Daughter of the Waves

Promises

My father awoke refreshed and happy, knowing it was his wedding day. He was given breakfast by a young faery who introduced herself as Aine. Aalith and Eilish were nowhere to be seen. When he asked where they were, Aine said "Your bride wishes to observe the human custom of not being seen by her groom until the moment of the ceremony, and Eilish is helping her prepare. You will also be given some suitable clothing ( here Aine looked him up and down and wrinkled her nose just slightly ) for the wedding as soon as breakfast is over."

Aine was right. As soon as breakfast was over he was whisked away by a coterie of young faeries to pick out a suit of clothing. Not being one for finery, or used to dressing up, this took some time, but he finally chose a suit of blue made of fine linen that the flirtatious young faeries told him set his eyes of beautifully. By the time it was over he was blushing furiously. 

There was plenty of time before the ceremony so my father asked to be shown around more of the faerie's dwelling. Aine readily obliged. He saw many things that delighted him, especially a room full of musical instruments, the quality of which he had never seen before, and some that he was unfamiliar with. He resolved then and there to ask if they could all stay on for a time so that he could practice using some of these instruments. After all, newlyweds needed a honeymoon, and he could not afford to give Aalith one after his purchase of the horse.

Finally Aalith and Eilish was ready and all the other preparations such as garlands wound around the pillars in the great hall where the wedding was to take place, were completed, and the wedding was about to begin. 

When Brendan entered the great hall it was thronged with faeries who all cheered when they saw him.  He stood nervously waiting for his bride for what seemed like hours but was in reality only a few minutes. 

When Aalith finally appeared she looked truly breath taking. He had always thought she couldn't get more beautiful, but clearly he had been wrong. She had a crown of spring flowers in her hair, which was loose and flowing like a dark river down her back, and she was wearing a sumptuous gown of rose coloured velvet, which set off her complexion beautifully. The thing that captivated Brendan the most though, was that the sickness that had been plaguing her during the pregnancy seemed to have vanished, and she glowed with a radiance that came from within and lit up the whole of the great hall - or so it seemed to Brendan. He simultaneously swelled with pride and felt a great shyness. Was this radiant goddess really going to be his bride? He was not sure he was worthy. 

As soon as Aalith reached the end of the great hall to stand beside him, she took his hand and squeezed it comfortingly, her eyes smiling happily.   "You look scared to death - don't worry, under all this finery it's still just me!" she reassured him. 

When he could take his eyes off his bride, he finally looked at Eilish, who looked years younger, and lovely in a gown of midnight blue. 

Finally the faerie queen took her place at the dais, and cleared her throat for silence. A great hush fell over the gathering and she began to speak. 

"Friends, we are gathered here to celebrate a very special occasion. The joining in marriage of human and faerie. Brendan and Aalith of the Seal Folk have come here to pledge their troth to one another. Such a happening is rare, and we, who are the friend of lovers, are overjoyed to be a part of it. "

"Brendan, do you promise to respect and cherish Aalith for as long as love lasts, which, with the help of the goddess, will be the rest of your life?"

"I do so promise." Brendan's voice rang with clarity in the silence of the great hall. 

The fey queen turned to Aalith and asked the same question, to which Aalith replied without hesitation "I do so promise."

Just then Eilish produced two gold rings, clearly of fey workmanship. Brendan's ring was cunningly wrought with celtic patterns, and Aalith's beautifully inlaid with shells and other sea motifs. Brendan was overwhelmed with the generosity of their newfound fey friends, and said so. 

"No need to thank us, just be happy and fruitful in your lives together." Replied the queen.

They placed the rings on one another's fingers and the ceremony was done, with the queen pronouncing them husband and wife. 

"Is there anything the two of you would like to say to one another in your own words?" Asked the queen. 

Brendan spoke up "I would." He turned to Aalith and grasping her hand and clearing his throat, said what was in his heart. 

"My love, even though I fell in love with you at first sight, I know you did not think much of me when we first met. Understandable, since I stole your skin and prevented you from returning to the sea. It is the greatest wonder of my life that you grew to love me despite my mistakes. Having you as my wife and the mother of my child makes me the proudest man in the world."

Blinking back tears, and too overcome to speak, Aalith through herself into Brendan's arms and kissed him thoroughly, at which a great cheer went up from the assembled faerie throng. 

After that they drank and feasted long into the night, and all went to bed tired and very happy. 

"