Page 54 of The Dark Elf's Secret Baby
As long as I have Layla by my side, nothing else matters. The king can suck an egg for all I care. I know I’m taking a risk doing this but I think it’s absurd that human-dark elf relationships are so looked down upon.
Layla means the world to me, just as much as Ursalah means to Salnath. It seems stupid that one is highly valued while the other is seen as unworthy.
I was also mainly worried that my family would be unable to accept Layla and Jasper. It weighed on me that I might be putting them in danger, even though I vowed to protect them.
But mother was, as I predicted, overjoyed and thrilled that I found a mate and that I had a son with her. She adores Jasper and loves Layla like a daughter already.
And I think Salnath and mother worked on father because he’s actually been cordial, even nice to them lately.
Jasper is thrilled to have an aunt and uncle with Salnath and Ursalah. They’ve spoiled him with toys and presents and he even has a room in their house when he visits.
The planning for the mating ceremony seems to fly by. I have Layla’s Aunt Leandra and Uncle Jethro brought in from Tlouz, along with Amara. They agree that they want to live in Vhoig and are excited that they will be able to live a more comfortable life here and for the chance to see Layla every day.
Harper and Adelaide are also brought over for the mating ceremony. Layla asks Harper, Amara and Ursalah to be her bridesmaids and the three of them help her get ready on the day of our ceremony.
It’s going to be held at the temple for the Hearth Keeper, per my mother’s wishes. Layla and I are still not particularly devoted to the gods but I know that disobeying my mother is out of the question.
One of the temple priests is performing the ceremony. I arrive before Layla and walk in with my father, glancing around to see everything set up already. It’s quite beautiful, filled with chairs for plenty of family and friends to come witness the ceremony.
There are flowers and decorations everywhere, all done in shades of greens and browns with touches of purple. Jasper is escorted in by Salnath, holding on tightly to a little green, brown and purple box that contains our rings.
He’s going to hand each of us our rings when it’s time.
“Don’t be nervous Daddy,” Jasper stage-whispers to me when he stands next to me. “Mama is excited to mate wif you!”
A chuckle reverberates around the room at that. I straighten my ascot and wait for the bride to make her entrance.
Layla’s three bridesmaids file in, each wearing a beautiful green dress with a purple flower in their hair.
The music swells and I watch Layla enter, gasping at the sight of her. She looks radiant, practically like a goddess in her white dress. It’s got long, lace sleeves and is made of lots of flimsy layers of silks and there’s a pretty beaded belt around her waist. She looks so good that I start crying. I can’t believe I get to mate with this gorgeous woman.
Her hair is done up fancy too. It’s pinned up on one side with a large purple flowery clip and the curls rest over one shoulder. I think she looks more beautiful than anyone else in the world right now.
She walks towards me and stands with me, the two of us holding hands and facing the priest.
The priest smiles. “We will light a ceremonial candle to the Hearth Keeper,” he says, holding out a smaller candle to each of us.
Together we each light the larger candle, which will burn throughout the ceremony.
“Now, please recite your vows to each other,” he says.
I take a deep breath. “Beloved, I seek to know of you, and I ask of The Thirteen that I be given the wisdom to see you as you are, and love you as a mystery,” I say to her. She smiles before repeating the words I spoke.
“Now please give each other your solemn pledges,” the priest asks.
“I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care,” Layla recites, a soft expression on her face. I repeat her words this time, then together we finish.
“You cannot possess me for I belong to myself, but while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give.”
“Above you are the stars, and below you the earth. Like the stars, your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow,” the Priest says.
The last part of the ceremony is the exchanging of rings.
“Jasper,” Layla calls. He perks up and brings over the ring box.
“As a circle has no end, so my love for you has no end. I place this ring on your finger as a symbol of my unending love. May it bring you comfort all the days of your life,” I say as I slip the ring onto Layla’s finger.
She repeats it, taking my ring from Jasper, who hands it over with a solemnity that almost makes us laugh.