"There is no way in all the seven levels hell that I am wearing that ungodly cumbersome excuse for a wedding dress, I would sooner walk out there buck ass naked." Dante stated as she looked upon the golden monstrosity that was brought to her by Frigga's handmaid Narissa. The dress itself consisted of a corset that flowed down into a golden sheath with a train that had to be at least ten feet long. It was entirely made of gold silk and covered with sparkling crystals and flowers made of precious stones. "That atrocity belongs on a very secure drag queen."
The handmaiden was shocked to say the least that her new charge had declined such a beautiful gown from the Queen herself and she also wondered what in the name of Valhalla a drag queen was. "Lady Titania, it is tradition that the mother choose the dress for her daughter. Queen Frigga only wished to include you in such traditions since you do not have your mother present." Narissa explained trying to understand Dante's obvious disgust.
Dante rolled her eyes, "My mother is dead. Thanks for reminding me. Now, I don't care what traditions Asgard has, I will wear what I deem appropriate for MY wedding. Am I clear?"
"But Milady…" Narissa began.
"Enough." Dante demanded effectively silencing the poor woman. "You are dismissed, please tell the Queen that while I appreciate the thought I must happily decline."
Narissa shook her head, "I cannot Lady Dante, please don't send me away or I will be punished for not obeying my orders. Please…"
Dante looked at the maid for the longest time before sighing, "Fine but make yourself useful and start polishing my armor."
"Y-your armor?" She asked curiously.
"What else is a warrior Queen supposed to wear on her wedding day?" Dante answered before she burst out laughing as the incredulous look in Narissa's face. "I'm just kidding, Narissa! Your face was priceless, I'm sorry I couldn't help myself."
"That was very mean, milady."
"I said I was sorry." She wiped a tear from her eye, "My guard is fetching my dress from my home as we speak he should be here momentarily."
On queue, Sabin appeared in the room next to Narissa holding a small bundle of silver fabric. "Sorry it took so long I had trouble finding your shoes."
"Did you look in my shoe closet?"
"Yes, but among the hundreds of shoes I had trouble finding the "badass, fuck a mother up" black leather boots."
"What else would you call these?" Dante held up a dangerously sexy and silver chain adorned pair of leather boots.
"Black. Leather. Boots."
"This is why I don't take you shopping with me, you have no sense of style." She snatched her dress out of his hands and stormed off into her adjoining bathroom.
"You get used to her crazy after a while." Sabin commented noticing Narissa's bewildered look. "It's actually kind of endearing."
"I'm not crazy!" Dante shouted from the bathroom.
Sabin rolled his eyes. "I only meant it in the best of ways."
"Bullshit and don't you roll your eyes at me Sabin or I'll rip them out with a rusty salad fork."
"I didn't roll my eyes."
"Sabin." Dante deadpanned, "I'm crazy not an idiot. I know you rolled you eyes."
"I thought you said you weren't crazy."
"I'm not."
"But you just said you were."
"No I didn't."
"Yes you did."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"Shut up or I'll rip out your intestines and skip rope with them."
"You win this round."
"Are you nervous, brother?" Thor asked as he sat next to Loki and handed him a large goblet of ale.
Loki gave his brother a look that clearly meant he shouldn't ask such stupid questions, but alas Thor continued to wait for an answer. "No Thor, I am not. What reason could I possibly have to be nervous?"
Thor clapped his brother on the back, "Come on Loki you are getting married this night! You should be a pile of nervous joy. I know I have long awaited this day!"
Loki grumbled to himself as he drained his goblet. "It's a political marriage Thor there's no need to be so jubilant."
"Tis true that this may be a political scheme created by father but at least you're marrying a more than worthy woman, brother."
"And what do you know of her worth?" Loki spat.
Thor smiled knowingly, "She is more beautiful than the nymphs of Vanahiem, stronger and more fierce than any warrior of Asgard, and she can ruffle your feather better than anyone I have ever seen. She will be good for you and your mischievous ways."
"I supposed that out weights her lack of sanity." Loki smirked, "In the very least I will be entertained."
"Speaking of entertained," Frandal stated as he entered Loki's sitting area. "I heard from one of the maids that your wife-to-be refused to wear the gown that our mother gifted her. They said she called it a golden monstrosity and something about a drag queen but I'm certain that must have been gargled through the palace grapevine."
At this point Loki uncharacteristically burst out laughing, "A drag queen you say? That is priceless."
Thor looked at Frandal who shrugged, "What is a drag queen brother? And why is it so comical?"
"A drag queen is a homosexual male that enjoys dressing as a woman usually in gaudy dresses with makeup and wigs."
"Midargians are very strange creatures." Thor shook his head while Frandal took his turn to laugh hysterically.
Loki stood upon the raised dais with his mother, Thor, and Odin in the throne room awaiting his bride. The hall was full of Asgard's elite and warriors alike, all eager to see who the unfortunate bride was. Even thought he hid it well, Loki was disgusted by this display he was convinced his "father" wanted to just appease the people and let them see him married off to become someone else's problem. His thoughts were interrupted when the music swelled effectively drowning out the crowd. Dante stood in the entrance in a long shinning silver gown that reminded him of a Grecian goddess, she wore her mantel over her shoulders, and a silver crown upon her head, which seemed to be missing the main stone. As she strode confidently towards him he notice the almost hip high slit in her gown and the thigh high leather boots with silver chains and what appeared to be a very sharp stiletto hill. She was ungodly beautiful and dangerous in those few moments it took her to reach the dais. When she took his hand he let a breath out he didn't even realize he was holding, nor did he notice the well-dressed gentleman that trailed behind her.
Dante looked to Odin for her queue, he nodded. She held out her hand to her companion. "Sabin, my most trusted advisor and dear friend, if you please?"
Sabin kneeled and offered up a dagger. "My Queen."
Gently she took the offering and kneeled to Loki holding up the blade, "This blade was soul-forged by my father's father and it only speaks its name to those that it claims are worthy. I have held this blade for many a millennia and the only words it has spoken to me are its wishes to be with you." The hilt was beautiful silver with a moonstone inlay, but the blade was an ever-changing black with red, blue, and purple highlights. "I gift this to you, Loki, son of Odin, as a token of trust I place in you as my husband and guardian. May it's strength serve you well."
Loki warily took the blade from Dante and ushered her to stand but she gently nudged against his hand in refusal, he dismissed it and move along with the ceremony. First he turned to Sabin, "Sabin, trusted advisor and friend of my bride, who stands in place of her father, to you I swear now that I will devote my life to her care and safety. Dante, to you, I swear my undying devotion and protection in this life and the next." He sheathed the dagger and turned to Thor. "Thor."
Thor stepped forth and kneeled gifting a small glowing stone to his brother. "Loki, my brother."
Dante continued to kneel as she spread her arms out in welcoming. Loki took the stone from his brother. "This stone, which was unrightfully taken far too many moons ago from you, I humbly return to you this day my bride. May this be proof that I will put you above all others."
Dante sighed happily as Loki placed the stone in its place upon her crown. It had been so long since her soul jewel had been taken and she reveled in the familiar power that washed over her. Slowly she stood a truly grateful smile on her lips as she looked to Loki's family. "Frigga, mother of Loki, Odin, father of Loki, and Thor, brother of Loki, I swear this to you now. I will never let harm come to your son, he will never again fall into the darkness, I will devote all my power and life to him in this life and the next."
Frigga stepped forward with tears in her eyes, "As you swear before me, so now you must swear to each other." She bid them to cut their palms and join their bloody hands. "Eternal faithfulness, eternal love, and eternal honor."
"I swear." Loki said while holding Dante's gaze.
"I swear." Dante said holding Loki's gaze.
Raising her hands Frigga touched them both on their foreheads in blessing. "Then by blessed rite of marriage, Loki Odinson and Dante Titania Bellerose, I bind you to each other as husband and wife, forever. By my word it is done!"
"I declare it by the laws of Asgard," Odin boomed, "Loki Odinson and Dante Titania Bellerose from this day forth you are bond with the full blessing of Asgard. This is my will and none shall dare refute it. By my word it is done."
As an enormous cheer rose up Loki grabbed his bride and kissed her deeply, "Shall we celebrate my beautiful bride?"
"Hell yeah, let's get this party started! Thor, grab all the mead you can carry!" Dante cheered, "Think you can beat me in a friendly drinking contest brother?"
"I accept your challenge sister!" Thor roared happily.
Dante and Thor's exuberance must've caught on because the entire room broke out in a loud deafening cheer. The Warriors Three and Lady Sif rushed forward to lead the way for the party. Frigga laughed at their antics while Odin stayed stone faced, she nudged her husband gently, and he smiled lightly. Loki stared at his wife like she'd grown a second head for a minute before he chuckled at her ridiculousness.
"You're going to ruin your dress you know."
Dante shrugged, "Unlike the last dress its not vintage Versace."
"It was quite a lovely dress if I recall," He smirked, "Though I do love this one as well."
She smiled mischievously, "Wait until you see what I have under my lovely dress husband."
"Minx."
"Shall we husband?" She motioned towards Thor and his friends. "That mead isn't going to drink itself."
Loki daringly threw Dante over his shoulder and strolled down the dais to his brother. "My new wife needs copious amounts of mead brother and who am I to deny her wishes?"
"That's the spirit brother! Onward to the great hall!"
Odin and Frigga watched as the last vestiges of the crowd left the throne room, some going home to their beds while others followed the wedding party.
"Reminds me of my wedding night, though it was you who demanded celebratory mead." Frigga joked. "She'll be good for Loki."
Odin nodded, "As much as I loathe to admit it I believe you are correct my love."
"Will you speak with her before they leave? Set things right with her and Loki?"
"Yes, many things must be set right."
"Thank you husband."