Found: fantasy, M.Lackey prob author, wedding, woman named Velvet

Guardians of the West by David Eddings?

Never mind. I found it! It was the Gratitude of Kings, by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Thank you anyway, though! (And yes, the book is blue and looks very similar to the River's Gift.)

>2 keachachu: I found it. Thank you, though. =)

touchstone: The Gratitude of Kings