The Moonbound Bride

Elara Wynn always felt most alive under the moon. Not the warm sunlight that everyone adored but the pale silver glow that washed the world clean. She worked nights at the observatory on the cliff above the quiet village of Harlowe. People thought she simply loved astronomy. They never knew that she avoided daylight because sunlight made her skin ache and her heart race in a way she could never explain. Only the moon soothed her. Only moonlight felt like home.

One night while Elara was adjusting the telescope a sudden tremor shook the ground. The lights flickered. She rushed outside expecting to see a storm rolling in but the sky was clear. Too clear. A huge full moon hung impossibly low glowing brighter than she had ever seen. The air shimmered. And then a figure stepped out of the light.

A man emerged from the moonbeam as though walking through a doorway only he could see. His hair was silver white and his eyes glowed with a pale golden light. His clothes shimmered like woven moonlight. He looked unreal like a dream shaped into a human form.

Elara froze. Who are you

The man studied her with an expression of disbelief and longing. His voice was soft deep and strangely familiar. Elara Wynn. You finally awakened.

She stepped back. I do not know you.

The man approached slowly. I am Caelis. Guardian of the Lunaris Realm. And you are the Moonbound Bride the one promised to the moon.

Elara felt her stomach twist. The moonbound what

Caelis lifted his hand and moonlight followed the motion gathering around his fingers like silver ribbons. You were born with a mark Elara. A crescent shaped scar on your shoulder. It binds you to the moon. To me. You carry the lost light of our realm. And without you the gateway between our worlds will collapse forever.

Elara instinctively touched her shoulder. Yes she had the mark. She always thought it was a strange birthmark. It glowed faintly sometimes but doctors never found anything wrong. Now she felt it pulsating.

She whispered. This cannot be real.

Caelis looked pained. You do not remember me because your spirit was sealed. The mortal world needed you safe. But now the seal is breaking. The moon called you tonight because time is running out.

Elara backed away. No. I have a normal life. I work. I have friends. I am not some magical bride.

Caelis stepped closer. When you were born light exploded from the moon. The Lunaris Realm was nearly destroyed by the Eclipse King a being of shadow who seeks to swallow all lunar light. To save you I brought you to the mortal world. But to hide you I erased every memory we shared. Every moment every vow.

Elara felt her heart tighten painfully. Why would you erase my memories if I was important

Because the Eclipse King would have hunted you down he said quietly. You were too powerful. Too radiant. You were the last moon lightborn. If he found you the moon would die. I had no choice.

Elara trembled. Her voice was barely a whisper. What did we vow

Caelis looked away as though the memory hurt. You vowed to return when the moon called you. You vowed to save our world. And you vowed to marry me under the thousand glow stars once the realm was safe again.

Elara stared at him stunned. That is impossible. I do not even know you.

Caelis closed his eyes. But your soul remembers. And it will awaken soon.

Before Elara could respond the ground rumbled again. A cold wind swept through the cliff. The sky darkened unnaturally as a shadow spiral opened above them. From the darkness a monstrous figure descended a creature shaped of swirling black mist with glowing red eyes.

Caelis grabbed Elaras hand. The Eclipse King has found you. Run

Elara was frozen with terror. Her body refused to move. The creature roared sending shockwaves across the cliff. Caelis pulled her behind him and summoned a blade made entirely of moonlight. He slashed at the shadow forcing it back.

The creature hissed. Give me the lightborn. Her power belongs to the eclipse.

Elara stumbled backward. I am not lightborn I am not anything

But the mark on her shoulder began glowing fiercely. The creature snarled and lunged but Caelis struck it again driving it away. He lifted Elara in his arms and leaped off the cliff. Elara screamed.

But instead of falling they floated through the air surrounded by a cocoon of moonlight. The gateway opened in front of them like a silver curtain. Caelis whispered into her ear. Forgive me Elara. But we must return home.

The world shifted.

Elara landed softly on glowing white sand beneath a sky filled with thousands of shimmering moons. Silver rivers flowed between floating crystal mountains. Strange luminous birds glided through the air. The Lunaris Realm looked like a dream carved out of starlight.

Elara whispered. This place is beautiful.

Caelis turned to her but pain filled his eyes. It used to be brighter before the Eclipse King began draining its light. Now everything is fading. You are the only one who can restore it.

Elara shook her head. I do not know magic. I do not know how to save a world.

Caelis took her hand gently. You do. Your magic is inside you. You only need to remember who you were.

He guided her to a shimmering lake. The surface glowed like liquid silver. Look he said.

Elara stared into the water.

Her reflection changed.

She saw herself wearing a crown of moon petals her hair glowing like starlight her eyes silver white. She saw herself standing beside Caelis holding his hands whispering vows under an endless sky. She saw herself fighting shadows with radiant power. She saw a past life of love and sacrifice.

The memories surged through her. Elara screamed and collapsed to her knees gripping Caelis tightly. I remember. I remember everything.

Tears ran down Caeliss cheeks. Then you know why I brought you back.

The ground shook violently as the Eclipse King ripped open a tear in the sky. His voice echoed. Give me the moon lightborn.

Elara stood her body glowing brighter than the moon. No. I will not run anymore.

Caelis tried to step forward but Elara held his hand. No. We face him together.

Moonlight wrapped around her like a living veil. Caelis summoned his blade. The Eclipse King struck sending a wave of darkness across the land. But Elara sang a note a pure glowing melody. Light burst from her voice forming a barrier that shattered the darkness.

The creature roared. Impossible

Elara lifted her hands and light exploded outward transforming her into the radiant moon spirit she once was. Caelis stood beside her glowing with her reflected power. The two faced the shadow as one.

Light and darkness clashed in blinding waves. Elaras voice grew stronger weaving power through the realm. Caelis fought relentlessly guarding her side. Together their combined force pushed the Eclipse King back tearing his shadow form apart until he dissolved into the sky with a final scream.

Silence followed.

The moons brightened. The land lit up. The Lunaris Realm breathed again.

Elara collapsed from exhaustion and Caelis caught her holding her close. His voice shook. You saved us. You saved everything.

Elara touched his cheek gently. And you protected me until my memory returned. Caelis I remember our vows. Our promise. Our love.

Caelis looked at her in wonder. Then stay with me. Not as a guardian but as my bride. The Moonbound Bride you once chose to be.

Elara smiled softly. Yes. I will stay. I choose you again. In this life and every life after.

The moons above them shimmered as if blessing their union. The silver sand glowed beneath their feet. And as Caelis kissed her gently the entire realm glowed brighter than ever before welcoming back its lost light and the love powerful enough to save a world.

Elara the Moonbound Bride had returned home.