The wedding took place a month later. took out to the forest, distracting her with training while Mallen made her wedding dress. Iérti taught Írásom how to shapeshift, demonstrating his ability. He taught her valuable sword fighting skills, since the vampire overlords planned to create weapons to use against Tavaly and his vampire allies.

It was Ardai who suggested they create silver swords and daggers. Of course, they had to be extra careful handling them since silver weakened them.

Then Krystyna suggested silver bullets from a werewolf novel. Cyllen thought pointed wooden bullets would be more effective. Tyvek disagreed, saying neither was a good idea.

Stellan wanted to plant garlic and blackthorn shrubs around the cities and settlements, to repel vampires, but Blaise complained, saying it would be counteractive since it would repel them too.

Vajir suggested making a bomb since it was a surefire way to kill vampires all in one take, but nobody agreed to that proposition, saying it would be even more counteractive than the vampire-repellent plants idea. Eryxa thought Mallen and were the best weapons. Ardai still thought silver swords would be best.

And so Ardai and Blaise went to the human settlements in search of blacksmiths who would be willing to forge silver weapons for them, since silver weakened vampires.

A few human blacksmiths didn't mind, eager for the work, knowing vampires wouldn't be able to come near during work. Others refused, too prejudiced against vampires. The human blacksmiths who agreed to forge silver weapons for the vampires were allowed to work at their own leisure, so long as they provided them with weapons once they were done. The vampires promised not to feed on them in exchange for their help, excluding them from the barracks since they were providing vampires a different kind of service.

While Iérti's vampire overlords helped the human blacksmiths as much as they could in their weapons production, trained , and Mallen set time aside to plan for his wedding. Mallen worked every day, Iérti giving him suggestions and advice. He stayed in the tower room long after dawn, working on putting the finishing touches.

When the wedding finally came, Krystyna and Eryxa helped Írásom by lacing her into her wedding dress, putting on makeup, doing her hair, among other things.

Iérti watched Mallen in the mirror as he smoothed his hair for what seemed like the hundredth time. "Should I tie it back or let it stay loose? I can't decide." Mallen's voice was unusually restless and unsure, alerting Iérti to his nervousness.

handed Mallen his satin olive green ribbon, a thin cream white ribbon appearing in and out of it down the middle. "Tying it back gives a more professional appearance. You want to look official on your important day. Do you need help with that or you got it?"

"I got it," said Mallen, carefully tying his hair back with the ribbon. He looked at himself in the mirror again, looking over every detail.

He was dressed in formal black clothing with olive green details on his stylish knee-length jacket. Mallen's jacket and pants were black. The long sleeve shirt underneath was black with cream white, periwinkle blue, and olive green flower details on it. The jacket partly opened to reveal his shirt underneath. It was slim and elegant, as were his pants. The shoes were entirely black leather.

Iérti's reflection in the mirror, standing behind Mallen and to the right, was just as elegantly dressed. Iérti looked fancy in a maroon red and cream white knee-length jacket over a cream white long sleeve shirt and dark red pants. There was dark red and cream white stitching on the jacket and shirt. He neatly tied his hair back with the maroon red and cream white ribbon Mallen made for him from leftover jacket material. Iérti's shoes were made of black leather.

"How do I look?" Mallen turned to look directly at Iérti instead of looking at him through the mirror. He was beautiful as always, though his attractive face was concerned.

Iérti gave him a once-over, smiling as he remembered getting ready for his own wedding day. "About as handsome as I did on my wedding day," Iérti told him.

Mallen looked in the mirror, about to smooth his hair again, when Iérti seized his wrist, saying, "Quit worrying, Mallen. Everything looks fine. Everyone is waiting for you."

The castle doors opened, revealing Mallen and Iérti. Mallen's eyes widened when he saw a horse-drawn carriage awaiting him outside the doors. The carriage was gold and white with olive green ribbons flowing from it, though not touching the ground.

Blaise, Ardai, and Arison were sitting in the driver's seat, with Blaise holding the horses' reigns. Moonlight shone directly above the castle, illuminating the shiny carriage.

Blaise peered out and waved, saying, "Here comes the bridegroom!"

Iérti waited until Mallen got in the carriage before getting in next. Blaise and Ardai drove the carriage forward with the horses. Mallen looked out at the countryside, not used to seeing it this way. Iérti pinned a white flower corsage to Mallen's chest, the white flowers adorned with pearls and an olive green ribbon.

"You planned all this, didn't you?" Mallen asked Iérti.

"I had help from our allies and countrymen. You and Írásom are going to be married in a forest clearing. You'll love how we set it up."

When Mallen got out of the carriage a few moments later, he was indeed in love with how they set it up. Lights were strung over trees and peeking out amongst bushes, making the forest clearing look like a fairytale.

A golden latticed gazebo greeted the aisle as it paved straight on smooth white cloth. White flower petals were already strewn on it. Even forest creatures like crows and hedgehogs ventured out to see, excited for the upcoming event.

Mallen could scarcely breathe. Iérti lightly pushed him forward with his hand on his back, indicating he should go up there with the pastor. Mallen did so, Iérti standing to the side as his best man. The small audience of vampire overlords and human allies faced them, seated on elegant gold chairs with olive green and white ribbons flowing from each one.

Piano and violin music started playing, notifying all of the wedding commencement. Instantly was hit with a wave of memories, seeing his own wedding day occur in his mind at the same time Mallen's wedding night was happening in present time.

standing at the altar in regal-looking black formal clothing.

Mallen standing at the altar in stylish-looking black formal clothing.

The sun shining down on the field of flowers, the golden aisle parted to make way for the bride.

The strung-up lights hanging from trees providing light to the forest clearing, a bolt of sophisticated white cloth rolled to bring forth the bride.

The day smiling from above.

The night twinkling brightly.

Both hearts beating in unison as the bride appears.

Iérti looking intently at the woman approaching him.

Mallen looking intently at the woman approaching him.

Katlyn stepping on soft white rose petals.

stepping on soft white rose petals.

Katlyn in a beautiful long sleeve white dress with sparkling white stitching on the sleeves and bodice, her long white sleeves up to her knuckles as though they were gloves.

Írásom in a lovely long sleeve white dress with stitched white flowers running down the sleeves and bodice, crystal buttons on the sleeves, slightly poofed before narrowing at the wrist.

Katlyn, part of her hair braided with intertwining bright white ribbons, the rest of it cascading with her long thick medium brown hair.

, part of her hair pulled back and tied with pure white and periwinkle blue ribbons, the ribbons set lightly on her long black hair.

Katlyn, her light skin sparkling like sunlight.

Írásom, her pale white skin gleaming like moonlight.

Katlyn's white wedding veil flowing vividly behind her as she walked in the sun.

Írásom's white wedding veil flowing serenely down her back as she walked in the night.

Katlyn's smile as she met Iérti's eyes.

Írásom's smile as she met Mallen's eyes.

Iérti's heartfelt smile as he looked upon his bride.

Mallen's tearful smile as he looked upon his bride.

Both brides coming closer towards their husbands.

The people in attendance jubilant and excited.

Sunlight shining on and Katlyn as they stood facing each other.

Forest lights dancing on Mallen and as they stood facing each other.

Katlyn holding a flower bouquet of white roses, daisies, freesia, and blue morning glory flowers.

Írásom holding a flower bouquet of white jasmine, lilacs, dahlias, and purple wisteria.

The pastors speaking as the lovers continued to gaze in each other's' eyes.

The clasping of hands as Iérti gently took Katlyn's hand and Mallen gently took Írásom's hand.

Iérti saying, "I do," his voice strong and firm with promise.

Katlyn saying, "I do," her voice joyous.

Mallen saying, "I do," his voice emotional.

Írásom saying, "I do," her voice lovely.

The pastors declaring, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!"

Iérti deeply kissing Katlyn.

Mallen passionately kissing Írásom.

Iérti was drawn back to the present, his own tears welling up. The vampire overlords in attendance all started cheering, joined by the human allies who weren't afraid of vampires. Some of the blacksmiths smiled, glad to see vampire weddings were not so different from human weddings. Only the setting was different, as most human weddings took place in the day while vampire weddings took place at night.

Mallen thanked the human pastor, who was kind to marry them. The pastor smiled and accepted a hug from Mallen. He handed him a gift wrapped in white muslin cloth. Mallen moved the cloth to the side, revealing a black leather-bound Bible.

"I believe this was written for everyone, not just humans," the pastor told him.

Iérti took it for safekeeping, intending to give it to Mallen later. Mallen thanked the pastor, appreciating him and the gift he had given.

Once everyone was done congratulating the newlyweds, Mallen swept up in a bridal carry, delighting her with smiles as he carried her. Iérti opened the carriage for them, smiling at the happy couple. The ride back to Mallen's castle felt like a dream.

Mallen found himself alone with the woman he loved, in a beautifully decorated gold and white room, with ribbons and lace and sparkles and glitter everywhere.

Feeling euphoric, Mallen kissed his wife with all the love he held for her, the glittered white bedcurtains covering them from view as they continued kissing on the fancy-looking bed with glistening sheets and feathery white pillows.

________________

Music:

"Atonement"
by Volta Music

________________