The energy in the room shifted as the laughter and chatter began to quiet down. The moment had come: the gift exchange.
I had been anticipating this part of the evening, not because of what we might receive, but because it was a chance to see the love and effort everyone had put into celebrating our union. It was humbling and heartwarming to think about.
I stood beside Aeliana, her hand warm in mine, and glanced around the room. The decorations twinkled softly, the golden light of the chandeliers reflecting off the polished surfaces.
Aeliana looked radiant, her cheeks flushed from the dancing and laughter, her hair slightly tousled in a way that made my heart skip. She was holding onto me tightly, as if grounding herself in the moment.
"Ready?" I whispered, leaning in close enough for only her to hear.
She smiled up at me, her eyes sparkling. "As ready as I'll ever be."
I gave her a reassuring squeeze before turning to address the room. "Alright, everyone, it's time for the gift exchange! I hope you've all prepared something extraordinary because Aeliana and I have high standards," I joked, earning a round of laughter.
Leora stepped forward first, carrying a rectangular box wrapped in shimmering silver paper. She handed it to me with a dramatic flourish, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Open it together," she commanded.
I glanced at Aeliana, who gave a small shrug, and together, we carefully unwrapped the gift. Inside was a leather-bound book with the title The Culinary Chronicles of Leora embossed in gold.
Leora cleared her throat as I opened the first page, revealing handwritten recipes and notes. "This is my personal collection. Every recipe I've ever perfected. It's a family heirloom now, so don't lose it, Ciara. And for the love of all things holy, don't try to 'improve' them."
I laughed, touched by the gesture. "Leora, this is incredible. Thank you."
Aeliana ran her fingers over the delicate handwriting. "It's beautiful. I can't wait to try making these with you."
Leora raised an eyebrow. "Just don't let Ciara near the stove unsupervised."
The room erupted into laughter, and I shook my head, grinning. "I'll take that under advisement."
Next came Seraphine, who walked up holding a large, ornately wrapped box. "I didn't know what to get the woman who has everything, so I got you something practical."
We unwrapped the box to find... a set of matching armour pieces. Sleek and intricately detailed, they bore symbols of unity and protection etched into the metal.
"For when you inevitably get yourselves into trouble," she said, smirking.
"Very practical," I said, holding up one of the vambraces. "And stylish. Thank you, Sera."
"You'll look intimidating and fabulous," she replied with a wink, earning a chuckle from the crowd.
As the gifts continued, the mood remained light and joyful. Each present was unique and thoughtful—paintings, rare books, enchanted keepsakes, and even a handmade quilt from Riley, embroidered with symbols representing our journey together.
Then came Lily, bouncing forward with a small box in her hands. Her excitement was palpable, and Aeliana knelt to be at her eye level as she handed over the gift.
"It's for both of you!" Lily exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
We opened it to find two delicate bracelets, each adorned with tiny charms. The charms were miniature representations of things that mattered to us—a dragon for Ember, a book for Aeliana, a sword for me.
"I made them with help from Mum," Lily said proudly.
"They're perfect, Lily," Aeliana said, pulling her sister into a hug. "Thank you."
Lily beamed, and I couldn't resist ruffling her hair. "You're the best, kiddo."
Finally, it was time for Aeliana's parents to present their gift. Her father stepped forward, carrying a small chest. "This is a family tradition," he explained. "Every new couple in our family receives this on their wedding day."
We opened the chest together, revealing a set of intricately carved figurines made of wood and crystal. Each figure depicted a moment from Aeliana's life, from her childhood to now. At the very centre was a new addition—two figures standing together, clearly meant to be us.
"This is beautiful," Aeliana said, her voice thick with emotion.
"It represents your journey," her mother added. "And the beginning of this new chapter."
I placed a hand on Aeliana's back, offering silent support as tears glistened in her eyes. "Thank you," I said, my voice soft but sincere.
As the final gift was presented and the room filled with applause, I took a moment to look around at everyone gathered here.
Our family, our friends—they had all gone above and beyond to make this day special. It was overwhelming in the best possible way.
Aeliana leaned into me, her voice low as she murmured, "This was perfect."
I pressed a kiss to her temple, my heart full to bursting. "It's because you're here," I whispered back.
As the evening wound down, the warmth of the festivities began to settle into a soft hum of contentment. Aeliana and I had slipped into a quiet corner, away from the lingering guests who were busy chatting and laughing.
She rested her head against my shoulder, her fingers interlaced with mine, the bracelets Lily had gifted us glinting faintly in the low light.
"Today was perfect," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the gentle music still playing in the background.
I tilted my head to press a kiss to her hair. "It was. But it's not over yet."
She pulled back just enough to look at me, her eyes questioning and full of curiosity. "What do you mean?"
I grinned. "You'll see."
As the last of the guests began to trickle out, I caught Seraphine's eye and gave her a small nod.
She nodded back, clearly understanding that I wanted her to take charge of any remaining duties. She winked before turning to guide the stragglers to their carriages or rooms, freeing us from any further obligations for the night.
"Ready?" I asked Aeliana, standing and holding out my hand.
Her smile was soft but radiant as she placed her hand in mine. "Always."
We stepped outside into the cool night air, the stars twinkling above us like scattered diamonds. The castle was just a teleport away, but I wanted to stretch this moment out, to savour every second of our first night as wives.
"I thought we were going to the room," Aeliana teased, her tone light but laced with affection.
"We are," I replied, slipping an arm around her waist to pull her closer. "But I wanted a moment with you. Just us."
She leaned into me, her warmth a stark contrast to the crisp night air. "You're such a romantic when you want to be."
"Only for you," I said, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
The teleportation spell was quick, depositing us directly into the familiar warmth of my room at the castle.
The space was illuminated by the soft glow of enchanted candles, their light casting flickering shadows on the walls. Everything was exactly as I'd left it, except now it felt different more intimate, more ours.
Aeliana let out a soft laugh as she took in the sight. "You planned this, didn't you?"
I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Maybe."
She stepped further into the room, her hand trailing over the plush blankets on the bed before turning back to me. "It's beautiful."
"You're beautiful," I said, the words slipping out before I could think twice.
Her cheeks flushed, and she gave me a look that was equal parts fondness and exasperation. "You're incorrigible."
"Only when it comes to you," I replied, closing the distance between us. I reached out to cup her cheek, my thumb brushing over her soft skin. "You're everything to me, Aeliana."
Her breath hitched, and for a moment, we simply stood there, the weight of the day and the depth of our emotions settling between us.
Then, with a gentle tug on my shirt, she pulled me down for a kiss. It was slow and sweet, a tender melding of lips that spoke of love and promises.
When we finally broke apart, her eyes were shining. "I love you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
"I love you too," I replied, my own voice unsteady.
We sank onto the bed together, the world outside fading away as we lost ourselves in each other. Time seemed to stretch and blur, each kiss, each touch grounding us in the moment.
At some point, Aeliana nestled into my side, her head resting on my chest. I ran my fingers through her hair, marvelling at how something so simple could feel so perfect.
"Do you remember the first time you tried to flirt with me?" she asked suddenly, her voice muffled against my shirt.
I laughed, the sound rumbling through my chest. "How could I forget? You looked at me like I'd grown a second head."
She tilted her head up to look at me, her lips quirking into a teasing smile. "That's because your idea of flirting was telling me I was the most dangerous woman in the room."
"To be fair, you were," I countered, grinning. "Still are."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her amusement. "You're impossible."
"And yet, you married me," I pointed out, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead.
"Best decision I've ever made," she said softly, her fingers tracing idle patterns on my arm.
We stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other and the quiet joy of simply being together. The weight of the day melted away, replaced by a comforting sense of belonging.
Eventually, Aeliana's stomach let out a low growl, breaking the serene moment.
I raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Hungry?"
"Maybe a little," she admitted, her cheeks pink.
"Well," I said, my tone teasing, "you'll have to wait, because I'm going to eat you tonight."