It's Over, but Just Beginning

Writers: Miriah, Yvonne
Date Posted: 11th July 2014

Characters: Yriadha, Taril, Humari, Torinya
Description: The wedding takes place.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 8, day 2 of Turn 7

Yriadha

Humari

The assembled guests were few, much to Yriadha's dislike, but even she
had to make compromises. She and Torinya took their seats at the
front, sitting demurely as the rest of the guests took their seats.
Yriadha's lips were upturned in a satisfied smile as she looked
forward. The light application of fellis had made Humari biddable
since her lesson had been administered and would hold her at least
until after the vows had been spoken. That was all that was required.
Then, it was up to Taril to handle her youngest child.

As the delicate music, that she had chosen for the harpers of course,
began to play Yriadha looked over at the man that was marrying her
youngest, and her polite smile never wavered as she awaited his
reaction. He had never said that he wanted Humari to wear that plain
gown she had chosen for the wedding, simply that it was a wedding
gift. Semantics, true, but it worked very well for her purposes. The
gown she had chosen was far more suitable in any case.

She heard a murmur behind her and without turning her head, knew that
her youngest had made her appearance, arm tucked firmly into her older
brother's elbow.

Humari didn't smile, but nor did she frown. Everything around her
seemed to be just a semblance of a dream, though she knew inwardly
that it certainly was not. She knew people were looking at her, but
figured they were looking at the dress more than her face. She hadn't
realized that the light application of powders made her face luminous
and her eyes shine. But the dress seemed to overwhelm the small young
woman in contrast, the garish pink clashing with her dark auburn hair.

And it certainly wasn't what he'd gone all the way to the Weaverhall to get.
Taril, however, was long practiced at making sure that his expression
remained pleasant and unreadable. It served him in good stead when he saw
his bride looking like a badly frosted cake. Yriadha-- this had to be her,
probably because he'd forced her to half the guest list. Bryvin had warned
him that she had something up her sleeve, and this monstrosity was
apparently it.

Yarmel led Humari to stand by Taril and bent to give Humari a perfunctory
kiss on the cheek. Humari didn't resist but it was clear that it wasn't
welcome. Her eyes, slowly lifted to meet Taril's and she gave a slight lift
of her lips. Not because she was happy to see him, but because he seemed to
be slight fuzzy. Her eyes crossed for only a moment and she idly wondered if
he had a twin. Her hand was pressed into his and she didn't notice her
brother stepping back.

Taril turned his back on Yarmel without acknowledging him. Let him think it

was nerves. Instead he focused his attention on Jakin, dressed in Harper
blues and looking well groomed and trustworthy. The Harper coughed nervously
twice before launching into the ceremony.

He didn't hear him. Not really, not when Humari's hand was a solid weight in
his. Taril couldn't remember the last time he'd held someone's hand, or if
he ever had. It was beginning to sink in that his life was changing as words
poured from the Harper's mouth. He'd believed, deep down, that Humari would
run before she'd let herself be chained to a cripple. How mistaken he'd
been.

And then Jakin was prompting them to turn and face each other in order to
exchange vow. "I take you to be my wife. I promise to care for you, to
protect and honour you, until the end of my days." From his pocket he
withdrew the gold wedding mark, which he held out to Humari.

Humari slowly turned, blinking as if having trouble absorbing what was
taking place. It was slowly creeping in that this was it. This was her last
chance to say no and refuse the life that her mother had arranged for her.
She wavered on her feet for a moment and then felt more than saw, her
mother's piercing gaze digging into her back. The bruises she now sported
would be nothing in comparison to what would happen if she didn't say the
words. She lifted her eyes to see Taril's face in front of her, taking in
the scar, the mangled ear and then spoke slowly stumbling over the words. "I
take you to be..be my husband. I vow to obey and honor you, until the end of
my days." She swallowed hard and took the mark from Taril. From behind,
Yarmel gave her her own and with a trembling hand she held it out to Taril.

The merchant took it gravely, and tucked it into the palm of his hand.
Jakin said a few more things, and then the pair of them turned, hand
in hand, as the assembled guests stood and applauded. Their gazes
crawled like lice across Taril's skin, and it was a relief to have it
over, and to be able to lead his new wife-- his new _wife_ -- back the
way they came. They'd have a moment alone together before they were
paraded in front of everyone at that stupid dinner Yriadha had
planned.

Humari felt emotionally numb as they turned. It was over. The ceremony
was done and she was married to a man that knew little about her. Her
hand was limp in his, but she let him lead her. It came to her slowly
awakening mind that her life was changed irrevocably. Instead just
being wary of her mother and brothers, now she had another to be
cautious of. Constantly.

The physical numbness was wearing off as well and she was beginning to
feel the discomfort of the tight lacings. She wanted to just go home.
Then she realized that her home was different now and when she did go
home, she'd be expected to...consummate. She glanced at Taril, then
dropped her gaze.

"This way." He tugged her hand a little to direct her to the left, then
dropped it, assuming that she'd follow. He led her to a small sitting room
near where they'd married, which was outfitted with a couch and two small
chairs, a table with a pitcher of water, and a fire roaring in the
fireplace. He held the door for his wife, then bolted it behind her. "Would
you like a glass of water?" he asked, moving toward the pitcher.

She did indeed follow him, moving with slow footsteps. As she entered the
room, she looked around, vision clarifying a little at a time. The sound of
the door bolting behind her made her jump, turn to look at the door and then
to Taril with uncertainty. Water? Oh yes...water. That sounded good; she'd
been drinking it all morning. She nodded. "Yes please." She chewed on her
lower lip for a moment. "Aren't we going to the dinner?"

"In a moment. I'm thirsty." And tired of looking at all the faces, and
seeing them stare back. He poured a glass for himself and second for Humari.
"Hopefully that wasn't too terrible for you."

She took the water, only belatedly realizing that she should have served
him. "Thank you." She blinked again, her vision sharpening along with the
dull ache along her back and hips. "It wasn't terrible." She shifted just a
little to see if movement could loosen the laces. It didn't. She hid a
grimace at the realization that she would have to sit down at the dinner and
it was sure to be a painful experience. Her mother had to have known that;
it was a sharp reminder of what would happen if she failed. She took a drink
of the water and turned the glass in her hand. What should she say to him?
"I hope you aren't too disappointed in it."

"Hardly. Although I would have prefered to see you in the dress I
bought." And paid a lot of marks for.

Her face flushed. "Mother didn't let me wear it. I wanted to but..."
She rubbed her eyes, trying to get them to clear more. "I hate this
one." She looked down, the fellis in her system loosening her lips. "I
hate this color. She did it on purpose. "

As he suspected. Well, if that's the way she wanted to play it, there
was still time for him to retaliate. Subtilly. Bryvin's warning still
rang in his ears. "The green would look better on you. I'd suggest
taking you back to change, but we really don't have time."

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask if they really had to attend.
The laces only seemed to be getting tighter around her, but she didn't
want to seem eager for the wedding night either. "She planned on a
long dinner." Her face grew pinched. "I'd really rather not stay too
long, if that is alright with you, that is." She glanced at him as
though in permission.

Taril smiled. Clever girl, playing to his weaknesses. "I'm quite happy
to eat, then leave. But I was under the impression that you wanted to
dance?" He threw in the last as a small test.

She couldn't even bear the thought of constant movement in this dress.
Sitting would be bad enough. Humari shook her head. "No, thank you."
She flushed a little. "If you'd like me to, I would of course."
**Please don't ask me to. Please**

"No." It would make him more of a mockery, if he couldn't claim a
dance his new wife. He finished the glass of water, then set it aside.
"

She finished her own glass, then with his, took them to the small
counter to be neat. She moved very slowly, trying not to make any
jerky motions. She made her way back to him, uncertain as to what to
do next.

"Well. We should go." **And get this over with.** Taril held his hand
out to Humari.

Nodding, she took his hand and a breath as deep as her dress would
allow. **Please let this not take long.**

Last updated on the July 13th 2014

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

It's Over, but Just Beginning