Chapter 7
Dark blue eyes gazed in the mirror not at all believing the beautiful woman dressed in gold and white staring back from the cool reflective surface was her. This woman was gorgeous, and had a glow about her that was almost visible to the naked eye.
While she knew herself to be semi good looking, for she had attached many suitors in the past, she never thought herself truly beautiful, pretty maybe but never beautiful. Yet as she stood there taking her reflection in she could only blink.
Who was that tall slim woman standing there? Her locks pulled into an intricate up do, a headdress upon her head letting all know her station. That she was a lady of power, dressed in the finest of dresses, cloth so silky smooth it felt like water on her skin, face touched by the barest hints of makeup.
What startled her was her eyes, they were that of a woman who had seen the harshest of things yet still held onto hope. A woman who had known love and heartbreak yet was still willing to try to love again. Her thoughts flickered to her mother, after her father had died she hadn't lost her faith in love and life, she merely squared her shoulders and stepped up to the plate. Her hands had become so worn and her body so tired yet she never lost her smile and the hope in her eyes.
She felt tears gather in her eyes, all her life she had hoped to become even half of the woman her mother was and here she was...and her mother was not there with her. Until the treaty was set in stone, their marriage acknowledged by both worlds, and an heir conceived no other human would be allowed in Asgard.
It had hurt to find out her family could not be there to see her wed, it was a milestone that they should have been there for. Marriage of convenience or not, it was her first and only wedding. In time she would bear Thor a child, they would be a family and the fact that her's would not, could not be there, hurt.
The All Mother smiled as she took in the vision of her daughter in law to be. No, her daughter. She was a sight to see, a goddess. While she had not known her for long she had come to care for her dearly, she was a kind, loving young woman who put others before herself. Her agreeing to a marriage simply to help their people merge was proof of that. She had easily wormed her way into her old weary heart and it saddened her to see her look so forlorn on her wedding day. With graceful steps she approached her and placed her hand on her frail shoulder.
"Kagome, you look so beautiful." Her words rang with truth and it made Kagome smile a bit as she blinked back her tears.
"Thanks, I just wish my mother could see me." She gave a sad smile as the All Mother squeezed her shoulder in comfort.
"I know dear, I know and I am sorry." Both women shared a look, the look only a woman who had given up so much for the greater good could know. It was in that look that the All Mother saw past the front she put up, and really saw the woman Kagome was and the pain she held from her past and the love she still had to give. It amazed her and it resounded inside her.
She knew her pain on a level that no one else could, a Queen's life was not all peaches and cream it was lonely and repressive, and it was in that instant that she vowed she would do whatever it took for her son to see that Kagome was so much more than a means to an end.