Author: Riatcha
(This story is set in an alternate universe!)
Riatcha sat at one of the tables in the small library muttering something under her breath about Saaurnu while trying to write a note for Eudaimonia, explaining why she was leaving for the Exodar.
"There is no need to speak of Saaurnu that way, sister," Atrophus' voice spoke from behind her. Riatcha turned in her seat to look at the tall Draenei. He did not seem to be in any way upset. She set her pencil down next to the scroll of paper and the large book on the table.
"Have you spoken to Saaurnu today?" She asked him. He walked towards her, limping slightly on his bad leg.
"No, I believe she has decided to join up with the other Echoes," he replied. Riatcha sighed, leaning back in her seat.
"I see. In that case can you explain to me what it is that married people do in Draenei culture?" She watched him carefully. He frowned, taking a seat and facing her.
"There are some books in my library on the Exodar that I would be happy to lend you so as you can learn about marriage customs, sister, if that is what you want," he answered, crossing his arms. Riatcha sighed again, rubbing her finger and thumb against the bridge of her nose.
"You do not understand I think...Saaurnu did not...perform the rite of kinship. She has told me that it was the rite of marriage, she said she was going to tell you..." Riatcha trailed off, looking right at Atrophus. His crossed arms loosened and a look of surprise crossed his face, before he frowned again. For a moment he seemed unsure of what to say, his frown deepened.
"She did what?" He finally asked.
"She called it the rite of marriage. She said she got the parts of the book mixed up and somehow managed to mistake one rite for another," Riatcha picked up the pencil again, intending to continue writing.
"Only...I am not sure what I...we should do now or even how to do it..." She glanced at him again.
"I will consult the book to be certain," Atrophus made a move to stand up. Riatcha slid the open book across the table towards him. He pushed his glass up his nose, leaning over the book to read. She watched him silently for the few minutes he did so. Eventually he looked up at her and cleared his throat.
"It would seem that we are indeed now married," he was still frowning slightly. Riatcha sighed, setting down her pencil again.
"I see. So do have to speak to the three of the Triumvir or something such as that to have them make it so we are not married anymore?" She asked him. Atrophus shook his head.
"We have given our word to the light, si...Riatcha," his reply was firm. She frowned at him.
"But being married was not what either of us agreed to or wished to do. And...forgive me I mean no insult when I say this, Atrophus, but I do not think that I feel for you what two people who are married should feel for the other. Can you in all honesty say you do?" She leaned on the table. The frown he was giving her softened somewhat and he shook his head.
"No, I don not. But we have as I have already mentioned both given our word to the light to be married as is the Draenei way. Some marriages I know of start out as two people who are just close friends, in time perhaps..." Atrophus shrugged his shoulders, not sure what else he could say to her. Riatcha closed her eyes for a moment, after a moment gave a single nod.
"Very well. I would not want to promise something in the light and then make a liar out of myself," she opened her eyes, looking over at him. He nodded once as if satisfied with her response.
"Good. Now, there are laws of our people governing married couples in regards to being forced apart such as one being sent to a battle should they not wish to be seperated. If you are in agreement we'll talk to Eudaimonia, it should only take her a few moments to make us necklaces for our soul gems. Once she is finished we should return to the Exodar in a while and we will speak to the person in charge of arranging to assign new quarters for us to share, usually two or three slightly larger rooms than are typically given to those living alone. There we will share a room. Do you have a preference for hard or extra firm?" Atrophus said all this as if he was having a perfectly normal conversation like any other day. Riatcha just stared at him for a moment and then shook her head.
"Do you want to give me a moment just to get accustomed to the idea first? I do not know what you mean by hard or extra firm?" Her voice was quiet.
"The mattress. Other necessities will also be provided by the community fund as needed," he closed the book in front of him.
"I...I see. Yesterday you asked me if I still had romantic feelings for you and today..." she shrugged, voice trailing off. She was getting a little overwhelmed by everything he was saying, the reality of the situation slowly sinking in. He seemed to take pity on her or perhaps he to felt the same way. He stood up, extending a hand to her.
"Would you like to come and see Eudaimonia wth me, perhaps spend some time with her before we leave?" He asked. She looked up at him and after a moment took his hand, also standing.
"Well...I guess we should go and surprise Eudaimonia," she gave him a weak smile.
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The found Eudaimonia sitting on one of the sofas just off the stairway, Erusi was seated in a chair. The two having a quiet conversation as Atrophus and Riatcha approached them. Eudaimonia turned her attention to the two.
"Goodmorning, Eudaimonia and Erusi," Atrophus spoke first. Riatcha just nodded a silent hello.
"Goodmorning to you both. Would you care to join us for some breakfast?" Eudaimonia invited, gesturing toward the small table where some food was laid out.
"That would be nice before we have to return home," Atrophus replied.
"But first Riatcha and I have request of you, sister," he glanced towards his new wife. She gave a small nod of confimation, looking a little nervous.
"We would very much like if you would make us two necklaces for our gems, Eudaimonia," he was looking right at Eudaimonia as he spoke, so he didn't miss the look of surprise on her face.
"You are both...married?" She seemed to have trouble getting the word out.
"Yes. Last night Saaurnu performed what was meant to be a ceremony of kinship, but she apparently did the wrong one and now..." Riatcha looked to Atrophus.
"Now you are married?" Eudaimonia seemed to be stuggling with the idea.
"That is correct," Atrophus took a seat on the couch and Riatcha sat on a stool and poured tea into two clean cups for them both, picking up one in her hand. Erusi smiled at them both.
"Well then congratulations. Should I go to the kitchens and ask the cook to prepare you some cooked livers?" Erusi was looking at Riatcha.
"No thank you, fruit is fine," Riatcha responded. Taking an apple from the bowl of fruit and biting into it.
"Are you positive? I'm sure you two were busy last night doing Draenei things," Erusi's grin grew wider. Atrophus frowned at her, understanding exactly the hidden meaning of her words, that seemed to have been completely lost on Riatcha.
"We are Draenei, we do things all the time..." she seemed confused. Eudaimonia elbowed Erusi's arm, but the other woman seemed to be enjoying herself far to much to pay attention to the first consul.
"You know, making additional Draenei?" Erusi's voice was filled with amusement. Riatcha's face turned a little blue.
"That is enough!" Atrophus said, frown deepening at the dragon. Erusi hopped to her hooves and grabbed for Riatcha's arm and dragged the much smaller woman to her feet, making Riatcha nearly drop her apple.
"Come with me, we need to have a talk," Erusi ordered, dragging the not very much protesting Riatcha off to the far side of the room. Eudaimonia turned her full attention to Atrophus.
"I thought you hadn't any desire to remarry, Atrophus. And to keep this whole thing a secret up until now?" She seemed disappointed. Atrophus sighed, picking up his teacup and taking a sip.
"It was not meant to be a secret, or a wedding. Believe me, I am more surprised than you are," he looked over to the far corner where Erusi looked to be talking animatedly.
"And because you promised in the light you are both going through with it?" Eudaimonia knew her friend all to well it seemed.
"You would be right in that assumption. A promise once given is not so easily retracted," he took another drink of his tea.
"Was that your idea or hers?" Eudaimonia asked bluntly. The look on his face was all the answer she needed.
"I will make the necklaces. If you do something for me, just go easy on your new wife, hmm?" In her head Eudaimonia was already planning how to make the necklaces. His frown deepened at her.
"I would never force her to do anything with me she did not want,"
"That isn't what I meant. Even I can see that many of our traditions seem strange to her and there are many things she's yet to learn and understand. I'm just saying give her a chance before throwing her in the deep end completely," Eudaimonia then smiled at him as Erusi returned with Riatcha, the two taking their seats once more. Riatcha gave Atrophus the strangest of looks, but then her eyes turned quickly away again.
"I can make these necklaces with small flashing lights, maybe make them beep. It'll help to find them when you lose them,"
"Oh, that's a great idea! Maybe you can make it so one or both also vibrates that way Atrophus can use it on Riatcha's...oof!" Erusi let out a small grunt as Eudaimonia elbowed her hard in the side. Atrophus was frowning at the dragon again.
"I think I would prefer an ordinary necklace, thank you, sister," Riatcha spoke up, not understanding what Erusi had been about to say. Eudaimonia stood up.
"I'll be back in just a moment, I know just what you want," she headed towards the door. Riatcha sipped her tea quietly, waiting for the other Draenei to return.
"When you return to the Exodar I bet you two are looking forward to some time alone away from the rest of us, right?" Erusi was grinning at them both.
"Yes, we have yet to do the rituals that usually are done before the ceremony and one after it is completed," Atrophus replied. Riatcha looked at him.
"I do not know of any rituals. What do they involve doing, br...Atrophus?" She asked curiously. He gave her an oddly gentle smile.
"Do not worry yourself, I will explain before we are to start any of them," he took a small green fruit from the bowl as he spoke.
"Very well," Riatcha looked up as Eudaimonia returned holding a small necklace on a simple cord in each hand. She gave one to Atrophus and the other to Riatcha. Riatcha watched Atrophus press the small gem into the centre of his necklace and she did the same, reaching up to slip the cord over her neck, but Atrophus stopped her with a touch on her arm.
"I would do that, Riatcha, as you would do the same for me," he informed her.
"Oh, I see," she held hers out to him and took the one he held. He leaned closer, and down a bit towards her.
"At the same time and repeat the words I speak," he said. He held the necklace in both of his hands, as she did, lowering it carefully over her head.
"From this day on we are as one," his voice was quiet and he looked right at her.
"From this day on we are as one," she let the cord go around his neck, the small disc that held the gem resting against his chest. He nodded once and smiled at her, tentatively she smiled back. Both Erusi and Eudaimonia were smiling, Eudaimonia nodded.
"I take it you will both be staying on the Exodar to take care of certain things that need to be done?" She asked. Riatcha looked at the Draenei woman.
"Yes, I do not know when I will be returning...or if," she frowned slightly. Eudaimonia just nodded again, somehow seeming to know that now wasn't the time to question further.
"Of course. Although I'm sure it was unexpected, I'd still like to give my congratulations to you both," Eudaimonia smiled again, standing next to Erusi.
"Yes, indeed. I'm sure you two want to spend as much time ALONE as possible!" She was grinning again. She to stood up to join Eudaimonia.
"We must go and rejoin the other Echoes. Light be with you," Eudaimonia said, bowing her head. Riatcha waved to them both, having a mouthful of fruit and unable to talk.
"Light be with you both," Atrophus responded. Eudaimonia and Erusi headed for the door.
"Ha! Rituals?! I can't believe he referred to them both wanting to mate as rituals!" Erusi started laughing, as she closed the door behind herself. But not before Riatcha and Atrophus had heard her words.
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