Chapter Two
The Celebration
Bulma was woken some time later by a pair of gentle lips caressing her cheek. She slept soundly. Thankfully, she'd been so tired she'd even managed to sleep dreamlessly.
"Good afternoon," Unus whispered.
"Is it that late?" She asked tiredly and wrapped her arms around Unus' waist and pulled her flush against her side.
"Yeah, the guards just told me lunch is in about an hour. They're bringing us a tub for a hot bath now, and I believe they have clothes for you."
"Oh, okay." Bulma laid there in Unus' arms for a few minutes while they waited for the handmaids to bring the tub and the buckets of hot water. Unus apparently had restocked the fire, so it was delightfully warm. As she stroked the soft skin of Unus' hip, she noticed that the other woman was naked.
"I wish we could stay here, indefinitely," she mused and peppered Unus' shoulder with kisses.
"Me too, Bulla," she whispered, and they kissed. Their peace was interrupted by a well-meaning handmaid knocking. Unus pulled Bulma's dirty old housecoat on, and Bulma answered the door in her nightdress.
It wasn't a handmaid. It was Prince Vegeta, whose brows shot up at the sight of her. She went a bit stiff, but it was too late to hide now that he'd seen her.
"Good afternoon. Did you sleep well?"
"Very well - thank you," Bulma said and crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"I've brought you something. A gift from my family." He had a dress draped over his arms that he held out for her. "And, the cloak I put on your shoulders last night is yours to keep as well. Tell your Knight I'll have my stuart clean her armor and provide new underthings while you two wash."
"Thank you, Your Highness. This is very generous of you. It'll be wonderful to have something clean and warm to wear." She reached out to accept the dress and stood aside so the handmaid's lining up behind him could bring the tub and water inside.
"My pleasure. I'll come collect you for lunch in a little over an hour."
"Thank you, I look forward to dining with your father and siblings." He nodded stiffly and left. If Bulma wasn't mistaken, his cheeks had turned a bit red. Back inside the room, she laid the dress out neatly on the bed to look it over.
"Pfft, oh right. That'll keep you warm." Unus rolled her eyes and shook her head disapprovingly.
"My Lady," One of the Handmaids said. "It comes with a warm under-suit."
"Good," Unus snapped.
"Thank you," Bulma added for good measure and fixed Unus with a cool gaze.
"Be nice to them, they're working hard to accommodate me with no notice."
"Yes, Princess," Unus said, formalities up since there were people around.
The dress was indeed something Bulma wouldn't have expected to find this far North, even in a castle. It was made of layers of light, airy muted lavender fabric that seemed to float at the slightest touch. She tried to remember what Princess Fasha had been wearing last night when she arrived, but she couldn't. She'd been too tired to notice anyone's clothes, even the King's. The bust of the dress was low cut enough to make Unus' comment completely valid, even if they did give her something warm to wear underneath.
Bulma decided to look over the cloak Prince Vegeta had given her last night since it seemed it would be the only thing keeping her upper body from freezing. She remembered it was warm, but it was also beautiful. The outer fabric was a rich, white velvet. The collar and inside of the cloak was a thick, soft white fur the likes of which Bulma didn't recognize. She'd never seen an animal with white fur before.
After Bulma's bath, she sat by the window and sipped a black drink they called coffee while Unus bathed. The handmaids didn't help her as they had Bulma. She offered to wash her back, but Unus threw a cautious look at the handmaid and shook her head. The sight of Unus bathing was so lovely and so tempting, that it was a struggle to look out the window instead. But she managed.
The sun was high in the sky, the morning frost already melted away. From this room, Bulma had a lovely view of the Town Square. She could see plenty of people rushing about, getting trades and chores done while the day was at its warmest. She looked over as many people as she could, even if they didn't look ill or hurt because you never knew.
Soon, Unus was done washing and the handmaids were taking away the water, bucket by bucket, and then the tub. Since Bulma had been drying longer, she dressed first.
It took the handmaid's so long to get her dressed, that by the time she was done, Unus was already wearing her own new warm cotton under suit with her clean, shining armor on. She looked beautiful. Her hair was clean again and hung in soft looking strands neatly around her face. She must have been making eyes at her because Unus shook her head ever so slightly.
"Stuart!" Unus called as the boy began hustling away. "Tell your men they do good work."
"Yes, my Lady Unus Octo!" He bowed so low his head nearly touched the floor and took off.
Bulma looked in the mirror, feeling much better now that she was clean and dressed, but the bodice was very, very exposing. She felt as if she'd be indecent if she reached above her head even a little. Even though she'd only been here a few hours, she longed for the South and the elegantly draped silks that allowed for easy, comfortable movement.
The rest of the staff left them alone to wait for Vegeta. She put the white cloak on and felt better when her chest wasn't exposed. She wondered if all northern dresses felt this stiff. Even though the dress itself was light cotton, the formal bodice they'd put over it was so constricting she felt as if she couldn't have bad posture even if she wanted.
"I'd tell you that you're beautiful, but you're always beautiful. More importantly, are you warm?"
"Yes, these under trousers - or whatever they call them - are very warm. The chest and arms though… could use a little more coverage," Bulma shrugged and approached Unus to slip her arm around her neck and kiss her. "You look amazing." She ran her fingers through the blonde hair to find it was as soft as it looked. Her own hair was tied back and styled so much it was basically untouchable.
"Thank you, Bulla." Unus leaned down to kiss her again and slipped her arms around her waist to hold her close. "They're going to suggest an arranged marriage, you know," Unus said, ruining the moment as they parted lips.
"Yes, I know. Probably with Goku," she mused. Since the eldest son, Prince Vegeta, was to be king of his own country, they'd put up the 2nd eldest. "Unless he's engaged, already. Then it'll be Raditz, and if he's already engaged than Tarble."
"That wouldn't be so bad," Unus mused and smiled playfully.
"You just like him because he's the smallest."
"I need to be larger than at least one of these bears. I feel like a shrimp around them," Unus joked, but there was a seriousness to her confession that stilled them both.
"How do you think I feel?" Bulma whispered.
"Terrified." The playful mood had gone, and now Unus was deadly serious. "Remember Bulla, you're easily the most beautiful person any of these men have ever seen. But I'll be with you the whole time, and if whoever they marry you too turns out horrible, we'll just poison him or something," she joked, but there was a look to her smile that made Bulma think she'd actually do it if given the chance.
"I just hope it's not Raditz," Bulma admitted. "He's horrible, or at least he was back when they visited."
A knock on the door sent them both flying away from one another. Bulma answered. It was Prince Vegeta.
"Princess," he greeted. "Are you ready?"
"I am, yes. Thank you again for your hospitality." She curtsied, he bowed. He extended his arm, and she took it, though her arm was reluctant to leave the cozy depth of the fur-lined cloak. His arm was surprisingly thick, but the longer they walk the more she thought he was deliberately flexing his bicep if the stiffness of his arm was anything to go by.
"Did you manage any rest after my intrusion?" She asked, trying to make polite small talk, and looking over every person they passed on the way to the dining hall.
"I did. We've still no word from your country though."
"No, I expect not. I need to send word to the general of my navy and have them sail here at once," she said.
"Your navy?" He smirked.
"Yes. My people need to be protected from whoever took our castle. Whoever they are, they mean my people no good and I can't protect them from here."
"I see."
"I'm sure your father and I will have much to discuss, after lunch."
"He is likely to be distracted, actually. My mother has somehow recovered from her illness. He's been with her ever since." She looked sideways at him, wondering how he felt and was delighted to see him smiling. "Have you ever been to a northern celebration?" He asked.
"No, I'm afraid not."
"Well, if you wish to leave the celebration, simply ask and a guard will escort you anywhere in the castle you'd like to go," he explained. "It's a lot of beer and fighting. While we dine, the guards and want-to-be guards will be fighting in a tournament. The Winner will be declared Knight of Winter, a title of great honor. The big bag of money is a nice prize too. Runners-up will be made guards."
Bulma already hated the idea of this. To celebrate the miracle of the Queen's recovery, they try to kill one another? Northerners were fools, that much was clear. She wished she didn't need them to save her people. She wondered if Unus would want to fight too. Well, regardless she'd never allow it. It wasn't worth the risk to her life.
Prince Vegeta led her to the throne room, where a massive table had been set in front of the 6 thrones, and all the chairs moved from the ground level to make room for the battles. They had to enter the Throne room from the side to avoid the line of people, waiting to earn their titles as knights, or up their existing rank.
For now, the throne room held only the royal family, a few guards, and now Bulma and Unus. The Queen looked radiant. She was sitting on the King's lap, kissing him eagerly while he kissed her back. Most of their children seemed to be smiling, but otherwise not watching their parents' passionate kissing. Bulma felt a little heat in her chest at the sight and smiled.
"Was she really so sick?" Bulma asked, feigning a puzzled frown and looking at Vegeta.
"We thought she was going to die." Bulma looked doubtfully back at the Queen who looked as healthy as one could be. "I wouldn't believe me either, but she was given days last night. Days. Now, she's as strong as ever," he shrugged.
"I believe you," she said softly. "I still remember when my mother was sick. When we all knew she was going to die. How it felt. I saw that feeling yesterday. In your eyes, in your fathers, and your brothers and sister."
"Then I suppose I should believe your flaming, winged horse story too," he teased and she laughed. They approached the King and Queen, Vegeta a little more eager to look at Bulma while they spoke than at his parents' display.
"Father, Mother," Vegeta said to get their attention. They parted and looked at their son and Bulma. Both of their lips were swollen and a touch red.
"Ah! Princess Bulma! Welcome!" The King chuckled, and the Queen slipped out of his lap. She was about the same height as Bulma, though she had the black hair and the thick, muscled body Bulma had come to expect of the Northerners. She was dressed elegantly and looked radiant, and beautiful.
"Princess Bulma, I haven't seen you since you were a little girl. That was shortly after your own mother had passed, wasn't it?" She pulled Bulma into a tight, bone-crushing hug that made her cough, both from the literal physical pressure, and the sudden reminder that she was an orphan.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I don't know my own strength. I'm so pleased you're here. You brought the blessings of God with you. I'm sure of it," she said eagerly. "God smiled down on us and blesses us for taking you in. She wants us to fight with you. Of that, I am sure."
"Your Majesty?" Bulma asked, once again pretending to be confused.
"She just woke up and got dressed, Mother. She hasn't heard yet."
"You have not! Oh, my dear, it's wonderful news. You see, this morning we got word that everyone who had been at the Infirmary last night, was healed in the morning. We've got reports from all over the town and the castle of ailments and injuries vanishing, just like that! My Sweet Husband's back, Sir Nappa's knee, Goku's hands!" She gushed and hugged her again. "My dear, know it or not you bring blessings with you, and for as long as you need, you are welcome here."
"Your Majesty, thank you, you're very kind but I'm sure it wasn't me. If I had been so blessed than why was my home taken from me so horribly? Why did God not protect my father and all of my friends at the castle?"
"She saved you, and your Knight. and this Steed I've heard of. She delivered you here. Come, come we've much to discuss. Of course, we should talk marriages first, I know it seems an odd time, but if our armies will fight together we need to unite our families forever."
At those words, Bulma's eyes shot to Goku, who sat towards the end of the table with a teen boy standing beside him. She frowned. Who was that? Judging from the easy way they touched, maybe a stable boy Goku was intimate with? Or maybe even just a proper concubine? Did the North allow such things?
"Now Vegeta is, of course, going to be the next King of Vegeta, so he's off the table, and Goku is a widower with his own son so that leaves our third eldest, Raditz. Raditz! Come here!" Queen Gine gestured him over. Raditz, easily the biggest of the sons, stopped his conversation with a frightened-looking kitchen maid to do as his mother asked.
"Mother, Princess, what can I do for you?" He bowed and looked up at Bulma, expectantly. "Oh! Raditz they don't do that in the South. Bulma, darling he is waiting for your hand." She explained. Bulma obliged and was shocked when Raditz actually took her hand in his and kissed it! She flushed and pulled her hand away as soon as his grip loosened. "Raditz, I was just telling Bulma that you two would be a good fit. Unite our families and countries forever and we'll win this war."
At her announcement of their apparent engagement, Raditz looked Bulma up and down, greed written clearly on his face. "Goku is older, though, and stronger. Why not him?"
"Royals in the Isle of Life cannot marry a widow or a widower. The look on Raditz's face as he smiled made her go cold.
"Actually, your Majesty, it's only divorcees we cannot marry. Widows and widowers are acceptable by our laws." The instant look of anger on Raditz's face made Bulma step back instinctively. Unus put her hand on Bulma's back. For a while, Bulma had forgotten she was there.
"Really! Well, excellent! I think Goku would be a fantastic fit, what do you think? Goku!" She called. Goku was mid-bite with his name was called, making him look up from his snack, cheeks puffed out with food.
"Mhm?" He yelled over a mouthful. Bulma laughed and felt a wave of relief. She remembered Goku being sweet and carefree from their visit the first time. At that point, Tarble hadn't been born, and Fasha was too young to travel such a long way. She also remembered Raditz, a few years older than her and a teenager while he was visiting. He'd been so horrible to every woman he interacted with that Bulma's father had assigned a guard to him to keep his hands off the castle staff.
"Come here, Goku!" Queen Gine called. He nodded and got up. Wow, he'd gotten tall. He was easily taller than all of his brothers, except Raditz though he wasn't nearly as bulky as Raditz, which made him look longer.
"Oh! Hi Bulma!" He greeted, a big smile on his face after he'd swallowed. "I haven't seen you since we were kids! You sure got pretty! What's up?" His casual nature and easy smile was a relief, after all these formalities.
"Thank you, Goku. You got big. I didn't think you'd ever get taller than Vegeta!" That made him laugh. A wave of relief washed over Bulma. She could marry him and be content, she decided.
"Goku, we're going to arrange a marriage between our families. Since you're the 2nd oldest…" Gine gestured between the two of them, smiling.
"Wow, really? Marry Bulma and move to the south?" He asked, jaw hanging open a little.
"Yes, and be a King. It's more than you'd ever have staying here," Queen Gine said, smiling sadly at her son.
"Well," Raditz spoke up. "You'd be king in that you'd be married to the Queen. Bulma would be the ruler, just like how Father is the ruler here, and mother is Queen only because she married the King."
"So - What would that make Gohan?" He asked and looked over his shoulder at the teen boy who'd been sitting with him.
"A lord of the Isle of Life. Probably Marry a Lady of the court or something." Gine said.
"I- I'm sorry I don't believe I've meant Gohan yet," Bulma said. Did they expect her to give her future husband's concubine an official marriage to a lady of the court?
"He would get to come with us, right?" Goku asked his mother.
"Yes, of course! He's your son - Bulma would never ask you to -" She stopped short when Goku waved Gohan over. As he approached, everything made much more sense. Bulma wondered how old he was. Goku had already been a teenager when she meant him when she was just 8.
"Hi, I'm Gohan." The boy bowed to his Grandmother, uncles, and Bulma when he got to them. "Gohan, this is Bulma, Princess of The Isle of Life. The King and Queen are thinking about arranging a marriage between her and I. How would you feel about moving to the South?"
"Woah - Really, Dad?" Gohan's face lit up. From that simple expression, Bulma could clearly see the relation and she wondered how she'd not noticed it sooner. "I've been reading about the Isle of Life since I was a kid! It's where we get most of our food, right? And they have the biggest navy in the world and the most navigable rivers of any country on the planet and they have a summer that lasts 4 months! I read that it doesn't get below 60 degrees there, even in the winter! Is that true, Your Highness?" He asked Bulma eagerly.
"It is." She smiled at him. "How old are you?"
"11," he said. "Am I old enough to learn how to ride those narrow racing boats?"
"Oh! The canoes! We go more off height than age actually, and you're plenty tall enough." "Oh, wow cool! Dad, is it really going to happen?" He asked, beaming at his father and Grandmother. wow cool! Dad, is it really going to happen?" He asked, beaming at his father and Grandmother.
"If you're this excited, then I don't see why not! I'd be the luckiest man in the family to marry Bulma! Well, right behind Dad of course!" He said, with a cheeky wink to his mother who smiled and slapped his arm, while Bulma flushed. "I mean, we get to move South and live in paradise, where it's always warm! I get to marry the most beautiful girl in the world, who has some weird blessing that heals everyone she's near! It doesn't get better than this for us, does it - oh!" The smile melted off of Goku's face. "But, Bulma I'm sorry about your Father. He was really smart, wasn't he? I'll do all I can to help you get your country back and avenge him. I promise." He clenched his fist in determination. His tone had changed so suddenly that it took Bulma a moment to keep up. She was still smiling from his praise of her homeland.
"Thank you, Goku - I think we can be very happy to-"
"Now hold on," King Vegeta approached and wrapped a thick arm around his wife. "Let's not go rushing into anything just yet."
"Why on earth not? I know you and The King Brevis had been planning to marry one of our sons to her for some time, so-" Queen Gina said to her husband with a huff.
"That's not the problem, my love. We should wait until this war is over to see whom she marries. If we are victorious, and we can take back the Isle of Life, then she marries Goku, and they go live in the South. If we fail and we cannot get The Isle of Life back, then she marries Vegeta, and becomes queen here," he decided. There was a pause while everyone absorbed his order.
"Your Majesty, what will the North do for food without the Isle of Life?" Bulma asked.
"We will have to trade more with Namek. They are further away, and thus more expensive. It might cause a bit of a depression. Not to worry, though. I plan on putting my all into this. While our country wouldn't perish if we lost, millions would die from the following food shortage. Assuming we aren't attacked in the same manner you were, and there's nothing to suggest we wouldn't be. So, Goku if all goes according to plan, you will have your way."
The whole time they spoke, Raditz seethed quietly, greedy eyes locked on Bulma. She didn't look at him, but she could feel his gaze on her as they parted to sit, eat, and watch the fighting.
Bulma had nothing against Vegeta. The oldest son had been nothing but kind to her since she arrived, and he hadn't even mentioned her looks yet, a huge perk as far as she's concerned. But she wanted to go home, and she wanted to see the people who murdered her father suffer horrible, painful deaths. And Goku was nice. He had a good nature about him that she liked. At the very least, she could see herself being close friends with him.
So long as she stayed well away from the third son, Raditz, she would be just fine.
During the tournament, the servants brought meat dish after meat dish until Bulma longed for something that grew from the earth. No sooner had she thought it, a servant set a stack of steaming potatoes in front of her, smothered in pig fat and gravy. She groaned and closed her eyes to wait for her stomach to settle.
On top of the too-rich food, she stood out rather a lot. Neither the Queen nor Princess
Fasha were wearing a dress like hers. They had dresses that looked like they belonged in the North. Long sleeves, leather bodices, and fur-lined skirts, with rich greens and browns with touches of gold. They were lovely, but they also had a practicality about them that this fluffy bell-shaped thing they had her in just didn't. Was this how they thought southerners dressed? The fabric wasn't bad, but that bodice kept making it hard to breathe.
As the guest of honor, she was seated beside the King and queen, in Goku's usual chair. Rather than make his brother scoot down though, Goku was more than content to sit at the end of the table with his son and talk with him while they ate piles and piles of food, mostly meat. This meant Bulma was sitting between the Queen and Raditz.
He spotted Bulma smiling fondly at Goku and rolled his eyes.
"My brother seems nice now, but he's a moron. He'll cause you nothing but trouble down the road with that carefree attitude of his." He finished the sentence by ripping a piece of flesh off a turkey leg and swallowing it without chewing.
Bulma was just hoping Goku would be the sort to stay out of the way and let her lead. He seemed good-natured enough, and like he wouldn't much care so long as he got to spend time with his son. She looked to her right to see if the Queen could hear them and if she cared that Raditz was insulting his brother to a royal dignitary.
"What happened to his wife?" She asked, looking Raditz in the eye for the first time since meeting him.
"Gas. The colds attacked her homeland too." He said with a careless shrug.
Bulma didn't push the question. She didn't want to think about gas.
"Plague is a real problem up here, isn't it? Almost no one down South has -" She said, changing the subject as rapidly as she could.
"It's the cold," he cut her off. "Makes Southerners weak, if you ask me."
"I don't think we're weak," she said with as much friendliness in her voice as she could muster without sounding too fake.
"Please, you're barely as thick around as my arm."
"Doesn't mean all Southerners are weak. I'm sure Unus would win in a fight against you." Raditz looked over his shoulder at Unus, standing behind them, and laughed.
"She's no bigger than you. A nice suit of armor doesn't make her strong."
Bulma sighed and let it drop. She noted the Queen had stopped talking to her husband but was now pretending to watch the battle while she pointed her ear directly at them.
The rest of the tournament was a struggle to watch. Bulma tried tuning it out, by looking at her meal, or talking to the queen, but it turned out to be a mistake. Being distracted by a conversation, the warriors scream of pain startled her, and she snapped her head to look him over - without a thought, and he was healed. The crowd went silent, as the man stood up. It was Nappa. She hadn't even noticed it was him, but she must have recognized his voice without realizing it. There had been a sword in his stomach - and now his abdomen was as smooth and scar-free as a baby's. He grinned, while his opponent looked horror struck.
Bulma looked away just as Nappa jumped the other man, but even over the yells and cheers, she could hear a sickening crack. She wished they had something other than meat to eat. She could feel the flesh inside her stomach and then seeing the flesh in the fighting ring being beaten and sliced through with swords made her feel sick. She knew she hadn't eaten human, but she thought from this point on she would never eat meat again. While here, she'd eat what they gave her, but as soon as she managed to get home she'd never touch meat again.
"NAPPA!" The King shouted, making Bulma jump a little in her seat.
"Jittery little thing, aren't you?" Raditz growled, before standing up to cheer and punch the air with everyone else. Apparently, Nappa had won. "GOD HAS CHOSEN NAPPA! WE ALL SAW HER GIFTS OF HEALING WORK BEFORE OUR VERY EYES!" The King shouted.
Bulma paled and covered her mouth with her hand.
Nappa shouted a wordless cry of victory and downed a pint of ale. Bulma looked over all the fighters lingering along the sides. Their voices rang up in surprise and pride as their wounds were healed. More screaming. More drinking. Now, there was music and she couldn't take anymore. She wanted to leave the party but if she did, and the healing stopped happening they'd grow suspicious. They already thought having her in their home was a blessing, but they didn't know it was actually her doing all the healing, and that's how she wanted it.
The party went on until it started to grow dark. Bulma excused herself to go find Vegeta and ask him to join her in fetching Ember. She didn't want to leave him in the woods another night. Even though she was sure he'd be okay by himself, she figured he must be lonely. But she couldn't find Vegeta in the crowd, which was now dancing so violently that people were starting to lose teeth - or maybe it was a big fight now?
She couldn't tell, so she went back to the table to look through all the people. Everyone was in that mess of bodies and fists. Even the Queen and King. Unus had at some point decided Bulma was safe and joined in. Unus was one of the only people she could pick out of the crowd, as she was the only blonde.
But she was working her way to the middle, towards Nappa, apparently, to challenge him. This meant Bulma had to stay and watch, so she could protect Unus while she fought Nappa. Bulma was expecting Unus to take it slower, maybe need to be healed a few times before she'd win - but as soon as Nappa nodded and raised his fists to fight - she jumped, grabbed his own fist to get herself higher, and kicked him in the head so hard Bulma could see his eyes bulge out.
He hit the ground with such a crash that the fight dancing stopped, and everyone turned to look at the woman who'd just knocked out their prizefighter with one, sudden, surprise kick. Unus' leg was broken, judging from how she was standing very carefully, with her leg dangling a bit rather than putting weight on it. Bulma looked it over, and she stood normally again.
The room went wild with the thrill of a new victorious opponent. Nappa was completely out of sight on the ground for a good while, as bodies blocked her view of him while dancing - but a moment later, he emerged and lifted Unus into the air, and sat her on his shoulder - he was so large that this looked easy, and screamed his delight, at apparently losing to a woman half his size?
This confused Bulma, but she looked Nappa over anyway to heal him, and couldn't help smiling as he and Unus celebrated. She seemed to fit in here, surrounded by strong, muscled Northerners.
But If she was going to be busy playing with these overgrown children, then Bulma would go get Ember herself.
Notes: Thanks for reading, guys! I hope you're enjoying this fic! Please let me know what you think! I love reviews, because they provide valuable feedback that helps me improve the story over all, as a writer! I hope you're having a good one!