"Is something wrong?" Medusa asked. "You seem tense."
Black Bolt looked at her and forced a smile. 'I'm alright. Everything is fine. I'm… nervous… about dinner. I prefer to eat alone. If I invite others, I force you to be here for me.'
Medusa touched his shoulder gently. "You have to get used to entertaining," she told him, "and I don't mind coming to dinner so that you can speak to your guests. Besides, you didn't pull me away from Crystal tonight since you invited her too."
He nodded and then looked over her shoulder to the blonde girl behind her. 'Crystal, it's good to see you,' he signed, and her sister repeated the words out loud. Besides not wanting to impose on Medusa in general, Black Bolt hated the thought of cutting into her time with her little sister. He had to admit a bit of jealousy of the girls' close relationship. He knew by now that he and Maximus would never share such a connection.
Crystal offered a small curtsy. "I'm honored to join your family for dinner," she said.
Medusa grinned and whispered to the king, "She's thrilled to be invited to the palace."
He gestured toward a door that lead out toward the garden. It was a medium-sized terrace near the palace. Most of Attilan's food was grown hydroponically, but certain plants did better in or even required soil, trees in particular. A number of flowers and vegetables grew in raised beds along the inner wall. Farther out across the terrace, more beds were laid out in rows, each holding a single fruit tree.
In an open space closer to the garden entrance, the three found a long table set for dinner. Triton and Karnak were already seated there conversing with each other. When the king arrived, both stood and bowed slightly. Black Bolt nodded in acknowledgment and motioned for them to sit. Before he could ask, Karnak said, "Gorgon should be here any minute, my king. I'm not sure about Maximus."
Black Bolt sat in the middle of the table, across from Karnak and Triton, motioning for Medusa and her sister to sit beside him.
They could hear Gorgon approaching before they saw him. "Sorry I'm late," he muttered as he came into view.
"You're not," Karnak replied with his usual composure. "You're right on time."
"Oh, good," Gorgon said with a shrug, taking the empty seat that Black Bolt pointed to at his side. He looked around at the group as he sat down. "Is Maximus coming?"
Black Bolt shrugged.
"He's supposed to be," Medusa said with hesitation in her voice.
"I'm sure he's on his way," Triton added hopefully.
The king sighed and motioned for a servant to set out the appetizers. He didn't know if there was any point in waiting. He actually had barely seen his brother since the coronation, when Maximus had naturally been expected to attend. Inviting him to this evening's meal might have been a mistake. But, of course, Black Bolt couldn't simply invite the rest of the royal family and leave his brother out.
The prince showed up within five minutes, slinking over to the last open seat across from Gorgon. He glanced up and mumbled an apology. Black Bolt closed his eyes in exasperation but nodded in acceptance. Everyone else at the table went back to eating, drinking, and chatting. However Medusa could almost feel the frustration emanating from the king beside her. He had seemed tense already, and Maximus wasn't helping.
Luckily, the main course was soon ready, and the group was too busy eating to bother with any more discussion, especially since the king couldn't do both at the same time. It wasn't until everyone was almost finished that conversation began in earnest. Black Bolt seemed content to simply listen as his cousins were catching up with each other. Medusa joined in from time to time, always keeping an eye on Black Bolt to see if he had anything to say.
The light was beginning to fade, and after serving dessert, the servants illuminated the garden with decorative lamps. So far everything had gone relatively well. Black Bolt double-checked his pocket for the ring. But that was when things went sideways.
Gorgon had said something to Maximus. Distracted as he was, Black Bolt had not heard the remark, but it clearly offended his brother. Unfortunately Gorgon had a habit of saying things just to rile Maximus up.
Now Maximus was ready to stir up trouble. If he didn't feel appreciated, he could be counted on to do his best to ruin the evening for everyone else. "Well, at least I'm a member of the royal family," he retorted. "I don't even know what these two are doing here." He waved his hand toward Medusa and Crystal.
"You know why Medusa is here," Karnak admonished him.
"Yes, she speaks for my brother. But how did she end up with that job? I can't understand why she'd even want to serve the king after what our parents did to hers!"
Everyone had gone quiet. Black Bolt slammed his fist down on the table to get his brother's attention and then pointed meaningfully at Maximus. He didn't need any more sign language than that to say, 'That's enough!'
Maximus glowered at him for a moment. He looked over at Medusa and Crystal and mumbled, "I apologize. I didn't mean that." Then he stood and gave a half-hearted bow to the king. "I'm sorry, brother," he offered. "That was uncalled for. I think I've had enough of socializing tonight. If I may have your permission to take my leave…."
Black Bolt's gaze remained cold. He had half a mind to argue further, but he didn't want to put Medusa and her sister in a difficult situation. He made another angry pointing motion toward the palace, one that clearly meant 'Go!', and Maximus stalked away. As soon as his brother was out of sight, Black Bolt stood abruptly and paced behind his chair a few times. The others all glanced at each other. Most of them had never seen the king so furious.
"It's alright," Medusa assured him, and he stopped pacing to look at her. "I'm used to comments like that. And Maximus, well, he tends to lash out and speak without thinking when he's angry."
"It was my fault," Gorgon added. "I shouldn't have antagonized him. I'm sorry, my king."
Black Bolt shook his head and waved his hand as if to say 'Don't worry about it.' He signed some more, and Medusa interpreted, 'I was afraid that it was a mistake to invite Maximus tonight, but I did it anyway. I will have to talk to him at some point. For now, maybe it is better that he isn't here.'
The king signed something else, and she knew it was between them and shouldn't be spoken aloud to the others. 'I am sorry, Medusa,' he told her. 'I am afraid that my brother attacks you because he cannot attack me now that I am king. He has been jealous and angry for a while, but he thinks no one sees it.'
The red-head nodded in understanding. Medusa felt saddened by the rift between Black Bolt and Maximus. It was a shame that it seemed the two brothers would never share as close a bond as siblings should. But she was well aware of Maximus's jealousy. She had seen it in his interactions with his brother and also with her directly.
Then the young king indicated that he had something more to say to his other guests, and Medusa translated, 'Finish your food. Enjoy another drink. It is still early, and I am not ready for our evening to end yet.'
Then he turned and signed directly to Medusa. 'May I speak with you in private?' She nodded and told the others to excuse them. Black Bolt led her away toward the garden beds where the fruit trees were in blossom. Their fragrance was intoxicating, and the starlit night was beautiful. But he feared the romance of the moment had been shattered by his brother's thoughtless outburst. He stopped within sight of the others but just out of earshot.
'I know you said it's alright, but I want to say I'm sorry for what my brother said,' he signed, feeling the need to put the matter behind them. 'You told me before I was king that you did not blame me for what my parents did. Is that still true?'
Medusa looked at him tenderly. "Yes, it is. I told you – we are not our parents. If your father and mother had judged me by my parents' words and actions, I would have shared their fate. So how could I do that to you? Black Bolt, you told me before your coronation that you will not rule like your father, that you want to be better. Did you mean that?"
Black Bolt reached out and grasped her hands in both of his, closed his eyes for a moment to collect his thoughts. Then he released her hands and signed, 'I want to do better… for Attilan. I want to uphold tradition to honor our past… but I am willing to make changes to help my people live a better life. I want to work for the good of every Inhuman.'
"Then we understand each other," Medusa said. "Don't let Maximus drive that wedge between us again."
Black Bolt nodded, looking greatly relieved. He glanced nervously toward the table across the garden. Karnak looked over, caught his eye, and gave a reassuring nod. Turning back to Medusa, the king signed, 'I have one more question for you.' He paused, trying to decide what to say. 'I want to start by telling you that I am grateful to you… for giving me a voice again, but even more… for giving me your trust and friendship. You give me hope that I will never again be alone like I once was. So for all of that, for… everything that you are… I love you, Medusa. I love you with all my heart.'
Medusa smiled. She had honestly known how Black Bolt felt about her for months. This was the first time he had told her in words, but his eyes had said it every time he looked at her. "I love you too," she breathed, struggling to believe the moment was real. "I've wanted to say it for so long now, but I wasn't sure I should." He reached out to grasp her hands in his own. She continued, "Black Bolt, I told you that I don't mind always being by your side to interpret for you. That's because I can't think of any place I'd rather be." He smiled back at her, and she reminded him expectantly, "You said you had a question for me. You haven't asked one yet."
Black Bolt nodded, trying to remain calm. He'd been planning this moment for days, but suddenly his mind seemed to go blank. 'I want to ask… if you….' He shook his head slightly and started over again. 'Medusa, will you be my wife and my queen?' As he signed the words, he dropped down to one knee and pulled a ring out of his pocket, presenting it to her. It was a simple silver band in the shape of the royal family's insignia, just like the former king and queen had worn.
(At the table across the garden, Karnak nudged Triton with a smile. Triton, in turn, whispered something to Gorgon and Crystal, who were quietly discussing something. They all grinned as they watched the proposal from afar, and Crystal put her hand over her mouth to stifle an excited gasp.)
Medusa locked eyes with Black Bolt and said, "Yes, I will marry you." Her hand shook slightly as he slid the ring onto her finger.
They smiled at each other as he stood and signed, 'May I kiss you now?'
She chuckled and reached up to grasp his face in her hands. "It's about time you asked me that." She pulled him toward her, and they kissed, gently but affectionately.
(At this point, applause erupted from across the terrace. Gorgon let out a celebratory whoop. Even the servants standing by the door and the guards who always stayed within sight of the king were clapping or at least smiling approvingly. Kind and spirited Medusa was truly beloved by all, and Black Bolt's family and staff were all hoping that he would find happiness after all his hardship.)
The couple kissed for a few moments more, not eager to part. Then, with grins on their faces, they turned toward the rest of their family. Black Bolt looked a little embarrassed by the attention as he walked back to the dinner table hand-in-hand with his bride-to-be. He went to shake hands with Karnak, his eyes conveying his thanks for helping to plan the evening. They moved into a friendly embrace before Gorgon suddenly scooped them both up in a bear hug while shouting, "I knew it! I knew you were mad about her." Black Bolt rolled his eyes. That isn't quite how he would have put it, but it was true.
Meanwhile, Crystal threw herself into her sister's arms. "He really asked you to marry him!" she exclaimed.
"I told you he liked me," Medusa laughed.
"Yeah, but… just think… you're going to be queen. Who would have predicted that?"
Black Bolt joined the two now, gently touching Medusa's arm to get her attention. 'And once we're married,' he signed to Crystal, her sister interpreting for her, 'you will be given the title of princess.'
"Princess Crystal," the girl repeated to herself.
"Welcome to the royal family," Triton said, as he and Karnak passed Black Bolt, Medusa, and Crystal their goblets so that the group could toast the happy occasion.
"May you serve Attilan well," Karnak said.
"And may you," Gorgon added, looking at Black Bolt and Medusa, "make each other very happy. You both deserve it."