Huge thank you to @lady-therion for helping me edit this! She’s amazing just like her fics, and I don’t know what I would do without her and her kindness. Here’s her masterlist, I highly recommend you guys read her fics, you won’t regret it! Thank you again, Marie😊
Summary: The war has ended, and Rhys and Feyre are finally getting married. They spend the whole day apart, determined to abide by human tradition, but when Rhys suddenly winnows to Feyre minutes before the ceremony, he comes with a surprise, and a question.
Words: 2,674
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To say the day had been stressful would be an understatement. When Rhys and I had begun our wedding planning, it was effortless. Unfortunately, the wedding day was everything but.
I had not seen Rhys all day. When I woke this morning the bed was cold and empty, the bond between us still and quiet. I could feel him, his presence on the other side. His love. So I knew that when I did see him, the wait would be worth it.
For the past four hours, I had done nothing but prepare for the ceremony. Mor tamed my hair herself, using her magic to braid and curl the entire length of it until she was satisfied I looked ‘like a goddess.’ And when she lined my eyes with kohl and painted my lips with rouge, I almost felt like one. Elain had winnowed to the Winter Court earlier, where the ceremony would take place, with Azriel so they could set up the flowers and the guest tables. I had no doubt that everything would look amazing.
Now Nuala and Cerridwen helped me into my wedding gown. Their quick and nimble fingers adjusting the straps and stays. I stood behind a curtain in one of the main suites at the House of Wind, Mor and Nesta on the other side. Unlike the travesty Ianthe had me wear, this gown was entirely of my own choosing. Its silken gray length fading to black at the hem, glittering with jewels as bright as stars. My arms were draped in sheer sleeves, leaving the tattoos on both my arms visible, so that everyone would see the High Lord’s claim on my heart—and mine on his.
“Come on, Feyre, we want to see!” Said Mor. From here, we would winnow to the Winter Court and wait until all of the guests were accounted for before starting the ceremony. Of course, I was to remain unseen according to human traditions.
“One second,” I muttered, holding the skirts up as Nuala helped me slip on my heels. She gave me a nod when she at last stood, followed by a grin as her and Cerridwen looked me up and down.
“You’re ready,” they murmured at the same time, their eyes gleaming with secret joy. I couldn’t keep the smile from forming on my lips as I turned around and pulled back the curtain to face my sister and truest friend.
Nesta stilled as she took me in—the dress, the hair that was neatly curled and draped over my shoulders while the top half was pinned back. Something like awe crossed her features. “You look beautiful,” she said, causing me to melt inside. Mor’s expression looked similar, only tears began to run down my friend’s face as she scanned me from head to toe.
“Feyre, you look—” she released a deep breath and wiped a few tears off of her cheeks. “You look amazing. Like a queen.”
My heart swelled at the compliment, and when my eyes landed on my sister, she was nodding her head in agreement, utterly speechless.
“Rhys won’t be able to keep his hands off you,” Mor teased, and the comment seemed to snap Nesta out of her thoughts long enough for her to elbow Mor in the side. My friend only winked which resulted in a scoff from Nesta, but as soon as my sister turned away she muttered, “Damn Illyrians can never control themselves around females they like.”
I rose a brow and crossed my arms. “Is that so?”
But the mere mention of Rhys made my body ache for his touch. My misadventure in the Spring Court made me realize that I never wanted to be separated from him for long. Mor snapped her fingers to get my attention, and she gave me soft smile, offering her hand to me. “Ready?”
My nerves were slowly building, but I nodded and grabbed her hand in my own, squeezing once. “I’m ready.”
Nesta took Mor’s other hand and held on tightly as shadows enveloped us until our surroundings disappeared. Seconds later, those shadows dissipated to reveal a room in what I assumed was the Winter Court palace. Flurries of snow gently fell outside, and the sun’s light brightened the large sitting room.
“Viviane should be here any—” Mor’s words were cut off by a loud squeal, and we all turned to see Viviane closing the large door at the entrance of the room and racing toward Mor to cage her in a hug. My friend immediately returned it, laughing when they pulled away.
Viviane’s eyes shifted to me, and she said, “Kallias has been with Rhys for most of the day. Your mate is very excited to marry you.”
My eyes burned at the thought of my mate, yet again, but I cleared my throat and opened my arms to the new High Lady of the Winter Court as she gave me a tight embrace. “Thank you,” I smiled, pulling away. “For letting us hold the ceremony in your Court.”
Viviane grinned and squeezed my hand. “I’m honored you chose my Court, and I’m looking forward to seeing the wedding. You and Rhys are perfect for each other.”
My cheeks heated, but Nesta shifted uncomfortably from her spot across the room. I rose a brow in question but there was a quick knock on the door, followed by Cassian’s muffled voice. “Are you ladies ready? We’re only waiting on a few more guests to show up.”
I looked back at Nesta and watched her bite her lip, as if she was nervous. I hadn’t seen her speak to Cassian since Hybern’s invasion, but I did not want to bring that up now. Mor reached for the door and opened it to reveal him in his finest armor which painted the perfect picture as the General Commander of the Night Court’s armies, his wings tucked in against his back, and his hair falling to the top of his shoulders.
My sister’s breath hitched, and his did the same when their eyes landed on each other. Nesta wore a grey bridesmaid dress, simple yet elegant, and her hair had been swept into a braided bun at the back of her head. She was the definition of devastating beauty.
Mor and I gave each other a confused look, but she quickly grabbed Viviane’s hand and walked past Cassian into the hallway. “We’ll see you down the aisle, Feyre!”
I chuckled and smoothed down the front of my dress as Nesta approached me, taking her eyes off of Cassian for a second. “You’ll be okay?”
I nodded, taking her hand and squeezing it. “I’ll be fine. Now go, before my maid of honor gets too impatient.”
Nesta’s eyes flashed with amusem*nt, but it was gone when she looked at Cassian again. I turned away from them to peer out the large window that looked out at a courtyard, but my ears stayed alert. Their steps were near silent as they exited the room, but before they closed the door, I heard Cassian murmur, “You look beautiful.”
The door clicked shut, and I swallowed, suddenly tense. The last time I had a wedding, it didn’t end well. I knew this time would be different for many reasons, one being that I was marrying my mate. This wedding would be a gift for both of us, a second chance.
After several minutes of waiting, shadows swarmed in the middle of the room, and I released a heavy sigh thinking Mor had finally come to retrieve me, but my breathing hitched when my mate stepped out of the shadows.
“Feyre,” he started, stepping forward as his eyes took me in. I was at a loss for words, for anything as we just stared at each other.
“Rhys, what are you—” He interrupted me before I could ask.
“I know, I know, the groom shouldn’t see the bride until the ceremony.” I nodded quickly, but he shook his head. He looked amazing in his dark velvet tunic, with silver threading that matched the design of his Illyrian tattoos, and his hair was slicked back neatly. All I wanted to do was kiss him and stay in this room for hours, but the wedding was minutes away, and he was here instead of at the altar.
“I was thinking a lot today about how much I want to marry you,” he murmured, stepping closer to take one of my hands in his. He must have sensed how nervous I was because he brought his other hand up to my cheek.
“I’m still going to marry you, Feyre darling, don’t worry about that.” I released a breathless chuckle, but I was still confused as to why he randomly showed up in this room now of all times.
“Feyre, you’re my life. You’re all I ever wanted and more, and the fact that I get to rule by your side amazes me to no end. You’ve helped me escape my nightmares, you’ve helped me find myself when I didn’t think I ever could, you’ve taught me how to feel loved.”
My eyes burned, and I tried to hold back tears as he continued.
“Life without you is a life I wouldn’t want to live. I can’t wait to spend eternity with you, to raise a family together and go on adventures. You make me the happiest male in the world, and I’m blessed to have you as my mate. You’re perfect.”
His own eyes were lined with silver, and I released a small breath when he reached into his tunic’s pocket and removed a small back box. His lips turned into that smirk I loved so much, and he took one of my hands in his again.
“It also occurred to me throughout the day that I have yet to actually propose to you, and since we’re getting married, I figured that should be pretty high on the priority list.”
He knelt on one knee in front of me, and I had to use all of my control to keep from losing it right then and there. I gave up on trying to hold in the tears, and I didn’t mind as I let them fall down my cheeks. I didn’t care about the dark kohl that lined my eyes either, not as my mate looked up at me with all the love in the world shining in his violet eyes.
“So, Feyre Archeron, my best friend, the love of my life, my High Lady, and my mate,” he released a small chuckle at all of the titles. “Will you make me even happier than I am right now, and marry me?”
At last, I released a sob, nodding my head frantically because I couldn’t form words. My mate rose from the floor and didn’t waste any time in bringing his lips to mine in a passionate kiss. His hand gently moved to the back of my neck, and I tasted salt from both of our tears as I grabbed onto the front of his tunic, pulling him impossibly closer.
“I love you,” I whispered when he pulled away for air. He leaned forward to wipe away my tears, and I smiled as I rested my forehead against his.
“As much as I’d love to drag this out forever,” he murmured with a wink, “I think Mor might kill me if I’m any later than I already am.”
I nodded in understanding, and he leaned down to press one more kiss to my lips before stepping out of my reach. He kept the ring with him since we would need it for the ceremony. His eyes locked with mine and he gave me that smug grin that always made my toes curl. “I’ll see you at the altar,” he said, before shadows surrounded him and he was gone.
I brought a hand up to cover my heart, still in shock of what had just happened. I began to laugh to myself, rushing to the mirror against the far wall to check my face. Thankfully, nothing looked smudged, and even though my cheeks were red, I was too happy to fix it.
There were loud footsteps outside the door before it swung open to reveal Nesta and Elain, both wearing their bridesmaid dresses and soft smiles. “Everyone’s ready.”
I nodded and stepped up to them, looping one arm around each of theirs as they led me down the hall and to the large door that would open to the ceremony. Elain leaned over to kiss my cheek, and I took a deep breath as the doors opened into the cool air and hundreds of seats.
When we stepped outside, everything around me blurred except Rhysand. He was holding back tears, I could tell, and I gave him a small smile as my sisters continued to lead the way down the aisle.
Out of the corner of my eye I could spot Viviane and Kallias, and a few seats from them sat Tarquin and his court. I was not nervous as I at last reached the altar and stepped up to face Rhys. His eyes were filled with emotions I had once thought I would never see.
I stayed calm throughout the ceremony, and when it came time to read my vows, I grinned and summoned some scraps of paper out of thin air. Rhys eyed them carefully, and when he saw the writing on them he released a breathless cry. My own eyes were filled with tears as I read off a few lines.
“Rhysand is the most handsome High Lord. Rhysand is the most delightful High Lord. Rhysand is the most cunning High Lord.”
My voice wavered as I read off the last sentence and looked up to my mate. He was trying not to sob in front of everyone, but his shoulders were shaking and he had a small smile on his lips.
“You taught me to read and write using those sentences, and at first I thought you were the biggest prick in all of Prythian because of it. Now, I know that all of those sentences were true.” There was a quiet laugh from the audience, and I reached forward to take Rhys’s hands in mine, the paper disappearing into thin air.
“You taught me so many things, Rhys, and I don’t know how I could ever thank you enough. You made me feel alive when I thought it wasn’t possible, and you made me feel worth something when I had lost all hope. If someone would have told me two years ago that I’d be marrying my mate, the High Lord of the Night Court, I would have laughed, because I had never imagined a life like this for myself. But this life is all I want, and as long as you’re with me, I’ll be the happiest female in all of Prythian.”
Tears escaped our eyes, and I stopped listening to everything else. Rhys said his vows, similar to what he had said when he proposed, but it still brought me to tears. We stared at each other and, finally, I said, “I do.”
Rhys smiled at me as he was asked if he would take me as his wife, and he murmured, “I do.”
The priestess running the ceremony closed the book in front of her and gently bowed at the waist. “May the mother guide you, watch over you, and keep you both. I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Rhys wasted no time in taking my face in his hands and pressing a hard kiss to my lips. My hands wove into his hair, and for a moment, I forgot about all of the cheers and laughs and smiles. I forgot about all of it except the feeling of my mate’s lips on mine. In that moment, I knew that I was the happiest female in Prythian history.
