A/N Your Nordic for the day: Fiendeblad is "Enemy blade" or "Foe blade" (LOTR nut that I am), and Heimevápn is simply "Home weapon" or "Home Security"
Please feed the bunnies!
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"What do we need swords for?" Tony asked when Loki presented it to him. "Are weddings some bloody ritual in Asgard?"
Loki shook his head. "Swords represent the strength, virility, and trust exchanged between clans, Anthony. The bride's sword to the groom represents the sons she will bear. The sword he gives you represents his loyalty to your house."
Stark nodded. "Huh. Kind of a nice symbol. It looks more bad-ass than an arc reactor, too."
"Besides, this is a wedding, Stark. Blood rituals are reserved for extreme measures, like emergency healings or binding rituals. Your moon is also in the wrong quarter, and Thor is not a blood mage," Loki finished.
Stark blinked. "Blood magic is a thing?"
Loki smiled and disappeared.
The clock said 3:15.
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Conference Room A had been stripped of furniture. Every single potted plant in the Tower now lined walls and windows, and an ash tree (holographic, courtesy of JARVIS) grew up a pillar and spread a branch canopy at the ceiling. Tiny white lights blinked through the leaves, giving the illusion of fireflies to the assembled crowd (mostly off-duty secretaries and low-level executives). White cord formed an aisle separating the people by sex: men on the right side, women on the left. The aisle led to the room's center, where a circle was similarly drawn. Thor and Diana stood at its apex, regally dressed per the customs of their houses: he in red and silver, she in blue and gold. A small table stood between them, holding various dishes, gold rope, and some pine branches. A rough-hewn oak log, 3 feet thick, lay in front of the table. Thor nodded to the back of the room.
Volstagg's rich baritone startled the crowd as he marched, huge face radiant.
"Lady of Asgard, cloaked in stars,
Spinner of clouds and weaver of peace,
Finest treasure of Odin,
Orderer of all people, peace-maker,
You who set things right,
And join all hands in fairness,
Giver of counsel, keeper of hospitality,
First at the hearth and the threshold,
Luck of the Aesir,
Give us your blessing on this day,
A blessing not only of these folk who love,
And come to be joined by your silken-spun-threads,
But on their kin, and their kind, and their tribe,
And all of us who here watch and witness their vows,
And seal it with our love!"
Behind Volstagg marched Fandral, and behind Fandral came Hogun the Grim, eyes vigilant, ever at the ready. (Neither Volstagg nor Hogun worried for their friend's safety; they knew Lord Stark and Lady Potts approved of the match.) When they reached the front of the key, they turned to face the back of the room.
Pepper stepped forward, singing.
"Lady of Asgard, armored in light,
Weaver of winds, head of the dance,
Mother of Storm, of Magic, of Justice,
Mother of Valkyries, peace-maker,
You who set things right,
And join all hands in fairness,
Comforter, healer, counselor,
First at the hearth and the threshold,
Fire of the Aesir,
Give us your blessing this day!
A blessing not only of folk who love,
And come to be joined by your silken-spun-threads,
But on their kin, and their kind, and their tribe,
And all of us who here watch and witness their vows,
Seal it with thy blessing!
Behind Pepper marched Tony, holding aloft the sword Sauer had made (and which a grinning Loki had stolen back from SHIELD). Charity Abel, barefoot and crowned with a flower garland, paced behind Stark, followed by both Malick and Sauer. Malick held a bowl, Sauer a bottle of mead. Happy Hogun and (a slightly tipsy) Dr. Banner followed both bridesmaids, in place of the bride's brothers. When the company reached Thor and Diana, they stopped and bowed low.
"What man seeks a wife? Step forward, and be known!" Thor called out.
"I seek a wife," Fandral stepped forward. "Fandral, son of Sannurblað, son of Solveig!"
"What blade do you offer, and whose was it before you?" Thor asked.
Fandral drew his sword, gleaming in the light. "Behold Fiendeblad, my grandfather's troll's bane. He forged it when Buri was king!"
"What house will accept him? What woman will have him? Step forward, and be known!" Diana called out.
"Charity, daughter of Henry Able, ward now of Houses Stark and Potts, presents herself to wife with Fandral, son of Sannurblað, son of Solveig," Tony proclaimed.
"What blade does she offer, and what is its history?" Diana pressed.
"Heimevápn, newly forged," Tony said with a nod. "A gift to the bride by her attendant, Lady Sauer, who forged the blade."
"A virgin blade?" Diana asked, incredulous.
"It's a wedding," Thor murmured. "Something has to be!"
Diana elbowed him.
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Thor held up his hands before the couple. "Hear now, Fandral Sannurblaðson!"
Diana raised her hands too. "Hear now, Charity Abeldottir!"
In unison, Thor and Diana chanted: "Hear now, witnesses gathered together! Your lives have crossed and you have formed ties between each other. As you enter this bond you should strive to make real, the ideals which give meaning to this ceremony and sealing."
Malick and Sauer surrendered bowl and mead, and Charity Able gave her bouquet to Sauer. The honey mead was opened, and some poured into the bowl. Thor and Diana each grabbed fir branches, dipped them into the honey mead, and showered the groom, bride, attendants, and guests, chanting "Blessed be!"
Thor lit the candle on the center of the table.
"Face each other and join your left and right hands to form the eternal sigil."
Fandral and Charity grasped their hands, right to right and left to left, forming a figure eight.
"Are you of sound mind, Fandral?" Thor asked gravely.
"Aye, I am," Fandral nodded.
"Are you here willingly, Charity?" Diana asked, searching the woman's face.
"Yes, I am." Charity echoed.
"Within this keep, blessed and warded by Odin All-Father, you declare your intent to be hand-fasted before friends and family. You speak that intent also to your Ancestors and Descendants. The promises made today and the ties that are bound here greatly strengthen your union; they will cross the years and lives of each soul's growth. Do you freely seek to enter this binding?"
"Aye," Fandral nodded.
"Yes," Charity said.
Thor picked up a paper dove from the table.
"Blessed be the air between you. May your words always be honest and true, respectful and loving, pure and life-giving."
Loki winked at the paper dove, and it became real, fluttering around the bride and groom before disappearing in a shower of silver tinsel. Sauer gave him a quick smile.
Diana picked up a bowl of water, and poured a small portion over the head and hands of the bride and groom.
"Blessed be the water you share, to nourish and cleanse, to quench your thirst and that of your guests, and to purify your house and your labors," she said.
Thor picked up a burning coal in his bare hands (everybody goggled at him for this). "Blessed be the fire of your hearth, and of your passion, and of your tempers. Let your house always be warm, but tempered," he said. He crushed it in a massive fist, and sparks surrounded the couple.
Diana picked up the last item: two stones.
"Blessed be the foundation of your house, built on rock, and of your relationship, may it be sound. Stay grounded! Stand firm! There be many who oppose you! Be solid in your dealings with one another, and may your union be undivided!" She pressed them in her palms, and when her hands opened, she presented the couple with a pair of gemstones. "So may the pressures in your life create beauty, and not division."
Thor and Diana picked up her golden rope, and began addressing the couple: Thor speaking to Fandral, Diana to Charity.
"Fandral: Will you cause her pain or grief?"
Fandral bowed his head. "I may."
"Is that your intent?"
"Nay."
"Charity, will you cause him pain or grief?
Charity bowed her head. "I may."
"Is that your intent?"
Charity looked up at Fandral's face. "No!"
In unison, Thor and Diana asked the couple:
"Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?"
"Yes," they both answered.
"And so the binding is made," declared Thor and Diana, draping the golden rope across the bride and groom's hands.
Six more oaths were exchanged, and with each one the golden rope was wrapped around the arms of the couple, until their hands and forearms were encased in gold.
"Will you share laughter and health? Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow? Will you share dreams and visions, to create new realities and hopes? Will you take the heat of anger and use it to temper the strength of this union? Will you honor and respect each other? Will you seek to never give cause to break that honor?
Thor addressed Fandral:
"Do you Fandral, take Charity to be your lady and wife? To be her constant friend, her partner in life and her true love? To love her without reservation, rich or poor, honor and respect her, protect her from harm, comfort her in times of distress and to grow with her in mind and spirit?"
Fandral nodded. "I will!"
Diana spoke to Charity.
"Do you, Charity, take Fandral to be your lord and husband? To be his constant friend, his partner in life and his true love? To love him without reservation, rich or poor, honor and respect him, protect him from harm, comfort him in times of distress and to grow with him in mind and spirit?"
Charity nodded. "I will!"
A final, eighth knot was tied around the couple's arms.
Thor and Diana spoke as one.
"And so, the binding is made!"
Thor raised his hands over the couple.
"As this knot is tied, so are your spirits now bound. Woven into this cord are all the hopes of your friends, family and of yourselves, for your new life together. With the entwining of this knot do we tie all the desires, dreams, love and happiness wished here to your lives, for as long as both shall live. In the joining of hands and the fashion of a knot, so are your lives now bound, one to another."
"By this cord you are bound to your vows. May this knot remain tied for as long as both shall live, in the name of Thor, son of Odin All-Father, son of Bor, son of Buri, first of the Aesir. May this cord draw your hands together in love, never to be used in anger. May the vows you have spoken never grow bitter in your mouths."
"You twain, entwined in love, bound by commitment and fear, sadness and joy, by hardship and victory, anger and reconciliation, all of which brings strength to this union. Hold tight to one another through both good times and bad, and watch as your strength grows. Remember that it is not this physical cord, but what it represents, that keeps you together."
Thor lowered his hands.
Diana stepped forward, grabbed both ends of the golden lasso, and gave a sharp tug. The bonds dissolved around their hands, and reappeared around their bodies, pulling them together, face to face.
Diana leaned over and with a puff blew out the candle. She raised her eyes, twinkling, to the couple.
"Kiss your bride, swordsman!"
Fandral bent Charity over and kissed her soundly, until she blushed red, breathless. The entire room erupted in cheers and hoots, and many of the women's eyes glistened with tears.
"Go now in love," Diana proclaimed. "With the blessings of the elements in closing and may peace attend you all your days. So may it be."
Diana gave one last tug on her golden lasso, and the couple was released. Fandral drew the sword given to him by Tony Stark, raised it high with one hand, and then kneeling, drove it into the oaken beam, sinking it to the hilt.
"A fair blade, and strong," he said, smiling. He gave Sauer a kind look-his first to her-and held out his hand to Charity. "Wife?"
"Blade-master with the short sword? How are you with a long blade?" Charity smirked.
"Did I not show thee last night? Short or long, I master both blade and scabbard. But if you need more schooling…" Fandral raised an eyebrow, even as Thor rolled his eyes.
She gave him her hand. "Husband."
Cheering and shouts erupted for the couple as they kissed again, until Thor put gentle hands on them both.
"There be plenty of time for that in the moon to come! For the nonce, your new father-in-law has prepared a wedding feast. We must away!"
"Goldilocks is right, folks! The party is downstairs!" Tony shouted. "Make way for the bride and groom!"
In the general cheering and jostling, nobody heard a cell phone ringing. Throngs of well-wishers pushed forward to slap Fandral on the back, or offer Charity a congratulatory kiss. It wasn't until the lights dimmed momentarily that the crowd quieted down.
"I think we're busted," Tony cracked to Thor. "Last time that happened, we had a message from your Mom."
Thor laughed. "We must make certain to send a casket of honey mead to the All Father and Mother, my friend, so they may join in the toasting."
"JARVIS, is there another message from space?" Tony called out.
"No sir. This call seems to originate on Earth, but I am having trouble locking down the signal."
"Put it on screen," Tony commanded.
Bands of black, red, and yellow flooded the viewer, and words appeared within each band:
OUT OF DARKNESS
INTO THE SUNSHINE
"What the hell?" said Pepper.
"That's the flag and motto of Germany," Sauer said, puzzled.
"No, it isn't," said Charity. She scowled down at her phone, fished out of her dress's cleavage. "It's Hy…to hell with them!" she exclaimed, smashing her phone on the floor. "I'm done with them!"
Malick checked her phone even as the screen cleared. She blinked, eyes moist with tears. "I'm sorry, Miss Potts. There's an important message."
The view screen went black, and a glaring red octopus began to pulse on it. Over its head pulsed more letters in red: A.
"What is it, Miss Malick?" Miss Potts asked, impatiently.
"Hail Hydra, and goodbye," said Malick. She pulled a handgun from under her dress, pointed it at Pepper, and pulled the trigger.
An executive and a junior chef echoed her and opened fire.