Isfet lifted a hand to pull at the material of his ceremonial robes too tight against his throat. Had they been given more time he could have found something that fit him better or had what he wore then altered.

He was not sure why his parents wished to rush the wedding. Maybe it was the talk of war, for he could think of no other reason.

When the music began he stared ahead. Only when the gasps and claps from the crowd began did he turn.

First was his sister that he'd only met briefly an hour ago. She wore an ivory dress with white flowers in her hair. In her hands she carried sheaths of wheat that fell to the floor on the material that had been lain down for the ceremony. When she reached him she skipped off to the side where his family sat.

Wished that, upon seeing the other side of the aisle, that his betrothed had someone there.

Then he glanced back down the aisle as more gasps echoed in the hall.

Felt his heart skip a beat at the sight he beheld. Prince Ma'at in his kingdoms traditional wedding garb. Although he knew his Bat wasn't too happy with what he'd been asked to wear, that didn't make him any less breathtaking.

Not that he could see him easily with the veil in the way. But the way he walked, despite having to watch his step was surely Ma'at's unconscious saunter and sway.

While he had known the prince for years, mostly at a distance, it had not taken long to fall for him and his charm. Even if he'd thought him to be a Beta.

Now, his darling Bat, the kind-hearted prince of the Kingdom of Nyte, Prince Ma'at Yarğanat Batlar would soon be his. Forever. As he himself, Prince Isfet Khaba Joktar of the Alaome Kingdom would be his.

The music faded to the background as did the faces of all those present. Until it was only he and Ma'at as Ma'at lifted his veil in the hand he did not hold a bouquet in and walked toward him.

He stretched out a hand, even as Ri let go of Ma'at's arm and walked off to the side.

Ma'at placed his free hand in his, and those holding the train of his wedding dress walked off to the side as well.

"Prince Ma'at, you're gorgeous as ever."

He saw the slight dusting of red on his cheeks even as Ma'at smiled at him.

"As are you, Prince Isfet."

The one overseeing their union cleared their throat and arched a brow.

It appeared his parents had chosen a Beta to conduct the ceremony. Which meant that Beta's, at least the ones born within the Kingdom, were being treated well and equally.

"Welcome all, family and friends, new and old acquaintances. We have gathered here this day to bear witness to the joining of two lives."

The crowd grew silent as the orator began to speak.

He and Ma'at both glanced up at the Beta reading from a scroll while they held the hand of each other. Neither wanting to let go.

"Our own beloved and long thought deceased, but now returned to us hale and whole, Prince Isfet Khaba Joktar and the young prince of the Kingdom of Nyte, Prince Ma'at Yarğanat Batlar."

The orator glanced around and continued after glancing at the scroll.

"Prince Isfet, you may repeat after me."

Isfet shook his head. "No. I have my own vows to speak if that's alright?" He hadn't had much time to come up with something, but he still had.

"Very well, Prince Isfet, if that be your wish."

He hoped it wasn't going to upset his mother Queen Asha nor his father King Druj, but vows were still vows.

Turning, he gazed into the deep ocean blues of his beloved's eyes.

"Prince Ma'at, you have my heart." He lifted Ma'at's free hand to his heart. "You are never far from my thoughts," he lifted Ma'at's hand up to his forehead. "You have become a part of my soul." He wrapped his pinky finger around Ma'at's pinky finger. "Prince Ma'at Yarğanat Batlar, my darling Bat, you complete me." He then lifted his hand to brush a kiss across the back of his knuckles.

With every word he'd spoken, he'd seen Ma'at's blue irises disappear little by little until there was only a tiny ring of blue left as his pupils overtook them.


Ma'at gulped at the words and actions of Isfet, his Master Joktar. He had been unable to think of possible vows to speak, but the ones Isfet spoke were perfect. He hoped the other didn't mind that he used them too.

"Prince Isfet, you have my heart." He took Isfet's hand and placed it upon his chest where his heartbeat unsteady due to how the wedding and Isfet's own words affected him.

He saw his beloved Master's eyes widen as he repeated the vows he'd come up for him.

Taking Isfet's hand again he continued. "You are never far from my own thoughts, beloved one," he placed Isfet's hand upon his forehead. Watched as Isfet's Adam's apple bobbed.

"You have become a part of my soul, too," he smiled, feeling a sting at the back of his eyes, and placed his pinky in the pinky of Isfet as the other had done earlier.

He shivered at the look in Isfet's eyes. Lust-filled and possessive, but not without being tempered with the tenderness of love.

Finally he lifted Isfet's hand to his lips, gazed into his vibrant green eyes, and spoke, "Prince Isfet Khaba Joktar, my beloved Master Joktar, you complete me." He brushed a kiss across Isfet's knuckles.

The orator cleared his throat. "Now if there is anyone who objects to this union, may the speak now, or forever hold their tongues."

When no one stood to object, time felt as if it stood still until the orator nodded and continued.

"Now, by the powers vested in me by the gods and mortal man, I now pronounce you Alpha and Omega joined in wedlock, in this life and the next."

Ma'at did not glance back at the orator, could only stare up at Isfet as he held the bouquet in both hands so that no blossom slipped from his hold.

Isfet continued to hold his gaze.

The orator smiled and closing the scroll, spoke a final sentence for the ceremony. "Alpha you may now kiss your Omega."

All around loud cheers, whistles, and clapping commenced as Isfet and Ma'at leaned into each other.

Their lips met. Ma'at's parted beneath Isfet's.

Neither saw, but Queen Asha walked up to them. "Isfet, perhaps save that for later, my son."

Ma'at pulled back and glanced up at the tall female.

Isfet quirked a brow at his mother. "Of course. Sorry if I've embarrassed you, mother."

"You haven't. But you may have if you two had continued."

Ma'at felt his own face grow warm.

"Now, why don't you throw the bouquet, Prince Ma'at, and then we'll continue to the festivities with a meal before you cut the cake."

Ma'at nodded and turned around so that he faced away from everyone in the room. Behind him, women gathered, and the few male Omega's that were not yet claimed.

With a toss-up and back, he heard people clamoring for the bouquet.

Turning around he saw it was a middle-aged woman who'd caught the flowers. Her face was red and those around her pouted, especially the young ones.

He did hope she had a sweetheart and that she'd find whatever happiness life granted would grant her.

Isfet whispered into his ear, "I think this is where I remove the garter and throw it to the men and alphas."

With a frown, he walked over to a chair and sat down.

Isfet knelt before him and winked. "Don't worry my sweet, I'll be sure to wear the dress, if it pleases you, at the ceremony in your kingdom."

He blinked, eye's wide. "You, you'd do that? But you're an Alpha."

"Clothes are clothes, darling, and they can be fun." He chuckled and made his way beneath the long fabric of the wedding dress.

His face turned red when he felt Isfet's hands on his ankles and then his teeth against his thigh as he grabbed the garter with them.

With everyone watching he lifted his hands to his face to hide, even though he knew he couldn't really hide from their view.

Worst of all was the Alpha's and Omega's that could surely sense his arousal as Isfet tugged the garter down to his calf and over his foot. It still in his teeth and he hadn't used his hands at all.

Making sure nothing of him had been uncovered he clasped his hands in his lap.

Saw the men and alphas gathered behind Isfet as he took hold of the garter and tossed it.

It landed in the hands of a middle-aged man. A man who glanced shyly at the woman who had earlier caught the bouquet.

Maybe there was hope after all, even though the woman at least would have been considered a spinster if she'd never wed before, or a widow on the shelf if she had.

Everyone clapped, including the King and Queen who smiled their way.

Isfet offered him his hand, and he took it. Of course, he still had to be careful of every step he took, especially without the aid of those who'd earlier carried the train of the dress.

It wasn't but minutes before he was seated next to Isfet and Isfet next to his mother who sat next to her Omega. And beside him their daughter.

Queen Asha stood and held up a goblet filled with mead. "Let us feast and make merry this day, for not only have we the return of my son, the crown prince, but he has wed his betrothed. Today we shall feast like there be no tomorrow, for on the dawn of the morrow we wage war to take back the crown that belongs to Prince Ma'at Yarğanat Batlar."

There were shouts of glee and sloshing of glasses after they'd clinked. And among them shouts of war.

Ma'at sank into his seat and glanced at Isfet who sat at his side. "I wish there were a peaceful solution."

"The only peaceful solution is to let your uncle have the Kingdom of Nyte."

"But I can't. Not if he's going to continue what he has in the past where the Alpha's and Omega's are involved. Some may have been freed, but what happens when they're born to the Beta's?"

"Then perhaps we shall simply march on your kingdoms soils and you can give a speech in hopes of having them turn on your uncle."

He nodded. "Perhaps that might work."

"But if it fails, war is still a possibility."

He nodded and took a sip of his drink and rest his head upon Isfet's shoulder. "I don't want to drink too much."

"Nor I, not when tonight is our wedding night, but that is hours away as yet."

The thought of what was to happen later had him shifting in his seat, face flush with color as he took a nibble of the fruit and cheeses provided by a serving wench.

He watched as couples stood up and asked each other to dance as music filled the hall again.

Isfet stood and turned to him and offered a hand. "Care to dance?"

"If not for this dress, I would."

"Perhaps, both of us can change into something else?"

"Is that allowed?"

"If it's not, I can just hold you in my arms on the dance floor and we can sway. There need not be too much movement."

He took Isfet's hand and leaned into him. "Take me somewhere I can change and then we can dance."

"Of course, this way."

King Druj called out, "Where are you two going? The reception isn't over and you've not cut the cake yet."

Isfet turned to his father. "I would like to dance with my dear Ma'at, but the trail of the dress is much too long. He and I both fear he'll trip."

The King and Queen looked to each other.

King Druj nodded. "Very well."

Queen Asha sighed, "At least Prince Ma'at wore the dress for the ceremony. That is all we can ask of him as he did not grow up on our kingdoms traditions."

He didn't care if he got their blessing or not, but it was better than being scolded or having his hands tied metaphorically or not behind his back.

Isfet nodded, "Thank you," and then led Ma'at out of the hall and to the stairs. "I'm going to change as well. This suit is a bit too tight."

"Still, you look handsome in it, Master Joktar."

"As lovely as you look in the dress, my darling Bat."

They ascended the stairs and each went to a different room to change into clothes they felt more themselves in.


Joker, in his sleep, placed his hand upon his chest, over his erratically beating heart. Ma'at had been beautiful in that long-ago wedding dress. And those vows he spoke had him longing to kiss his lips. But as he could not he felt a prickle behind his eyes and growled.

He didn't know why fate was being so cruel. It had been cruel to him long ago and continued to be, for how long he'd lost count. Only knew that without his precious Ma'at there was no rhyme nor reason to the world or the universe in which he and it continued to exist.


Batman shook his head. Those vows had been deep. Through Ma'at's eyes he saw the look in Isfet Khaba Joktar's gaze and knew the man loved the younger prince. His words and actions, of course, continued to confuse him. After all, the man had admitted to being and had shown he had sadistic tendencies. Even though he had never truly harmed Prince Ma'at.

Why fate was showing him these memories of Prince Ma'at, he still didn't know, but he had some inkling. Yet he could not be sure. Not while he slept and even if he woke there would be no answers.

He needed answers. Any way that he could get them.

So he let himself drift in Ma'at's consciousness, not that he had much say in that anyway and waited for whatever had pulled him out last time to pull him out again so he could rejoin the land of those awake.


A/N: Thank you for reading! I do hope you enjoyed the chapter. I look forward to hearing what others think if they should have the time.

Suggestions are also welcome. I can't promise to use any and all suggestions, but if they seem like they'd be a good fit they might pop up some time.