia had left his flat late in the night, although she had not wished to leave, and had not seen him since. Cordelia did not miss the way his eyes widened at the sight of her, and being unable to bear looking at him, she turned back around to face the mirror.

"James is ready." She heard Matthew say.

Cordelia saw Anna give him a strange look but nodded her head and then Matthew left. Lucie shot Cordelia a sad look; she had told Lucie everything that had happened between her and Matthew the night before. Anna and Lucie then left to go line up with Thomas and Christopher, who were the groomsmen, and Cordelia was left alone. She sighed as she felt nervousness course through her once again. She was going to do this - she was really going to get married to James.

"Layla, you look simply stunning." A familiar voice said from behind her.

Cordelia whipped around and gasped at the sight before her. Her father stood in the doorway, dressed in a tuxedo, and was smiling widely at her.

"Father." Cordelia breathed as she hurried over and embraced him. "What are you doing here?"

"I wished to surprise you. Charlotte Fairchild released me from Idris this morning." Her father smiled down at her as they pulled away from each other. "I wanted to be the one to walk you down the aisle."

Cordelia beamed at him and felt much of her distress wash away at the sight of her father. It had been originally planned that Alastair would walk her down the aisle but Cordelia was ecstatic that her father would be here to do it. She had been upset over the fact that he was going to miss her wedding, even if it was not real. Cordelia studied her father; he looked much more healthy than the last time she had seen him.