Choices

Chapter 146
Cephera gazed at the city of Asgard from her spot standing at the edge of the Byfrost just outside Heimdall's observatory. It brought back memories of when she'd first stepped foot in this realm.
She'd angered Loki that day. Running off down the Byfrost toward the grand golden city. They were no where close to being friends at the time.
She was young and whimsical. Everything held beauty to her.
Now she stared at it and gave a small smile. She could see its imperfection now. Not as grand as she once beheld it, but still she could admire its beauty.
It had been a whole year since the war against Thanos and Tyr had been won. They had not heard from Suvia.
Day after day Cephera hoped and prayed they might see or hear something, but the months drew on and no word came. She hadn't given up hope, but she'd stopped worrying about it day to day.
"Ikol," Cephera warned her son who was not just walking but for the most part talking, when he felt like it. She'd been forced to attach him to a child's leash she'd purchased on Earth because wherever he managed to run off to, he destroyed.
Right now, he was bent on the edge of the Byfrost, his hands gripping some of the edge and his face turning red as he attempted to pick it up, or break it in some manner.
He gave his mother a belligerent look and squealed in annoyance when his father picked him up and heaved him to hang half over his shoulder. Usually by this stage in a Mechanovian Childs development, they'd begin to teach a child battle and defense skills. Cephera was holding off because Ikol was far too short tempered to attempt it right yet.
She hoped it was a phase. It wasn't like she spoiled him. She wasn't sure why he was so determined to have his way all the time. She wondered if he enjoyed making his parents angry.
"Seriously, his favorite toys are his hands. We should develop something to stop him from using his hands when he's bad." Loki remarked. Cephera followed him inside to see Heimdall.
"That's cruel." Cephera frowned at the idea.
"It might just teach him to keep his hands to himself." Loki replied.
"You'll be late if you continue to bicker," Heimdall said with a grin. Relenting their parenting conversation they stood before the portal and awaited their transport.
Today Fandral and Seraphina were to be union'd.
Cephera enjoyed her Asgardian wedding, but Seraphina wanted to stick with the Mechanovian way. Fandral had no close family so he hadn't complained. Thor and his friends had already gone ahead. Cephera had a hard time getting Ikol dressed for the occasion.
Everyone was still dumbstruck that Seraphina had decided to get hitched. Not to mention the many a females in Asgard who were left back home crying over the loss of their playboy.
Cephera had bit her tongue on the I told you so, and chose instead to calmly ask Seraphina how that came about. Seraphina spoke of the moment briefly before dropping the subject.
Cephera was overjoyed for her sister. At least she'd always have someone there by her side that understood her. Fandral was certainly the right man for the job. Cephera, however, was sure their relationship wouldn't be as cut and dry as Cephera's.
One day her sister would be Queen and Fandral would become King Regent. Because the royalty was different in Mechanova, the succession would happen when the King stepped down to become advisor. Kind of like retiring.
That hadn't scared off Fandral. Either way he turned he was tied to the throne. After all, he was the father of the next successor after Seraphina.
(Seraphina)
Seraphina couldn't wait to get the ceremony over with and move on. She was happy that the actual ceremony was short and to the point, not like Cephera's.
She could quickly get to the drinking and the battling.
Fandral had arrived earlier that day with his friends and they'd all enjoyed a day of training as if this Union wasn't the reason they were all gathered.
There was no real hype for a Union. Everyone really looked forward to the after party.
When the time came, Seraphina stood in front of her father with Fandral across from her. Both of them dressed however they liked, which for her were clothes that made it easy to fight and for him it was rather fancy. He reminded her of a romance novel cover, he looked good.
Cephera was stood behind her and Rorik behind his father. The crowd was large and the ceremony held outside where everyone could see.
"If either of you have changed your minds, now's the time to run." The king Offered. Seraphina glared at her father. "Alright, let's continue," her father said
"We come together to celebrate the Union of these two." He began to say to everyone gathered. "Fandral, you're truly a lucky man. I never thought anyone would want to join with my daughter, much less get the nerve to ask her."
"I asked him," Seraphina jabbed the King.
"Are we sure this is your sister, and not some sort of trick?" King Yorin turned to ask Cephera. Seraphina stomped hard on her fathers foot. The king jumped and cringed.
"Can we just continue..., please." Seraphina knew this is how he'd react if she'd told him that. Maybe she should have mentioned it sooner.
"Join hands." The king waved at them. "For as long as you both live, Fandral you will retain this mark to signify you've accepted a responsibility to this kingdom." The king poured a liquid over their hands. "And so will my daughter as a symbol of her devotion to you."
Seraphina watched the liquid wrap around their hands to leave behind a light tattoo, like a watermark. Her father had one once when he was Union'd with her mother, but after she died, it disappeared.
Once the liquid dried, King Yorin took both their hands and raised them. "Cheers to celebrate the first Union since my own!" He called.
Cheers went up and without further encouragement, drinks landed in hands and the celebration began.
(Fandral)
Cup in hand, Fandral smiled across the room back to his wife and lifted her a toast. She returned it and without hesitation they both downed their drinks and retrieved another, mirroring eachother.
Seraphina had just climbed from the combat pits and was cooling off for the next bout.
Fandral smirked and shook his head. Over and over he played her proposal in his head and mused how Seraphina like it was. He wasn't sure what exactly brought it on, but he wasn't about to complain.
For centuries now he'd been patient. He'd been content even to be a mere part of her life at all. Sure it had gotten a little disheartening when she'd kept pushing him away, but he knew full well never to let her know that.
He'd hoped for a long time she'd change her mind because when he pictured settling down, it was with her. A secret he kept well to himself. Sex was just sex with anyone else, but something about sex with Seraphina was different. It felt different in ways he couldn't explain and figured they were best left a mystery.
It wasn't just the sex though. Her attitude, though sometimes frustrating, was so open and yet closed. She was a well of straight up, no bullshit talk and yet he knew she had her secrets.
The way she carried herself, so confidently, was his first turn on toward her. It was the first thing that made her stand out of the crowd of the many women who sought his embrace.
That day he'd met her and she'd easily fought him and put him on his back had surprisingly aroused him. On the beach, she'd been naked but it wasn't that which had drawn him to stick close to her, but her confidence.
He was more than surprised when she'd somehow found his personal bedchambers that very night. Luckily he'd been alone, not that she would have cared.
When he opened his door to her knock, she walked right into his room, stripped off her dress, sat casually on his bed, and looked at him with a smile. "Don't just stand there staring. I'm sure I don't have to spell it out for you," she'd said.
It had been the quickest time he'd closed his room door and also the first time a woman had frozen him speechless.
Thinking back he might have very well fell for her right then and there, but she had rules and she was very strict about them. He obliged. Back then he thought it was wonderful to have a woman who wouldn't get jealous if he bedded someone else.
But now, looking across the room at his wife, he no longer felt like he needed to experience anyone else. He'd had his share of philandering, he certainly saw no need to seek out more.
Fandral felt calmer than he had felt in a long time. Their battles had been won. He'd survived. He was married now to the mother of his child, and Rorik was growing to be a fine young man. What else could he ask for? Nothing.
"What are you thinking?" Seraphina's voice directly in his left ear made him jump slightly. He turned his head to look at her. She was grinning.
"About how we first met. How very direct you were." He mused grinning back.
"I'm still very direct." She replied pulling at the waist of his pants. "Just wait till I get you back to our bedroom. I'd have you here if our son wasn't present."
Fandral didn't doubt that. She'd been giving him looks all night long that made him wish they could escape to their bedroom now. She leaned in and made to kiss him before she grabbed his bottom lip between her teeth and bit him hard enough to make him groan.
Letting go his lip she deliberately careened her hip across his now tight trousers and walked away. Fandral uttered a few choice curses and was tempted to follow her, but instead he continued standing where he was and watched her signal she was ready for another battle.
"Do you think you can handle her long term?" Fandral looked up at Seraphina's father.
"I have so far," Fandral smirked.
"So far...," the King chuckled and walked in the same direction as his daughter. At least he knew for sure who Seraphina took after. This way, he sort of knew how to treat the King. It would be an interesting life, there was no doubt about that.

Notes

I've done it! I've recorded a YouTube video. Now that my chapter is posted, you guys can come check me out.

https://youtu.be/flp8u-GoM8s