Eryx

The moment my plane touched down, it hit me—home. Seven years, and somehow, everything feels different. I’ve been back and forth before, but this time is different. This stay is the longest, and I can’t decide if that excites or unnerves me.

Now here I am, standing in a suit I barely bothered to press, watching my older brother at the end of the aisle. He looks like he’s conquered the world, a victorious grin on his face. His bride—a genuinely lovely woman, no doubt about it. Still, weddings were never my scene. Best man or not, I skipped every single rehearsal, so now I’m winging it. Honestly, I don’t even know why I’m here, other than obligation.

And then I see her.

Among the entourage, she stands out effortlessly. Her hair falls in soft waves, perfect enough to look unreal, and her face—flawless, magnetic. I don’t even realize I’ve stopped breathing for a moment. My chest tightens, and I’m annoyed at myself for it.

She’s paired with some guy. My gaze sharpens instinctively. He leans in, whispers something to her, and she smiles—just a small curve of her lips, but it’s enough to spark a flicker of something I can’t quite name. Curiosity? Jealousy? Probably both.

What’s her name? Is she single? And why, of all people, do I suddenly care?

The reception is alive with the usual hum—clinking glasses, soft conversations, laughter spilling from different corners of the room. Wedding games, bouquet tosses, and garter grabs have always seemed like background noise to me, something I could take or leave. Tonight? I’m perfectly content just sitting back with my drink, letting it all pass by.

Until she stands up.

The moment she does, the world seems to slow. She moves like she’s the center of everything, effortless and radiant, unaware of the magnetic pull she has on the room. Her dress sparkles under the soft fairy lights, and her hair tumbles in perfect waves, glinting every time she turns her head. My drink is halfway to my lips, but I stop—completely frozen. She’s perfect. More than perfect. I catch myself staring before I can even make sense of it.

Her laughter rings through the room, clear and warm, and it tugs at something deep in me. I want to move, to walk over to her, but her friends have already pulled her into their circle, their easy banter and inside jokes filling the space around her. She’s laughing along, her head tilting back, her eyes sparkling, and somehow, she makes it look so natural. Like she’s exactly where she belongs.

The DJ announces the bouquet toss, and my feet suddenly feel like they have a mind of their own. Normally, I’d be content to watch from a distance, let someone else fight for the bouquet. But tonight, with her in the room, it’s different. I stand up without thinking, like I’ve been magnetized, and suddenly the idea of sitting back and watching everything unfold feels impossible.

She’s chatting again, her glass in hand, her fingers tracing the rim as she listens to her friends. And I’m still caught in her orbit, unable to tear my eyes away. There’s just something about her—the way her hair falls so effortlessly, the curve of her lips when she smiles, the way she carries herself like the room was made for her.

The bouquet toss happens faster than I expect. The air shifts, and there she is, fingers curling delicately around the string—Tamara’s bouquet. It’s a simple thing, but somehow, the way she touches it makes everything seem... important. It’s hard to look away.

Then the Emcee’s voice cuts through the chatter, and all eyes are on her. "Are you single and ready to settle down?" he calls out, looking directly at her. "You’ve managed to secure the bouquet, Miss. What’s your name?"

I can’t help but lean in, my heart beating just a little faster. This is it. My chance. My moment to hear her voice, to find out who she is. I’m hanging on every word.

"Tauriel," she says, her voice clear, confident—like it’s the easiest thing in the world.

The Emcee’s eyes flicker with interest. "Are you in a relationship? Because if you are, we should just give the garter to your boyfriend."

Her cheeks turn a soft shade of pink. A subtle reaction, but it makes her even more beautiful. It’s a little thing, but it’s enough to make my chest tighten. She’s graceful, smart—there’s something so disarming about the way she carries herself. She looks around the room for a moment, then back at the Emcee, her smile a little playful.

"Well," she says, her voice warm and teasing, "I’m not in a relationship." Her eyes twinkle as she continues, "But I’m not rushing into anything either. I think I’ll just keep the bouquet for now." She gives a small wink, just the tiniest hint of mischief, and my heart skips a beat.

Her charm is effortless, like she’s been doing this her whole life—captivating everyone around her without even trying. I can’t take my eyes off her. And just as I think I might have my moment, I spot something—a small detail that makes my heart jump in my chest.

Her partner leans in, whispering something to her. It’s not much—just a quiet exchange—but the way he’s standing too close, the way she’s smiling up at him... something about it makes my feet move before I can stop myself. The idea of sitting back and watching them together? It feels unbearable.

Without thinking, I stand up, a little too quickly, my drink nearly slipping from my hand. I don’t know what I’m doing exactly, but I’m already walking toward her, my mind racing. Maybe if I catch the garter—maybe that’ll be my chance to say something, to break the distance between us. To see if there’s a way, any way at all, to steal just a moment of her time.

I take a deep breath, gathering my courage before stepping toward her. My heart is pounding, but I keep my expression calm. I know I’m taking a chance here, but something about her makes it impossible to stay back.

As I near her, I make sure my voice is steady, respectful. "Ms. Tauriel," I say with a polite smile, trying to match her graceful energy. "If I manage to catch the garter, would you honor me with a bit of your time?"

She looks at me, her eyes warm with curiosity. A slight smile plays at the corners of her lips, and I can see the amusement flicker in her gaze. It’s almost like she’s trying to decide if she should entertain the idea, but I can tell she’s intrigued.

"Well," she begins, her tone soft yet confident, "if you manage to catch it, I suppose I can spare a few moments." She pauses, a playful glint in her eyes, before adding, "But don’t get your hopes up too quickly."

Her response is both sweet and teasing, and I can’t help but smile. There’s something about her confidence, the way she doesn’t let anything rush her, that makes me admire her even more. It’s clear she’s not easily impressed, but there’s a certain warmth in her voice that suggests she’s enjoying the moment, too.

I nod with a small chuckle, feeling the challenge now, my focus sharpening as I prepare for the garter toss

The garter flies through the air, and without missing a beat, I launch myself into the crowd, my focus fixed solely on it. Time seems to slow, and for a second, I feel like I’m part of some movie scene. My fingers graze the edge of the garter, but I lunge further, finally gripping it securely. I look up, and there it is—the triumphant moment.

The room erupts into cheers, and I can’t help but laugh. My brother’s voice rings out through the noise, teasing me. “Woohoo! Eryx!” He’s practically rolling with laughter, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

I glance toward the crowd, catching my mother’s eyes. She’s smiling, her laughter light and full of pride. She mouths, “It’s good you’re participating,” and I grin back, shrugging as if to say, well, I couldn’t help it. And truth be told, I didn’t. My attention was entirely on the gorgeous woman in the entourage, Tauriel.

I beam as I hold up the garter, meeting her gaze. She’s watching me now, brow raised slightly, an intrigued look on her face. I see her cheeks flush ever so slightly, a soft pink tint creeping up her neck, and it makes me want to smile even more. She’s not hiding her reaction, but it’s clear she’s intrigued as well.

The Emcee’s voice booms again, calling Tauriel back to the center of the room, and I can feel the anticipation shift in the air.

“So, we have a garter holder,” he says, looking at me with a playful grin. “And the lovely lady who caught the bouquet. Let’s see how this pairing goes. Eryx, are you single?”

I feel the attention on me, but I keep my smile effortless. The moment is light, playful. I stand tall, feeling all eyes on me, but in a way that feels almost too easy when I’m looking at her.

I chuckle, giving a casual shrug, keeping the mood light. “Yes, I am. But, uh...” I pause for just a beat, making sure the words land, “I’m not sure for how much longer.”

The room bursts into soft laughter, and I can feel Tauriel’s gaze shift just slightly, that playful spark in her eyes giving way to something a little more interested. She’s still smiling, but there’s a hint of amusement tugging at the corners of her lips.

The Emcee, sensing the tension, nods, his eyes flicking between us. “Well, I’m sure that’s something Tauriel might want to think about.” He gives her a wink, and the crowd laughs again.

Tauriel raises an eyebrow, clearly amused but maintaining that calm, poised demeanor. “I’ll have to think about it, Eryx,” she says, her voice teasing, yet sweet. “Though I’m not making any promises.”

I feel a surge of excitement. Her tone is playful, but there’s a quiet confidence there, something that tells me she’s not just going to hand out her time to anyone. And I like that. I like that a lot.

I can’t help but smile wider, this moment almost too good to be true. I finally break the eye contact, looking around at the crowd, letting the moment settle for a second before the Emcee motions for the next part of the evening to continue.

But I know one thing for sure—this won’t be the last time I talk to her tonight. And I’m not about to let this slip through my fingers.