First comes love, then comes marriage
Nike's pov:
I was in a dressing room getting ready. Today was the day. I was so excited, but also incredibly nervous. What if I tripped? What if I made a fool out of myself? What if she ends up saying no? I push the thoughts to the back of my mind. As my girlfriend always says, thoughts have power. The more you think about something the more likely it is to come true. I find she's quite right. All around me nymphs, dryads and satyrs are running around to make the day as perfect as it can be. One nymph is braiding my hair, as a dryad is putting the finishing touches on my dress. In the mirror I see the door open. My brothers, sister and parents all enter together.
"Nike! You look gorgeous!" Bia said, taking my hand in hers and looking at me up and down.
"Part of me thought you'd actually be doing this in your armor." Zelos joked.
"Nah dude, Athena would do this in her armor." Kratos added.
The mention of my girlfriend's name makes my heart jump. How did she currently look? Was she ready? Did she have doubts? Was she really doing this in her armor? Again all the questions. I push them away. This was no time to over think.
"Boys. Don't." My mother remarked with a smile.
"She's already incredibly nervous. Don't make it worse." She added.
I gave her a nod that was filled with gratitude. In the mirror I spotted my father walking up to me. He stood behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder, leaning in slightly.
"I'm so proud of you Nike." He whispered in my ear.
"We all are and we can't wait to see all the great things you'll do together."
I blushed slightly. My dad rarely ever says anything like that so it really means a lot to me he does now. The nymph and dryad step away and admire their work. They look at one another and nod. They bow slightly and leave the room.
"Bia darling come on you'll be expected to be there when she enters. Boys come on we have to be there too." Mom said with smile.
Bia gave me a last look.
"Go. I'll see you inside." I winked and my sister smiled back.
Mom and my siblings left, leaving me and dad. Now I really was starting to get nervous. Dad offered me his arm.
"Shall we?" He asked in his deep voice.
I nodded and took his arm.
"Ready as I'll ever be." I replied with a smile.
He smiled back as we left the room. He led me outside. I felt almost as if I was part of a myth the mortals would tell to one another for years and years. We stopped at the back of a giant aisle located in the woods. To the left a bunch of nature spirits from all across the Greek world. To the right Olympians and minor gods and goddesses of the Greek pantheon. And all the way in the front standing before Hera with her back facing me... Athena. She chose for a dress?! The only reason I knew it was her was by the nervous twitch in her fingers that were playing with the fabric. Her hair was braided over her shoulder in an intricate design. It had small olive branches weaved into it. It looked simply gorgeous. Athena was talking to Zeus who was still standing next to her. I assume he'd leave when I got there. He seemed to be the one calming her nerves slightly. How he was the one to do it I have no clue. I'd only get more nervous having him around. Anyone would. But Athena and Zeus' relationship had always been something else. No one seemed to notice I was here just yet. They all kept their eyes on the front. Soon enough a young satyr and his mother came by and gave me my bouquet. It was amazingly beautiful. It was a mix of white and gold. Some of the flowers had been enchanted to have a golden color. I looked one last time towards my dad. Did he have teary eyes already?
"Don't give me that look." He said.
"What look?" I ask a bit confused.
"One filled with pity. I'm glad this is happening and I wouldn't want you to marry anyone other than Zeus' know-it-all." He grinned.
"Dad don't call her that." I said raising a brow, but failing to hide my smile.
"It's just hard because I'm giving oldest daughter away to the king of the skies, rather than keep her with me. But then again I suppose you've been his for a while now."
"No dad. You're not giving me to Zeus. You're giving me to his daughter. I'm hers, no matter what her dear old daddy says." I smirk.
Dad chuckles slightly and gives me an 'if-you-say-so' look. I take one last deep breath as the muses and Apollo start playing their instruments. My dad and I started walking down the aisle. To my right I spotted my mom and my brothers. To my left a couple of mine and Athena's friends.
When I faced in front of me again I saw Athena looking over her shoulder. Her eyes were inspecting every inch of me. When I reached her Zeus walked away to his seat. My dad stopped when I stood next to Athena. They nodded at one another and my dad sat down in between my mother and the king of the gods. Athena and I looked at one another, taking a moment to admire each other. Her eyes were sparkling with joy and awe. Let me tell you those are rare in her eyes, which made it all the more magical. Soon enough Hera asked for our hands. I gave her my left hand and Athena gave her her right.
"Now you will each say your vows. Athena you may go first." The queen of the gods said.
My girlfriend took a breath for a moment and then looked me straight in the eye.
"Dear Nike." She started.
"No matter how smart I am or how many words I know, it'll never be enough to explain how much it means to me that we stand here together today. That in front of all these people I get to show who you really are to me. From the moment we first met I knew that you had to be the one I'd spend my life with, not even once caring that it would mean I'd wake up next to the same person for eternity. In fact in can't wait for that. So I promise you that no matter what you're going through I will always be here to support and love you. Because strategy is useless if it doesn't have victory in the end."
I can feel tears build up behind my eyes. The last sentence really left an impact. How does she phrase it so well?
"Nike, you may say your vows." Hera nodded.
I give a nod.
"Athena." I smile.
She smiles back at me and gives me an encouraging nod.
"How quick the decennia and centuries fly by, especially if I spend them with you. You have no idea how dull my life was before I met you, but with your constant battles and victories you have certainly made it worth living. Since I intend the spend the rest of it the same way I suppose I have to promise you a couple of things here."
Her smile grows wider.
"I promise to be merciful on a battlefield. But I also promise I won't make it easy for you, knowing very well you like a challenge. I vow to care for you and stand by your side forever off the battlefield and most of the time on the battlefield."
It earned me a chuckle from her and the people around me.
"No matter how the battle ends, I want you to know that there is no one else I love more than I love you." I say, finishing my vows.
I can see the tears brim in her eyes, just as the same is undoubtedly happening to me.
"Now I bind thee in union." Hera continued.
She placed a laurel like crown on each of our heads. The crowns were connected in the middle by a white ribbon.
Thrice we walk around a small table that has a couple of offerings around it. When we finish we stand next to one another.
"Here by I prenounce you wife and wife. By all means you may both kiss your bride." The queen of the heavens smiled.
And we did. Loud cheers and whistles erupted as our lips locked together.
"I love you." Athena whispered when we pulled away.
"I love you too." I mutter in return.
"-Ike.. Nike..." Someone calls my name, but it seems far away.
I'm softly shook by my shoulders and am met by wife's beautiful face.
"Morning angel." Athena smiles at me.
"Morning?" I question.
"Yes. You seem like you had a good dream." She smirked.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"You were muttering something about me in a dress standing before Hera. Anything you want to share?"
I frowned. That means... Her laughter filled the room. As adorable as it was I couldn't help but be a little mad.
"You just had to wake me up didn't you?" I grumble.