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Chapter Text

A TIME TO WED

CHAPTER ONE

I watched them marry.

My human kinsman. The Hudsons’ human kinswoman.

Such a quaint custom. Marriage.

Perhaps right for a human couple.

But right for a demi-goddess?

I was Narya. The offspring of the goddess of the Northern Lights, Nelvanna, and a mortal man, Richard Easton.

A mortal man who had found the headband of Tundra at the archaeological site where he worked, and when he had put it on, was instantly able to see the Northern gods, and then, was transported into their realm.

The gods imprisoned behind a barrier erected by the Great Beasts, needed a champion on Earth to defeat the Great Beasts whenever the Beasts would rise again. This champion would have to be a demi-god who could live on both earth and the nether realms. My mother needed to mate with a human man to produce this child.

When my father happened to enter their realm, they found a human who could serve their purpose.

In a word, my mother mated with a human man, and then, released him back into the mortal world.

But nine years had passed, and when my father realized it, he went insane. He later attempted to raise Tundra in an attempt to prove to people that he had been telling the truth about the existence of the Great Beasts. He had died horribly in the attempt. It was many years before Elizabeth Twoyoungmen –the Talisman—and I located his restless spirit, and sent it to rest, thus ending the torment caused by his meeting with my mother.

My parents had never married. They had no relationship. She had used and discarded him, not caring what happened next.

I was part Arctic god. But was this how I was supposed to behave in a relationship?

Somehow, this was unsatisfying.

After I had joined the Canadian super-team, Alpha Flight, James MacDonald Hudson, the team leader, had arranged for me to have a cover identity as Anne McKenzie, and for me to be assigned as a records officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Yellowknife. While there, I attracted the attention of my co-worker, Sergeant Douglas Thompson.

But soon, I had to give up my identity as Anne McKenzie, when sudden missions with Alpha Flight or appearances on earth of the Great Beasts meant that I was unable to keep a steady job as an RCMP officer. So I abandoned my secret identity. But before I finally did so, I visited Douglas Thompson to thank him for his kindness to me during the time I was working in Yellowknife. It was then that Douglas told me that he loved me.

I did not know how to respond. So at first, I did everything to discourage him.

I told him I did not know how to reciprocate his feelings. I showed him my true fires. The hideous dark-red face with blazing eyes and fangs that I normally hid behind beautiful features.

But Douglas did not care. He loved me enough to accept me under any guise.

And he wanted to me to marry him!

And after seeing his unconditional love, I wanted to say yes. But what was keeping me from saying so?

I mused about the other marriages I had seen and known about.

Michael Twoyoungmen, the Shaman, who had delivered me and raised me, had had a good marriage, I knew. He and his wife, Kathryn, had been very much in love. But then, she had died, and he had never remarried. His love for her was eternal. Is this what a marriage was supposed to be?

James and Heather Hudson were the first married couple I had ever seen. They came to visit Michael in the woods, while he had been living there, raising me. I had never seen such a coupling before. And at first, I did not understand it.

James Hudson was also the first man I had ever seen, after Michael. After Michael and I came to Alpha Base. I had briefly believed myself to be in love with James Hudson, and even shown him that one day by embracing and kissing him after a training session.

Fortunately, Michael Twoyoungmen had taken me in hand. He had explained that James and Heather Hudson were married; in a tight and permanent relationship, and why I must not interfere. After that, I kept myself aloof, apart from others. There were relationships I wanted to study and thus, to understand.

I stood apart from others and watched their actions.

Many marriages did not survive. I learned that half of all marriages end in divorce. Lillian Crawley and Roger Bochs were both divorced. Walter Langkowski was in the process of getting a divorce.

Was marriage even worth the risk?

But then, I met Douglas Thompson. And after experiencing his deep love for me, I was ready to reciprocate. And, yes, even to consider marriage with him.

So what was holding me back?

For one thing, my godly relatives.

I had been born into this earth only to fight the Great Beasts. And nothing more. How would they feel about my wanting a personal life? A life that had nothing to do with the Great Beasts.

For another, my health issues.

I was a goddess/human hybrid. And while I had a healing factor that enabled me to recover from injuries and a supposed immunity to terrestrial diseases, I still had occasional health issues most likely related to my human heritage.

Heart issues dating from my almost dying after being removed from the country of Canada. An ovarian cyst, which ruptured and had to be removed by Michael Twoyoungman, a skilled surgeon. Fever afterwards. Fainting spells, if I did not have time to eat in either my human or animal forms.

I also was physically unable to leave the country of Canada. When Michael Twoyoungmen delivered me, he saw that I had an intangible form, and must be bound to the earth as quickly as possible. As it turned out, his spell was too specific. I was bound strictly to the land of Canada, and if I left its borders, I would die. (As we found out to our sorrow, the one time I left the country to go to a battle in New York.) It took me a long time to fully recover from this ordeal. I knew I could never leave Canada again.

Would Douglas wish to travel outside our country? How would he feel about having a spouse that was bound only to the land of Canada?

Then, there was the nature of my work with Alpha Flight.

We were sent into dangerous situations. I had already been seriously injured once in a fire fight, and had almost died. Would Douglas want a spouse who might not come home one day?

And finally, the issue of a child.

Michael Twoyoungmen had not only brought me into the world, but was also my lifelong personal physician. I had already been to him for advice.

“You are in excellent physical health, Narya,” Michael pronounced after he had examined me. “Never better.”

“Strong enough to bear a child, Michael?”

Michael sighed. “It is not a question of strength, Narya. It is a matter of how your body will react to a pregnancy. You are half human. This means you could possibly have a normal pregnancy lasting nine months. Or due to your age acceleration, you could come to term very quickly. There could be all kinds of strange and unforeseen complications.”

“But Douglas and I want a child, Michael.”

Michael considered my words. “Come to me when you are ready to conceive, Narya. For now, I will supply you with prenatal vitamins and folic acid tablets, the latter to prevent birth defects, though in your case, there are no guarantees.” He smiled. “For now, this is the best we can do.”

I was left to ponder his suggestions, after I left his office. And to start taking the pills he had given me.

That night, I spoke to Douglas of my concerns. My fears regarding my relatives’ reaction to our possible marriage. My health problems. The dangerous missions. And my possible pregnancy complications.

But Douglas was surprisingly supportive.

“Your god relatives don’t completely run your life, do they? You can’t fight the Great Beasts all the time. What do they expect you to do with the rest of your time? You have a right to your own life. They ought to understand that.”

I considered that. Maybe, I could find some way to reason with them, when and if the time came. “But what about my health issues?”

“Those same Northern gods gifted you with a healing factor. All right, so you’ve had a few issues here and there. But you can heal quickly. And even if you couldn’t, you have the best doctor in the world on your side. Michael Twoyoungmen can pull you through anything.”

“But Douglas, I can never leave Canada. How do you feel about a spouse who can’t travel with you to foreign places?”

“Canada’s the second-largest country in the world. It’s plenty big enough for me. And there are parts of it I haven’t seen yet. You and I can see it – together.”

We kissed then.

“But the dangerous nature of my work with Alpha Flight?”

“Hon, I’m a Mountie. A police officer. All right, so I’m a desk sergeant now. But if anyone understands the dangerous nature of your work, I do. And, anyway, you have great strength and super-powers. If anyone can survive a dangerous mission, you can.”

There was one more issue to tackle.

“Douglas, about our having a child….” I told him everything Michael had said.

For the first time, I saw a real flicker of concern in Douglas’s eyes. Then, it vanished, and he took my hand.

“I hate to use a cliché, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. In the meantime, remember that you’ve got the best doctor in Canada. And Leta would probably willing to come back and act as your baby nurse, if possible.”

Leta Macaulay, the Hudsons’ kinswoman, had been my nurse in the Department H infirmary. She was shortly to marry my kinsman, Philip Maltby.

I smiled. “She will have one of her own before I do. I can sense this.”

But if I could sense this, why couldn’t I sense how successful a marriage to Douglas would be?

Douglas seemed to have no doubts. He took my hand.

“Narya, will you marry me? As soon as possible?”

I held his hand as I considered it.

“We shall have to see, my love. Give me a little time.”

Chapter Text

CHAPTER TWO

At my kin’s wedding, I had a chance to surreptitiously study other couples.

After James Hudson had given his niece’s hand in marriage to my kinsman, Philip, he stepped back, and went to sit with his wife, Heather, in a front pew. They held hands throughout the rest of the ceremony, with all the devotion of a long-married couple. Their bond had managed to last through many tribulations, and to continue to stay strong.

Was this kind of bond possible for Douglas and me?

Lillian Crawley was sitting further back with her affianced suitor, Madison Jeffries. I know that Lillian Crawley had been married once before, and that it hadn’t worked. Yet she was willing to take a chance on another marriage. Marriage must be a desirable state of affairs for her to want to chance it again.

Further down the pews, I saw Nurse Norma and her husband, Harvey; and Nurse Melba and her husband, Josiah. Both couples were married for a long time, and had raised families. They made a lifetime commitment. But then, any troubles they had were human troubles, and could be solved in human ways. Doug’s and my problems were not so simple.

I looked over at Douglas. He seemed rapt. For a moment our gazes connected. We could have this, also.

Couldn’t we?

And finally, Philip and Leta, the couple now being married.

Their future was mainly a blank slate. Life was still a great unknown to them. I sensed that they would face problems, but would manage to solve them. I even sensed a couple of children for them, someday. They were willing to take a chance on the future.

I was there to support Leta. But I can remember how taken aback I was when she first asked me to be her attendant.

“What is a maid-of-honor?” I asked.

“Well, it’s a special attendant at a wedding…” Leta began.

“An attendant!” I was indignant. “I am a goddess! I attend no mortal!”

“Well, it’s not that kind of attendant,” Leta hastened to explain, “It just means that you’ll stand next to me when I’m marrying Philip. You’ll take care of Philip’s ring for me until I have to put it on his finger during the ceremony. And you’ll be holding my bouquet while I take my vows. It’s meant to be a show of friendship, Narya, not a sign of servitude.”

A show of friendship. In that case, I was willing to do it. “Very well,” I said. “I accept.”

Leta was delighted. “Oh, thank you, Narya! You won’t regret it! You’ll see. It’s a small wedding, but it’s going to be beautiful.”

And so it was. In the lovely candlelit wedding chapel, Leta and Philip took their vows. During the ceremony, Leta was a little nervous, but I touched her hand, and briefly lent her my goddess’s strength to help her make it through the ceremony. And at the end of the ceremony, when she threw back her veil, and kissed my kinsman, I found myself moved. I handed back her bouquet, and watched Leta and Philip walk down the aisle to start their new life together.

I smiled briefly over at Douglas, before walking down the aisle myself to follow the newly-married couple out of the chapel.

Outside, Philp and Leta were surrounded by good wishes. Then, James Hudson announced there was to be a further celebration back at the Hudsons’ apartment. Everyone was eager to go.

I hung back only a little. Douglas came up to me.

“Douglas,” I said. “The celebration is sure to be somewhat rowdy, considering some of the people invited. Judd, Walter, and Madison Jeffries.”

“Do you still want to go?” Douglas queried. “I can make our apologies…”

I shook my head. “No, my love. I have made a commitment. As a maid-of-honor, I must go to support my loved ones.”

Douglas took my hand. “Then, let’s go.”

The wedding reception was not the ordeal I had feared. Oh, there was some loud singing, but other than that, it went off well.

No, the real ordeal came later….

Leta had changed into her going-away suit, and thrown her bouquet, which was caught by Aurora. (Such a silly custom. I abstained from it.)

It was as she and Philip were leaving that trouble hit.

Judd received a report that enemy robots were destroying downtown Ottawa. There was no question but that Alpha Flight would be called into service one last time. (We had lost our government funding, but until the next morning, we were still operational.)

Before Alpha Flight went into action. I turned to Douglas. “I have to go, Douglas. You understand.”

“I do,” He looked worried. “Will you be all right?”

“I expect to be.” I straightened my shoulders. “I have the strength of the gods and the training of Alpha Flight. Go back to the hotel where we are staying, and wait for me. I …love you.”

“And I love you.” We kissed. Then, I turned into a snowy owl, and took off for downtown Ottawa.

It was not an easy battle. It took us an entire night to destroy and defeat the robots. There were many human casualties. Even Alpha Flight did not escape entirely unscathed. Sasquatch had a patch of burned fur, and I suffered from smoke inhalation. Fortunately, the former medical staff of Department H were there to lend a hand, and many lives were saved. They were able to treat Sasquatch and me as well, so that we were both able to return to the battle.

Finally, just before dawn, it was over.

James Hudson thanked the medical staff, who then departed to go to their lives. Leta returned to Philip, and the two of them left for their honeymoon. James Hudson called a meeting of Alpha Flight, in which we decided to stay together, even without government funding.

I was happy about this.

But how would this affect Douglas and me?

Afterwards, I came back to the hotel where he had been waiting patiently for me all night.

“Douglas, you have now seen firsthand what you would have to put up with as the spouse of a member of Alpha Flight. Do you still want to risk marriage to me?”

He kissed me. “Yes, I do. More than ever. You are a strong, brave woman. And you came though it unscathed.”

I decided not to mention that I had been treated for smoke inhalation. Why worry him? Besides, I had a healing factor. That should cover most illnesses and injuries I received.

And then, I realized it. Douglas had patiently waited for me the entire night, not knowing when I would return or even if I would. But he had stayed. Even though we had discussed all the complications our marriage would face, he still had not run. And I knew then that, no matter what happened, he would always be there for me. And, in light of his steadfast love, there was only one way now for me to answer his proposal.

“Douglas, I consent to marry you. But I have only one condition.”

“What is it, love?”

“I do not wish a large, raucous wedding. I feel our love is private. And so, if you are agreeable to this, I would like a small private ceremony. Preferably a civil ceremony, as I am a pagan demi-goddess, and would not feel right having a Christian ceremony.”

Douglas nodded. “That sounds about right. I can arrange it in a few days. But I have a request for you, also.”

“What is it, my love?” For a moment, I was anxious.

“I’m not going to be the kind of husband who picks out his wife’s clothes, but I’d like to make a suggestion. You looked so beautiful in that maid-of-honor dress, even to the flowered comb and blue pumps. Like a young goddess of spring. Would you like to wear it again for our wedding?”

“Oh, my love!” I exclaimed breathlessly. “Of course! Anything for you. I should like to be beautifully attired, even if it is to be for a small private ceremony.”

And so, a few days later, Douglas and I were married before a territorial justice of the peace in a civil ceremony, with only the justice’s wife as witness. I wore the lovely blue sheath trimmed with silvery beads, the pale-blue silk-flowered comb in my hair, and the dyed-to-match pumps. Douglas wore his red Mountie uniform, and looked handsome.

And as we took our private vows, I knew we were making the right decision.

There would challenges ahead, of course. Some normal for marriage. Some unique to our situation. But we would be able to face them. For we had the greatest basis for marriage on our side.

Love.