Heart Over Sword-Chapter 300: Wedding of the Century (1)

In the heart of the Florian palace, guests were being seated, the crowded room echoing with the mull of voices, each conversation blending into a harmony of excited discussion. The Princess of Dunhurst, now fully known to the Flori, was marrying their cold-hearted, icy prince, Arawn Elion. After Evanna’s first introduction, sitting with the king and prince before her daring escape, the nobles were left speechless and excited to discover their prince had finally chosen a wife.

It was indeed a time for celebration, even if the prince was marrying a human. However, that was now indeed questionable with the turn-out of the wedding guest registry. An elven lady of grace and beauty sat on the bride’s side of the aisle; it took guests a moment to converse with each other and discover who she was. Many gaped and gasped upon realising who sat among them- the missing Princess of Lyvaria.

More shock confounded those in attendance when the king and Queen of Lyvaria turned up. Walking down the aisle in all their radiant and cold brilliance, King Nuvian shimmered under the array of colours from the atrium windows, his wings neatly behind him, shooting rainbows of colours beyond him, his golden hair in like a stream of heated gold like a river down his chest. The Queen, Iolena, by his side, was an ethereal being in her own right, the frozen blue revealing the snow-white skin and striking black locks and green eyes. Now, with the Queen in attendance, those who had already met Evanna were now utterly aware of the significant familiarity between the Queen and Princess of Lyvaria. Their minds spun, weaving tales that would soon come to light once they took their seats, revealing their importance to the couple who had yet to arrive.

Hushed whispers rose when Princess Loraven stood from her seat, the cream and gold of her dress setting her deep hazel gaze alight as she looked to Nuvian and Iolena. It had been years since they set their gaze upon each other; their backs were stiff, the tension in the air raw and thick. Those watching held their breaths, even though they didn’t understand the reasoning for the thick tension between the parents and daughter.

"Loraven," Nuvian greeted first. The Queen brushed past her, her shoulder as icy as her gaze. Yet the king welcomed Loraven into a hug. Loraven accepted, though her shoulders were tense.

"King Nuvian," she said stiffly.

"Please." Nuvian pulled back and smiled at her. A smile that caused some of the noble ladies to swoon and sigh over. "I am your father. Why are you so formal?"

"You lost your right to be called father when you cut ties with me as your daughter," Loraven replied, her eyes hardening, her chest tightening. Her relationship with Nuvian had been growing when Iolena only spoke to her about missions. When she eloped with Selvin, they cut all contact with her and disowned her.

Nuvian’s smile lost its sparkle, but he nodded in understanding. Though Loraven was sure, he didn’t completely understand. They were cruel beings, after all; how could they understand unconditional love?

"My apology will not make up for the years we lost. But I will not waste any more time with my granddaughter. We will be on good terms for Evanna," he stated, holding her gaze until she nodded quietly.

Those nearby heard Nuvian’s words, and rumours circulated quickly. This wasn’t just a union between Dunhurst and the Flori, but Lyvaria, too.

Princess Evanna Goodrich was going to bring a new era from her marriage to Prince Arawn Elion. Loraven slowly sat as she heard the whispers, and her eyes misted once more, her thoughts going to Selvin and how their union was meant to start exactly what her daughter and Arawn were about to do. This would boost better relations between the humans and elves, mostly the Dunhurst kingdom, but it was a start.

Loraven’s eyes moved ahead, past the priestess waiting in front of the multitude of colours in the glass. They were in a vibrant woodland atrium adorned with a palette of hues. The towering, slender trees stand tall with luminescent leaves that shimmer in iridescent shades of emerald green, sapphire blue, and amethyst purple. The air is filled with a soft, ethereal glow as the sunlight filters through the foliage, casting a warm, golden radiance on the moss-covered ground below.

Flowers in every imaginable shade burst into bloom, creating a kaleidoscope of beauty. Elaborate vines adorned with blossoms in hues of coral, ruby red, and sun-kissed orange weave gracefully around the tree trunks, forming natural archways to the missing ceiling above- a known architecture choice in the Florian palace.

Gentle streams wind their way through the atrium, their waters reflecting the vibrant colours of the surroundings. Crystal-clear pools sparkle with the hues of a thousand gemstones while magical fireflies flit about, leaving trails of shimmering light in their wake.

It was beautiful and perfect for her daughter’s wedding. She would put up with her parents, as she was sure Evanna also did. More murmurs rose in volume, and Loraven turned her head, a small smile gracing her lips when she saw King Thalinal. He never accepted her relationship with Selvin; he didn’t like the idea of uniting with the humans, yet he was here, accepting his son and her daughter’s union.

The king strode in, his royal visage striking, the thorny crown a stark contrast to his white hair. His icy features froze momentarily once he saw Loraven watching him; many years of friendship flashed between them. The king nodded once at her before taking his seat in the opposite row.

Loraven was grateful Thalinal even acknowledged her. Unlike with Nuvian and Iolena, there hadn’t been bad blood between herself and the king; there were merely disagreements. He made it abundantly clear when they did meet in Lyvaria that he disagreed with her relationship with a human, but it had more to do with the cultural differences and issues she would face in Dunhurst- issues she did face, and without Selvin.

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