The Day
An Alden and Della Fanfiction
-Prologue-
Two hundred fifty-six years ago
Alden Vacker sat down at his desk in the old Vacker Mansion, better known as Everglen. He looked at the plain, boring, gray wall. He would renovate this place one day. Maybe add an aquarium and huge observatory window. Yeah.. and maybe some bookshelves and scrolls. When he settled down and put his career on a hold for a short time. Maybe fifty years?
He looked at his Imparter for any upcoming appointments or scheduled meets, except one. He checked the time. Five-ten in the morning. Time to head out, to the dreaded, cement-block appointment. The Matchmakers, in Atlantis. Alden shuddered.
Della, in her beauty, walked down Mysterium’s small main walkway. She passed the other elves in no capes, all dark colors. Dull eyes followed her, all shades of blue from almost-white to midnight black. Her bright cobalt eyes seemed like spotlights - anything she looked at, they looked at. Her hair stole all the light and shone like melted chocolate. Her skin was immaculate and required no makeup. This was Della, after all. Della the Beauty.
She, though, as it may have not seemed, was part of them. No capes, dark colors. But sadly, her body and face would not allow that. She had to stand out, even against her will.
Della entered a marbled building with a sigh. Back to work, sewing jewels onto capes and wishing to wear one.
Alden entered the building of intertwining DNA strands in an M. The Matchmakers. The Place. He shuddered, from pure nerves. But the gelled hair did not move. The suit did not fall. The shoes didn’t stumble. He sat in one of the glass thrones, next to a woman of his age, maybe one-hundred-fifty or so. Still young.
Her raven hair fell in caresses to her hips, broken out glossily with caramel highlights. Her eyes looked around, still brightly. Her pink dress was fitted perfectly and the broach was pure rose, white, and original gold with diamonds. The cape sat straight over her lap and she was checking her reflection in a pocket-mirror from her diamond purse. Rose lips pursed against stark pale skin, she finger-combed invisible tangles.
Alden cleared his throat. He hasn’t spoken since.. when?
“So, are you here for Matchmaking as well - oh. My. Goodness. You’re Alden! Alden Vacker!” The woman had beaten him to it. With some exclamations that could’ve stayed in her throat and not in the air. With his teal eyes and almost black hair, slicked to perfection, and pale skin, he might as well as been wearing a neon sign saying, “I AM A VACKER!”
“I - uh - no need for the saying. Yes, I am here for Matchmaking. Yes, I am Alden Vacker. And who are you?” He couldn’t keep his eyes off of her. She seemed like a Beguiler, or maybe a Polyglot. Something with voices, because hers rang like wind chimes from a chapel on a sunny, warm, Sunday.
“Oh. My. Self. I need to tell Acelina! Alden Vacker asked for my name, ohh!” She righted herself after the mini-rant and cleared her throat. “I’m Alina.” Alden could hear her musical chimes ring, bouncing again and again through his head. It was fogged before, but her voice cleared it all out. He thought she was the one, but little did he know…
...little does he know, Alina thought to herself. She was gently adding layers of her ability to her voice, capturing him. Yes, most thought Beguilers could only add and manipulate to thoughts, but they also had a second side - almost like a Mesmer. They could “capture” a person, making their voices shine and sing. Alina loved that ability’s side, and she used it right then and there to steal Alden. She thought it all out. Alina Vacker! Alina, the wife of Alden Vacker! Living in Everglen, looking out the windows to see lakes and moonlarks.
She sighed dreamily and kept chatting with Alden.
“So, Alina. Aren’t you Master Alina, at Foxfire? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be called Dame Alina?” She heard him say her name. It was working! One of the signs of the “capture” working was the victim repeating the Beguiler’s name. It showed interest, and as in the name, capture. To him, her name was the name of angels, sang in the heavens. When he said it, to him it seemed like he was being saved.
“Oh, yes, I am going to try to become Dame Alina one of these centuries. Giving it time, though, can’t rush too quickly!” Alina smiled selfishly, but to him it was radiant. She added in a small, two-second chuckle. No more than two seconds, or else they’ll fall too much and you’ve broken Beguiler rules. Can’t be Lady Alina Vacker in prison, it’ll ruin her reputation. And her hair. She loved her hair almost as much as Lady Galvin loved her capes.
This Alina seemed as though she floated from the heavens. Her mouth glowed and her appearance seemed fake, she was so perfect. Almost too perfect. His smile froze and laughter was cut short.
“What ability are you? Everyone knows I’m a Telepath.” He gave it a chuckle. Mirroring in a conversation. Good tips if you want to seem dominant.
“Oh.” Alina was caught off guard - good. “I’m a Beguiler.” Alden prayed to have someone come and pick him up. They were answered.
“Alden... Vacker? Yes, Alden Vacker. We’re here to pick you up.” An elf of questionable age, just not Ancient, came. “I’m Calix, come with me.” Alden bid a quiet farewell to the Beguiling woman Alina and walked down the glass stairs to meet Calix. They walked wordlessly down the halls, through a maze that Calix knows well. They came to a door marked with the ancient rune for “V” and through that door, more halls. And more doors.
Finally, they reached his Matchmaking room and Alden sat uncomfortably across Calix and someone of the name, Tiergan. Alden made some small talk.
“So! Do you guys like your jobs? Being a Noble is okay.”
The man as Tiergan shook his head. His eyes traced everything.
“No. I hate this job. I’m considering becoming a tutor or mentor at Foxfire after this.” Alden nodded. Good pays. Calix didn’t say anything, he was setting up the screens only they could see - and by “they,” it was just Tiergan and Calix.
“Okay! All set up! Here are some questions. Family name?”
“Vacker.”
“Biological parents, or just your parents?”
“Adolphus and Brienne Vacker.”
“Place of birth?”
“Um…” Alden had to remember. He hadn’t thought about his infanthood for years until now. Oh! Eternalia! “Eternalia, the hospital next to... errr…”
“It’s alright. We’ll just confront your records. House of youth?”
“Everglen.”
Calix chuckled.
“Of course, it was Everglen, you dolt!” Tiergan snapped. Calix gave him a hurt look. Alden just sat there. Calix covered up
his anger and embarrassment by logging in Alden’s DNA and information. The screens made their skin glow green. Good sign. No beeps and no red. ALDEN VACKER MATCHABLE, they said. Great!
“Your packets will be ready tomorrow. Stop by or send a butler! Have a great day, Lord Vacker!” Calix and Tiergan said. I wonder if they’ll start using AI’s instead of people, Alden thought. He could get it done.
You’re maybe wondering, what was Della doing while Alden was waiting for hours and awkwardly sharing stories with the lady Alina? Well, it was just gem-sewing, as mentioned earlier. Of course. Della was heading home, but she needed to make a quick errand through Atlantis before heading home. And that shop just happened to be next to the Matchmaker’s, where Alden was leaving.
Della was rushing, running in five-inch heels past the nobles in her dark colors and their capes she wished she had. The store was owned by her friend, Edaline, who was soon to become a Ruewen. Tomorrow or next Tuesday? Ask afterwards.
The store, in question, was almost like a Sanctuary, but they took the dead animals and they made plaques about them. The bodies were cremated. Della had made a connection with a kelpie at the Sanctuary from one of her juvenile detention days (long story), and she heard the kelpie, Aria, had died.
Tinkl-ring! The bell went from the glass door. Edaline looked up from the quartz desk dotted with gold and smiled at Della sadly.
“Hello, my dear friend. I’m sorry about Aria. I had her urn and plaque made out of your favorite colors; the colors of Aria. Purple, teal, blue, and black. It’s on the house. The store is closing, and this is as much as I can do. I’m looking for some new owners.” Tinkl-ring! Someone else entered the shop, someone
Eda loved very much. Her fiancé, Grady. He straightened out his jerkin and ran in, hugging Della and then hugging Eda for longer, with a kiss on the cheek.
“How’s my Eda doing? How are you doing, Del? I hope you’ve registered, Alden Vacker just stepped out. Eda, excited for next week?” Grady smiled the smile that Eda enjoyed, the one with the twinkle in his eye. Della stepped out of the shop, Aria’s urn in her bag. She ran out, and looked just in time to see Alina run up to Alden. Della gave up. After all, why would a Prince Charming want her?
Giving one last attempt for Alden to notice her, she walked right in front of him, head low and giving some sniffs. Alden pushed Alina away. He walked towards the geysers and bubbles, just the direction Della was going. That was one plus.
“Are you okay?” Her attempt was going well, maybe too well? No, don’t give up! Register! She looked back and saw Alden looking at her with concern in his teal, teal eyes, bright as the sea. Della gave another pathetic sniff and tried to wipe away her mascara rings from crying.
“Yeah.. just a rough day. My friend is getting married next week, and all I’ve accomplished is pricking my thumb from sewing another emerald onto another cape Lady Galvin custom-ordered. Also -” She was cut off by Alden putting a hand on her shoulder.
“I’ve had a rough day too. Some mentor from Foxfire put a Beguiler capture on me and now she thinks I’m hers, and somehow I’ve scheduled a date with her? I guess we both got some messed-up worlds.” He laughed to himself. Della made up her mind. She’s going to register and pick up her packet.
“I - I’m Della… here’s my Imparter code if you want to talk sometime, I guess…” She shyly told him the code, confused by what her mouth was saying and what her vocal chords were
doing. Telling Alden Vacker her Imparter code for talking? Since when did she have a cliché life?
“Thanks! I’ll see you tomorrow, then. You’re registering, right?” Alden walked away before Della could realize he dropped his shield to hear what she was trying to transmit to him.
The Next Day
Della walked up the steps in her burgundy and navy blue dress, keeping her head low. She saw that one girl, the one that Alden was talking to. What was her name? Alina, or something of that sort. Right.
Alden was standing next to the gargantuan doorway of the Matchmaker’s, scanning the youthful faces for Della’s radiant, shy one. It was full of kindness, honesty, and purity, unlike Alina’s. Hers was full of cruelty, selfishness, and greed. And beauty, but it was vain.
He searched for the nice one, the quiet one, the true one, the happy one. The smart one, the witty one. He could see humor and smiling under those shy layers.
There she was. Just the thought of her made him smile, but seeing her made him almost collapse. Did he fall for pretty girls too easy? No, he didn’t think so. Alina used her “capture.”
He looked at the beauty soon to be his. His heart was beating too fast for him to record the pound, pound, pounding in his ears. His legs were melting like the pudding puffs he tried to make earlier. His eyes were brimming with tears - why was this happening? She’s barely more than a stranger, but a beautiful stranger at that. So beautiful. He thought she was more beautiful than that Edaline down the street, but he must not tell that to her fiancé. Never. That guy’s a Mesmer.
“Hi, Alden!” He heard that voice squeal. Not the soft bells of Della’s, but the edged, supposedly musical one of Alina’s… he ran for Della. Where is she? He bolted inside, searching for the cobalt eyes and dark waves. He ignored the sounds he made, from running to slamming to almost screaming, and at last he saw her in dark shades, in the corner. Next to the throne he sat in.
“Della!” He heard his voice boom through the almost-empty hall, like thunder. “Della. Della Della Della.” He said it quieter, but loud enough for her to hear as he jumped up the steps, and enfolded her body in his arms. He knew she was the one - Alina cheated. Della, the woman he was hugging, was the one.
Who was this woman? Who does she think she is, some Mysterium worker with no cape, to steal the man she wanted to marry, her future, her reputation and life of fame and looking out the window of lakes and moonlarks? Alina fumed silently, enough to wrinkle her dress. She was that mad. Mad enough to ignore her physical appearance.
She saw this woman be held in her Alden’s arms, smile up at him after the very lengthy hug. She watched him hold her hand and walk down the stairs to the hall of Reception to get their packets. They looked at their first page of names. And they looked up, said the names they saw, and hugged.
Alina left the building.
She saw her future collapse.
And that’s when she vowed to try and win him back.
But if they got married and she didn’t get him, then she’d become a Councillor or a maiden. Easy as that. But she’d try very hard. Very.
(end of chapter one)
-Chapter One-
Before the Wedding
One Year Later
Della took a deep breath in, and a deep breath out. She looked at her friends, Juline and Lady Edaline. Lady Gisela said - Stop thinking in Noble titles! You’re going to be Noble tomorrow and for eternity! She scolded herself. Anyways. Lady Gisela didn’t come for the mini-party because she didn’t want to be seen with two non-Nobles, even though one was going to marry the latest Vacker in line. Della did understand, though, that Gisela wouldn’t want to be seen with a Bad Match, even though they were just dating. But, then again, Gisela is a stuck-up.
“Girls, we’re going to have a fun night tonight! Full of lushberry wine, dresses, and games. Time to start. Jules, you’re going first. Try on the bridesmaid’s dress. The rose-gold one. It’ll be sure to compliment those eyes and that hair.” Juline was still more worn than Edaline, even though she hadn’t had the triplets yet. It was all because of Kesler, but she loved him for him and not genetics. Bad Matches put stress on everyone.
“Sure! Let me find it in this pile of frills..” Juline turned to the mountain of dresses, from navy blue to carnation pink, from silk to velvet. She dived in after putting her hair in a bun and pulled out all rose-gold dresses as if they were drowning children in the ocean of sharks. Heavy children. The dresses she found varied from sleeveless mermaid-style to tank top-strap deep v-necks with insane frills.
She tried on every one of them - and there were fifteen. Fifteen dresses. The ones that Jules didn’t like, or took off, Eda tried on. They were the same color, just different styles.
Edaline loved this night. It was so fun! Dresses were first.
She thought she looked best in a strapless dress with silk layers. The top was a soft baby pink, all plain, and the skirt was triple-layered. Each layer had varying degrees of rose-gold, from almost-white (can’t be white, it’s tradition to not wear white at a wedding) to dark burgundy. Eda loved it, so she stuck with that.
Juline thought the night was fun. In the dress time-period, she found a dress she liked. It was spaghetti-strap, with a velvet type of fabric. The long skirt had a slit up to the middle of her thigh, and the top was a soft u-neck that didn’t go too deep, unlike Eda’s.
Della’s wedding dress was off-the-shoulder and was a plain white. Over the entire dress, though, was a creme lace of flowers. It had a long mesh train that could be hooked up or taken off, especially when dancing came around. Even though she carried herself around with grace, her practice with capes and heels didn’t end too well. Oh, well. She’ll get it in the next hundred years. She loved hosting parties like these, even though she had only two bridesmaids. Her maid of honor was out for the night. It was her cousin, Tatiana.
Next up, after dresses, is sampling. Some might wonder why they are planning the major events of the wedding the day before, but they have an answer - it’s Vacker tradition to do so. The wife, or the one who is going to choose the dominant name, gets to choose the snacks and groomsmen/bridesmaids’ dresses.
“Okay, girls, now it’s samples. We have pudding puffs and mallowmelt flavors to be chosen. Also, some new roots have come in, and the gnomes are preparing it with some swizzlespice. It’s a new recipe. Now, let’s go!” Della grabbed one of Eda’s hands, and one of Jules’ and they went down to the kitchen, to greet the gnomes and taste their foods. Fun!
“Hello, Miss Della. Hello, Miss Juline. Hello, Lady Edaline. We have prepared the bulbaberry and black poppy seed cake, the karka nut cake, and the vegan cake for those who don't enjoy the use of milk or eggs from any of the animals. And then, of course, we have apple, cinnamon, and vanilla pudding puffs, which would taste like a human apple pie, without the toxic chemicals. You requested those for Quinlin, as I seem to remember. His wife, Livvy loves mood candies, so we have prepared a few pudding puffs with those ground up. They’re very special guests, as you all know.” This was the gnome Nora, the head chef of Everglen.
She enjoyed talking to the elves, as they were always kind and understanding, unlike some of the goofs in the kitchen, who barely understood anything more than two syllables. Dumb as a… well, anything not sentient. Without missing a beat, she continued talking and giving the tour of the kitchen. It was as big as an average human home. “Here are the teal flower teas and then the - oh.
“Can’t say, sorry! Lord Alden has prepared a surprise for you, I cannot spill the beans, as humans say, until the real wedding day has arrived.” Nora gave a sly chuckle and went back to work, humming to a black and white speckled stew with a flower inside of it. This was in the gnome language, of course, but Della knew enough of it to realize it had to do with eternal fall. Interesting. She’d look into it sometime. The girls left and played some games, having a fun night sampling the foods they took on a tray.
They fell asleep early.
Alden sat down in Havenfield’s living room with Grady Ruewen and Kesler Dizznee. For them, Grady and Kesler had to try on the groomsmen suits. Since they didn’t have wide wardrobes, unlike the ladies, they only varied from blue to dark
red. Grady settled on a simple light blue suit in traditional sports-jacket and vest, and since groomsmen had to match (tradition, again), Kesler chose a copy. Alden hoped his future sons would have better taste in clothes. The best man was Alden’s younger brother, Cisco, and he was out in his house with their parents, planning some other things that had to do with the ring pillows and such.
Since that was over too quick, and they didn’t get to taste any foods, the next thing on the list was choosing music. They flipped through many albums of nature’s sounds of waterfalls and birds, by the Song families, but then found Della’s favorite album of night songs. It had true instruments, like reed pipes, and the sounds of the creeks, twinkling of the stars, whispers of the grass, and workings of the ants. They were surreal but real sounds, and Della loved it for everything. Alden chose that song for their first dance.
After that, it was time to pull pranks. Since Alden was going to be married and that meant it was time to follow the rules, he wanted one last night of freedom.
First off, Sir Leto. He was trying to become Master Leto of the Silver Tower at Foxfire, and Alden thought… well, no. The Della in his mind reminded him not to do it. Alina might be there. She’s been ambushing him since their disastrous first and only date; the day after the three of them got their packets. It ended with Alina Beguiling and “capturing” him on full blast, Trying to convince Alden with her soothing tones that he could try and marry her instead of Della.
She got detained and had restraining orders from him.
Alden didn’t know what to do. Usually it was Della or Edaline that did all of the planning. Della had done Eda’s and Grady’s wedding, for the Council’s sake! Sitting back down with a sigh, he closed his eyes. Maybe he could come up with something last minute for her… his eyes snapped open.
“Grady! Kesler! Blue ice sculptures are still available, right? In cobalt blue and teal?” Alden said with an edge that was soft and harsh at the same time, in a way that made even Grady look up from his nap.
“Hmm?” He murmured. “Cobalt blue and teal ice sculptures? You have everything at Everglen. Why don’t you call the gnomes?” Grady fell back asleep. To him, party-planning and suit-trying was very boring and tiring. Kesler looked up from the mallowmelt he was eating. Swallowing his last bites, he mentioned something about doing a sculpture of Della and Alden, and then started eating some more. As a non-Noble, he couldn’t get them all the time.
Alden called the gnomes at Everglen. Nora, the head gnome, answered. “Yes, Lord Alden? Is everything all right? I can locate Flori if you need her. I’ll do it right away.” Alden shook his head and requested his surprise for Della. She nodded. “I’ll do it right away. Thank you for giving me something to do besides laundry, setting things up, and cooking. It’s boring, I needed something more fun to do - not that I don’t despise it,” she added, seeing Alden’s comforting expression. He always felt bad if the gnomes felt like they were bored.
“Thank you, Nora. I won’t forget this. I’ll tell your sister here at Havenfield. She’d be delighted to hear you got the special surprise job for the wedding. Thank you again.” Alden smiled and cut off the connection. They’ve already sent out their invitations, but Alden kept a few. He loved looking at them. Alden enjoyed seeing the loops and curves of Della’s name, the edges of his.
You Have Been Cordially Invited
To The Wedding of
Della Antonia Callista
and
Alden Brenner Vacker
On the Fourth of September,
Seventeen Sixty-Five
From Nine a.m.
to
Nine p.m.
He sighed. Tomorrow will be perfect.
(end of chapter two)
-Chapter Two-
The Day
Two hundred ninety-four years ago
Brienne Vacker looked at her young son, in his golden uniform, the night before it would no longer have a use.
“You’re going to make it big one day, Alden. You’re going to be famous and have the most beautiful wife. You’re going to own the home you’ve lived in forever, and keep it in the family. Cisco might have to find his own house - but you’ll let him in through time of trouble though, right?” Her voice was shimmered in this memory. Her laugh was warbled, as if this was all underwater. Young Alden smiled and laughed with his mother. He nodded and promised to let Cisco in, marry a beautiful woman, and keep Everglen.
Time to find the beautiful woman.
Today, he was marrying the beautiful woman.
One hundred fifty years ago
Matthan Callista put his gentle hands on his daughter’s shoulders. He couldn’t believe this beauty was his. He loved her dearly.
“I love you, Della, you know that, right?” He paused for his daughter to nod. She smoothed out her golden uniform. Even though her mother was in the Nobility, she didn’t inherit the title. Matthan continued. “You’re going to marry one lucky guy. He’s going to be so happy he found you.” Della smiled shyly. How? Not every life is a fairy tale, but she’d have to see. “You’re going to let everyone in need into your home. You’re going to love everyone. Got that? No one likes a pretty mean lady. Heck, even if this stranger is a practical human, let them in.” Della nodded along. First off, though, she’d need to meet her lucky guy.
Today, she was marrying her lucky guy.
The wedding had started. Snacks have been eaten, and now it was time to watch the beautiful woman walk down the white rose-petaled aisle. The place of happiness was outside, on a light autumn day. It was a grove of trees and the grass was still green. The arch was woven with petals of every color they could see, and the audience wasn’t split by groom and bride - it was a mix, for they were two happy families coming together.
Alden fidgeted nervously. He wondered how nervous Della had been earlier.
Two Hours Earlier
Edaline messed with Della’s deep, glowing waves, seeing it in a bun, then a braid, then a crown, even a ponytail. She thought it was best in a style that wasn’t too common.
There was a small bun at the top, dotted with baby’s breath flowers. The rest of her hair was down and brushed so many times, even Eda lost count.
“Della, you look stunning.” Edaline grinned, messing with the first skirt of her dress. Her hair was in a braid, tied with a bright pink ribbon.
“No, you. Your makeup is on point and your dress is stainless and beautiful.” Della returned the compliment to Eda. She wrung her hands worrifully, ruining the manicure from that morning. Whatever. Two hours until showtime. She gulped loudly.
“Girls, you’re both beautiful.” Juline came up, in her dress. Her hair was loose, down her shoulders, and she hid the bags under her eyes with some swipes of concealer. “I’m the mess here. Definitely.”
“No!” Della and Eda snapped, in unison. “How about, we’re all beautiful,” Eda said, smiling. “There. And Della, you have nothing to worry about! It will go perfectly.”
Alina paced outside of Everglen. She was hiding next to that one random shack next to the grove of trees. Okay, her plan. It was to basically “capture” and Beguile Alden back into her grasp, into her love. Where his love belonged, not with the lady Della.
She righted her dress - white, to her knees. It was simple - just a loose silk cutout was a basic description, but she was able to look stunning in it with the full force of makeup and some jewelry. She looked in her compact mirror, wiping away some drops of mascara and lipstick. It was ten o’clock. The bride’s march. Showtime. She started walking, in a ladylike fashion, to the place.
Della gripped her bouquet of autumn-themed flowers, from blush to blue. She came out through the back doors of Everglen and started to walk down the aisle.
Alina peered out from a bush. That witch was walking out of the doors. Now all she has to do is wait for her to just get right next to the arch.
Della focused on the small flower girl before her. It was her niece Agnes, who was only four. She had dirty blonde hair in waves and her blue eyes were bright as the sky. She had a daisy flower crown and a pink dress with a big tutu - her request. She was adorable. She threw blush-colored petals left and right, and ran out of the petals by the second row. She looked apologetically back at Della, and ran up to her mother in the front row.
Della had reached the very front row of chairs, and then someone leaped from the bushes. It was that Alina!
Alina saw Della reach the first row of chairs. Time to strike. She came out in what she thought was a graceful leap, but to the crowd it was an unceremonious stumble.
“Alden!” She screeches. “Are you sure you want to marry Della?” She added two layers to that sentence, and doubled it every sentence. “I know you love me. I love you. Do you really love Della? Does Della really love you?” A Beguiled voice sounds musical, but it also has harmony - there’s a bass tone to it, with a flute-like high pitch. “Do you want to commit your next era to this woman, when you could have me?”
She saw Alden turn around and take one timid step to her. She thought she was winning, but the step was to have himself heard to her.
“I don’t want you. I am marrying Della. The. End.” He ended it with a glare and turned back around. “Della, come, honey. Are you ready?” But Della looked confused, muddled.
“I… is she right? Do I love you?” Della looked at Alden with a crease between her perfect brows. Oh, no. Alina wanted Alden, not a confused Della. Although, either way, it would end with them apart. Alina smiled. Perfect.
“Do you love him, Della? Really, do you? Does Alden love you?” Alina was Beguiling so much it put a pure spell on her voice.
“Alden, do you love me?” Della was trying to fight it, badly. But really, these thoughts were worming in. But only one thing could clear it out or make her break. Alden’s word.
“Della, my love, we all love you. I love you most and dearly. I would never force a relationship, unlike some people.” Alden rushed to Della’s side as he said this and was just pouring out pure venom and hate in his expression to Alina. Stay away from my future wife, it said. She is mine, I am hers.
Nothing could separate Della and Alden now. She was too late. Alina sighed in defeat.
“Yes, You both love each other. I shall go now. I’ve made nothing but a fool out of myself today. Farewell. Be happy.” Alina walked away with shoulders slouched, all energy gone. She lifted up her home crystal and light leaped away… or so they thought. No, she did. Alina gave up easy when she realized her goal was so stupid now that she had done it.
“Della do you take this man as your lawfully wedded husband for as long as you live?”
“I do.” Alden had never thought, in his hundreds of years, he would hear the most beautiful voice say that, for him.
“And Alden, do you take this woman as your lawfully wedded wife for as long as you live?”
“I do.” Alden was overjoyed to hear himself say it.
“You may now, kiss the bride!”
Della joyfully flung her arms around him, kissing him square on the mouth. He laughed and put his arms around her, kissing back. He could hear Eda and Jules squealing and laughing from the sides. He wanted never to let go, wanted to hold his beautiful, amazing Della forever. Eventually, she pulled back and laughed her silvery laugh,
“Alden! Let me breathe!” she said.
“I shall let the Lady Della breathe,” he said. “My Lady Della.”
Then, it was time for dancing. Della unhooked her train and leapt onto the wooden platform, better known as the dance floor. But in the middle of the almost acre-large floor, there was a pedestal with a sheet over it.
“Alden,” Della chuckled, “is this a surprise for me?” She tugged on his sleeve and pointed to the sheet. Alden looked down at her - they were inches apart in height - and he smiled.
“Yes. And I think, now is the time.” He turned to the gnomes in the flower bushes. “Do you mind unveiling the statues?”
Statues? Della thought. The gnomes hopped-to and they took off the sheet. It was beautiful!
It was the scene of their first hug. Not with the matching packets in their hands, it was next to the glass thrones.
One figure was cobalt-colored ice, and it was her. In her dull dress and no cape.
The other was teal-colored ice, and it was Alden. In his cape and suit.
They were hugging, and it was so lifelike it was like seeing a colored shadow of her.
Della turned to Alden.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her throat closing, tears welling in her eyes.
“No, thank you.” he whispered back, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. He turned to the crowd. “Now, let us dance!” He shouted, clasping Della’s hand. “Now, let us dance,” he said, softer, to his new wife.
“Yes, let us dance.” She repeated. It was a happy day, bright in the noon sun and listening to the music of nature, laughter of families, and the stomping of feet.
One Hour Later
“Time for cake!” Alden announced, out of breath from dancing. “Time to actually have some lunch,” he added, clarifying the cake statement. “Let’s get over to the buffet section.”
They ate and laughed, talked and smiled. It was a great day.
9 o’clock, p.m.
Della sat down on one of Everglen’s sprawling couches, kicking off her white flats. Alden sat down next to her, hugging her and holding her close. He kissed her on the cheek.
“I love you, wife.” He chuckled.
“And I you, husband.” They no longer called each other fiancée and fiancé. It is now, wife and husband. Forever, happily ever after. Happily, happily. Amazing. Della kissed her husband for the umpteenth time today, still cherishing the memory and feel. His lips against hers. Sweeter than a caramel and dark chocolate pudding puff (which can give you a sugar rush for hours, but back to the story).
It was a happy ending.
I hope you guys like this. It'd take me a very, very, long time to edit all of the thoughts into Italics, though, so just imagine them in that way. Anyways, stay safe, wash your hands, wear your masks, and eat your Mallowmelt!
-CustardBursting