Chapter 71 - A Quiet Place - Unity
Year 71VE, October
Cover Art by Mi Chumi
In the best of situations, a wedding is a complex affair. There are the uncle and aunt, now divorced, who hate each other's guts. There is the cousin who is guaranteed to show up drunk and make an inappropriate toast, or worse yet, think speaking up during the "speak now or forever hold your peace" part is hilarious. There are the hundreds of friends and acquaintances that are important, but not 'we can only invite 100 guests' important. And none of that accounts for the fact that the parents may have decided opinions and expectations.
The first ceremony was not, by any imaginable stretch of the imagination, 'the best of situations'.
Salem had offered, and Selene and Garek had considered, the possibility of Salem attending a 'normal' ceremony in disguise.
After intense discussion between Selene and Garek, with some input by The Lone Huntsmen, they determined that this was not acceptable. For one thing, it felt false. It would reinforce the idea that Selene likewise could not reveal her true nature to her friends, that her claims of acceptance were just facile words.
No. The first ceremony would include Selene's mother and Selene herself as they truly were, or at least one aspect of Salem. And the purpose was both honest, and calculating. They had reasoned that a large part of their continued plans revolved around continuing the fiction that Salem and The Queen were two different people, and that required drawing Selene's mother ever deeper into the interpersonal relationships with Selene's own evolving family and friendships.
It was a calculated risk, but these were people who had been dealing with calculated risks for years by now. They knew this was a high-stakes game, and had no better answers than to continue what appeared to be working, no matter how insane it appeared on the surface.
And that meant the possible guest list, of those who knew of both Selene and Salem's true nature and relationship, was less than a score. Selene and Garek. Cinder. Garek's parents. Selene's father. The Lone Huntsmen. Crystal. Summer, Tai, and Raven. Rhodes. Visha. And of course, Blackfeather, if one were inclined to count him.
And that was it, excluding of course Queen Salem's agents and servants, who Salem would not allow within a continent of any such ceremony. Salem had spent decades attempting to keep Selene separate from her 'business' and Selene's mother would continue that jealously.
And of those, several were completely unable to attend.
Chief among those were Summer Rose and Raven Branwen, for very obvious reasons. And with Summer went Taiyang Xiao Long. Raven and Tai were, in Selene's small world, not exactly critical guests, but Summer's absence would hurt. She had come to really care for the silver-eyed huntress.
And that was the rub. Both aspects of Salem saw Summer Rose as a terrible threat to Selene's safety and hers, regardless of any promises that had been made. Selene believed fervently that were it possible for Summer to attend, the impact on her mother in the end would be… net positive. It would reinforce Salem's faith in her daughter's relationship with the silver-eye'd huntress, and serve to insulate Summer further from possible future aggression from The Queen.
But Salem, before Selene had instigated the strange compartmentalization of mother and Queen, had hurt Summer horribly, psychologically tortured her, and then had imprisoned her for years. The fact that it was that same Salem, in the role of Selene's mother, who had led Selene back to her and facilitated Summer's release, couldn't erase the trauma from that.
Selene had broached the subject, apologetically, with her friend via Scroll.
"I am sorry, Summer. I would wish you, of all people, to be there for the first ceremony, but I would not wish to subject you to… my mother's presence."
Summer and Tai were sitting up in bed, and shared a look before Summer answered. "Yeah. That…" Summer fingered her eyepatch, and Taiyang laid a comforting hand on her free hand. "I don't think that's something I could do, Selene. Not even for you." She dropped her hands and sighed. "The counselling has helped," beside her, Taiyang nodded in confirmation, "a lot, but Dr. Mazarin says it's important to know my limits, where I can push them and where I can't." She shook her head emphatically. "Meeting your… mom at this point is a total no-go for me. I'm not there yet. Not sure if I ever will be."
Selene nodded, scarlet and black eyes reflecting both understanding and sorrow. "I understand, Summer. I truly do. And I will miss you."
"Don't fret," Summer smiled. "We'll come to the one in Argus, and bring the kids too. It'll be a hoot!"
Garek's parents, on the other hand, were absolutely required attendees. Garek and Selene had spent hours explaining why it was important, and coaching them on how to deal with Salem. In the end, they'd both agreed.
Selene's father was a different matter. Selene wanted him there desperately, but was sure he would say no. There was… far too much bad history between he and Salem.
Which is why his reply shocked her.
"Of course, I'll be there for you, Selene." He'd said, before she'd even finished the question.
"You are sure? But what of your… past troubles with mother?"
Forrest Stonecrop gave a cold smile. "Your mother and I dealt with each other for years. If I was going to dissolve into a quivering mess, or try to behead her, I'd have done it a decade ago. I can handle it, little Grimmling. Hell, whatever version of Salem shows up on that island, it can't be anything as bad as what I dealt with through your childhood."
Next on the list had been Cinder, and to Garek and Selene's shock, she'd shown zero hesitation. She had, apparently, spent an extensive amount of time mulling over the fact that one of her grandmothers was part-Grimm. Selene had only needed to explain to her in broad terms the differentiation between Salem The Queen and Salem Selene's mother, and what they were trying to accomplish by treating one differently than the other.
"Oh yeah. Freaking Madame Tremayne was the same way."
Garek's eyebrows had tried to climb his forehead at that comment, and Selene had been almost offended. "What do you say?"
"Oh, I mean… you'd have thought she was two different people, the way she could smile and be all honey and sugar to customers and stuff, and then she'd walk through a door and turn into this horrible witch to me." She took in their expressions. "I'm not saying—"
"No… no that is not… wholly in incorrect assessment. Except in this case, my Mother is the… one that I see as the true aspect, rather than… The Queen." Though it was clear that Cinder's observation had… disturbed her, she continued on. "And we believe that she manages to… forget things that one aspect has heard when she takes on the other."
Cinder had stared at Selene for a while over that one. "Mom, no disrespect or nothing, but that sounds kinda nuts."
"Yes. It is… not ideal, but it appears to work. It is how I was able to rescue Summer Rose, you recall."
"Huh. Alright. Well, I'm game. What do you need me to do for crazy Gramma Grimm?"
Garek had laughed. Selene did not. "You may begin by not referring to her in that manner."
Cinder rolled her eyes. "I wasn't gonna. I'll be on best behavior, honest."
"Very well."
Visha was a given as well. While she was, according to the Queen's understanding, a 'hostage' of Summer's rescuers, Selene's mother already knew that was a farce.
Of the original three Lone Huntsmen, each of them had expressed their willingness to be there for Selene.
Pete in particular had insisted he attend. "Are you fucking kidding me, Selene?" He'd gripped her by the shoulder. "Look, one of two things is going on here. Either your mom is playing the world's best long con on us all, and we're all dead men anyway, or she's actually pulling off this 'two people in one head' thing. And if it's the second one and acting like this is a totally normal wedding helps keep her mind off shit like blowing up the world? Fuck it, I'm in."
Pete was… shocking sometimes in his mental leaps and pragmatism, once he got over being pissed off at her withholding information from him for all those months. She found it remarkably endearing.
Sophia had just quietly nodded along with him.
Reggie had agreed also, though his attendance was semi-required regardless, for a very specific reason.
And that left the only remaining possible attendees. Crystal and Rhodes.
Crystal's status as both Maiden and official bodyguard made her… problematic. If the Queen caught wind of her identity, it would put her in danger. But if she did not attend, it would cause Selene's mother to be suspicious, and to call into question her actual commitment to Selene's friendship.
In the end, they'd discussed it at length with Crystal, taking Pete's argument into consideration, and determined the lesser risk was attending.
And that left Rhodes. Garek had taken him aside for that discussion.
Rhodes had paced back and forth before answering. "Fuck, man. I wanted to be your Best Man, but this?!"
Garek eased up and looped an arm over his shoulders. "You'll still be my Best Man at the Argus ceremony, Irons. You don't have to come to this one."
Rhodes glared at his friend, "Screw you, Claude. You know better than that. I'll feel like shit if I skip it. Especially since Cinder's going to be there. Big bad Iron Man, hiding in his closet while a little girl hangs out with the Wicked Witch of the Grimm? I'll never be able to live with myself."
Garek sighed. He'd almost hoped that Rhodes would say no. "Alright, but… remember, this isn't the Queen we're dealing with. It's Selene's mom. You have to think of her that way."
"I'll deal with it."
Garek shook his head. "That's not good enough. You have to… try to act like it's no big deal. And for the gods' sake, don't piss her off, okay Irons? This is important to Selene and me, but… not to sound manipulative, but… it's critical to keeping whatever the hell Salem's doing with Salem's head moving in our direction, too."
"I got it, man. No sticking my maces up Salem's ass. Promise."
That had not been as reassuring as Rhodes had meant it, but it would have to do.
Salem circled the island once on Blackfeather, musing on what strange twists of fate had brought her to this place, at this time.
This was Selene's Quiet Place.
No. That is untrue. This is Selene and Garek's Quiet Place. They had adopted it jointly. Claimed it. Of all the places in Remnant outside her own domain, this was the sole place that Salem felt was owed some modicum of consideration. Almost reverence. Here she had almost murdered her daughter's soon-to-be-husband. Here she had felt despair deeper than she'd felt in centuries. Here the little Huntsman had shocked her by counselling that her daughter not abandon her. Here her daughter had given her the precious scroll that allowed her to be a part of her life on a regular basis, even across continents.
It was… as close to holy as Salem could imagine by now.
And the central clearing now shone with the dim lights of a thousand stars. It was… beautiful in the darkening dusk.
And also too visible. She would have to assist with that.
Without command from her, Blackfeather made for the clearing where he had been conditioned to land. And there she found a second surprise.
A bullhead sat there, one large cargo bay completely missing.
How… interesting.
She landed Blackfeather and caught his query.
"No, I am unsure what the cause of that is, though it does not appear to be damage."
He warbled again.
"I am sure she will be overjoyed to see you, Blackfeather."
Salem slid smoothly off his back and spent a few moments smoothing her clothing. She had eschewed the Queen's more formal dress for a less complex Mistralian-style scarlet dress that offset her eyes. Her hair was down and in a loose braid rather than the Queen's more ornate styles. She'd chosen these purposefully, carefully, to put her in the right mindset. She would be meeting humans who might fear the Queen, who the Queen would see as threats or pawns.
She would not see them as such, though it would likewise be difficult to see them, short lived and inconsequential, as people of equal regard to her daughter. She would at least put on a façade of doing so.
A sound to her left drew her attention, and she found three people approaching, two of them familiar by sight, the third by description.
Forrest, the Huntsman who she had captured and tortured, then found herself… addicted to his Semblance. And finally, who had negotiated with her, and convinced her… and that had given her the only joy that didn't involve someone else's pain in centuries. Forrest's expression was carefully blank.
And beside him walked another Huntsman, who could only be the friend of her daughter's bethrothed. Rhodes, she had called him. His face was… a complex mix of emotions, none of them positive.
This one is unused to hiding his feelings, she mused as he carefully schooled his expression.
And between them stood a young girl who could only be Cinder, her daughter's adoptive daughter, lacking only the final formal paperwork. But Salem was not one who cared for the formalities of humans. If Selene considered this child hers, then Salem would accept her as such.
It was a strange feeling. A farce, really. This child would age and die as surely as her own daughter would, and what would it matter in the end?
Cinder had been told of this day. She had been warned. Coached. Explained. Warned again. Begged.
And here she was. She had, over the previous months, come fully to terms with her adoptive mother's true appearance. And finally, Selene's mother stood before her.
The similarities and differences were striking.
Like Selene, her skin was Grimm-white. Her eyes were the same scarlet-on-black. Her hair the same white streaked with black. They had similar facial features and were about the same height.
And that was where the resemblance ended. Where Selene's face was naturally soft and warm, Salem's felt… hard. It felt like she was having to force herself to look soft like Selene's. Even ignoring the threaded veins that framed it, under that veneer of softness was a feeling of immense power held in check. Cinder could feel it, bubbling under the surface.
Also her hand hurt something wicked. "Rhodes," she whispered, "you're breaking my freaking hand."
Her mentor started and let go with a muttered apology. And Cinder took a step forward. She felt his hand on her shoulder for a moment, and then with a soft curse, he let go.
She took another step forward.
This is Selene's mom.
This is Selene's mom.
Selene is my mom.
This is my grandmother.
That's all. That's all she is. She's just my grandmother.
Cinder imagined her mom's face, imagined all her mom's hopes and dreams here, at this moment, in this clearing. This was important. Cinder had suffered in this life. And she had experienced joys. And she knew how much family meant, more than most people. She knew what Selene had risked and done for her.
And I'll do this for you, mom.
She locked eyes with Salem, and forced herself to see… a person. Selene's mom.
She moved forward, watching Salem's face shift slowly from cautious courtesy to slight confusion.
And then Cinder closed her eyes, imagining in her head the person that Selene saw. Imagining that it was Selene she was hugging, and wrapped her thin arms around Salem. For a moment, it was like hugging stone. Cold. Unyielding.
And then Salem… yielded in her embrace.
"Hello grandmother," Cinder whispered aloud to the image of Salem she had built up in in her head.
After an eternity of seconds, a hand tentatively settled itself on the back of Cinder's head.
"It is… good to meet you, granddaughter," Salem said quietly, and Cinder could believe she meant it.
In the centuries since this second humanity had emerged from whatever holes it had inhabited, Salem had been feared as a witch. She had been hated as an enemy. She had been worshipped as a goddess.
One man had loved her as a wife, but that memory was locked away as far too painful. That memory would bring rage.
Five children had loved her as a mother. Four of those had died in the crossfire of their parents' violence. One would be here soon, to share a moment of joy with her mother.
But never, in all of those centuries, had anyone addressed her as grandmother. Embraced her without apparently fear.
The twined feeling of warmth and ache that washed over her left her momentarily off-balance. It was… difficult to parse.
A distant voice tried to argue it away.
I owe this human nothing. This Is not my blood. It is… a farce.
And yet it felt real, did it not? Close your eyes. Imagine… family. What might have been.
Lies. You cannot have this. That chance died with Ozma's betrayal. And even had he not, you would have been faced with their deaths. And your grandchildren's deaths. And their children's…
Her daughter's words from almost two years ago came back to her, fought against such thoughts.
'We have time, mother. Let us revel in it while we have it, and see what we can accomplish against next week or month or year.'
She opened her eyes to find Forrest Stonecrop regarding her with a… strange expression on his face.
It made her angry.
I do not require your pity, human, but I will suffer your presence.
"Forrest," Salem said solemnly. "I see that you are well."
Stonecrop's ice-blue eyes glittered. "Yes. Yes, you do."
"Grandfather…" Cinder said. There was a hint of warning in her voice, which surprised Salem. This girl has… spirit.
"Yes, Cinder, I did promise," he appraised Salem, whose chin had lifted slightly in challenge. "Salem, you and I mean nothing to each other. Less than nothing. But if Selene is what came of our suffering… then I'd bear it again."
Salem froze, and her gaze seemed to take on a distant quality. Emotions washed over her. Anger. Rage. Pain. Regret. She focused finally on her purpose here, on her daughter who would soon arrive. Regret faded to resignation. Resignation to consideration. Consideration to something warm. "I… find myself in agreement." Her face became stern. "Do you not have a location to be? I am told it is not acceptable have males present when the bride arrives."
Stonecrop gave a low chuckle, though his face betrayed surprise, and turned down the trail. "Come on, Rhodes, I think that's our cue."
Cinder stayed behind and seemed to realize something.
"Holy crap. Blackfeather!"
Salem watched, bemused, as the teenager ran toward the Nevermore and threw her arms around his neck.
WRBLE
"I got no idea what you said, but I freaking missed you too."
"He said that he was pleased to see 'Companion Cinder' in good health," Salem said. Her expression registered slight surprise.
"You can… oh. Right. Of course you can understand him too. You're like—"
"I am as Selene is, and nothing more. Do not… think… of other reasons I might be able to communicate with his kind." She considered. "Though I find there are few that share Blackfeather's unique traits."
"Oh. Right. Yeah he's something, Huh?"
"Indeed."
"How was your flight? Riding Blackfeather makes me throw up."
"I do not suffer from such indignities." Salem said.
Cinder's face tightened. "Must be nice."
And then the sound of an approaching Bullhead put an end to any further musings.
The leased Bullhead had only a handful of people. Crystal sat in the pilot's seat and the copilot's seat was empty.
In the back were only two passengers. Selene was stripped of guise and wore a flowing dress of forest greens and earthtones and had a wreath of white flowers in her hair. The atmosphere, rather than being tense, was one of excitement and slight nervousness. Selene had waited for this. She had revealed herself to those she trusted most. Those she cared for. And they had accepted her. Visha was also there, to ensure she did not snag her dress or something even more foolish.
And now. Now most of them would witness her marriage. She felt a soft thump as the Bullhead set down, and Crystal stood and opened the side door, peering out. Selene stood, looking out past her.
There was someone there, waiting for them.
"Blackfeather," Selene breathed.
For it was. Her companion. Her friend. Whole and hale, red eyes locked onto the Bullhead with two figures standing by his side. One was her adoptive daughter. The second was a woman, bone-white skin and scarlet-and-black eyes.
Mother.
It was too much to bear, and she felt her eyes well up with the intensity of the emotions that washed over her. Joy. Trepidation. Relief.
Crystal exited first, scanning the clearing for threats on reflex, and then motioning Selene forward.
She did not need a second invitation.
You would have thought her a child again, by the way she ran full force into her mother despite Visha's protestations, pressing them both into Blackfeather's side. By the sounds of joy she made. By the way she wrapped her arms around her mother, one hand entangling in the Nevermore's dark feathers behind them. Blackfeather gave a happy warble.
"Mother! Blackfeather! Oh, I cannot express! You came!"
"Of course I have come, daughter. How could I not? And you observe that Blackfeather has agreed to bear me on this auspicious occasion."
Selene drew back. Her mother's face held only warmth for her daughter. She could not but hug her again, pressing her close and feeling her embrace in turn. "Thank you," she whispered.
She felt it when her mother stiffened slightly and turned to find observing them both warily.
"Perhaps you should… introduce me formally," Salem said.
"I… yes of course. You remember my maid, Visha."
As Salem's eyes bore upon her, she watched in concern, then fear, as the old woman froze, and her legs began to bend, to kneel.
Deep within her, a thick wall shuddered. Tiny debris scattered beneath it.
Visha's mouth opened, and Salem could feel the words that would be vocalized. She would address her as…
Salem could feel the tremors.
"NO!" She hissed.
The entire tableau froze. There was Power beneath the surface there, frighteningly close to the surface.
Salem's voice shook. "Visha. As Selene's mother, I would… request, that you do not… do that. You must not. I am not that which you served. I am Selene's mother, and you must address and treat me as such. Only this." Ancient eyes bore into hers. "Do you understand?"
Visha struggled for a moment, and then took Crystal's offered arm as support, since her legs still betrayed her. "I…" she blew out a breath and closed her eyes. "Sorry… ma'am, I… mistook you for someone else. Old habits are hard to break."
"Yes. I know this, more than you can imagine." Salem focused inward for a few moments, mending cracks. Filling in divots.
Beside her, she felt Selene exhale softly, and then continued, with a welcome distraction. "You have… spoken with Crystal before."
Salem's face twitched as she considered the remaining woman in the clearing, "Yes. I… somewhat recall, though it was under stressful circumstances." She regarded the young woman. "I would prefer a more… agreeable introduction at this time. I understand that you are my daughter's guardian?"
How do you ignore the presence of the very creature that controls everything you have been trained to protect humanity from your entire life? How do you treat it like… your friend's mother?
Very carefully, apparently, and with a lot of mental preparation. They had spent days discussing this with Selene, driving the point home that she must be treated as if she were distinct from the Queen of the Grimmlands. Visha's slip-up had been instinctual.
But they recovered.
"Yes ma'am. It's…" Crystal appeared to struggle with the right words. "I'm glad you could be here for Selene."
"Well spoken. As am I."
"Mother, I am told they would be ready for me, as soon as I arrived. Shall we begin?"
"Yes. That is wise. But first, I would like to offer my services in making this auspicious event more… safe for everyone involved." She looked at the others. "Please do not be alarmed."
And with that, Salem stepped slightly away, and held out her hands. Raw Power, dark and crackling, formed like a globe between them, and then… expanded. There was a momentary darkness, as if one had blinked, and then all was as it was before.
"Whoah," Cinder said, looking around. "What the heck was that?"
"That, young one, was true magic. A simple working, all things considered. I created a… shell of a sort, above this place. An illusion that will hide our activities this night from prying eyes."
Cinder stared at her wide-eyed, down at her own hands, and back to Salem's black-lacquered ones. "That… is way cool."
. . .
They made their way carefully down the trail. Salem beside Selene. Visha walking before them. Cinder holding Selene's train so it did not snag. Crystal bringing up the rear. Further behind, Blackfeather would guard the clearing.
He was… a good guardian. He was also… strange. Something about the Grimm had changed after his recovery, though she could not pinpoint it.
Just out of sight of the former campsite, they met Forrest who fell in on Selene's other side. As they approached the sounds of conversation ahead, their footsteps slowed.
All conversation ceased when they came within sight of the clearing.
A series of logs had been arranged as seating, in a rough arc before the bonfire. And there in front of it, forming a raised platform on crossed logs, lay the large rear door of the Vacuo-1. They had unbolted it from the craft, and laid it carefully there as a platform.
On it stood the human Reginald Cass, facing the attendees, and Selene's future husband Garek Grae watching his bride's approach with an expression of joy and awe.
Salem's eyes flicked around the clearing. The trees surrounding the clearing had been hung with tiny, soft lights, like stars scattered around them. Tables to the side held refreshments for afterward.
It was lovely.
It made her heart ache.
Humans. Faunus. Short-lived and fragile. Of little value. Salem's deeper thoughts told her.
But here, in this place, in this moment, she could… pretend. She was a mother. Her daughter was to be wed. This was for Selene. So just as she was sure Cinder had done, she would do the same. She would purpose to be happy for her daughter.
Except that many of those present were staring at her rather than at Selene.
That is… unhelpful, she thought sourly but kept her face a careful blank.
Then she took a moment to examine the expressions on the faces before her.
Only a few held thinly veiled fear, and even those they attempted to mask. Rhodes was one. A faunus woman who could only be Garek's mother was another. Not surprising, little Huntsmen. You can see your quarry and your greatest threat within this form.
But not this evening.
Of the remainder, some held wariness mixed with curiosity, like Garek's father. Others appeared… stiffly polite. It would do.
They reached the elevated platform, and Selene hugged first her, and then Forrest, and then stepped up next to Garek on the bulkhead.
And then… Cinder took her hand and escorted her to her to a seat with something approaching warmth, and then sat down next to her. Visha took a position on Salem's other side.
And Forrest, passing by to sit on the other side of Cinder, murmured softly. "For Selene."
Salem paused, and gave him a nod of affirmation. Yes. For Selene.
Conversation picked back up, quietly, as she smoothed her dress.
She felt a small hand on her arm, and turned to find Cinder's golden-yellow eyes appraising her. "Grandmother."
Salem rolled the response around in her mind, and did not find it distasteful. "Granddaughter."
"Are you… okay?" Cinder asked quietly.
Salem blinked and frowned. What is this? What does she mean? I am, of course, perfectly secure here. It is you, all of you, who are at risk. Why should I not be well?
These things were self-evident. She was Salem. Immortal and powerful, even once she set aside her… other aspects.
Then why does it hurt?
"I am fine. Thank you."
Cinder's head tilted and her expression registered clear doubt, but she shook her head and turned back to watch the ceremony.
Selene, her daughter, was beautiful. She stood beside her betrothed, skin white as snow, black and scarlet eyes aglow, mouth turned upward in joy.
Salem sat before her between Visha and Cinder.
Why does it hurt?
Reginald Cass cleared his throat, and the assembled went silent. "Good evening everyone. Family and friends." He scanned the group, making eye contact with everyone. "As we are all aware, Garek and Selene's marriage presented some unique challenges. One of those was finding someone to officiate. We decided that, as with everything else about their relationship, we'd have to get creative." There were soft chuckles. "Since I am, at least nominally the captain of an airship, and there is a longstanding tradition of such captains having the authority, while on their vessels, to preside over happy occasions like this, well, they decided I would have to do.
Selene laughed openly at that, and put a hand on his shoulder, saying something quietly.
"Of course, that left the difficulty of having the wedding on the Vacuo-1, which we could not unfortunately fit in this clearing, where our two crazy kids first met and wished to hold this ceremony. Well… we figured out a way around that, too." He lifted his foot and banged a heel on the bulkhead below him. "Anyone want to object that we are not, even now, on board an integral part of my ship?"
There was more laughter and Salem felt herself start to become… amused. This was… ridiculous and… perfectly Selene.
"So without further ado, we are gathered here today, under the stars of Remnant, to join these two in the bonds of marriage. No one will dare object, because I will throw them off my ship the next time I see them." More laughter. "I'm told they wrote their own vows, and I will now ask them to recite them, and place rings on each other's fingers."
Reginald placed a hand in his pocket, and handed a plain golden band to Garek, who took Selene's fingers and held her gaze with his own.
"Selene Lumerent, my life was already yours, several times over, so I don't know if I can pledge you anything more than you already hold of it. All I can say is that you changed me for the better, and you taught me to look at the world with new eyes, and I've never been so happy as when I see you happy." He began to slide the ring onto her finger. "I will love you and only you, for all my life, and I will defend your life with my own to my last breath."
Salem felt her body begin to tremble slightly. Something… hurtful was roiling deep inside her. Something in pain. Something angry.
Reggie handed an identical ring to Selene, and she took Garek's hand. "I once dreamed that I could learn of the wide world. How little I understood what that dream would lead to. Not only did I find you, my beloved, but you helped me build greater bonds with my own mother, and then held my hand as I built the ring of friends who have blessed us with their presence here today." She began to slide the ring onto his hand. "And so I pledge my life to you also, Garek Grae. I swear to love no other, and to bind myself to you. Not only for all that you have given to me, not only for all that you have done for me, but for all that we are and shall be together. " Selene's eyes were filling, happy tears streaming down bleach-white features.
Salem had never seen her daughter so happy. So vibrantly alive. It hurt.
Why did it hurt so much? Why could she not be happy for her daughter? The trembling was transitioning into shaking. Her body shook with… with pain. With anger. With rage. Rage that wanted to be loosed.
Please… she begged, make it stop.
And someone answered.
She felt a gentle pressure on her left shoulder, and the pain bled out of her like water poured from an ewer, so much so that she gasped with the abatement and her eyes watered with its sudden absence.
She knew that feeling.
She turned to find Cinder watching her with worry, and Forrest Stonecrop, hand shifting back to his side, his face filled with… understanding.
The absence of pain, and the awareness of why a human had done this was so intense that she missed the next words spoken by Reginald Cass. And then the clearing was filled with applause. She turned to find her daughter and… son-in-law, embracing with lips melded together. The joy radiating off them was palpable.
It is beautiful.
She gasped again with the beauty and joy of it, and her hand fell to squeeze Cinder's shoulder.
It is beautiful. It is… happy.
There was no pain, and without that pain to feed it, anger died like a fire starved of air.
Minutes later, after additional hugs from her daughter, Salem found herself… expected to mingle.
It was a strange experience. She was sure that she had done this, once, eons ago. But… the memory was far to distant to be of any use.
She met the pilot, Reginald Cass, who was polite and congratulatory. Then a couple, Pete and Sophia, who attempted to be… friendly.
She humored them. They were, surely, doing this at Selene's behest. Because they cared for Selene.
That was… kind of them.
She wanted to ignore them all and monopolize Selene, but she refrained. Instead, she found herself using Cinder as a proxy. It felt… best. Forrest would tolerate her presence. Yes, Selene would wish her to stay near, but… this was her daughter's moment. She would wish to share it with everyone, not with an overly clingy mother who… was having difficulties.
But she was not in pain. Oh no. She was… happy. She was basking in her daughter's joy, sharing in it while it lasted, without that deep, centuries-old ache that wished to lash out. She glanced across the clearing to find Forrest meeting her eyes.
He had given her a gift, uncoerced. Unasked. Not for her sake, but for Selene's.
It was enough.
It would last long enough.
She made small talk with Cinder, her granddaughter. It was strange. The entire event was unreal, when one considered it. Cinder was demonstrably not her granddaughter, and yet she filled a gap where one would have sat. All of these people around her, none of them hers, and yet they… filled the space that family would have.
She could almost pretend it all mattered.
Pfah. Stupidity. It did matter. It mattered to Selene, all of it. And therefore, it mattered while her daughter drew breath. It would be enough.
She marked the time. Thirty minutes. She had thirty minutes before she need flee this place. Before Forrest's Semblance wore off, and all that pain crashed back down upon her. It might break her, and she should not be near these people that Selene cared for, when that happened.
And so she spent every precious moment as a miser would, watching her daughter. Watching her daughter's joy. Watching her daughter's joy amplified and reflected off those around her. And she basked in that reflected light. Pretended some of it was meant for her.
And by her side, glowing like a miniature torch, stood Cinder.
"Have you been instructed to tend to me?" Salem finally asked the teenager, noting that she had not left her side once.
Cinder gave a lopsided smile. "Ehhhhh, maybe kinda sorta. But… it's not like my friends are here, and you are family," the girl said guilelessly. Her expression shifted to mischief. "Hey, you wanna see Scorching Caress?"
Salem tilted her head. "Scorching—ah… your Semblance." She considered. "Yes. I would be pleased to see this." She allowed Cinder to lead her to the other side of the bonfire.
"Alright, I just perfected this, so…" Cinder held her hands shoulder width apart, palms up, and frowned in concentration.
A mote of flame formed in her right palm and grew slowly, currents flowing like liquid within its confines until it was the size of a small thrown ball.
And then a stream from it flowed in an arc upward and across to her other palm, and then across to the first. And then, gradually, the ball was attenuated into a ring of flame that gradually shaped and flows smoothly in a circle before her, orange-yellow flames reflecting in her eyes.
The joy on her face was something to behold.
This was not true magic, as Salem practiced it, nor was it the false magic that came from Dust. Semblances were something in between, and therefore slightly less contemptible in general. The power and control of such a Semblance in one so young was… surprising. Such potential. Such… she shook off the thoughts that threatened to flow from that place. The Queen might appreciate such utilitarian thoughts, but Selene would not. "Impressive, young Cinder. Quite impressive."
Cinder's face beamed under the praise. "I'm learning to anchor it to objects, too! Miss Regalia says someday I'll be able to add it to Midnight. That's what I call my bow."
"Yes. I can see how that might be beneficial."
"Yeah, then I could use it to—" Cinder faltered, and the fire extinguished with a reverse popping sound. Her mouth went into an O shape. "Oh gods, I'm so sorry! I forgot!"
Ah child, did you think that I would so easily forget what it is you are training for in those cursed Academies of yours? "It is of no importance, young Cinder, unless you intend to pincushion Blackfeather, which would become a matter of some… conflict." Salem smiled in genuine mirth at the thought of it. "Grimm are not pets. They have no intrinsic value. They are tools for the Queen's will. Or, in rare cases, mine and Selene's." She considered, and clarified. "Blackfeather is an exception, in more ways than one."
"Oh," Cinder said, and bit her lip. "Okay. Sorry I… it's hard sometimes, to hold it all in my head all at once."
"Yes," Salem affirmed, "it is indeed."
Golden-yellow eyes searched, "How do you do it?"
Dangerous areas of discussion, little one. "With difficulty, young one. I rely on… willpower and methods developed over centuries, and still betimes I falter."
Cinder nodded, "Mom told me. I… I hope we can help you."
Something bloomed inside Salem. Something that could only thrive while under Forrest's Semblance. "As do I, young one. As do I."
. . .
Minutes later, the clock was fast running out, and she sent Cinder off and sought her daughter. She found Forrest instead.
"Salem."
"Forrest." She paused. "I thank you."
"For Selene," he repeated from earlier. He considered. "Need another hit?"
"Hmm… I had planned to take my leave, so that I do not impede—"
"That's not what Selene will want, Salem." Forrest interrupted. He could… interrupt Selene's mother, though it still rankled. "These are all people who see her on a regular basis. It's you that she misses. It's you that she hoped would be here." He frowned. "You know she had a choice between having Summer here or you. Those two have become fast friends. She chose you."
There would have been an ache in her chest at the thought, but with his Semblance, all she felt was a warmth. "I would… yes I would appreciate your… assistance again, if you believe Selene would wish it…"
. . .
It was some time later before she was finally approached by Garek's mother. The Huntress. One who had seen her friends and coworkers, along with countless villagers she'd been tasked with protecting, killed by the very Grimm that the Queen commanded.
"Salem."
"Mrs. Grae," Salem said politely.
Grace Grae frowned and responded instinctively. "Call me— No. No. Crap." She eyed Salem warily. "You must have laughed your ass off when you got that picture of us with your daughter and my stupid little note on the back."
Salem regarded her, scarlet eyes boring into gold. She saw no point in lying. "Perhaps I was amused, for a moment." She glanced up to see Garek and Selene watching carefully from across the way. "But I will confess to you, and only to you, that I keep this photo even now, in a frame upon my bedside." One corner of her mouth turned up at the shock on Grace's face. "It is a help, betimes, to remember who I am meant to be. I cannot imagine what my Maid thinks, nor would she tell me if I asked."
"That's…" Grace huffed. "And who are you?"
"I am Salem, Selene's mother." Her face hardened slightly. "That is all that I choose to be, this night. And other times. It would be well not to pry further." Salem considered and decided to derail the conversation completely. "I imagine you have suffered loss. If it would alleviate your pain, you may strike me, though you may be aggrieved to learn it will have no permanent impact other than to infuriate our children."
Grace laughed in disbelief. "Well, aren't you just a bundle of giggles."
"I am… ancient, Mrs. Grae. What sense of humor I have left is dark. Blacker than the Pools from which your mortal enemies spawn."
Grace considered her. "That's pretty damn dark."
"Indeed."
The faunus woman tilted her head. "Are you actually going to give Selene a chance to… fix all this?"
"I have no hope, otherwise. And therefore nor does anyone else."
Grace stepped backward in the face of… the enormity of that, and took a couple of breaths before she spoke. "Well, you don't beat around the bush."
"Life is too short for such things, Huntress."
"Now that is dark humor."
"Yes." Salem considered. "If it matters to you, the Queen and I do not control all Grimm. I am… not aware that anyone close to you has met their end by my command, or hers. If you wish for someone to blame for that which you have lost, you would be better served to curse the God of Darkness. We are… both victims of his justice."
"Huh." Grace considered. "So she isn't out to kill us at the moment? Does that mean—"
"I do not control The Queen, and her views on humanity and faunus-kind are not… tempered as mine are."
"Right. Right." Grace turned to look back at Garek and Selene. "I don't think they're happy to see us talking at the moment."
"No. At the moment they appear terrified. I fear it is our fault." A corner of her mouth tilted up.
Grace snorted. "Okay fine. I'll leave you be, for their sake."
"And I you. It was… a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Grae."
"Definitely an experience."
Salem stayed, and Forrest stayed near her.
She stayed with Cinder as the bulkhead was carried back to the other clearing and reinstalled onto the Vacuo-1.
She stayed with Selene as the decorations were removed and the guests filtered away.
She stayed because she wanted to stretch this moment out. To bask in it. To delay what would come at its end.
And Forrest stayed with her, delaying that moment for her. For Selene.
And then he too, left such that the only ones left were she and Selene.
"Garek and I discussed it, when we understood what was occurring," her daughter told her as she held her mother tightly. "We agreed that we would defer our other plans, and I would stay with you until you were able to leave."
Salem held her daughter. "You have… given me a gift already. You need not—"
"No. That is untrue, mother. Father explained to me, in detail, how his Semblance works. I know full well what faces you. I will be here with you. For you. To help you weather it." She squeezed her. "My husband and friends will wait at the village nearby until you send a messenger that I may be retrieved."
If Salem had been able to feel pain, this would have been bittersweet. Instead there was only the sweet.
For less than an hour more.
And then…
The Vacuo-1 returned to the island three hours later to find Selene sitting quietly in the clearing. Her face was dry, and she appeared exhausted.
"Are you okay, love?" Garek asked as soon as he was able to reach her and help her stand.
"I am… tired. Emotionally spent," she shook her head. "It was as difficult as Forrest indicated it would be. To feel surcease from such pain, to do so for me, and then to have it returned like that. She… did not break. I do not know whether my presence was that which made the difference, but she did not break." She stared into the distance. Blackfeather will see her home. He is a good Companion."
Garek nodded. "He is. I'm…" He sighed. "I see your mother differently, now. I see some of what you see."
Selene considered Garek, and then caressed his face and kissed him gently. "That is the most precious gift anyone has given me, my husband. Thank you."
"Come on," he said, leading her by the hand back to the Bullhead. "Let's go home. I need to pamper my wife."
[A/N] Thanks to Shadowstorm-Vash! Oh boy you've given me some plot bunny ideas around a fall festival! Sorin37 great to have you on board the Good Ship Grimmling! AtomicR4y Yeah the parents are now sucked into the black hole that is a world-bending scenario. Wait til they meet Jinn! (oops, was that a spoiler?!). MollyPollyRolly Yeah I like to mix the chapters so that it's not a nonstop angst-fest. :-)
And finally, Garek and Selene have tied the knot and we delve a little more deeply into Salem's mind (and Forrest's Semblance). Next chapter will probably be a series of errata chunks to catch up on what a lot of other people have been doing in the interim along with a much shorter narrative of the Argus marriage ceremony. Hope you enjoyed!