The Wedding of Fire
1293 Words
The morning of Elara's wedding arrived beneath a sky so clear that the people of Aveloria believed the gods themselves had blessed the day.
The castle had been transformed.
White flowers covered the stone walls. Golden ribbons hung from the towers, and hundreds of candles surrounded the courtyard. Music filled the kingdom from sunrise, while villagers traveled from distant lands just to witness the wedding that everyone had once believed impossible.
A princess was going to marry a dragon.
But to Elara, there was nothing strange about it.
Vaelor was not a monster.
He was the one who had protected her.
The one who had taught her to fly.
The one who had listened to every fear and every dream she had ever shared.
And today, she was choosing him in front of the entire kingdom.
Elara stood before her mirror, staring at her reflection.
Her silver dress flowed to the floor, embroidered with tiny patterns that looked like dragon wings. Her hair was decorated with white flowers, and around her neck hung the blue stone Vaelor had given her.
Her maid smiled.
"You look beautiful, Your Highness."
Elara touched the stone.
"I feel nervous."
"That's normal."
Elara smiled.
"I've faced a dragon."
The maid laughed.
"You're marrying one."
Elara laughed too.
Then the laughter faded.
For some reason, she suddenly felt uneasy.
She looked toward the window.
The sky was still clear.
But somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbled.
Outside the castle, Vaelor waited.
He stood beside the ancient oak tree where the ceremony would take place.
His enormous black wings were folded against his body.
Golden decorations had been placed around his neck, and white flowers were woven carefully between his scales.
The sight was almost unbelievable.
Children gathered around him.
Some were laughing.
Others were trying to touch his tail.
Vaelor remained completely still.
He was nervous too.
Captain Rowan approached him.
"Are you ready?"
Vaelor looked at him.
Rowan smiled.
"I'll take that as a yes."
The dragon looked toward the castle.
His golden eyes searched the windows.
Then the doors opened.
Everyone became silent.
Elara stepped outside.
Vaelor stared at her.
She walked slowly toward him.
When she reached him, she smiled.
"You look handsome."
Vaelor lowered his head.
Elara placed her hand against his cheek.
"I love you."
The dragon gently touched his forehead against hers.
The ceremony began.
The priest stood before them.
"Today, we gather to witness a bond that no kingdom, law, or fear can break."
Elara looked into Vaelor's eyes.
"I choose you."
Vaelor lowered his head.
The priest smiled.
"And you?"
Vaelor released a deep, gentle sound.
The crowd laughed softly.
Elara smiled.
"I think that's his way of saying yes."
Applause filled the courtyard.
For one beautiful moment, everything was perfect.
Then the ground shook.
The flowers fell from the trees.
The candles went out.
A dark cloud appeared above the castle.
Elara's smile disappeared.
Vaelor immediately raised his head.
He knew that magic.
Kael.
A voice echoed across the courtyard.
"You really believed you could live happily after betraying me?"
The crowd turned.
Kael appeared at the castle gates.
Dark magic surrounded him.
The soldiers raised their weapons.
Elara stepped forward.
"Leave."
Kael smiled.
"I came for what belongs to me."
Vaelor moved between them.
Kael looked at the dragon.
"You still think you are free?"
Vaelor roared.
Kael raised his hand.
The broken piece of the enchanted chain began glowing.
Vaelor suddenly screamed.
He collapsed.
Elara rushed toward him.
"Vaelor!"
Dark lines spread across the dragon's scales.
The magic was entering his body.
Kael laughed.
"You may have broken the chain, but I kept a piece."
Elara looked at him in horror.
"What do you want?"
"You."
Kael pointed toward her.
"You made him weak. You turned him against me."
Elara shook her head.
"He was never yours."
Kael's expression became furious.
"Then watch him destroy you."
The magic exploded.
Vaelor rose.
His eyes had turned dark.
He looked toward Elara.
She stepped backward.
"Vaelor?"
The dragon roared.
The castle shook.
The soldiers scattered.
Vaelor opened his mouth.
Fire began glowing inside it.
Elara stood frozen.
"Vaelor..."
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then his golden eyes returned.
He turned his head away from her.
The fire disappeared.
Kael stared in disbelief.
"No."
Vaelor had resisted.
Elara smiled through her tears.
"I knew you could."
Kael screamed.
He released every remaining piece of magic.
Vaelor attacked.
The battle began.
The courtyard became a battlefield.
Vaelor's flames collided with Kael's magic.
Stone exploded beneath them.
Soldiers fought Kael's creatures while the villagers fled toward safety.
Elara tried to reach Vaelor.
But a magical blast threw her against the castle wall.
"Elara!"
Vaelor saw her fall.
His rage exploded.
He attacked Kael with such force that the sorcerer flew across the courtyard.
Kael rose again.
Blood ran from his forehead.
"You love her that much?"
Vaelor growled.
Kael laughed.
"Then I know how to defeat you."
He raised his hand.
A spear of dark magic formed.
He aimed it directly at Elara.
Vaelor saw it.
He moved faster than thought.
The spear struck him instead.
A terrible roar filled the castle.
Vaelor collapsed.
Elara ran toward him.
"No!"
She dropped beside his head.
Blood stained his black scales.
"Please."
Vaelor opened his eyes.
Elara touched his face.
"Stay with me."
His breathing was weak.
"You can't leave me."
Vaelor slowly moved his head closer to her.
She pressed her forehead against his.
"I love you."
Kael watched them.
His expression was cold.
"This is what love does."
Elara looked up.
"It doesn't."
She stood.
"It makes us stronger."
Kael raised his sword.
Elara looked at Vaelor.
"Can you still fight?"
The dragon slowly rose.
His body shook.
But he stood.
Kael's expression changed.
"You should be dead."
Vaelor opened his wings.
Elara stood beside him.
"Maybe you never understood him."
Kael stared at her.
"He isn't your weapon."
Vaelor roared.
"He is free."
Together, they faced Kael.
Vaelor released a stream of fire.
Kael raised a magical shield.
The flames struck it.
The shield began cracking.
Kael screamed.
"No!"
The fire broke through.
Kael was thrown across the courtyard.
The remaining magic vanished.
Silence returned.
The battle was over.
Kael lay unconscious.
The soldiers surrounded him and placed him in chains.
The people slowly emerged from hiding.
Elara turned toward Vaelor.
The dragon was exhausted.
She ran to him.
"You did it."
Vaelor lowered his head.
She wrapped her arms around him.
"I thought I lost you."
Vaelor gently nudged her.
Elara smiled.
"You saved me again."
She kissed his forehead.
Behind them, the priest approached.
"Princess..."
Elara looked at him.
"Should we continue?"
She looked at the ruined courtyard.
Half the flowers were destroyed.
The decorations were burning.
The castle walls were damaged.
Then she looked at Vaelor.
"Yes."
The priest smiled.
"Then let us finish what we started."
The wedding continued beneath the broken sky.
There were no perfect decorations anymore.
No beautiful flowers.
No grand celebration.
But there was something more important.
Elara stood beside Vaelor.
The priest looked at them.
"Do you still choose him?"
Elara smiled.
"With all my heart."
The priest turned toward Vaelor.
"And do you choose her?"
Vaelor lowered his head.
The kingdom erupted in applause.
Elara laughed through her tears.
She placed her hand against Vaelor's face.
"Then we're married."
Fireworks filled the sky.
For one night, Aveloria celebrated.
But far away, beneath the ruins of the mountains, something was waiting.
Kael had been defeated.
But the piece of ancient magic he had used was not destroyed.
And it had left something behind inside Vaelor.
Something dark.
Something dangerous.
Something that would soon force Elara to make the hardest decision of her life.
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