"How do we do this again?" asked Joseph's mother, running her fingers through Stella's hair .

"You have to do tight braids, close to the skin, so I don't have any hair flying in my face," explained Stella again, itching to do it herself .

She could have it done in no time, but tradition dictated that her mother must do it . To show that she had prepared her for the final hunt, that of marriage . Joseph's mother had shown up, as she tried to explain it to her own mother, and the two had started discussing how to even braid hair .

Stella had tried to show them, by braiding a few strands of her hair, and then taking it out, but they were still struggling . If Stella's mother had ever known how to braid hair, she had forgotten it, and Joseph's mother had never learned, being the mother of a boy . That left Stella in a bit of a quandary, wondering how she was going to look for her marriage .

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"Is anything wrong?" asked Selena, poking her head into the tent that had been set up for Stella to get ready . "Everyone's in position and about ready . "

"She says she needs her hair braided, but neither of us know how," explained Stella's mom .

"Oh! Well, I do, let me help . "

For the next thirty minutes, the two mothers helped by holding hair out of the way as Selena's fingers flew faster then either of them thought possible . She started with three braids, close to the skin, from the front, to the back, then combined the hair from the three into one braid, then wrapping it in a tight bun and securing it to the back of her head .

"I don't know how you did that, but it looks fantastic!" said Joseph's mom .

"I agree! I don't think I could have done that, but are you sure this is the style you want for your wedding? It doesn't look like a princess, or queen style?" her mother said, stepping back and looking at it with a frown .

Stella stood up and shook her head vigorously, as the three of them looked at her in horror . Not a single hair was out of place, and she nodded .

"It's perfect . Thank you! I can finish on my own," she said, turning away from them .

"Are you sure?" asked Joseph's mom, looking at the robe she was wearing . It was black, which meant it was definitely not the dress she was going to be wearing .

"Yes, no one must see what I am going to wear, until I show up at the altar . "

Selena gave her a hug and said, "This hairstyle is known as the G.o.ddess braid, and I think it's prefect, too!"

They looked at each other, as Stella stood waiting for them to leave . With a shrug, Selena lead them out, and Stella glanced at herself in the mirror with a nod . The hair wasn't that of a princess or queen, because she was a warrior .

x.x.xxX

Joseph was standing at the altar, nervously waiting for Stella to show up . Everyone was waiting, having been seated for over half an hour, and the great tree towered over them all . None of the G.o.ds had chosen to come, probably to prevent showing favoritism and possibly ruining his marriage, and thus being killed .

A noise from behind him, had him glancing back along the aisle again, and the sight that met his gaze startled him . Everyone in the crowd gasped when they saw her, too .

Stella was riding on the back of the sphinx she had saved in the mountains . Joseph had no idea how she had brought it here, but the sphinx stood proud and regal, as it carried her down the aisle . She perched high, wearing red plate mail that covered her from the neck down to her boots . Joseph had never seen this armor before and his eyes danced along it, noting the fine details where she had quick release buckles hidden, and yet it was fully functional .

Jumping down from the back of the sphinx, she crouched before him, as if about to attack, looking over the crowd after a moment, as if determining the danger she was feeling must be from them, and many cringed back, as if feeling the threat she was emanating with just her glare . The sphinx moved off to the side, out of the view of everyone, yet still watching the show .

She carefully danced around him, placing her feet purposefully, and after a few movements, everyone relaxed to watch her twirl and spin around him . His clothing was made of gold cloth, and the red seemed to enhance it as she drew closer and closer to him .

Coming to a sudden stop in front of him, there was a collective sigh from the crowd as her lips were only inches from his . Joseph could feel through the mind link that he shouldn't move, despite the itch to kiss her that seemed to inflame his lips .

Stepping back, she smiled, and his heart gave a leap . Reaching up, she let loose the snaps he had noticed before, and the armor on her left arm came loose .

"With this armor, I pledge my loyalty to you . "

Handing him the armor, he set it on the table behind him . He wasn't sure who had set it there, as it definitely wasn't there a moment ago, and wondered if she had placed it on her last pa.s.s around him from her bag .

Removing the right arm, she handed it to him as well, "With this, I pledge my strength . "

The left leg came next and then the right .

"With these, I shall not leave you, but shall always hasten to be by your side . "

As she pulled off the breastplate, everyone suddenly noticed that she was wearing a golden gown that fell to her ankles . A heart shaped opening over her heart showcased the tattoo he had drawn of his name .

Handing him the breastplate, she said, "Our love will be told in stories to come, and while none shall believe the whole of it, I pledge to protect that love with my whole being . Any who threaten it shall die!"

Joseph couldn't help but chuckle at the shock on some of the guests faces, but reached out and took her hands . It was his turn .

"I vow that I am yours, as you are mine . Your joys and sorrows will be mine, as my joys and sorrows will be yours . I will keep you as close as my shadow, and let nothing come between us . I will love you forever, and should death separate us, I will come back to you, for you are my eternal soul mate . "

She smiled at him, a smile that he knew he would replay in his mind over and over . His heart seemed to skip a beat and light trickled through the tree branches to land on them, which was quite a feat for the world tree .

He knew that, for many, his vows may have seemed odd, but if it made Stella this happy then, he was sure it was right for them . As the thoughts of children and a happy home played in his mind, he knew without a doubt that the kids would be adorable . With the fey glamour they were going to get from their mom, it wouldn't be possible for them not to be .