by Andromeda -
Eryx considered this, as he was silent a moment. Then, he took a deep breath and nodded. “I agree.”
Alina smiled softly and looked to Huneric, her eyes showing that she had grown to care for the young man. “And…you?”
“My father would not like it…,” he said slowly, and then he smiled. “But what care I what the old man thinks? I agree. It’s time I became my own man.”
Chapter Eight
A meeting was called with Huneric’s father, Genseric, Alina’s parents, Eryx’s parents, and several of the members of the Council. Alina, Eryx and Huneric stood in the center of the room, their heads held high as they faced them. They all knew that they were going to have to fight for this, though it was clear that it was Alina who led the charge.
“Thank you, my lords, for coming on such short notice,” Alina said as she stepped forward. “We all have great news to tell you.”
Genseric tilted his head as he looked at his son. “What does she mean?”
“We are going to marry,” Huneric said.
“All of us,” Eryx said firmly.
The Council room was silent, and then they all began to argue and yell at once. The one who was silent was Ayanna, who was listening to all this with great interest. After a moment, however, she sighed and looked to Kaiser to tell them all to be silent. The king banged his fist on the arm of his chair. Everyone got the message and quieted down. He took a deep breath and nodded for his daughter to continue.
“As I was saying,” Alina continued after a deep breath. “I have talked to both men in question, and they have agreed to it.”
“Has he?” Genseric asked gruffly. “The half-blood I could understand, as he wants to get between the princess’ thighs. We all know that, but you, my son, I don’t believe you agreed to it.”
Huneric swallowed nervously, but he felt Alina’s hand gently touch his own. When he looked at her, she smiled softly at him in encouragement. He did care for her, as she was the only woman who looked at him for him, not the son of a king. So, he raised his head and looked his father in the eye.
“Yes, I did agree to it,” he said to his father. “I have talked to Alina and Eryx, the so-called half-blood you insulted, and we have discussed this.”
“And what have you decided?” Genseric asked.
“That marrying us both would be in our great interests,” Huneric answered. “Think of it, father. Eryx’s mother is the daughter of the emperor, who has no direct heir as of this moment. His son is dead, according to our reports, and Aurora is here. She has a son. Rome is teetering on the edge of collapse, also according to our reports. I am sure there might be several wealthy patrons within the empire who might back a direct male descendant from the emperor.”
Genseric stroked his grey beard, listening. “And what of you? So far, your argument has been based on his claim.”
“We have the numbers,” Huneric continued. “With me at her side, we can call on our allies and make an army that rivaled the Huns. I know all our allies and know how to make new ones. We all have a plan, but you have to let us do it our way.”
“And about this…marriage,” Ayanna asked curiously. “I am guessing she would take both of you to her bed?”
“Ayanna,” Kaiser whispered.
“What?” Ayanna asked. “I am curious.”
“I understand your questions, Mama,” Alina said. “In a way, yes. We are still working out the details, but I could take Huneric as my chief husband to pacify the other Germans. But I will also take Eryx to my bed and he will have equal rights.”
“And any children that will be born?” a councilman asked.
“Dark of face and hair will obviously belong to me,” Eryx answered.
“Light of face and hair will obviously belong to me,” Huneric answered.
“Anything in the middle, they will claim together,” Alina said. “Whether you agree to this or not, we are going to do it. The goddess Freya has shown me that my marriage will decide the fate of Rome. This is going to happen. The question is: are you going to stand by us, or be forced to be pushed out of the way?”
Chapter Nine
Invitations were sent all around for the wedding that was to come; it attracted quite the crowd. No one had heard of such a wedding when a woman would marry two men, yet they were interested in what would happen. A great contract was drawn and had to be signed by all the parties involved, though the most important, of course, was Alina, Eryx and Huneric. The contract had several key points and was carefully looked over before it was signed.
The first thing it stated was that Alina and her heirs, either with Eryx or Huneric, would have claim to the throne of Freiundedel. That claim belonged to Bo and his heirs, and seeing that he, too, was nearing his nineteenth year, it was time to begin to look for him a bride.
The second thing it stated was that Alina would keep her title of Princess, along with all the benefits that came with it. Eryx and Huneric would be granted the titles of Princes Consort of Freiundedel, though without Alina they were nothing.
When it came to the actual marriage itself, Huneric would have the title of Chief Husband, with Eryx having Secondary. Overall, they were equal, but when it came to political matters, Huneric’s word might be able to overrule Eryx’s if the need arose.
When it came to their children, the order of birth is the only thing that mattered. If Eryx’s seed bloomed within her womb and she bore his child first, then that child would be first in line of whatever the future held for the young couple. The same thing would happen if she bore Huneric’s child first.
A strong thing that Alina pushed was gender equality. She made sure that the contract stated that male and female would have equal rights with what they did. If she bore Eryx’s daughter first, then Huneric a son, the son would not displace the daughter because he was born second and she was born first.
Once all of that was hammered out and everyone signed—Alina, Eryx, Huneric, their parents and elders—the planning for the wedding could go forth.
Word quickly spread all around about the wedding, and it did not take long for word to reach Rome.
Though the city was quite far from the imperial capital, word quickly spread throughout the streets via the mouths of slaves of how great the escaped gladiators were doing for themselves. They knew that it was dangerous to speak of them, as it might get them killed. They secretly knew that it would strike fear within the hearts of their masters.
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The day of the wedding came and the city was busier than it ever was before. People from all around were coming. Ambassadors from Briton, Greece, Asia, Egypt, Northern Africa, Arabia and more all came by the command of their rules to either make alliances or see what this wedding was truly about.
Alina was not in her chambers, as she was expected to be. Normally, the bride would be awoken by her servants, who would then take her to the temple for her morning prayers, then get her ready. That was tradition, however, of course, Alina hated tradition, and instead she had gone out for a long hard ride to celebrate her last morning as a free woman. When she arose the next day, she would be married. When she did return, it was to face a very angry Ayanna, who had to greet the ambassadors on her behalf, something Alina herself should have done.
“Mama…,” Alina began, but Ayanna held up her hand.
“I don’t want to hear it,” Ayanna said, cutting her off. “I just spent the last couple of hours worried the Romans had snuck into your bedchamber and kidnapped you. Like they did with me…”
“If that had happened, I would be covered in blood, not mud,” Alina replied. “And have a couple of heads to present to you.”
Ayanna tried to not smile at the pride of her daughter, but she could not keep her lips from curling. Though Alina reminded her so much of Kaiser, there was some of her there, and never was she prouder of her daughter. Alina knew what she wanted, what had to be done, and just like both her parents, she would not stop to reach her goals. She would dest
roy anyone who stood in her way.
“Come on,” Ayanna said after taking several moments to clear her thoughts. “Let’s get you ready.”
Alina ate a light morning meal that consisted of a thick stew made of shredded goat, roasted vegetables and a hearty broth that came with fresh bread and a cup of watered down wine. It would fill her stomach for the day, as she would not eat again until the grand feast at the end of the wedding progression.
Once she was done eating, the servants took off her gown and helped her step into her large, copper tub to bathe. Inside, the water was quite warm and had rose petals to both soften her skin and make it smell as sweet as the heavens. Her hair was washed several times before lavender oil was poured onto her head and massaged into her scalp to remove any dandruff that might be there.
When she was cleaned to Ayanna’s standards, she was helped out of the tub, a large towel was wrapped around her body and they began to dry her off. When she was, they took off the towel and told her to lay down on a massage table where a small bottle of rose infused saffron oil was bought. Two servants worked together to massage both into her skin, as well as loosen her muscles to give her both a relaxed feel on her wedding night and to bring her skin to glowing perfection.
Then, she was draped in a thin white dress and led to the temple for her prayers.
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
Across the palace, Bo and Kaiser were tending to the husbands-to-be, Eryx and Huneric. Father and son were both very protective of Alina, and they stood before the two men with their arms crossed and a frown upon their lips to try and look intimidating. For Kaiser, it worked perfectly because all knew of his reputation. For Bo, not so much. It took all in Eryx to not laugh as he knew that Bo was not that dangerous, to begin with, having grown up with him.
“Before we get you ready,” Kaiser said, “I have some things to ask you.”
“Yes, my lord?” Huneric asked.
Kaiser sighed. “First off, you do not have to call me that. I find titles to be quite boring and unnecessary. Soon, I will become Father to you, to both of you, and I want your oaths that you will treat my daughter well.”
“I have loved Alina since I was a child,” Eryx answered. “You have my eternal oath that I will treat your daughter like the queen she is.”
“You have mine as well,” Huneric said. “There isn’t a woman like your daughter. When a Vandal marries, we marry for life. Even if she died, I would not take another wife.”
“That is exactly what I wanted to hear,” Kaiser said with a slow smile. “Now, come, it’s time to get you ready.”
The wedding rituals the men went through was different than the women. While she was busy getting pampered and her skin softened, the men had to go through quite a rigorous regime to prove they could have heirs. They had to go for a two-mile run to prove their stamina and endurance. After the run, they had to bathe in ice-cold water, dry off, then go to the medic to have their shafts measured.
Bo and Kaiser tried to not laugh as both men stood naked before the seemingly hundred-year-old medic to be measured. They had to make them ‘come alive’ for measurement, so two female slaves were selected to massage them until they became so.
“Lord Eryx is…eight inches,” the medic said, and then he turned to Huneric. “Lord Huneric is six…”
“Talk about having the cock of a horse,” Bo mumbled to his father with a laugh.
“I pray to the gods they do not hurt your sister,” Kaiser chuckled. “She seems so small.”
The female servants then had to massage the two men’s shafts until they spilled their seed. When they did, it was collected into a small bowl, which the medic then examined. When he was finished with his examination, he pronounced them both fertile and said to expect many children from the couplings.
Only then were the men officially prepared for the wedding. They were bathed and then massaged to loosen their muscles and covered in oil to bring a glow to their skin. They were given a paste, along with a brush to clean and whiten their teeth. Then, they both were dressed in light white tunics to go to the temple for their prayers.
As they were walking to the temple, they saw Alina leaving. Their party stopped and they watched her, feeling desire arise as the sun reflected off her light-brown skin. She glanced at them softly with her lovely blue eyes.
It was at that moment they realized, all together, that this was happening. The moment their morning rituals were complete, they would be married. They could afford a small respite, but afterward, they had to put their plan in focus. They had to look to the future and pool their resources for the bigger good: bringing down Rome.
After the men had said their prayers, they returned to their chambers and went back to getting ready. They were dressed identically in silken white tunics trimmed with gold and silver, along with matching capes over their shoulders, though they could make minor changes to their attire if they so wished.
Eryx wrapped a black and gold belt around his waist and wore black sandals in the gladiatorial style to show that he was not ashamed of his Roman heritage. He also had his long black hair loosely braided and secured at the end with golden thread, the Greek way.
Huneric used gold buttons to fasten his cape over his shoulders in the shape of pine trees and had emeralds on them to make them look shimmering green. His hair fell just past his shoulders, so it wasn’t as long as Eryx’s and didn’t require braiding. Instead, he wore it loose and wore a golden headband that almost resembled a crown.
When they were done, they looked at each other, almost as if to measure the other up, and then they smiled softly at the other.
“So,” Eryx said, “today is the day.”
“Yes, it is,” Huneric said as he picked up the golden daggers they were to wear at their waists and handed it to him. “You know, I don’t believe I know a lot about you.”
“I could say the same thing about you,” Eryx said.
“I believe we should talk and get to know each other better when we can,” Huneric suggested. “After all, we will be raising each other’s children.”
“And loving the same woman,” Eryx said with a rogue smile. “I still do not know how we are going to make this work tonight.”
“I was thinking about that,” Huneric said, “and I have an offer. I know tonight we might both bed her, but who said it had to be at the same time?”
Eryx tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
“Why don’t we just take turns,” Huneric suggested, “and continue to do so, and let her call us to her bed. Let her be in control. Then, when she is more comfortable, we can share a bed together?”
Eryx stroked his chin. He was clean-shaven while Huneric had a light beard. “I do not object to the idea. However, we should ask her later tonight.”
“Of course,” Huneric said with a nod.
“Well,” Eryx said with a smile, “I believe it’s time for us to get married.”
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“And…finished, your highness,” a servant said, as she made the last stroke of makeup upon Alina’s face.
Alina slowly opened her eyes, and they widened at what she saw in the mirror before her.
Who…who was this person? she thought to herself. All this makeup…this jewelry…this isn’t me…
She leaned closer to the mirror to get a better look at herself. She was dressed in a long white dress that had embroidered golden thread on it. For the first time in her life, she had makeup on her face. White and gold, of course, which brought out her blue eyes. She had jewelry, a heavy gold choker and bracelets and anklets that made music when she moved.
“Do you like it?” Ayanna asked her daughter.
“It… I…,” Alina stammered. “I…I never thought that I’d…”
“Wear this?” Ayanna finished for her with a wry smile. “I understand. This isn’t your normal style of dress. You feel a bit out of your element.”
“You could say that again,” Alina mumbled as she turne
d her head to look at her hair.
They had braided the sides of it and then curled the loose parts. The braided parts had diamonds and pearls in them. Her mother then reached into a small box and took out a box, which she placed in her hair as she hummed softly.
“There,” Ayanna said with a gentle smile. “You are perfect.”
“Mama…,” Alina said as she turned around to look at her mother. “I…I am nervous.”
“You? Nervous?” Ayanna chuckled. “Are such words allowed to leave my mouth in the same breath?”
“Mama!” Alina laughed. “You make me sound so…fearless.”
“That you are, my daughter,” Ayanna said as she knelt before her and took her hands. “But know this: you are about to partake in what every woman faces when she comes of age. Now, what you do with this marriage is up to you. Listen to your husbands, and how you plan to go forward with this plan by the goddess. I will support you."
Alina gripped her mother’s hand tightly but smiled. “The goddess Freya blessed me with a vision last night, Mama. I stood upon a great hill and saw the flames of vengeance burn Rome until there was nothing left…”
Ayanna’s eyes widened at this revelation, and then she smiled. “I have never misjudged the gods’ will. When you know that the time is right, then make your alliances, and strike without a second thought.”
Alina nodded and sighed as she gazed into the eyes of the woman who had borne her, raised her, and taught her the values she now held dear. In her eyes, her mother was a goddess among the stars. She deserved all, knowing all she had gone through. And now, it was her turn to ascend.
“What if it hurts, Mama?” Alina questioned, child-like fear going through her body. “What if I am not fertile?”
“Are you telling me, that after all you and Eryx have done, when it comes to fully doing the deed, that is what you are afraid of?” Ayanna taunted with a chuckle. “It might hurt the first time, but afterward, it is nothing but pleasure. The best pleasure you can ever desire, my child. And as for you being fertile, you are doing what the goddess said: marrying one who will help you raise an army.”