Authors: Julia Sexton
Cona spoke to the women in the language of Leka. "We are going to take the measurements for your wedding dress. They will be working all night in order to have it ready for you tomorrow morning. So now, you must take off your dress so the measurements will be precise."
"Is the wedding dress different from the garments I see you all wearing? What does it look like?" Vicky decided she could at least get into the spirit of a wedding.
"Generally," Cona hesitated. "The style is the same but it is composed of two different fabrics and the placement of the pieces must be exact. Of course, the fabric is very fine. You will like it."
All her life Vicky had dreamed of her wedding. Never in her wildest fantasies had she thought of being on another planet. What a story she would have when she returned.
The women stopped chattering and giggling. They looked at Vicky in awe. She realized she would have to get used to her exalted position after being a down-and-out bartender. And, what were her chances of finding a really great catch? Pleasingly plump was just not the current vogue.
"Veeckee," Cona said in her slight accent, "Now you need to take off your dress."
Vicky hesitated. Being nude in front of strangers was something she hadn't done before. All these women would be looking at her and all her...flaws. She thought about the million dollars and decided she could do this. One of the women came up and lifted the dress up over her shoulders.
All of the women gasped.
What? Thought Vicky. Wasn't it impolite to make such a big deal about a few extra pounds on their future queen for a year? She just couldn't figure out what went on with these people.
"You are so perfect," Cona said. "Look at me, no matter how much I eat I will never have those curves. Plus, my curves would be in the wrong places."
Vicky was bewildered. "Perfect?"
"Yes, everyone noticed as soon as we saw you. I have never seen anyone who looked so much like our beloved Neani." Cona walked over to a far wall in the room. There was a cut out in the wall with a small shrine.
"And now that you are without clothes, we can see that you are truly her image come to life. Look." She picked up a small sculpture from the nook and brought it over to Vicky.
Now Vicky was amazed. She'd seen herself in the mirror plenty of times, dismayed at the extra roundness that just never went away. The statue Cona held was...was
her
. Well, as though someone had made a sculpture of Vicky. She gulped. This was the Lekan standard of beauty.
The goddess was very feminine with delicate hands and feet. Her breasts were ample and round but not too big. And, what was amazing was that her stomach was round and her hips full. The face with the fine features and the arched eyebrows. The hair. Everything was like the Vicky she saw every day in the mirror. She was amazed.
"Oh," Vicky exclaimed. "This is your goddess Neani?"
"Yes," Cona said. "Do you see now why everyone thinks you are the perfect mate?"
"This is your model of ideal beauty? I can't believe it. I think I can get used to this."
Cona smiled. "Now let's get you measured for tomorrow. Stand over here." She pointed to a spot by the table.
Vicky padded over to the table in her newfound beauty. A place where she was liked for her body was a mind changing concept. This was good. She chuckled to herself.
Maybe I will stay here
.
Three women used blank tapes to measure her: the width of her shoulders, the circumference of her neck, the length of her arms, from her neck to her crotch, her bust, the distance between her breasts. It seemed like overkill for such a plain, non-fitting dress, but Vicky realized they wanted everything just right for the big ceremony.
Finally the women were finished and went off chattering with their marked tapes. Vicky and Cona were alone in the big room.
"Let me show you your rooms," Cona said. "I am sure that you are nervous with all the changes. Don't be afraid. People here are kind and generous."
Vicky chuckled, out loud this time. "Kroido? Kind and generous? He seems all business and everything must be his way."
"But, he is the prince. Everything does go his way," said Cona. "Except for one thing."
"What one thing?" Vicky asked.
"The sea. When he is out on the water on his boat, the wind and the sea challenge him. And he loves it."
"The sea," murmured Vicky.
Wedding
Vicky stepped out of the shower the next morning and heard the sound of women chattering in the large room of her quarters. She ran to the bathroom and then threw on a Lekan garment and went to greet them.
"Good morning," Cona greeted her. "We have everything for the ceremony. First we'll start with breakfast. You'll find the entire sequence long and tiring. First there's the Apparance, then the parade to the sea, then the ceremony itself, and finally the parade back to the palace, and the feast. Well, finally for the public, for you there is the wedding night." She smiled.
"Goodness," Vicky said. "That is a very long day. I'm so nervous I'm not sure if I will be hungry. I'm not used to public appearances. I get stage fright just hosting my girlfriend's candle party. And that's the biggest group I've ever spoken to."
Cona looked confused. She raised a dark eyebrow.
"Never mind," Vicky said. "I've left the candle parties behind." A quick vision of the million dollars flashed through her mind.
No more candle parties
.
"And now, to get you ready," Cona said. Vicky saw she was excited. The women clustered around with packages and chattering. "The Apparance is a short time away. You have a long day ahead."
"The Apparance? What is that?" Vicky asked.
"The bride-to-be must show herself in front of the people of Leka so they can see that she is a full woman without...changes."
"Changes? What do you mean, changes?" Vicky was getting uncomfortable.
"Like this," Cona said. She unfastened her garment at the neck and pulled it down to her waist. Vicky tried hard not to recoil or stare. Down her chest Cona had two rows of small breasts with tiny nipples, three on each side.
"Oh," said Vicky. "I...I...Cona...I..." She didn't know what to say.
Cona smiled as she pulled up her garment. "It's alright. I've had them all my life. And many women here have some outward sign that the experiments went very wrong. We really are an infertile planet. That is why it is so important that everyone knows you are a full woman."
The women pulled open the packages.
"Take off your garment," Cona directed. "We'll put on your wedding dress and then shoes. That is all you will need. No makeup. The people want to see you as you are."
Vicky slid off her garment and the women lifted her wedding dress over her head and fastened it at the neck.
"Wait!" Vicky cried. "In public, like this?" They all nodded.
The dress was a beautiful shimmer of silver blue with silver embroidery. But the fabric was transparent, like a negligee. Outside, in the light, people would see everything!
I can't do this
, Vicky thought.
Then she thought about the million dollars and that nobody here knew her. It really wasn't any worse than some drunk staring at her breasts at the bar. And the drunks did that for free. She was lucky if she got a good tip.
As they slipped on the soft silver-blue shoes, Vicky took in a deep breath and vowed that she would do whatever it took.
"Take a look," Cona said, pointing to the mirror.
Vicky could barely recognize the woman in the mirror. Down and out bartender transformed into a sexy bride. She had to admit she looked good. Her flowing waves of hair were dry and fluffed. They framed the clear skin on her face accented with her dark brows and lashes.
Somehow the glint of the fabric highlighted her blue eyes. She was relieved to see that the silver embroidery strategically covered her nipples and areolae and her pubis. As she looked at the detail she saw the embroidery represented fish, and other sea creatures spraying out from each strategically placed center.
I can do this. I can do this.
"It is time. We'll walk you to meet Kroido."
When they arrived at the doors to the great balcony, there he was. Vicky had forgotten how commanding he looked--his broad shoulders and strong arms over the finely honed torso. And all of that on those long, strong legs.
Today his full head of light, light hair glistened in health. And under that hair his whole face was smiling. His clothing was the same as hers, the silvery blue transparent fabric with strategically placed heavy embroidery of sea creatures. He held out his arm.
"Vicky, here we are. It begins." He took her hand and pulled her toward him. Then he placed both hands on her shoulder.
She felt a bolt of electricity zoom through her body. He was magnificent.
He looked her up and down obviously pleased with what he saw. Then he turned her around.
No embroidery on the back
, she thought.
I don't know him. I don't know him at all.
"Are you ready for this long day?" he asked.
"Kroido, I don't know. This dress. The public. I'm frightened."
"Ha," he laughed. "No need to be frightened, I am here. They will love you. Come, let's start."
Two men opened the towering doors to the balcony. A cheer went up outside. As Kroido led her out Vicky saw a sea of faces in every direction as far as she could see. She could feel herself blushing.
The heat rose in her face. No one, ever, had seen her like this. The few encounters she had had all been in the dark. Here, she was now in daylight exposed to thousands. She felt she was in a dream. She thought about the million dollars, took a deep breath and walked out with Kroido.
"They want to see you. They've seen me since I was a tiny baby presented here on this same balcony." He placed his hand on her back and nudged her forward. The roar from the people below was almost defining.
"Now turn around so they can see all of you. Turn slowly," Kroido said.
"I...I...Kroido," Vicky felt waves of embarrassment. She was lightheaded.
Kroido took her hand and lifted it up. "Pretend you are dancing a slow dance." He used his hand to gently turn her for the vast crowd. Vicky clung to his hand as she turned. His strength and calm reassured her.
Oh, and the million, Vicky,
she said to herself.
The million
.
The crowd had started chanting. First it was sprinkled here and there and then it swelled. "Neani. Neani. Neani."
"My child," a male voice startled Vicky from behind. "You are beautiful beyond measure."
No one. No one! Had ever said this to her.
Kroido said. "My father, King Zostug."
Vicky had no idea how to address a king, especially one who was almost her father-in-law. And what did they say on Leka. She settled for her regular greeting. "Hello. I'm Vicky Donovan."
Zostug looked at her. Then he smiled. "I knew I could trust Kroido to choose a very beautiful woman. Welcome to Leka. Welcome to our family."
The crowd was still chanting when they left the balcony. "Neani. Neani. Neani."
Kroido placed his hand on her back and led her through a maze of corridors to a door that opened behind the palace. Outside of the thick palace walls, the heat hit Vicky.
"Now what?" she asked.
"Now for the ceremony. It is long but then we will be officially married!" Kroido answered. "First we must get to the sea."
"The sea?"
"Yes, we're going down by the harbor. You saw it from the window."
Kroido took her hand and led her to a cart, float? What was it? Vicky was confused. Something on wheels covered in silver, adorned with carved silver fish and sea animals like the ones on her dress.
Kroido guided her up the steps to the cart. "Don't worry, we'll be going slowly. The crowd is thick." As he said this, a band of men went out in front of the cart. And then women, Cona, among them came out with baskets and grouped in front of the men.
On a seat below and in front sat a woman with the same short hair as Cona. Kroido helped Vicky onto the cart and led her to a circle in the middle. Then to the woman he said. "Begin."
With nothing that Vicky could see, the cart began a smooth forward motion heading down the hill toward the crowd and the sea.
"How does it move?" Vicky asked in wonder.
"It is like your electricity. Magnetic fields unite electrons to move the drive shaft. Do you know what a drive shaft is?" He raised his blond eyebrows.
"Of course."
"Good. Vasu said you were smart. I should never doubt him."
"Vasu, the good looking one at the hotel?"
Kroido looked a little perturbed at the "good looking" part. "Yes, he is my navigator."
Vicky didn't know what that meant but she let it go because they were entering the crowd. The silent cart vehicle threaded through the crowd. At last they reached the harbor. What Vicky hadn't noticed from the window was a large statue at the entrance to the harbor. A statue of Neani.
The air was hot but the breeze off the ocean cooled Vicky. She felt the breeze tug at her wedding dress so it clung to her front. Kroido led her down to the water's edge where a group of priests waited. She guessed they were priests.
Kroido brought is handsome face close to hers and whispered, "This will be long and in our language. They recite the entire prophecy of Neani."
And, of course, they recited the prophecy in Lekan so Vicky did not understand one word. The crowd hushed as the story began. Vicky felt the heat get heavier in spite of the breeze. She felt sticky. Sweat began to trickle down her back. She stood next to Kroido and waited.
Two priests approached them. Kroido whispered, "Just do what they instruct. I forgot to tell you about this."
The priests led them down the dock between the boats bobbing on the water. They came to the end of the pier. Suddenly with a push Vicky was flying through the air toward the water. Kroido was right beside her. She plunged feet first into the water and came up spluttering.
"You forgot to tell me about this part!" She cried at Kroido as he sprung up next to her.
He grinned.
She began splashing water at him. The crowd cheered and then started chanting with vigor, "Neani. Neani. She is truly Neani."
Kroido looked at her with pride. Vicky was too sodden to respond. "Swim," he said.
They swam toward shore until they could touch ground. Then they walked through the water toward the shore.
Kroido said. "Now you are my bride, Queen of Leka."
There in the water with the boats creaking and the crowd cheering, he took her in his arms and kissed her.
His lips were firm and soft. Fire burned inside her from their touch. She felt her nipples harden against his chest. The pressure of his arms against her back felt like safety. All of this happened in an instant. Then her lips parted and she kissed him back feeling her desire rise. She felt the pressure of his penis as it began to harden.
The crowd was going wild.
Abruptly, Kroido pulled back. "Enough for now. Our wedding night comes soon. These clothes are quite revealing." He gestured toward her sodden dress clinging to her body revealing every curve. She watched his beginning arousal shrink back under the embroidered silver fish.
He put his hands on her waist and looked into her eyes with his clear blue eyes under the heavy blond brows. "You don't know what you did. The goddess Neani, so the story goes, splashed the god Koger when they first fell into the sea from the sky. It made him laugh. Now the crowd sees you as the embodiment of Neani, not just for how you look, but your actions."
"Keep that in mind," Vicky said. "The goddess part." She couldn't help smiling.
He took her hand and said, "You are my goddess and queen." Then he led her sloshing toward the shore, the waiting cart, and the cheering crowd.