Say Yes /// Elide Lochan X Lorcan Salvaterre
Summary: The wedding scene everyone was dying to see.
Warnings: None
Word Count: 1,2K
Notes: SJM does have a thing against wedding scenes as we have been denied them so many times, I'm here to fix it.
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Elide shivered as a cold wind touched her skin, she looked behind her to see Rowan standing there, winking at her as he exited the room and left her alone with Aelin and the others. She walked in front of the mirror, her limp almost gone as Rowan’s power helped her, she made a mental note to thank him for it. Her trembling hands caressed the white fabric of her wedding dress, making sure that no wrinkles would be there.
“You look absolutely beautiful.” Aelin said, hugging her from the side, she was wearing a soft green dress, her crown replaced by a small headpiece. Elide thanked her, looking at her surroundings.
Yrene was finishing her hair, the curls on a bun, with some loose strands framing her perfect shiny face, the baby bump was showing in the fluffy lilac dress she chose for the occasion. She happily talked to Lysandra, who wore a deep green dress glued to her body, accentuating her curves, her hair cascading in waves behind her back.
The three females talked, and Elide felt happy having them there with her, her friends, but her heart missed someone, she had sent the invitation but she wasn’t sure if Manon would actually show up, they talked through letters but Manon had so much to do, as did Elide. They both had their homes to recover.
Three knocks at the door and Aedion’s head popped up in the room, letting them know that it was time. The three females wished their good luck to Elide and she thanked them, looking one last time in the mirror.
Little makeup adorned her face, just some shimmery in her eyes, her hair was falling in waves, clipped behind her head, leaving a clear view of her face. The hair clip was made from golden leaves, a treasure from her own mother’s wedding, that Vernon had kept in her family treasure room. Small diamonds adorned her ears and neck, and as she looked at her gown, she almost didn’t recognize herself. A floor-length white gown, a bodice holding her upper frame with small sleeves, and a thin cape tied to her neck. She looked divine.
“Eli, we have to go, you don’t want to leave him waiting.” Aedion urged.
“It’s fine Eli, Aedion is just afraid of Lorcan.” Ren laughed and she giggled, opening the door.
“I’m ready.” Ren let out a low whistle.
“You look really beautiful.” She blushed. “Can’t believe you’re getting married.”
“Let’s go before I cry.” Aedion said, grabbing her arm and Ren grabbed the other side, her two best friends walking her down the aisle, she might cry as well.
They walked, but before they exited the door leading to the forest where the ceremony was being held, someone cleared their throat, and she turned around. In a beautiful red dress, hair parted in the middle and red lips. Manon smiled at her.
“You came.” Elide rushed to her, Rowan’s power still holding her leg straight. Manon hugged her, as the smaller woman buried herself against her.
“You called.” She replied, taking Elide in, she looked so angelic like this, Manon smiled widely, something very rare for the witch. “You look amazing, he’s a lucky guy.”
“I’m so glad you’re here, you have no idea.” She blurted and Manon nodded.
“Let’s get you married then.” Manon escorted Elide Back to the males standing in front of the door. “Abraxos is waiting if you change your mind.” She winked and Elide laughed.
“I’ll think about that, thank you, Manon.” She turned to the males. “Let’s go then.” They grabbed her by her arms, and the three of them started to walk, as a soft melody started to play.
The guests were seated on wooden chairs adorned with small flowers, the path was covered in various shades of flowers and tiny candles. She looked up at Lorcan, wearing a black attire, his hair in a low bun and he shifted his weight from one foot to another. It was a funny sight. A flower arch was behind him and a priestess was ready to make everything official for them.
The soft music followed her until Ren and Aedion were ready to pass her to Lorcan, he gladly took her small hand, leading the way back to the arch.
“You look breathtaking.” He whispered, eyeing her from the side, as they listened to the priestess talk. Lorcan felt his hands sweat, and he felt nervous. Settling down for her was the best decision he ever made. He would do everything for her and it would always be worth it. Even if it meant enduring years of mockery by Aelin and Fenrys as he was about to become Lord Lorcan Lochan.
“You may now say your vows.” The soft voice of the priestess sounded and he turned to his beautiful Elide. A small tear escaped her eyes and he was quick to wipe it away.
“I was trapped my whole life, everything I’ve ever loved was taken away from me..” Elide started, her voice a little shaken by the memories of her past. “I grew up thinking I would be forever caged, but you showed me freedom, you gave me choice, you make me feel seen and heard. It’s like I matter again. And I love you so much.” It wasn’t much, but they were the words from her heart, the truest feelings she had inside her.
“I thought that I knew what love was like, how it felt, but no one ever loved me truly like you do. I give up everything I am and everything I will be to be by your side. You shall never know what a day alone feels like anymore. I will stand by you day and night and show my love for you every day because you deserve Elide Lochan. You deserve to be loved and it’s my honor to be the one to do it. I love you so much.”
Elide couldn’t contain the waterfall that fell from her eyes as Lorcan spoke. The priestess finished the ceremony, telling him he might kiss the bride. His large hands cupped the sides of Elide’s face, bringing her close, his lips brushed hers and he kissed her gently, like she deserved to be treated. Her hands grabbed the collar of his attire, not wanting to be apart from him.
The crowd roared and clapped as they kissed. They were still clapping as Lorcan grabbed Elide’s hand and guided her to where the reception was going to be. The guests followed them to another part of the forest where tables were displayed, lights hung from the trees and food was being served. The music was nice and calm.
“Lady and Lord Lochan.” Fenrys yelled, and the crowd clapped once more as they reached the dance floor.
Lorcan rested his hand on the small of her back while she rested both hands on his chest. They moved, eyes locked on each other like they were the only ones there. The music moved them around and their family watched as they danced, their first dance as husband and wife.
The first step towards the rest of their lives.
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"What the fuck am I doing in your bed" - Elorcan fic
Summary: Elide unexpectedly finds herself in a bed that isn't hers. One shot.
Read on AO3.
What the fuck am I doing in your bed
Self-loathing and guilt burned at the edges of the dark hole in Lorcan’s chest, the hole that had grown with every passing day that Elide ignored him, as she walked past him silently after another meager dinner of stale bread and cheese.
He played her words on the beach over and over in his head. Knew them to be true. Each time they echoed in his mind, the hole seared and grew larger.
Later in the night, after his first watch was relieved by Gavriel, Lorcan threw himself down on his bedroll, determined to find oblivion from his own personal hell, even for just a few hours.
It seemed like he had barely shut his eyes and found sleep when a sound woke him. And a scent near him. Elide.
When he had walked back to his bedroll earlier, he’d tossed a glance at her, fast asleep on the other side of their little camp. His usual habit. The only time he could look at her without risking an irritated sigh or the way she’d turn her head away from him, as if he wasn’t even worth her sight, let alone her time.
Now her scent inundated his senses. The familiar cinnamon and elderberry was soaked in fear. He jerked up on one elbow to look at her where she kneeled beside his bedroll.
Her eyes were oddly half-lidded, her lips slack. Lorcan’s brow furrowed.
“Elide?” he whispered cautiously.
But she didn’t give any response, nor did her face give any indication that she heard. Then he realized—she wasn’t actually awake. She was sleepwalking.
His eyebrows shot up as Elide, unceremoniously, and without word or warning, crawled into his bed.
Lorcan, shocked to his core, automatically opened his arms as she curled up against him, burying her face in his chest. A deep sigh gusted out of her lungs, the scent of fear ebbing away with it. Slowly, hesitantly, he drew her tight against him. He brushed his lips over her forehead, still unsure if he should touch her like that, if she’d jump up and tear him a new one, lash him to shreds with that tongue of hers.
But his yearning was too strong, and the way Elide’s hand gripped his shirt as she leaned closer into his body assuaged his fear, so he risked it, pressing a kiss to the smooth skin of her brow. And was rewarded with another little sigh that escaped her lips. Longing rushed through his body, and he prayed to his dark god that this wouldn’t be the only time he got to hear those sounds.
She must have had a nightmare, he realized. One that drove her out of her bed still half-asleep and...into his. He turned it over in his mind as he held her, a calloused thumb stroking softly over the skin of her arm.
He lay awake for a long time, watching her, and when finally sleep claimed him, there was a faint smile on his face.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_
“What the FUCK am I doing in your bed?!”
Small hands smacked against his chest as Lorcan jumped awake, his arms tightening around Elide instinctively.
She pushed at him again, and he let go of her, finally awake.
“What the hell are you playing at?” she hissed at him as she extricated herself from his limbs, which were tangled with hers, and his blanket, which he had wrapped tightly around her back to keep out the night cold.
His eyes narrowed at her accusation. “I’m not playing at shit, Elide. You’re the one who crawled into my bed in the middle of the night.”
“I did NOT!” she exclaimed hotly. Crimson flooded her cheeks, and Lorcan couldn’t help but drink in the sight, the brilliant color set off against her milky skin.
“You did,” he said evenly. “I’m fairly certain you were sleepwalking.”
Elide scrambled away from his bedroll in a huff. “Clearly,” she seethed, “I was unconscious and out of my mind.”
Lorcan’s eyes lingered on her figure as she limped away. He collapsed back on the blankets, running his hands through his hair in irritation, smothering a curse. But the bedroll beneath him still smelled of her, and he inhaled deeply, trying to let it settle him. His thoughts drifted back to earlier when she lay in his arms, the feeling of her pressing closer against his body. It glowed inside him, a little ember illuminating centuries of darkness.
All day, riding, walking, going from town to town, tavern to tavern, as Elide tried to glean more news of Maeve, as Gavriel cooked, as Rowan brooded, as Lorcan collected wood and stood silent watch, all day that tiny ember warmed him, the feel of her imprinted on his arms like a tattoo. Like a branding.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Two nights later, it happened again. The same odd half-open eyes. The same scent of fear wrapped around her.
Lorcan knew he’d pay for it in the morning, but when Elide slipped to his side and lay down beside him, he didn’t hesitate to pull her in his arms and tug her flush against his body.
And same as the other night, the smell of fear dissipated. She hummed softly in her sleep. A sigh. Just one word spilling from her lips. “Lorcan.”
Heat cracked his chest open. It had been so long since he’d heard her say his name.
Elide snuggled even closer, and he kissed her forehead, once, twice. If he was going to hell in the morning, Lorcan decided, he might as well make it worth it. He lifted a hand from her back and ran it down the glossy length of her hair, reveling in the silky threads that he carded between his fingers.
He didn’t go to sleep that night. There was no way in hell that he was going to miss one minute of time to stare at her freely, especially not when he knew that he’d get a very different Elide when she woke.
A strange thought darted through his mind that it would continue on this way. Two Elides. One by day who hated him, who glared at him, who split him apart on her sharp tongue; and another by night who sought comfort, who sighed his name, who burrowed into his chest like she couldn’t get close enough.
When the faint light of dawn stole over the eastern sky, Elide began to stir in Lorcan’s arms. She gave a great sigh, a small contented smile spreading on her face as she exhaled. One of her hands relaxed from where it had fisted Lorcan’s shirt all night, and her palm smoothed absently over the hard planes of his chest.
Fireworks exploded in Lorcan’s stomach. He hardly dared move a muscle.
Elide’s eyes snapped open, the realization of what she was doing washed over her expression. She snatched her hand away from his chest like it was hot iron.
“How dare you,” she spat, enraged all over again.
“Sweetheart,” Lorcan growled, “you’re the one who came to my bed, and you’re the one groping me like a piece of meat.”
She scrambled out of the circle of his arms with a glare. “Don’t worry. It’s never going to happen again,” she flung out venomously.
Lorcan watched her walk away, the hole in his chest a strange contrast to the sparks blazing in his stomach.
But of course it did happen again. The following night. Lorcan really couldn’t believe his luck. And in the morning Elide let out an exasperated noise, disentangled herself, and stalked away with a dark look on her face, this time not even bothering to berate him.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Elide shot upright in her bed. Her heart pounding a rhythm like a stampede. Her hands shaking. Dread and fear and helplessness twisted nauseatingly in her gut.
The tendrils of her nightmare still clung to her: the familiar bite of shackles, her uncle’s cruel voice, the sound of guards laughing at her while they threw her underclothes back and forth between them, the feel of their hands pinching rudely.
Elide tried to push the images away. Tried to take deep gulps of cool night air. Calm down, she told herself sternly.
But her hands wouldn’t stop shaking, and the sense of doom that gripped her, that churned in her stomach, didn’t let up. Her vision spun. She gasped, trying desperately to catch a breath.
Lorcan.
The name bubbled up in the midst of the swirling mess of her mind and she held onto it like a lifeline. Like the only thing in the darkness that was solid. But it wasn’t enough.
Lorcan.
His name rose again, breaking through the surface of her panic. Finally she gained some small measure of control over herself, and crept on quivering legs over to his bedroll.
Her breathing was harsh and ragged, shallow, and when her knees dropped to the ground beside him, he jolted awake.
“Elide?” His voice was sleep-roughened.
Tears coursed down her cheeks, and her hands shook violently. “I—I—”
Lorcan inhaled sharply. He pulled the corner of the blanket back and stretched out a hand towards her. “Come here,” he said in a soft voice. A voice she’d never heard from him. Colored in tenderness.
Maybe she would have hesitated a week ago. Maybe she would have hesitated if her mind wasn’t so addled with panic. But she didn’t. She crawled into his bed and buried her face in his chest as he drew the blanket over her, gathering her trembling form into his arms.
“Breathe, Elide,” he murmured. His hands drew soothing circles over her back. “Just breathe. I’ve got you.”
Elide tried, but her inhales were jagged and her exhales shallow. Darkness swarmed her and the world spun.
“Breathe.” This time was an order, and the sheer dominance in the word overwhelmed the terror coursing through her and made something in her blood stand at attention.
She inhaled, a real breath.
“Let it out slowly,” Lorcan instructed, his tone gentler.
She did, pursing her lips and letting the air slowly seep out of her.
“That’s it,” he murmured. “Good girl. Again.”
Elide took another breath. She felt the rise and fall of Lorcan’s chest and tried to match his rhythm. His hand didn’t stray from her back. Slowly, the panic ebbed and her breathing eased back to normal.
She felt Lorcan’s lips brush over her forehead. Not kissing her, but a whispering caress that made every muscle in her body loosen. A relaxation that somehow eased her even closer into his body, her softness slotting into his angles. Elide wondered what she was doing and at the same time couldn’t bring herself to care.
Although the panicked fear had receded from her body like a flash flood, it left her exhausted, shipwrecked.
She slept.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Elide floated up into consciousness, a peaceful weight surrounding her. A sense of safety she hadn’t known in many years.
Onyx eyes met hers when she woke fully. Crowded eyes. Full of wariness and tenderness, fear and hope. Regret. Reverence. Dread.
The last she knew was on her. He was waiting for her to flay him open, as she had many times these last few weeks and these recent strange mornings waking in his arms.
But today she was quiet. Something in her had quieted. The nightmare from the previous night flashed back through her mind; certainly not the first, nor the first she woke from like that. But usually she was alone. And could deal with them alone. The intensity with which she needed him last night scared her. It had been a long time since she needed someone.
But. It had been a long time since she felt this peaceful, said a little voice in her head. So she watched him, as he watched her, and the sky overhead lightened.
At last Elide withdrew, and Lorcan let her. She rose quietly and limped away.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Out of the corner of his eye, Lorcan observed Elide readying for bed. She brushed her hair, took off her outer jacket and folded it. Reorganized her pack. The small little things that he knew by heart now.
He watched her putter around with a small mirror, and almost thought she was…dawdling.
But since she didn’t once look his way, Lorcan lay down on his own bedroll, giving up hope that she’d say anything to him, or do anything, or even glance at him. He was almost disgusted with himself, a dog so eager for scraps of attention. A dog, he’d called Rowan. Lorcan grimaced internally. But the feeling didn’t stop his yearning.
Sighing, he closed his eyes. Only to open them when Elide’s scent floated over his face. She stood next to him, staring down, her face unreadable. Neither moved for a long moment. He didn’t even take a breath as he looked up at her.
At last Lorcan lifted the corner of his blanket and tossed it back. An invitation. Letting her choose. If she chose to walk away, fine. He’d survive.
But to his utter shock, Elide lowered herself to the ground with her good ankle, slipping in beside him and curling up against his side.
Moving slowly, as if she were a skittish animal he’d scare off, Lorcan slid one arm over her waist. And when she didn’t object, his other arm slipped under her neck. Going slow as molasses, slower than he’d ever moved in his life, he drew her in closer. Every muscle in his body was taut with anticipation and trepidation alike.
But she let him. Astonishingly. She laid one of her small hands flat on his chest, and he wondered if her human senses could perceive the breakneck pace of his heartbeat.
Elide let out a deep breath, a small contented noise rising from the back of her throat. He angled his head down to gently kiss her brow where it was tucked into the crook of his neck.
One more tiny sigh, and then her breathing evened out. Lorcan brushed another kiss over her pale skin and smiled into the darkness.
***********
@elorcanweek2022
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