I Now Pronounce You, Part 3

I Now Pronounce You...Pt 3

 Previous chapter

Author: Riatcha

Note:  This is an alternate universe version.  Some characters are portrayed differently in this story.


They had both fallen asleep easily enough.  At some point during the night Atrophus awoke feeling part of a warm body pressed against him, an arm slung across his chest.  Somewhat sleepy eyes looked down to see that somehow Riatcha had mananged to work her head and most of her body in under his left arm and now her face was pressed tightly against side.  At first he frowned and trying not to wake her he attempted to extricate himself from her one armed hug, but she moved with him, not letting go.  After a moment he let out a sigh and lay still, allowing her to stay snuggled in against him, even going so far as to move his arm around her gently.  A few minutes later he fell asleep like that.


---------


Riatcha was in the main room, having set out the table for their breakfast and took a seat as Atrophus also joined her at the table with freshly made tea.  He watched her intently for a moment before speaking.

"Did your meeting with Triumvir go well?"  He asked.  He poured tea into both their cups; his a purple one, hers a dark green.  She nodded.



"Yes, well...kind of.  They listened to what I had to say at any rate and then Velen was asked to join us.  He...apologised for his words and some of his previous actions.  That he allowed his personal feelings to color his words and what has happened in the past," Riatcha replied, taking the cup of tea he held out to her. 

"And you have accepted his apology?"  Atrophus sipped his own tea.  She frowned at him, seeming confused.

"Of course.  Everyone does things sometimes that perhaps they should not or do not mean to do; that does not mean they do not deserve a second chance, yes?"  She looked up at him.  He nodded in agreement.

"Indeed they do, sister," he replied.

"There was something he asked for me to do..." she paused for a moment.

"He has asked me to deliver a message to you.  To contact Eudaimonia and tell her that the Echoes are to return.  That he has told Romuul to repair the ship to return home," She didn't miss the surprised look on his face.

"Home?  Now is not the time for us to leave here.  Not with the Legion invading this world!"  Atrophus was not happy at this news.

"I know, Velen said the same himself.  But also that we need to go home.  Perhaps he is right.  He has also told me that as a child of the light and I wish to do so I may also go..."  She took a piece of fruit from the bowl in the centre of the table.  Atrophus' eyebrows rose questioningly.

"And are you?"  He asked.  Riatcha shrugged her right shoulder and sighed.

"I do not know, there is much that needs to be done here also..." she replied.

"Take your time, Riatcha, such a decision should not be made lightly," he told her.  She nodded, biting into the fruit.

"I have some work I need to do today in my library.  Do you have anything planned?"  Atrophus also helped himself to some of the fruit.

"Now I am back here I thought perhaps it was time to start my classes again.  I do not want my students to become that complacent and I have been away for some time with the Echoes,"  Riatcha drank some of her tea.  Atrophus cleared his throat.

"If you could make some time over the next number of days.  Perhaps make sure you are free so that we may start the rituals," he suggested.

"I will do so.  You must tell me what these rituals involve before we are to do them?"  She looked up at him again.  He brushed one hand down his shirt front.

"Ah, yes.  There are three for those who were joined as you and I were and some other circumstances.  The first being where the two partners spend some time together for a day or so meditating, praying to the light and talking.  The second is that they would share more intimate details of their lives with each other, with the help of their friends if need be," he explained.  He cleared his throat, avoiding her eyes.  Riatcha bit off another piece of her fruit.

"The third is that both partners take some time alone if they intend on perhaps being intimate but have not been before, just being with each other while both are unclothed," he took another drink of his tea, still not looking at her.  Riatcha let out a surprised sound and then started to cough when it caused some fruit to go down the wrong way.  Once she had recovered she looked at him.

"I thought you said that if and only when I am ready and comfortable in doing certain...things?"  She seemed embarassed.  Atrophus was quick to reassure her.

"And I meant it.  I mention it only because you should know all that the rituals entail.  Whether or not you decide to do so is entirely up to you," he told her.  She watched him for a long moment before nodding, taking him at his word.

"The healer here has also asked to speak with me.  I am not sure what about, but I will meet with her sometime today," she said, finishing her fruit and standing up.  He frowned at her.

"Is something wrong?"  He asked and also stood, picking up his used cup to wash it.  She held out her hand for it.

"I can do that, I will be washing my own anyway," she already had her own cup in her other hand, he passed his to her.  She shook her head.

"No, I do not think so.  She maybe looking for some dried herbs that I may have which she can use for medicines,"

"Very well.  I will be back home this afternoon, sister.  Light bless," Atrophus went to his desk to collect some items and then left.


---------------------------



The door opened and Atrophus entered their home.  Riatcha was at one of the kitchen counters, her back to him.

"Evening, Riatcha," he said.  She looked at him, a guilty expression on her face.

"Hello, Atrophus," her voice was quiet.  He looked around the main room, noticing the small additions that had been placed around the room and his face seemed to relax at the sight of their home.

"There are a few documents I should get in order later.  For now, though, I am free, and I will be home for the next couple of days.  How are you?"  He asked.

"I am sorry..." she turned to him, his cup in one hand.  She held it out ot him.  He didn't take her eyes off her as he walked over and deposited the scrolls he was holding on his desk, before returning to her, looking her up and down, frowning.

"What is it, Riatcha?"  He looked at the cup she held, not understanding.

"I was trying to reach my cup in the high cupboard, where you put them.  I knocked yours out...but I tried to fix it..." her voice was even quieter this time.  Atrophus' frown deepened, taking the cup from her and examining it.  Finally he walked over to the cupboard and placed the mended cup into it.

"It will not be able to hold tea anymore," he said, his tone matter of fact.  Riatcha sighed and nodded.

"I should have been more careful," she murmured.

"What has happened cannot be undone.  I shall see to getting a footstool for you," he told her.  Riatcha picked up her own dark green cup, lighter green leaves painted around the rim of it and holds it out to him.

"If you want you can use mine..." she offered.  Atrophus frowned and shook his head.

"No, no...I can use one of the white ones for guests.  Do not worry yourself, Riatcha.  Mistakes happen," he said.

"But..." she frowned a little.

"If we are bonded now does that mean what is yours is mine and what is mine is also yours?"  she asked.  He nodded firmly.

"That is true, sister," he replied.

"Then you can use it," she lifted the cup, smiling slightly.

"I bought it and some other ones just like it many years ago, after I finished training as a druid.  With some of the first money I earned with my own work," she told him.  He looked at her for a moment, then shook his head and returned to the cupboard to find one of the small white cups.

"Clearly it holds a special meaning for you.  So you ought to continue using it.  I liked the purple one, but I can find another like it.  Come, let us have tea," he said, moving to the stove to boil the kettle.

"That is why I wish for you to use it," she held the cup out to him again.

"Riatcha...the cup was just a cup, you need not feel guilty," he said.

"And yet I am aware it was your favorite, cups are just cups, I know, but..." she shrugged her right shoulder.  He exhaled slowly, his expression softening and he nodded, taking the cup from her and instead closing her hand around the white one.

"If it is your wish, I will use it.  But I want you to understand something," he said.  She looked up at him, waiting for him to continue.

"To live is to leave an imprint on the world and in people's souls.  And while we always strive to only leave positive marks by our presence, there is no light without shadown.  There is no creation without destruction.  Living means you will break things.  You will break hearts, as others will break yours.  But to live is also to always rise from the debris and grow to reach greater glory.  A cup is just a cup.  And this old man has broken many a beautiful cup in his time.  Now cheer up," He said.  She gave him a small smile and nodded.

"Riatcha..." he paused, trying to word what he wanted to say carefuly.

"Hmm?"  She still looked at him.  He looked down at the cup in his hand, then back at her and cleared his throat.

"I know we agreed to honour this union, and that is what I wish to do.  Yet I also know that there may be another whose heart yours may desire.  Please understand I do not wish to stand in the way of that," he looked at her intently.  Riatcha shrugged again.

"Sometimes things change.  There was Volegran...I told him...but it is different now," she said quietly.  Atrophus frowned heavily.

"How so?  Riatcha, your happiness is my concern.  I fear you will let your bond with me taint it," he told her.

"Why be bonded to anyone if you have no desire to be with them...or rather to at least be willing to try and make that work with the one you are bonded with?"  She asked.

"You misunderstand.  Our relationship need not be defined by anybodies idea of what it should be.  I have enjoyed your presence here with me, Riatcha.  Yet I will not keep you from seeking out a connection I cannot offer you with somebody else," he said.  She frowned at him.

"So you think I want to be with Volegran or anyone else?"  She looked up at him.  Atrophus looked uncomfortable, twisting the cup in his hands and adjusted his glasses before responding.

"I believe...no, I know myself to be lacking in every respect.  You are young, I am old.  You are abled, I am...what I am.  You have much to learn, yet I have little to teach.  While I will always uphold my oath with all my heart, and care for you always.  I would suffer to know I had taken your chance for happiness.

"We are both Draenei, age means little to either of us.  Perhaps if you do not know what it is I want to do, instead of assuming that you do you should ask me.  Or telling me what it is you think I should do," she said.  He shook his head.

"I have seen worlds burn, Riatcha.  I have lost my family twice.  I have loved and I have had to let go.  I am now far removed from the youthful aspiration you still display; I am resigned to serve the rest of my days, as that is all I can give.  You must make your own decisions.  Only remember my words, when it comes to it," he watched her intently for a long moment.  She looked away from him, trying to hide her own hurt at his words.

"Very well, if you are only interested in keeping your promise to the light and throwing me away without even trying, then that is your decision," she said, turning to the stove and setting the kettle of water to boil.  Behind her he frowned.

"You are twisting my words.  I am here for you, Riatcha.  I care for you deeply.  Deeply enough to not be so selfish to want to claim you as my own," his voice was gentle.  She looked back over her shoulder at him.

"Then if you are not selfish, as I said perhaps you should ask me what it is I want," she said.

"Whatever you want, it is your choice to try for it, sister.  I am merely reminding you of your options," he told her.  She turned to face him again.

"I am sure we were both more than surprised at his whole situation.  Nevertheless; now we are here.  To keep our promise to the light and our word to each other is important, but it is not the only thing.  If that is all we are going to do then why bother?"  She asked.  He bowed his head, but after a moment looked at her again.

"I see," he said.

"And I know my options and I chose to come and live here with you, I choose to want to try and make this work with you now.  I do not seem to recall at any part of all this where you have even once tried to make me do anything I did not want to do.  If I wanted to be with Volegran then why would I be here with you now?"  She asked.

"If that is your stance, I will gladly accept it and I will give my best to be a good partner to you," he said.  Then held out his cup, giving her a little rogueish smile.

"Could I have some tea now please?"  He asked.  She smiled back at him, bowing head slightly and taking the cup.

"As you asked so nicely..." She poured some of the boiling water into the already warm teapot where she had put some herbs and waited for it to brew.  Then poured some of the tea into both cups, handing his back to him and taking her own to the table, along with the teapot.  Sitting down she looked back at him, he was standing still, breathing in the scent of the tea, before moving over to join her at the table and sitting down.

"Where did this come from?"  He asked.  She picked up her own cup in both hands.

"A trader that made a recent visit to Draenor.  I sought him out to see if he had any and gave him other dried herbs I had in exchange for some of this," she took a sip of the hot, slightly bitter liquid.

"I know how you like ragveil.  I also know that it does not grow here very well, but it seems to do so on Draenor," she smiled at his expression.  He bowed his head slightly to her, giving her a small smile in return.

"Thank you, sister," he swirled the liquid in the cup a little.  Holding it in a way he could get the smell of the tea.

"That seems strange now...when you call me 'sister' or if I were to call you 'brother' and when you call me 'child'.  It somehow sounds a little wrong if we are partners," she looked up at him.  He nodded slowly.

"You are right.  I shall endeavor to refrain from doing so," he said.

"So...are there any names or...titles that partners have for each other?"  She asked.

"There are no official titles; but certain names that will be used frequently such as 'Tiros Zar' and 'Azgalada'," he seemed a little uncomfortable.

"I do not know what they mean," she smiled a little sheepishly.

"I am still learning our language, Tiros Zar," she tried the new name for him tentatively.

"Tiros Zar mean 'loved one' and Azgalada would roughly translate as 'soulmate', although more literally it would mean something along the lines of 'one who is merged with me in the Light'," he explained.

"Oh..." she seemed embarassed upon realising what she had just called him.

"Were you able to contact Eudaimonia?"  She asked instead, hoping he hadn't noticed.

"Yes, the Echoes will be returning within the next day or so.  Most likely by portals.  And what did you do for the day?"  He asked.

"I was hoping to continue with my classes soon, but that may not be possible if the Draenei are doing as Velen said.  I met with the healer a while before you returned.  It would seem she is still intent on fixing my shoulder," Riatcha made a slight face.  Atrophus looked at her curiously.

"Is there something wrong with it?"  He asked, remembering what she had shown him of it last night.  She seemed awkward for a moment.

"I cannot reach above shoulder height with my left arm and it is not very strong," she looked at him for a long moment.
"Another thing my mother did.  I do not recall what or even if I was doing something wrong at the time.  She grabbed me by my arm near my elbow and kind of...started to swing me, as though she was going to throw me, only she did not let go.  What I do remember was it hurt a lot.  As I mentioned to you before after I met Maraad he had me see a healer.  He told me later that the healer explained my shoulder had been dislocated, muscles damaged, arm broken.  My mother never took me to see a healer then and the Forsaken were not so much interested in that kind of thing unless it benefited them in some way," she sighed and shrugged her right shoulder.  Atrophus was frowning at what she told him.

"Anyway the healer here thinks that she can make it a little better, not fix it completely.  But perhaps improve the mobility a little and possibly some of the strength.  But it would require dislocating it again and rebreaking the bone to set it properly and also probably doing something with the muscles.  Not without risk by any means, only now I need to consider if the risks outweigh the benefit of it being a good thing," she drank some more of her tea.  Atrophus nodded, sitting back in his chair.

"I can understand your concerns in such a matter.  Take your time in deciding," he said.

"I have also decided that I will be going with the Draenei, if that is also what you would be doing," she said.  He frowned thoughtfully at her.

"You do not wish to stay here?"  He questioned.  She shook her head, smiling slightly.

"I do not mean to make this to sound like I am feeling sorry for myself.  I am not.  But everywhere else I go on this world and the majority of the people aside from Lexa and Nihal have not accepted me for me.  To most I am an outsider and treated as such.  Yes; when I first came here most Draenei did not know me well, but for the most part they have given me a chance to prove myself.  I am made to feel welcome and not as some kind of...oddity," she looked over at him.

"Wherever our people are and more importantly; at least to me, where my partner is, then that is where I belong.  My place is with you," she seemed slightly embarassed at her own words, but didn't change them.  He nodded once to her, semingly pleased with her decision but trying not to show it to much.

"That is good,"