Guest: Thank you so much, I'm very quite sure what most readers think of this story, so I'm glad you're enjoying it!
Abstract-Reality: That is such a large relief to hear! Paroxysm is a tricky one, Tempest and he have a very love hate relationship but at the end of the day, they do what keeps their little family safe, which is what the marriage should secure, but Rule #549 is to ALWAYS be suspicious of gifts given by reluctant allies (Tempest seems to forget this rule a lot).
Importchic: I was hoping someone would recognize that song! I was listening to it the ENTIRE time I was writing and it just felt so ... him, to me.
To everyone else, thank you for reading and keep in mind that the next chapter will most likely be the consummation of Ronan and Tempest's union, so it will be sexually graphic.
This feels so surreal
That seems to be the only thing I can think of as I step out of the shower and watch as water droplets slide down my shaved legs and pool around my feet. With a sign, I wrap a towel around myself and open the door of the bathroom to see five young Asgardian women waiting for me next to my bed. The three brunettes with light blue eyes look similar enough that I have to wonder if they're sisters, but the red head with dark skin and eyes, and blonde whom looks like she's never set foot in the sun are the ones that I watch as they split apart from the group to circle me. My hold on my towel tightens as the blonde with comes up to me and grabbing my hands, her dark blue eyes flash with challenge as she pulls me farther into the room.
"Smile, you're getting married!" she says as her body relaxes and she lets me go next to my dresser.
I slip on a white lace bra and matching lace boyshorts before the red head stops circling me long enough to order me to sit on the edge of the bed.
"I appreciate the help, but why are you all here? I can't imagine Odin sending help." I catch myself asking without realizing it.
A set of giggles peaks my interest, "Odin was less than happy, but Prince Thor told us of your engagement and we wanted to help." I feel a tug as the red head runs her fingers through my hair and try not to wince. "You know," one of the brunettes starts, "arranged marriages aren't that uncommon on Asgard, in fact, I'm quite happy with my husband."
"Enough Talili," the red head says in annoyance "focus on getting her ready and not bragging, we aren't all that fortunate and you shouldn't give her hope where there is little."
This time I suck in a harsh breath as I feel someone give a rough pull at the back on of my head. "I can do my own brushing if you'd like?" I try to offer casually between pulls.
"Sorry," the blonde says from my side, "we just aren't used to such thick hair."
I watch the brunette named Talili grab a strand of my hair and study the strands, black from the water. "I wish I had looks like you."
I turned to take her fully in at her comment, wavy chestnut hair, baby blue eyes, and pale skin, she looks like she belongs on a magazine, they all do. Suddenly conscious of my looks, I took in the mirror where I could see my black hair, dark almond shaped eyes and brown skin reflected back at me.
You're prettier than I could ever be.
"That's not true!" one of the other brunettes exclaims.
"I'm sorry," I apologize as I feel heat on my scalp, "I didn't mean to say that out load."
I feel strands of my hair being pulled, curled, and pinned even as the red head scolds me, "You are pretty, even by Asgardian standards, by the time we are done, you will be stunning."
I don't really know what to say, my own insecurity with my body made me feel like a sheep in a den of wolves, and I have no one but myself to blame. At a loss for words, I sit quietly while the girls critique each other and try not to wince when they pull to hard.
I can only stand the silence from my end for so long before I blurt out, "So, we haven't been properly introduced!" When they all go as still as the dead, I continue, "Seeing as how you all have now seen me in underwear and a towel, I think it's just about high time to change that, I'm Tempest."
I see Talili from the corner of my eye, so I'm not surprised when she starts off with "oh, our apologies! We are only here to help you get ready, and since that man in the other room wasn't interested in introductions, it slipped our minds. As you know, I'm Talili." She says proudly before turning to the other two brunettes, "These are my younger sisters," pointing to the one with straight chestnut hair she says "Modora" and then pointing to the one with the same hair as Talili but with a slightly younger face, she introduces, "and little Lalu" much to her sister's displeasure. The blonde is next, introducing herself as Sifera and the red head as Cornia.
"Now" Lalu starts with excitement, "I think we should start your makeup and pick out jewelry. I personally think silver would be lovely on you!"
Embarrassment coats my tone when I tell her "Um, I don't really think jewelry would look right with my suite, and that's the best thing I packed."
The girls carried on as if I hadn't said anything, choosing nail polish and ordering me to turn my head every which direction as they applied and removed all sorts of makeup and jewelry. I can't help but pray Xandar wouldn't take wedding photos, afraid of how ridiculous I'll look by the end.
Half way through though, the girls worried me even more when they order me to close my eyes and follow their orders as they shuffle me around the room. I feel something like silk pulled up my body and tighten as they pull on the fabric at my back. Keeping my eyes closed, I'm forced to trust them to help me with my balance as I lift each foot so they can slip heals on. Hours later and one last round of blind musical chairs, and I finally hear the words I've been waiting for.
"You can open your eyes now."
Do you know that feeling, when the guy you've been secretly in love with for years finally walks up to you and in front of everyone, announces his undying love? Yah, me neither, but I assume that's what this feels like.
"I'm beautiful," I manage to choke out while trying to hold back tears as I take in my full body reflection. My hair glistens from where it is pulled back, tight braiding mixes with curls of all sizes in a beautiful up do I could never master. Eye shadow that shifts from silver to blue is accented with what looks like midnight blue mascara and eyeliner. Stepping closer to the mirror, I take in how my blush perfectly accentuates my high cheek bones and how my plum lipstick shines and pulls out the natural deep brown of my skin. My ring shines from my left hand, announcing to all who I'm being married to as it bounces light off of my metallic blue nail polish and splashes my skin with a purple light.
And my dress! I take in the beautiful white dress that looks too much like home to be from Asgard, with absolute delight. A heart shaped top hugs my generous bust without showing too much cleavage while a corset waist clings to the curves my mama, and a Hispanic upbringing, gave me. The mermaid dress flairs and lightens to become transparent from my knees to my ankles, with glittering beads embroidered to match the equally as translucent draped straps that hang low on both of my arms. Silver heals glitter, only surpassed by the shine of the knot worked necklace and earing that hang with a lightness of a feather. I've spent so much time resenting what I've become, I stopped seeing myself as beautiful somewhere along the line. In this dress, with my hair and makeup tuned to perfection, I feel like the most beautiful woman in the galaxy. I throw back my head in an attempt to stop the tears before turning to engulf each girl in as tight of a hug as I can manage.
"I'm not sure how you did all this, but thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I say while each girl throws me a dazzling smile.
Cornia comes over and straightens out one last hair before giving me a nudge to the door.
"Now go get married!"
When the door opens, I see Paroxysm standing by the door to the exit, straightening the grey tie on his black suite. Looking up, he shakes his head at me.
"You clean up well Temp, someone may even mistake you for a girl."
A gentle punch to the arm is my reply as I beam up at him, refusing to take the bait.
"Now," I say carefully, "You aren't going to go batty again when I kiss the groom, are you?"
I get a scoff I don't really think I deserve before an actual reply of "Not unless he gives you anymore funky gifts, and if he does, you tell me?"
Now it was my turn to make a very un-lady like sound at his serious expression. "A ring is hardly 'funky', Paroxysm."
"I'm serious," he says while wiggling his fingers at me, "he could be putting a bug or transmitter or some other strange Kree thing on you and you'd be so kind you wouldn't even think to notice it."
Deciding we could go around for hours, hours I no longer have, I opt for just grunting an agreement as I loop my arm through his and start walking out the door and to the room where, if I'm not mistaken, the ceremony is to be held.
The music would have been a dead giveaway even if I had of gotten lost, which I didn't. As soon as the guards come into view, I see them mumble something as the song changes and the doors open to show all of the ambassadors, plus some creatures I've never seen before, sitting on both sides of the aisle I'm not standing in. My eyes travel from where I stand, up the rows of seats and even further across a few steps before landing on Ronan, standing at the top in draped robes that seem to mimic his armor. As I take my first step into the room, Modora comes running up behind me and hands me a small bouquet of lavender flowers.
"Sorry," she says with a wink, "we got so distracted we forgot to give them to you before you left."
She steps back into the hall while Paroxysm's gentle pull urges me down the aisle. As I walk, I see some of the ambassadors that I know had been pining for Ronan's death, as well as a few smiling faces, one of which being the Ice Giant who nods his head as I pass. Further up, I see Thor who looks stressed but manages a toothy smile and thumbs up that I subtly return while mouthing thanks to him.
The farther I walk down the aisle, the more Ronan comes into focus; and as I approach, I admire just how handsome he is when he isn't sporting a scowl and wearing war paint. An expression I hope to be approval crosses his face as I climb the stair to meet him, one last squeeze of my arm from Paroxysm and it's just Ronan, what I assume is a Xandarian priest, and myself.
"Allies of Xandar," the Xandarian starts, "We are gathered here today,…."
And so he began, he says many things, most of which I can't hear past the pounding in my ears, and most of what I do hear is a mix of English and what I assume to be another popular alien language.
After a long speech I couldn't understand, Ronan takes my hand and a noose is placed around both of our necks, binding us as we slip rings upon each other's hands. I hear myself say "I do" when the priest asks if I will place my marriage only second to my world, and Ronan follows with the same soon after. I look around as polite applause echoes through the room before I feel my balance shift as I'm pulled into a strong body and hard lips press against my own. Closing my eyes, I place all of my hopes, all of my desires into the kiss.
Pulling away, the noose is removed and I take in the fine silver detailing entwined in thick black braids before it is lowered into a large wooden box. Ronan takes my ring hand in his, and hand in hand we walk down the aisle and towards the door. Jittery with the desire to be away, it isn't a hardship when I have to speed walk to keep up with Ronan's pace.
Laugher explodes from my lips as I reach the outer door and throw them open to see the shining sun's rays bouncing off my ship, The Black Pearl. I start running for it only to let out a startled scream as large arms wrap around my waist and pick me up, spinning me as a way to cushion my momentum. I don't know why I had been so afraid, nothing went wrong with the wedding and soon I'll be safe on my ship. My optimism is shattered though, when screams of horror join my cry. Looking up, I see something I had only read about in my reports.
This can't be real
Looking up, I see the Dark Aster breaching through the white clouds in all its terrifying might.