As he waited out of view by the courtyard's main doorway, Thor realised the tiny lights sailing the slow breeze outside were actually miniscule candles. He had thought they were fireflies, but their movements were too relaxed and evenly spaced to not be part of Dvalin and Borghild's decorations.
He was glad, however, to still see beneath the adornments one of the places he had played in during childhood. The grass was still the same fresh green counterpane, despite the thousands of unfamiliar feet that trod upon it. A winding path of tiny, springy blossoms with pearl-like petals was another new addition that formed the aisle. Thor had seen his mother strolling the lawns earlier that day, her palms lit with magic, but his guesses as to what she was doing had come nowhere close.
The air had cooled considerably since Thor had stood on the steps of the front hall that morning, brushing over his skin like fresh silk. Through the half-opened doors, he saw first stars beginning to show against the rose-and-lavender sky. Maybe other worlds were assembling to watch, too.
It looked like a large orchestra had been fragmented and scattered over the square. Thor spotted the sheen of burnished musical instruments dotted on low balconies, beneath trees, closer to the altar. The only part of the ceremony's embellishments that appealed less to Thor was the aisle. The sheer number of invitees demanded a long path for Jane that meandered among the guests' spaces so that all could view their new princess. It meant he would actually be one of the last to see her as he waited at the altar after his procession. This did not seem fair. She would be his. They were each other's. Surely that meant they should see the other before anyone else.
"Nervous, Thor?"
Thor glanced to his side. Volstagg's grin gleamed against his coppery beard and groomsmen clothes.
"Friend, I've faced hundreds of seasoned warriors from all over Yggdrasil without my heart missing a beat. Do you think me nervous now?" Thor smiled back. The Warriors Three chuckled.
"Is that why you've Mjolnir hidden here now?" Hogun supplied with a slight smirk, nodding to the weapon set behind Thor's feet. "You think you might need to fight your way out of this ceremony at some point?" Fandral snorted.
"Leave him alone, you three," Sif was standing on Thor's other side, her hip jutted out casually. Darcy and several other maids dressed in different shades of blue waited with her.
"Thank you, Lady Sif," Thor said.
"Because he is nervous." Sif finished. Fandral and Volstagg barked with more laughter, while Hogun grinned more widely. Thor sighed.
"Meh, you'd be a bad groom if you weren't tense about the love of your life, Thor," Darcy piped. "Especially considering how fierce Jane's been getting with all her own nerves. I can't believe she'll basically be the first Asgardian princess that's a human."
"A fine one she'll make," Volstagg announced "since Asgard's royal family must watch over all of Yggdrasil, and she can never tear her eyes away from the skies for long."
"You cannot hold your bride-to-be's attention for more than a few hours, Thor? Is that why your nerves are so frayed?" Fandral snickered.
"But y'know, I think this whole galactic wedding is really great," Darcy chimed again. "It's getting us all together like we're one big family and we're getting to know each other. I mean, who on Earth could have known Thor had a gal pal like Sif? Or a kickass mum like Frigga? Or talked to someone like Fandral?"
Fandral whipped his head around to stare at her. "Meaning?"
Volstagg guffawed.
Darcy and Thor's groomsmen filled the waiting time before their procession with their chatter, alleviating the need for Thor to join in. He was glad of that today. He suddenly thought of who had been even less talkative while they waited.
"You've been awfully silent here, Brother," Thor remarked.
"I'm busy plotting my elaborate scheme to ruin the wedding." Loki shrugged without looking at him.
"Oh, of course." Thor nodded. "That reminds me – "
Loki glanced at him, amusement quirking his lips.
" – I meant to ask you earlier… Do you have your speech ready?"
"Of course. What kind of Best Man do you think I am?"
"You're Loki." Thor answered the rhetoric. He took Loki's arm and drew him a little away from the rest of their company. "I'm assuming you've memorised it. Deliver it to me now, while we have time alone before the reception."
"Definitely not," Loki said. "I want it to be a surprise for you." Loki made to step around Thor.
Thor grasped Loki's shoulder, bringing him to a halt. His apprehension crept higher. "So does it involve anything potentially embarra – "
Loki's wolf laugh cut him off. A bridesmaid in cerulean blue satin peered over at him. "Thor, if you agonise over my mortifying you or Jane on your special day, you needn't fear – "
Thor slackened his grip on Loki's shoulder.
" – A little healthy embarrassment from the speeches is expected, especially from the Best Man, so of course I incorporated some – "
With that, Thor steered Loki even further away from the others by the side of Loki's neck so roughly he almost tipped him over.
"Loki – "
"Calm yourself, Thor, I was only jesting!" Loki tried to move around him again, but Thor held him in place.
"Promise – "
"I swear on pain of my own pitiful death that you will not regret my speech reaching living ears."
Thor eyed him severely.
"Do you honestly expect me to foul your mood on your big day?" Loki asked innocently. Thor opened his mouth to retort.
Loki added before Thor could speak, "I have no irresistible desire to humiliate you in front of thousands today, Brother. I know you can manage that in your own time."
Thor shoved him lightly back to the rest of the waiting bridal party. "Nor Jane."
"Nor Jane."
"On pain of your own pitiful death."
"But that promise does not include you or she embarrassing yourselves without my input."
"On pain of your own pitiful death, Loki."
"Thor, sometimes I think you all just want excuses to punish me excessively."
Outside, nestling atop the buzz of a thousand guests, the orchestra had begun playing.
"The bridesmaids and groomsmen, please!"
Borghild's whisper cut through a joke Fandral was making at Volstagg's expense. There was the swish of blue skirts and soft tapping of shined shoes as two lines were formed. Thor caught Fandral's wink before the wedding planner prodded his friend to face the front with her elegant index finger.
"With the music's the next crescendo," she instructed them.
It sounded a few seconds later. Once the procession of black and blue had skimmed onto the flowery aisle, Borghild and Dvalin began ushering the rest of the wedding party into place, except for Loki and himself. Two young girls beamed up at Thor, each bearing a carved dish of sweet-smelling violet petals.
"There is still a little time before you and your Best Man must proceed."
The other Chief of Celebrations, Dvalin, was suddenly standing at Thor's elbow. Every time Thor noticed the two Chiefs, poring over obscure lists or overseeing the design of some wedding decoration, Thor always thought how they were the most refined-looking pair of Asgardians he had ever seen. Dvalin's fingernails were probably more carefully cut than Thor's tailored wedding tunic.
"Thank you, Dvalin, " Thor answered. Dvalin smiled serenely before gliding away. Thor drew in a deep breath, trying to be as silent as possible as he let it out.
"I thought you said you weren't nervous, Brother."
Loki had been watching the other members of the wedding procession get into position, an almost bored look on his face. Thor may have been imagining it, but, aside from Thor's interrogation about Loki's speech, Loki seemed to be getting less and less chatty as the evening flowed on.
"And like I did say, I am truly not nervous." Thor did not know why he ever tried lying to Loki – his little brother finally turned to look at him, not even bothering to raise an eyebrow.
"Relax, Thor. You're comfortable with being the centre of public attention, all of your guests adore you, and all you have to do is repeat after the Allfather for a few sentences. You've slain monsters, so you can marry the love of your long life." Loki patted his shoulder. The motion emphasised the constant abrasiveness of Thor's tunic, but he did not mind.
"You're the mighty Thor."
Thor took another deep breath of the cool twilight air, but his nerves were melting down until they only bubbled in the background, barely noticeable. He clasped the back of Loki's neck, smiling gratefully. "Thank you."
Loki paused, before opening his mouth to reply.
"Do not tell me to give you a kiss," Thor warned. Loki laughed as he leaned away, dousing the rest of Thor's anxieties for a moment.
Thor grinned. "I'm taken now, remember? I will marry the love of my long life in mere minutes."
"Ah, of course." Loki's shoulder's drooped in mock resignation, eyes cast to the vaulted ceiling. "I should have seen this heartbreak coming from leagues away. Woe is I." Thor snorted.
"Anyway," Thor said. He felt the sudden need to tell Loki, reaffirm it in his little brother's mind just before he was tied to Jane with a golden ring. Loki looked at him. He seemed to already know Thor was about to say something more solemn. He waited.
Anyway, you are tied to me in a way that no one else can be. You always have been. You're my brother. Not even Jane can replace that.
Thor could only say, "If I can find someone to tie the knot with, then so can you." He cringed inwardly.
What Loki gave him was not quite a smile. Only perhaps once or twice before could Thor remember his younger brother looking so trusting. In those instances, Thor was quite sure it had been he whom Loki had looked to. He felt a strange ache.
Thor knew Loki had never welcomed the possibility of romance for himself. But Loki replied, "Thank you, Thor. I am nothing but happy for you and Jane."
Thor sighed inwardly. Then he buried the strange ache beneath the day's joy – there was no need for sorrow now. His grin returned. "You will recall that you are supposed to be rallying me, not the other way around."
"True. You don't need me though."
Thor looked at him in surprise.
I always do
Loki smiled a little. "I meant you're ready now, anyway."
"Time to get married?"
"Time to get you married."
Thor's nerves were all but entirely gone now. He held out his arms wide like he was to embrace the world. "So how do I look? Like a king? A warrior? A husband?"
Loki cocked his head to the side and studied Thor for a second. "Like a fool."
Thor lowered his arms. The music had nearly reached the lilt that would signal Loki to begin walking the starlit aisle. "Perfect."