Mera had never been happier. After long years and countless trials, she was finally married to the love of her life – Arthur Curry, also known on the surface as Aquaman. It had been a marvelous affair, the decadent halls of the royal Atlantean palace filled with the greatest treasures the undersea kingdom had to display.
Purposefully, Mera and Arthur had gone overboard with opulent, traditional décor. It was the least they could do, with so many other breaks from the "old ways", as the elder counsel often chimed. First, the palace had been drained – all Altantean buildings had the ability to go dry, pumping the water out through old magic, but it was often shunned in favor of the aquatic lifestyle. But Arthur had insisted to accommodate some of his honored guests from the surface, the Justice League.
Secondly, Arthur and Mera had insisted that the wedding be public to all Atlanteans. Arthur had many enemies, both within and outside of Atlantis, and everyone from his advisor Vulko to the captain of his guard, Murk, had tried to sway their king into a smaller, more closely guarded affair. But the King would have none of it, insisting that the people he had sworn to protect had every right to be there to witness the crowning of their new Queen.
The days before the wedding had been stressful, to say the least. Planning was always hectic, but both Mera and Arthur faced additional challenges. Arthur, in his role as protector of the seas, was called away for one crisis after another. Mera, born in the rogue Atlantean colony of Xebel, was still seen by many as a traitorous witch trying to sabotage their king. Since the announcement of the wedding, protests had sprung up across Atlantis that Mera had done her best to ignore while being fitted for her royal dress. It had mostly worked. By now, she had learned that there was no talking to some people. She tried to follow her beloved's example, working to earn the love of the people through her actions.
But as long as it took to plan and prepare, the wedding itself was over seemingly immediately. The entire day was a haze to Mera, only snapshots clear in her mind. She remembered herself in her gown, looking into a mirror, admiring the way the golden lines accentuated her – she admitted privately – rather nice form. The dress was green and high-collared, with a curved window at her cleavage. Metal accents, made of pure gold, hugged the dress to her curves, coming around her waist to meet at the Atlantis "A" sigil that sat at her waist. Her sleeves flared at the wrist, creating a dramatic swoosh any time she moved. Her vivid red hair was up in an elaborate style that would never be possible if the palace were still flooded. She remembered her heartbeat then, accelerating with excitement.
She remembered the start of the ceremony. The grand doors of the royal hall swinging open to reveal her, and thousands of eyes turning her way. But she looked right past all the familiar faces – Grant, Tula, Vulko... none of them mattered because at the head of the room was Arthur in his plated armor, kneeling on one knee towards the High Priest of Atlantis. His head was meant to be down, but Mera saw him sneaking a peek as she approached and knelt next to him.
She remembered the kiss, as he took her into his powerful arms and spun her around, the room exploding into applause. She remembered entering the party afterwards, and noticing that at some point she'd gotten a crown. Funny how some things seem to slip through, she'd thought.
It had been a perfect day. Not even Black Manta had tried anything, which frankly Mera was slightly disappointed by. In her opinion, the only way the day could have gone better is if she'd gotten to kick that bastard right in his smug face before marrying Arthur anyway. But she didn't complain – while one of the things she and Arthur shared was their love for battle, both were content with one peaceful day.
But Mera had no intention of having a peaceful night.
Late into the night, she and Arthur finally made their goodbyes from their party. It was still in full swing, and Mera had no doubt that Arthur would have stayed and enjoyed himself until the last guest had left if she had not given him her most powerful set of bedroom eyes yet. He got her message loud and clear, and excused himself quickly. The two left with as little fanfare as they could manage, trying to avoid-
"My King!" Vulko called, squeezing through the door as Arthur tried to close it.
Mera sighed. The old man was Arthur's trusted friend and advisor, yes, but she knew what was coming and had prayed to avoid him.
"Leaving so soon?" Vulko asked.
"Yes," Arthur replied. "Just, er, just getting some air. You understand. We'll be back in a few moments."
"Are you ready for the consummation?" he asked bluntly, knocking Arthur somewhat off guard.
"Uh- Vulko, look, we were thinking..." Arthur tried.
"You're not watching us." Mera stated.
Vulko turned to her. "I'm sorry, my queen, but I must! You understand I take no pleasure in it, of course, but there must be a witness to the consummation of a royal wedding! If an heir is to be produced-"
"The answer is no, Vulko." Mera had known this would be her first act as a queen, and was determined to stick to it.
"My queen, with all the other breaks from tradition tonight, I don't think it's wise to turn away from this. There are those who think... well."
"Think what?" Mera felt her legendary anger growing. "That I am no legitimate queen? That I am only good to produce a child for the King and continue his bloodline?"
"I'm merely trying to-"
"I know what you're trying to do, Vulko," Arthur spoke, finally finding his kingly voice. He spoke authoritatively, but not without compassion to his friend. "But the queen's decision is final. Return to the party. Pretend you never saw us leave."
"I..." Vulko hesitated. He heard a crack, and turned his head to see the window to the side of him splintering. Outside, a knife made of solid water pressed slowly against the glass, manipulated by the powerful magic that Mera commanded over the seas. He looked back to the woman to see a glare more terrifying than the knife.
"That's enough, love," Arthur said. "I think he's got the... point."
Arthur laughed at his own terrible joke, breaking the tension somewhat. He leaned in to his advisor, giving him a gentle hug.
