A/N: Hello loves! I just want to thank most of you for being patient; you all are a really good bunch and I love and appreciate you immensely!
For certain others, a quick word: you may not think you're being rude by posting reviews/messaging me saying "post another chapter" or "update" but you are. That's disrespectful, and it is one of my biggest pet peeves. It stings that some of you can type out those two-word demands a million times, but you can't muster any kind of substantial, meaningful review for the current update. I have a lot going on in my real life, which ALWAYS takes precedence over fan fiction. When I do write, I have multiple active stories to focus on, and my inspiration doesn't strike equally for all of them. I spend a long time working on these chapters, trying to produce quality stories. I can't churn out updates like some kind of machine. Please keep that in mind when you post.
Thank you for listening to my TED Talk. Now, on to the regularly scheduled story :) XOXOX
Luxe Aeterna
"Stop fidgeting. You look gorgeous," Riven whispered in Musa's ear for the dozenth time that night.
Of course he would say that, Musa thought snidely to herself. He was the one who picked out her dress. Again.
Riven seemed to have a thing about dressing her. He enjoyed presenting her with lavish gowns, ornate hairpieces, and designer accessories. Tonight's ensemble was a navy blue that draped over Musa's body like waves, the gauzy fabric flowing from her waist and trailing across the ground. usually Musa avoided blues because they were too similar to her hair, but this dress was surprisingly complimentary. She covered her bare shoulders with a silver wrap, her hair done up in a twist and held with silver and sapphire pins.
But he wasn't the one who had to wear it on display through a crowded dining room, dozens of judgmental gazes assessing her every step.
No matter how many compliments she received or how many heads she turned, Musa still felt self-conscious. She felt her indiscretion written in red on her skin, boiling at every point of contact Riven made with her body: a hand on the small of her back, his side pressed against hers. He wove them through the ballroom, his head held high as he preened to all Queen Galatea's guests as if to say, yes she is mine.
The Queen of Melody herself stood at the foot of her throne, greeting patrons and politicians alike. There were a great many important people in attendance; after all, this was a monumental achievement for the planet. Not many systems had been as lucky as the Harmonic Nebula when it came to restoration projects. Musa was lucky to have such a practical, forward-thinking leader at Melody's helm; she had heard far too many horror stories of planets that had descended into further chaos than when the wars began.
Yes, tonight was a night to celebrate a great many things. Musa just wished the court would focus more on the restoration and less on her engagement.
Finally, it was Riven and Musa's turn to speak to Queen Galatea.
"Your Majesty," Musa curtseyed respectfully, peeking out the corner of her eye to make sure that Riven had dipped into a bow. He had, thank goodness, though he did not seem all too happy about it.
"Lady Musa," Queen Galatea replied cordially, looking between the couple. "How glad I am that you both were able to attend."
"We wouldn't miss it," Musa said, turning to Riven. "I would like to introduce you to my fiancé, Riven."
"Yes, I remember Riven well from our Alfea days," Queen Galatea mused, arching one blonde eyebrow. "He was quite spirited, if I remember correctly. You two were always the talk of campus, much to your chagrin, Musa."
"Those days are behind me, Your Majesty," Riven said with a blasé smile. He was irked, if the flex of his hand on her waist told anything, but he kept himself composed. "I am settled and fully committed to Musa."
"I would hope so. Musa has done Melody a great service, and there is still much more to be done. It would be a shame for her to pick a partner that did not share her drive or vision for this great nation."
"Musa's drive is one of the things I admire most about her, along with her spirit and her passion. That may have bothered me in the past, but I am not the same rebellious teenager I was at Red Fountain. I grew up, and I would be honored to share the light with such a strong woman."
"So I see," Queen Galatea replied, pacified somewhat but not completely. She still seemed skeptical, and Musa could not blame her. Musa, herself, would not have believed the change in Riven had she not been experiencing it firsthand. Now, he was a proper prince charming...almost too good to be true. "And what, dare I ask, do you have to offer such a strong woman in marriage?"
"Love," Riven stated plainly, jutting out his chin as if daring the queen to say that was not enough. "And a partner to help shoulder her burdens."
"Well then, who am I to stand in the way of love?" Queen Galatea conceded. Musa let out a breath, both relieved and disappointed (some small part of her was hoping that her monarch would not approve and cast Riven out, solving this whole mess for her). Queen Galatea raised the glass she was holding in a toast. "I give you my blessing to wed. May you make each other happy for years to come."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Musa said, dipping into another curtsey.
"Now, tell me about the wedding."
"Ooooooo did I hear someone say wedding!"
Musa turned around to see that her friends had finally arrived. For a group of people to be so grossly late despite staying in the same palace was beyond asinine. But Musa knew Stella's beauty routine took at least three hours and Flora was in the throes of pregnancy sickness, so between everyone's needs Musa supposed she should be glad they came at all.
When Stella threw her arms around Musa in an exaggerated hug as she shrieked about the wedding, Musa wished they hadn't come at all.
Queen Galatea seemed amused, no doubt remembering all the Winx Club's infamous Alfea antics. "Is this the bridal party?"
"Oh yes! Of course," Musa cursed herself, turning to her longtime friends in embarrassment. She really was terrible at this whole wedding planning thing. "I'd love you all to be in the wedding, if you don't mind. I had meant to ask the other day, but it totally slipped my mind."
"Absolutely!" Stella screeched and clapped her hands excitedly. "I love a wedding! Honestly I'm offended you didn't ask sooner. I was just telling Brandon how rude - "
"What Stella means is, we're honored," Aisha cut Stella off with a radiant smile. She seemed genuinely pleased to be asked to be in the wedding. It made Musa's stomach turn.
"Great," Musa smiled through thin lips. "Thank you."
She should have been more excited about this. She should have been jumping up and down like Stella or tearing up like Bloom. Instead, Musa felt the pit of dread and inevitability in her stomach deepen. Now that she had included more people in this spectacle, the harder it was to back out.
"I think this is a great time for a group hug!" Flora suggested, throwing her arms wide open and tossing them around Musa's neck.
There was no escaping the hug. All the other girls trapped Musa in the middle of the most uncomfortable bonding moment of her life. Flora's baby bump pressed into her ribs and Bloom's elbow nearly hooked her in the jaw. Thankfully it only lasted a few moments and Stella bounced off to grab everyone a glass of champagne, Bloom following dutifully behind so that the blonde did not spill any on her return trip. In all the chaos, Musa had lost Riven to the crowd, and Flora politely excused herself to go sit with Aisha accompanying her, leaving only Tecna to stay with Musa. Which was perfect.
"Tec, would you be the maid of honor?"
"Me? You want me to assume such a responsibility?" Tecna asked, floored. "Are you certain?"
"You're my best friend, Tec. There's no one else I'd rather have."
"Well then," Tecna cleared her throat, overcome even if she refused to show it. "I shall endeavor to do my best."
"I know you will."
This was the only part of the wedding Musa felt remotely good about. Their whole friendship, Musa knew that Tecna always felt like the odd girl out. To do this for her best friend and former roommate was the least Musa could do.
Whatever else might have been said between friends was cut off by Queen Galatea summoning Musa to her side. It was Musa's duty, as the Guardian Fairy, to speak on behalf of the restoration project; after all, it was her pixie dust that laid the foundation. Musa apologized to her friends - who really could have cared less if she participated in their celebrating - to go shake hands and kiss babies.
There were so many people who wanted to speak to her, ask her questions, and thank her for her service. Unfortunately, word had also gotten around about her engagement (the large rock on her finger didn't help, either) and so a healthy dose of congratulations were thrown in as well. They were all polite smiles and bony embraces. Musa hated every second of the pageantry.
After a while, Musa stepped off into a corridor to catch her breath. If she got one more hug from some old rich broad, she was going to scream.
This is it, she thought, her mind reeling. Everyone knows now. You're trapped. There's no going back. You are going to marry Riven You are going to marry -
"Congratulations. I hear your engagement has earned the royal seal of approval."
Musa snapped her head up to see Nabu leaning against the wall, his smoking jacket unbuttoned and his tie loose around his neck. He looked casually debauched, so perfectly fuckable that it hurt, and Musa had the urge to physically smack herself for going to that train of thought first.
"It has," Musa replied shortly, turning her back to Nabu and taking a sip off her glass. He needed to leave before she did something a proper engaged woman should not. Any other man would take that as a rebuff and go away. Not Nabu.
"So, when can we all expect the nuptials to take place?"
"We haven't set a date."
"Ah, I see."
"No, you do not see," Musa spat back. Dragon above, this man aggravated her! Gone was the urge to jump in his pants, now replaced by the urge to throttle him for his insolence. "Whatever it is you think has been going on - it's not."
"It's not?" Nabu mimicked, cocking his head to the side in faux ignorance like the impossible shit he was. His smile was absolutely toothy. Was that a glass of whiskey in his hand? Was he drunk? It would certainly explain why he kept trying to get into her personal space.
"This - " Musa pushed Nabu away and gestured between them exaggeratedly " - cannot continue. I won't let it. I am going to marry Riven and that is the end of it."
"Alright. You're marrying Riven. I heard you."
"You're hearing me, but you're not understanding me," Musa stressed, knowing that Nabu was being purposely obtuse. She just could not understand why. "Why do you want me so badly? We've known each other for nearly a decade and you've never even looked at me until a few days ago."
"Because how can I ignore something I know in my bones is right?" Nabu asked, his expression becoming stormy. "You can say you're marrying Riven and all this bullshit, but you will never be happy with him. And do you know how I know that? Because what I felt when we were together - that was something I have never experienced before. We just...click, Musa. You can't tell me that you didn't feel it too."
Damn him, he was right. Musa knew he was right. Even now, at each other's throats in this dark, narrow hallway, Musa felt a thrill run down her spine, her entire being drawn into Nabu's orbit like he was the sun. It was a force of nature, and while she'd had that with Riven once upon a time, it was a spark compared to the inferno she'd built with Nabu. And all that within a few short days...
...the intensity of their relationship scared her.
Riven was safety. Riven was familiarity. Could Musa really make herself throw all that away for the husband of one of her closest friends? Would she wreck a home, and a planet? Would she ruin her own reputation, one she had built from nothing after years of sacrifice, for a man?
The answer was simple.
No.
But then he fixed her with those eyes, stepped just a little further into her space so that it was that much harder to catch her breath, and her viewpoint changed.
Musa had no idea how deprived of connection she was until Nabu. It would be so simple to cave, to say yes, to let him run his hands across her skin and under her dress, to all the places she wanted him most. One kiss would be all it took to pull her under.
And that was enough to snap her out of her daze.
Musa took a step back. Then another. And the world came back to startling clarity.
No one could ever hold that much power over her.
"It doesn't matter about connections," Musa forced the words out, swallowing thickly. "It matters what's right. I won't throw away my life for you, and I won't ask you to throw away yours."
"Come on Musa..."
"Go back to your wife, Nabu."
That was enough to silence him - or sober him - his jaw shutting with a click. Something dark passed over his face, something like finality, but Musa didn't place too much faith in that. Nabu was too hard headed to give up that easily, and the fire in his eyes burned even brighter as she turned to go.
As she walked back towards the dining room, she was reminded of that old Earth saying: the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.