I fiddled the cold metal on my finger, eyeing the large stone that sat on the gold band. I had never really liked diamonds. For some reason I had always preferred them natural. Before they'd been cut, shaped and moulded. More a stone or rock than a jewel. But they were so beautiful. Natural.
"It's just so lovely," my mother gushed. She thought I would never get married. More out of my choice than anything else. More of my attitude than my choice. "And what perfect timing, with Kate and the baby. This year is just full of good news." My mother sighed gratefully.
"Yes," my aunt said with a soft smile. "And I have to say, our tribe certainly needed it." I grimaced at the mention of our tribe. I didn't want any more reminders.
"Yes, yes," my mother said, quick to dispel the topic. She knew how I hated talking about it. "Of course the wedding won't be for a few years. She is only seventeen." She gave a soft laugh. "And to think, by her age I was married and pregnant with Henry."
I grimaced once again. I also didn't want to be reminded of my 'mothering' duties soon to come. My mother saw my reaction and her lips pursed, brow creasing for just a second before she stood and said, "I had better begin serving the drinks." My aunt nodded, turned to Henry and began a conversation with him.
"Snow?" I heard my name echoed around the living room. At the sound of my name all heads turned expectantly towards me. I gave a smile and stood swiftly to meet my fiancé. For most girls my age their parents would be dead against their boyfriend even staying the night. Not for me. For me that was exactly what they wanted. Only after marriage though.
"Xavier," I said quietly and moved close to him. Xavier was literally the next-door-boy. He had always been around my family; our fathers sharing golfing tips, our mothers sharing cooking tips, our brothers playing. He was the youngest of his brothers and always the most sensitive. Our parents had always pushed us together. To them, we were the perfect match.
He was only one year older than me and very good-looking. As kids we played and mucked around, growing up to be best friends. At school we had our separate acquaintances, but we were always close. It wasn't until later – when I was twelve or thirteen – did I begin to realise what our parents had so deviously planned. And it worked out well for them. As Xavier and I hit out teens he saw a little more in me than before. He was my first kiss. But we tried other people – human people – yet we still always managed to find our way back to each other.
And it all fell from there.
Xavier put an arm around my waist in an all too familiar pose. All eyes in the room were on us.
"Mind if I steal her for a minute?" Xavier asked politely. Mostly he was talking to my father. Of course. If I girl didn't belong to her father or husband she belonged nowhere, right? And technically I was still the property of my father. Therefore Xavier still had to ask permission when ever he wanted us to be alone. Stupid? I absolutely agree. My father gave a warm nod and Xavier steered me away quietly. I heard someone say softly,
"Oh, they are just such a wonderful couple." Yes, of course we were. To them, we always were the perfect couple. The ones to save the tribe. Xavier and I moved into the entrance hall of our house and took me up the stairs to Henry's office. He shut the door behind me with a quiet click and moved to the sofa, gesturing me to follow.
We sat down together, falling into an accustomed position; me on Xavier's lap, head rested against his chest, his arms wrapped around me. Xavier had always been good-looking; adorable baby, cute child, gorgeous teen. He had a sharp face with beautiful green eyes anyone could get lost in. As a young child he had always been on the chubby side, but when he became a teen he lost all his puppy fat, making way for a smooth face with strong features; high cheek bones, pointed jaw bone, thin nose. He had a honey-brown skin that only lightened in the areas he kept covered. His hair was always soft, clean and smelled fresh, a light copper colour. Xavier leant his chin on my shoulder and took a breath of my neck.
"Not feeling too overwhelmed, are you?" he asked me, stroking my hair.
"Yes," I said faintly. No point lying. Xavier always knew.
"Aren't rethinking your decision?" His voice sounded pained. Perhaps he knew my answer. Or my thoughts anyway.
"No," I told him. Okay, that was a lie. But it was a necessary lie.
"You know I wont make you have children like… well, you know what I mean. Whenever you are ready. I swear to you, you will get to live your life," he promised. He was convincing. It was a lie I had been trying to convince myself of too. Yet somehow, my head would never let me believe it entirely.
"I'm seventeen and engaged," I whispered.
"I know," Xavier sighed. "But we aren't getting married anytime soon." I just nodded in response. Xavier touched his own hand to the ring on my left hand, stroking the hard stone. "I know it isn't your style, but it's a tradition." I just nodded again. "Although, since you aren't allowed to wear that one until we get married," Xavier paused, smiling deviously, "I got you a replacement."
"A replacement?" I frowned. As tradition within our tribe, the bride wears the wedding ring for the first night of the engagement – it was also said this night was to be the first kiss the female will receive (why do the legends only specify the woman and never the man? Just a thought) – and then the ring is to be carried by the father of the bride on a chain around his neck until the bride gets married and the ring is once again returned to the bride signifying that ownership now belongs to the husband (to be compared to an inanimate object – every girl's dream).
Although, nowadays we have grown up a bit and the tradition is nothing more than a tradition. And the first kiss thing was also a little old so we kind of gave up on that tradition. Gee, if I hadn't kissed Xavier before now I think I would've gone crazy.
"Yes," Xavier said grinning; bearing his beautifully straight, white teeth. "And it is definitely more your style." He would know. He took out a small box and handed it to me. I sat up, still on his lap, and took the box from his hands. I opened it slowly, not exactly sure what to expect.
Inside was a large ring with no stones at all. I already felt the smile appear on my face. There would have been more than five or so bands all linked intricately together in a Celtic pattern. I took it out of the box carefully and slipped it onto my right hand, fitting perfectly. It was thick when all the bands were linked together and would have covered at least half an inch of my finger. I pulled my hand away watching the silver glint in the dull light of my brother's office.
"Thank you, Xavier," I said and buried my face into his neck. "It's beautiful."
"I knew you would like it. I saw it and couldn't walk past without getting it." Xavier leant down and gave me a soft kiss on the forehead. I relaxed into him again. There was a soft knock at the door and we reluctantly untangled ourselves.
"Come in," I said, standing. It was my mother. She peeked her head around the door, and when she saw we were fully clothed she looked relieved.
"The guests are getting impatient. Perhaps you should join us…" She trailed off expectantly.
"We'll be down in a second," Xavier said.
"I know this is hard for you Snowbelle, but it's only one night," my mother reasoned.
"And the wedding," I muttered. Xavier looked hurt for a second before he wiped the look from his face. "I just don't see what all the flourish is for," I amended.
"You know what the flourish is for," my mother said, perhaps a little too darkly for her housewife-self. I gritted my teeth. Oh yes, I knew. When you are one of the few females left of the tribe there is always a lot of flourish. Xavier placed a hand on the small of my back, calming my tense body.
"Come on, it will be over soon."