My nerves were high. I had faced down and killed people since arriving on this world, and it had been exciting and worth doing at the time, but right now? I felt my stomach twisting into knots as I walked towards an aisle in the town square having been cleared out to fit numerous chairs and benches on either side. I swear the whole damn village was here.
"Isn't this a little much?" I asked as I began walking down the aisle, people looking back to stare at us. It made me a little uncomfortable.
"Weddings are a huge occasion in our village, mainly because they don't happen that often. We are a pretty small place, after all. Plus, many of the residents really wanted to come. You are their hero, Eli. You saved many people... and avenged many others. We are still recovering from that, and the people need this just as much as you do. A day to just be happy, and celebrate the joining of two people. They need a reason to smile, and I have no doubt there will be plenty of those today." Warren said, and his words really hit me hard.
As I looked around, I saw the happy and smiling faces of those around me, and yet behind many of those faces, there was an undeniable pain, a sense of loss that couldn't be explained with words. Heartbreaking was the only one that came to mind. These people had experienced a tragedy, one that I couldn't even imagine, and now they all had to pick up the pieces and move on.
"Congratulations, Mister Elias!" A small girl said to me as I walked by, and that made me stop in my tracks.
I looked to my left to see a young girl, a mix of black and brown hair, and equal colored cat features. She was sitting next to a woman that had all black hair and fur, and she smiled at me and nodded, although there was that sense of pain behind her eyes that tore at me. Her soul, or whatever it was I could feel, held a deep sense of loss inside of it. She was incredibly beautiful despite this, but there was no denying the haunted look behind her eyes.
I bent down and placed a hand on top of her head, rubbing it gently.
"Thank you. What is your name?" I asked, and her eyes lit up with excitement.
"It's Tabby!" She said, and I smiled as I continued to pet her head.
"Is this little one yours, miss...?" I asked the woman sitting next to her, the question in mh tone, and she nodded.
"Fia. And... yes. She's my little one." She answered, and I gave her the warmest smile I could manage.
"Well, you seem to have raised an incredible child. Very kind, very respectful." I said, and the girl beamed at me, while the woman looked like she was getting choked up.
"Thank you, Mister! Mama and Papa always taught me to be kind to others. I just wish Papa was still here to teach me more... Mama keeps saying he's gone, but I'm hoping he'll come back soon. I miss him." Tabby said, and that made Fia choke out a sob behind her.
My whole stomach felt like it fell out of my gut at that exact moment. She was... too young, and too innocent to understand... and it made me feel sick, and a fresh feeling of anger washed through me at the senseless killing and treatment of their people. However, looking back down as her innocent smile quelled the rage inside of it. I looked Fia, and I reached over, and put a hand on her shoulder, and she twitched, and looked at me with teary eyes.
"I'm so sorry..." I whispered, making her lips tremble as her tears fell to the ground.
I looked at Tabby, my own heart breaking a little at what she would have to come to accept. I rubbed her head one more time.
"I... I hope you and your mother can enjoy yourselves today." I said, and I looked back at Fia, my grip tightening, but not enough to hurt her, "I'm here if you need anything."
This caused another small sob to escape her, but her eyes showed gratitude as she nodded.
"Mama, why are you sad?" Tabby asked as she turned around, and buried her face into her mom's chest, wrapping her arms around her. Fia held her tightly, and nuzzled her daughter's head.
"Mama's fine baby... It's okay." She told her, sounding anything but okay.
I stood up, wiping at my eyes as tears began to form in my eyes from the exchange as well. This didn't go unnoticed, as Fia had looked back at me when I stood. She seemed almost surprised to see me like that, but it also put a genuine smile on her face, even if small. She kissed her daughter's head, her tears beginning to subside slowly. Then, after a moment, she regarded me.
"You really are a good man... thank you." She said, and then looked around as more people began to gather, and gave me another small smile, "But I think you have something else to look forward to today. Go on, we won't hold you up."
I nodded at her, giving one last smile, before I turned and continued walking, Warren patiently waiting for me. After walking for seconds, I regarded him.
"That... that was really hard." I said, and I felt him place his hand on my back.
"That's what I was talking about. This is a chance for people to focus on something else, even if only for a moment. We've buried our dead, but the grief, and the denial we just saw... that's going to be a while... some of it might never heal." He said, giving me a pained smile, but then he patted my back with a bit more force, "But... enough of that for now. Today is supposed to be a happy day. And it's almost time."
I shook my head to clear it, and wiped away the dampness under my eyes as I nodded, and thoughts of my Cici help to center me, and bring me back to a better place. Within moments, we reached the very front. Warren helped smooth out my suit once more.
"Eli!" I heard a voice yell, and turning, I saw Hiago running towards us, away from another young boy and what I assumed to be his parents.
"Hey there, kid." I smiled as he ran up to me, and actually tackled my waist, making me laugh as I patted him on the back.
"I'm so happy you're marrying my sister. You're really nice, and super cool." He said, looking up and me, but then he scowled at me, making my eyebrows raise, "But you better be nice to her, and keep her safe! If you don't, I'll beat you up."
His words actually made me smile even wider, and I chuckled as I patted him on the head this time.
"I promise, Hiago. I'll treat her like a princess, and I'll always make sure she is the safest she can be." I said, and then smirked as I added, "Besides, I'd hate to face your wrath.
"Good!" He replied as he smiled at me, and I heard Warren start to chuckle in the background.
He walked up to me, and patted his son on the back.
"Go and sit down now, son. They should be here any moment." Warren said.
"Okay..." Hiage sighed, but then he added much more enthusiastically, "Good luck Eli!"
He scamperred away to a nearby bench where his friend had sat down, making me and Warren chucke, and then he looked at me, a warm smile on his face.
"It's almost time. They should be... oh... how beautiful..." He said, his eyes becoming wet as he looked past me, and that caused me to turn around as well.
I actually stopped breathing for a few seconds, and I just decided to give up on wiping at my damned eyes today. The woman walking down the aisle currently next to her mother and her friend needed no introduction, as the scene itself was like out of a work of art. Beautiful didn't even do justice to the sight that Cici projected as she walked towards us. Perfection would be a more apt description.
The white dress, the flowing cape, and the high heels matched her hair and fur perfectly, and it was everything I could do to keep standing as the sight of her seemed to sap the strength from my legs. Anya and Talia walked proudly next to her, smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes as they led her, both women holding the back of her cape off of the ground they made their way towards us with soft and delicate steps.
"Stunning..." I breathed as they were almost to us, and the radiant smile on Cici's face made my heart skip a few beats.
She looked at me, her eyes seeming to drink me in, just as much as I was doing to her. From how her breathing hitched as she took in my full appearance, I had no doubt she approved of how I looked as well. Still, there was no comparison. This woman was the most beautiful entity in this world.
I stood there, frozen by her mesmerizing green gaze until she reached us, and the look she gave me made me forget about all of the woes, and all of the sadness, at least for now. This woman deserved my very best, and I wanted to give her that and more.
Cici stood mere inches away from me now, her eyes filled with a deep love and a happiness that melted my heart. It truly hit me once and for all that I've never felt like this about a woman before. Rachel had never made me feel like this... experience this. This was true love in its most complete form, and I'd fight anything and anyone to keep it. Her eyes locked on mine, tears in her eyes as she smiled.
"You look..." She said, her eyes scanning every inch of me.
"Perfect." I said as my actions mirrored her own.
She blushed, but more tears streaked down her face, my words having an obvious impact.
"My my, Eli... you truly are a handsome man, aren't you." Anya said, and while I wasn't the blushing type, I will admit... I might have a little bit.
"He really is..." Talia whispered, but we all heard her, so there was really no point, and that realization made her blush too.
During all of this, Cici only had eyes for me, and I returned that in full, my full attention focused on everything she was, as Anya's voice rang out so loud and so suddenly, it startled me. The people in attendance fell silent immediately.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today to witness an unforgettable day! Today, my darling daughter Cecila will be marrying not just any man, but the hero of our village, Elias!" She bellowed, signaling the beginning to what would become one of the best days of my whole life.