The rebel stint in the Hapes consortium lasted two months as crew of the Liberator and embarked soldiers finally rested after years of near constant naval and ground warfare. Their only rest in these times were the rest they got between the member star systems of the consortium.
The campaign reaped its toll on everybody including the leadership. Zi had died in action, fighting side by side with the her husband whom she met three weeks before the campaign on Mimban. Her death spelt the death of her unborn child as she was in her early pregnancy at the time of her death.
Following their victory, Hera had the ghost refueled and rushed back to Hoth. She wouldn't miss anymore time with Jacen. The Liberator stayed back however as she trusted it's command to Sigil.
Her husband Sigil, was the highest ranking officer oboard the Liberator and although the ship formally belonged to Hera, he was its and any other friendly ships commander until the conclusion of the consortium campaign.
He suffered from depression following the death of his pregnant wife at the hands of his sister. His heart was like a spaceship's hull which got pierced by a turbolaser.
Hera's deployment only began a month after her son, Jacen. He was the only reminder she had of her former lover, martyr of the rebel cause, Kanan Jarrus. So spending the first two years of her son's life awy from him was devestating but she was sure he was in the good hands of Sabine Wren.
The end of the consortium campaign saw attempts by Ta'a Chume to get close to the Admiral. Reminding him that the people of noble worlds only accepted a family member of the previous noble on the throne.
She had black mailed him into marrying her, likely wanting force-sensitive offspring to one day rule Hapes as opposed to her son Isolder.
Although succesful in making Sigil see marrying her as the only way to reap any reward from his two year campaign, he was still emotionally disconnected from her. His mind still on his first wife which she had assassinated by leaking intel.
Now was Ta'a Chume's chance to win over her soon to be husband's affection. She had to get him within a month until the palace was rebuilt and a further month on a honeymoon if she succeded in the first one.
"You like the food?" Ta'a asked, moving the food on her plate around, staring into Sigil's eyes. She ahd setup for them to dine every night on the grand balcony of the royal palace.
He took another bite of the food, as if he hadn't noticed it's taste before. "It is certainly wonderfull." He complemented. "Would you consider this to be the only food you would eat for the rest of your life?" She asked, a playful on her face.
"Well, there are others but this can surely be up there with them." He replied. "What are those then?" She asked further. "You got shredded bantha meat spread on a pole and cooked over high heat. That is something I would eat for every meal." He replied. "What about you?" He asked, suddenly finding himself interested in conversing with her.
"Well there is this stew made by frying blended up vegtables along with meat that has fat and beans. It is quite the treat." She replied.
Every single dinner, Ta'a found herself getting him more and more hooked into talking with her and getting over Zi. She woukd ask him about small things he enjoyed and would have them added for their next dinner.
By the end of the month, she had won over his affection and attraction to the point he didn't bother with sleeping in another room from her yet maintained a seperate bed.
Yet Ta'a knew she had to keep him away reminders of his dead wife for as much as possible. One too many reminders and he could lose his affection for her and undo all the work she put into him.
That included ensuring the elimination of who she only knew to be inquisitor Kharna but found out from Hera was indeed, Sigil's own sister. She could spoil her plans with a whistle blow.
All that Revan needed to do was convince him that it was Ta'a Chume who leaked the location of his forward scouting cruiser to her and painted a target on Zi's back and she didn't doubt he would skin her from atop the spires of the royal palace. A thought which made her shiver yet thankfully for her, she had the mental fortitude and he had enough respect for others to the degree that her mind wouldn't be infultrated by Sigil.
Following the reconstruction of the palace, the wedding and coronation ceremony for the future of Hapes was held.
Alas the morning of their wedding and corination ceremony had arrived as indicated by the sounds of a band, playing music just outside their window on the lower floor balcony. The music however was brief only playing a shortened version of the consortoum's anthem.
Sigil was the first awake. As per his and Ta'a Chume's request, a second bed was installed in the royal bedroom temporarily to acomidate Sigil.
He sat up and yawned loudly before rubbing his eyes. 'Oh, I couln't have been happier.' He thought sarcastically. "Atleast you got a wife." Nox commented. He rolled his eyes; she had convinced him into this marriage and that was enough. He wouldn't be hearing her opinion for a while.
"Hello dear." Ta'a greeted in a sleepy tone. "Morning." He replied in an equal tone. She was wearing a night gown and her hair was a mess as she got up and moved into the refresher. He went to the second one.
Their window for breakfast was brief as they had to get ready for their wedding ceremony later that evening.
The ceremony followed traditional Hapan as opposed to Nubian customs against Sigils wishes. Sigil had forbidden his crew from watching the ceremony after learning Hapan marriage customs; which would tarnish his reputation as an Admiral amongst his men.
His crew held their Admiral in high regard and aspiration after he led them to fifteen victories over the course of two years and as such spent the time hanging in the Hapes underground bars.
Ta'a Chume sat on her throne in a long and puffy blue dress which still showed the outline of her body. A golden circlet around her head from which blue fabric hung all the way to under her chin, covering her face. She also wore full lenght golden sleeves and high heels and looked towards the entrace for her man.
Sigil stood at the entrance of the throne room gate. As per Hapan tradition, he wore no shirt instead his oiled upper body was on display for the guests and the entire consortium as the wedding was broadcasted. Across his chest was a leather bandolier which connected to a golden and oversized pauldron which rested on his right shoulder.
His head was adorned by a tall golden helmet which had a tall red ponytail protruding from its top. Blue sapphire lenses were mounted at eye level, acting as his lenses.
He wore golden armor leggins and a golden armor skirt that extended to below his knees with a red commando skirt under it. A red loincloth topped off his lower body.
His hands were covered by black leather fingerless gloves above a pair of golden armor ones. All of his outfit intricately crafted by artisans thousands of years ago in great detail. The name of each couple was carved into the grooms armor in cursive Hapan.
In his hand he carries the spear of the queen mothers. A long black staff which had a spike counter weight on one side and on the other it had an intricately made blaster rifle with a long bladed bayonet and a spike at the top of it. The trigger was a long lever towards the top of the handle.
He balanced the spear upon his left shoulder and used his left arm to secure it as he marched down the aisle flanked by four amazon bodyguards in a wedge formation. In the very front of this formation ahead of the guards but behind Sigil, walked Shim and Tooran, carrying their Noghri staffs.
Climbing the stairs of the throne, he got on one knee and offered Ta'a Chume the spear of queen mothers with both hamds. She took the spear and planted the spear into the replaceable tile used specifically for this ceremony. She took the helmet off of Sigils face and placed it on the spear.
She looked at his eyes who weren't facing her back but were rather facing the floor. They were concentrsted on something else but what?
Pushing the thought aside for now, Ta'a took both hands and cupped Sigil's face and brought him up from his kneeling stance. She kept a hold of his face for a long second as their eyes met. Sigil moved her veil up and over her head before proceeding to put his hands on hers and lowered them to between their chest.
Finally leaning forwards, Ta'a kissed her now husband in front of the crowd. Sigil although finding Ta'a attractive was still conflicted. In the crowd, he sensed jealousy and lust as he kissed the soon to be queen mother of the Hapes consortium and he already was her husband. Soon to be count father Sigil Trial of the Hapes consortium.
Pulling back they both turned and looked down the aisle, Isolder and two servants holding crowns, walked up the stairs. First was the queen mother's turn as her son took off her circlet and placed it on his own head before placing a golden crown covered in gems on her head. Isolder then took a golden circlet containing a tear shaped ruby and a black gem in the ruby's center shaped like a reptilian pupil and placed on the now count father of Hapes.
Ta'a moved so she was in front of Sigil as he placed his right hand on her coresponding shoulder as they watched Isolder descended the stairs and went down the aisle and back into the crowd, Sigil grabbed his helmet and the spear. He put his helmet back on and handed Ta'a her spear as he lifted and put her upon her shoulders elegantly.
After stabilizing herself upon his tall fame, Ta'a gave him the spear as he grabbed it with both hands and held it like a royal guard would. With one end pointed up and the other down as he marched down the stairs, aisle and later out of the room.
He marched out of the palace, followed by the crowd to the docked Star Home. Marching into it, the crowd seized their pursuit of their newly wedded monarchs as the Star Home lifted off into space where the Liberator assumed escort duty as they both headed for the traditional vacation spot of Hapan royals, the tropical world of Orelon.