When we arrived at the Barbarian's camp, I was helped from my horse. As soon as Marius let go, I collapsed. I couldn't stand up again, I was shaking too badly. Tears fell from my eyes as I felt like there would never be happiness in my life again.
At some point, I felt myself get picked up and carried over to someplace else in the camp. I was gently placed on the ground, and I heard men speaking. The tears continued to fall from my eyes. After a few heated words from the men around me, one of them kneeled down next to me and placed his hands on my shoulders.
The weight of despair suddenly rose from inside me and I sat up in time to see a blonde-haired man collapse. A woman was suddenly inches from my face.
"You owe my brother your life," she said through clenched teeth. It was the same woman that had taken Val upstairs in the tavern, Alana, if I remembered correctly. She stalked off with a furious stride. Another man helped me to my feet and led me over to a small canopy covered area in the camp.
Two of the barbarian men came up to me with food and a tankard of ale. I only ate a few bites; I just didn't have an appetite. The two men made me continue eating until half the plate was gone. I discovered through the conversation that one was of the hawk tribe and the other was of the bear tribe.
I had to admit that now that I'd eaten, I felt much better. However, the scar on my abdomen, from Vecna, was still there. I'm not sure how the argument started, but soon they were fighting over whose alcohol brew was the better.
"I have a suggestion."
"What is it?"
"How about you both bring me half a cup of your brew, and I will decide which is better?" Before I could say anything else they were both off. Several minutes passed and they came back with cups of their brew, and each also had a cup of water.
They placed all four cups before me. Now I had to try and decide which to drink first. I took a few gulps of the Hawk's brew, and it went down smoothly. I drank from the glass of water, wanting to make sure I cleansed my taste buds before I tried the Bear's brew. It had a taste of very strong ale to it. I gulped down half of the drink, took a few breaths as the alcohol burned down my throat, and downed the rest. I drank from the second glass of water and drank the rest of the Hawk's brew.
The next thing I remember is the cold water as I was dunked into a stream. Thoroughly soaked, the two barbarians wrapped a blanket around me and stood on either side of me as I shivered. Their hands rubbed my skin attempting to warm me. At some point the harmless rubbing turned into something much more pleasant.
It reminded me of my dream with the Satyr. My body responded in ways that were foreign to me. I was suddenly very warm. Their hands roamed over me, making my breath catch in my throat.
Before I knew what was happening, the blanket and my remaining wet clothes were on the ground and I was being assaulted by several feelings at once. I remember some pain, as both men did things to me. I had lost track of who was where. They both suckled on my neck and earlobes, making me moan quietly with newfound pleasure.
There hands were everywhere; burning every inch of my skin and making me feel as though I were going to burst into flames from this sweet torture. I let the last of my mental barriers fall as I surrendered my body to their attentions. Next thing I knew, I was in front of the Hawk, being held up as he attentions continued to assault me.
His caresses overloaded my senses as I felt an ecstasy like nothing I'd ever known before. He went to put me down, and my legs collapsed from under me. The Bear caught me from behind before I could fall.
I stood there, held up, gasping for air, and coming down from where I felt as though I'd soared through the skies. I don't remember dressing, but I remember being led by both men, back toward the barbarian encampment, one bracelet donning each wrist. They each held one of my hands as they led me toward a tent.
"It's time to get ready."
"Ready for what?" I asked.
"Ready for the wedding ceremony," I heard a female voice from inside the tent. As we entered I saw two women.
"These are our sisters," the hawk told me, "they will prepare you for the wedding."
"Who's getting married?" I said, extremely confused. The two men said nothing as they left the tent.
"You're friend Valindal is marrying the princess."
"She's the princess?" I said in shock.
"Yes," one of the women said as she started painting my left arm with Bears, "I am Kylina, sister of Thiran." Her tan skin looked almost black next to mine and her black hair contrasted it sharply. Her deep blue eyes seemed to hold the knowledge of the ages within their depths.
"And I am Oliande, sister of Lyren from the Hawks," the other women said as she painted Hawks on my right arm. Her hair was a chestnut brown and swept down to her shoulders, while her eyes, a startling gray color moved about quickly, taking me in.
"Why are you painting my arms?"
"Both tribes have attempted to claim you, until the decision is made you will wear designs from both," said Kylina. They continued to paint my arms all the way up to my shoulders. Then they stripped me of my still wet clothes and dressed me in a beaded dress. Their hands swept through my hair as they unbraided it from around my head and braided it down my back instead.
"You are ready," Oliande said as she tied my hair. The women led me from the tent towards a rather large building. It looked like a meeting hall. Oliande led me to the front and sat me in the first row of benches to the left. People stared curiously at me as I passed them, more than one pair of eyes darting to the bracelets on my wrists.
As I sat, I looked around. There were a lot of people in here, and it appeared I was sitting with the Hawk clan, judging from the feathers and talons many people were wearing. I looked to the other side and saw others in bear furs, some with claws hanging from various body parts.
I saw Rowe and Marius enter behind some of the Hawks and sit further towards the back. After several minutes Val came in and was looking very nervous as he went and stood in front of the man I assume was chief. Everyone got quiet as he took his place, and the doors opened. There stood the blonde woman, Alana.
The ceremony went quickly until the chief asked if anyone objected to their marriage. A dark-haired elf stormed in. He looked vaguely familiar.
"I object to this wedding." Val looked at the man in shock. I took a closer look at him, and it dawned on me who he was.
"Celahir," I whispered to myself. My brother had just crashed my party-mate's wedding. There was something going on here that I didn't understand. The chief took his daughter, my brother, and Val outside and almost ten minutes passed.
They came back in, all looking much calmer then before, and marched right up to the front of the building. Again, the chief asked if anyone objected to the wedding of these three. Wait a minute…three?! That meant, but no that couldn't be, and as I looked into my brother's eyes I knew it was true. He had been the prince's lover; that was why he'd been cast out.
Thankfully my older brother took no notice of me. I much preferred it that way. The rest of the wedding flew by and before I knew it the three of them were leaving. I stood along with everyone else, and as I did the bracelet that Lyren had placed on my wrist began to shimmer. What on Corellean's green earth? I would ask him about it later.
I was led outside by the Hawks I had been sitting next too. Lyren was next to me in an instant, dragging over towards Thiran. As we went, he pulled the bear's bracelet off my wrist. I tried to protest but he hushed me.
"You'll need this again, I think," Lyren said tossing the bracelet at Thiran. He looked stunned.
"But," he started to say and stopped. He gave a resigned sigh, "Congratulations." Lyren led me off again, this time towards a large table piled with food. He piled high a plate and then pulled me off to a rather quiet corner.
"Would you tell me what all that was about?"
"Eat first, then I'll explain," he said shoving the plate into my hands.
"No," I said annoyed, and put the plate on the ground in front of me. "Explain first and then I'll decide whether I want to eat or not. Why did your bracelet shimmer, and why did you give Thiran back the other one?"
"The bracelet on your wrist shimmered, because you have conceived." I shot him a look of blatant disbelief. He placed the plate back in my hands, I put it back down. I glanced over toward Marius and Rowe, who were giving me amused smiles. I looked at the ground, appearing to be suddenly fascinated with the dirt.
"Are you alright?" Lyren placed his fingers under my chin and lifted my face. I didn't look at him, how could I? My father was going to beat me when he found out what I'd done.
"I'm fine," I mumbled.
"Eluare, look at me," he said softly. "Don't be afraid." I grudgingly looked at him. I was going to be in so much trouble.
"So, brother, when's she getting branded?" I heard a man say.
"Wait, branded," I said, now getting a little panicked, "you didn't say anything about being branded."
"Akos, go before you do anymore harm."
"Of course, brother, so sorry to disturb you," he said with a chuckle.
"As for the branding," Lyren said looking back at me, "You now carry a child of the hawk inside you. That makes you a Hawk and thus you need to be branded."
"It's going to hurt, isn't it?"
"Yes." Well, at least he's being honest with me. Suddenly I heard a screech above. I looked up, and there was Aronu toying with the Hawks flying around. I called to her, and she came.
"You have a beautiful bird."
"Her name is Aronu," I said, feeding her small bits of meat. She nipped my fingers lovingly. She was my one true friend in this world and she was a great judge of people's character. She hopped over to Lyren and nipped at him; his eyebrows rose in amusement.
"She's waiting for you to feed her." Without saying a word, he picked up a piece of venison and held it out to her. She gobbled it down and nipped his fingers again before hopping back over to me.
"What was that all about?"
"She has judged you as a fitting friend for me."
"Well, I'm glad to have her approval then." It was a relief to me as well. It wouldn't have been the first time Aronu had attacked someone for coming near me. Lyren picked a grape off the plate and held it towards me.
"What? I can feed myself."
"It's more fun this way," I could see the amusement in his eyes. I ate the grape just to humor him. I fed him a grape in turn. We ate until we were full.
"Now, about this branding," I said, "how much is it going to hurt?"
"You'll probably scream."
"Well then, let's get it over with." His eyes lit up in surprise.
"You're the first woman I've met who wants to just get it done. Usually women put it off as long as possible."
"Yes, well, if you remember, I'll be riding out in the morning. The more time tonight that it has to heal, the better off I am."
"Alright then, come with me." He took my hand and helped me up. He then led me towards a table that was concealed from the revelers. We were followed by two other men.
"Here, drink this," one of them said, shoving a vial of blue liquid in my hands.
"What is it?"
"It will help." I gulped it, and my skin felt all tingly.
"Where do you want the brand?" Lyren asked.
"On my lower back, to the right." He helped me onto the table and I lay on my stomach. I closed my eyes and felt Lyren take my hand as someone lifted the hem of my shirt. I prepared myself for the pain. My skin was still tingling from the potion.
"All right, it's done."
"That was it?" I asked, confused. I sat up and looked at Lyren with questioning eyes.
"That was it, Eluare. Now come." He led me back over to the camp where Val, Alana and my brother were all preparing to enter a small cabin. They all held hands, Val in the middle. Cheers came from the crowd as they went into the cabin.
"What was that all about?" I asked Lyren.
"They're going to consummate the marriage now. Most likely, they'll be in there all night." He took my hand again, and led me towards a group of trees. "Hold on to me."
"Why?"
"Just trust me." I wrapped my arms around his waist and held on tightly. Suddenly we were off the ground, my stomach now in my feet. We stopped in front of a tree house; I glanced around and noticed there were a lot of tree homes. Lyren led me inside.
It was nice and simple. There was a braided rug on the floor and a decent-sized mattress off to one side. He helped me from my armor and led me over to a west-facing window. Together we watched the sunset. It was glorious. I heard something at the door and walked over to open it. Aronu came hopping in.
"She doesn't leave you alone, does she?"
"Not if there's lodging to be had without many people around." Aronu spread her wings and flew over to a chair on the other side of the room. I led Lyren over near the bed and sat on the mattress. He sat next to me and took both my hands.
We stayed up talking most of the night, until I was so exhausted I couldn't help but sleep. He lay beside me, wrapping his arms around me and I fell into a dreamless sleep. The next thing I knew, he was gently shaking me awake.
"Eluare, come on," he said quietly. "We have to go down now." I opened my eyes and sat up. I didn't feel so well. He must have known by the look on my face because Lyren rapidly held a bucket out to me. I took it and lost my entire dinner.
"Are you alright?" I looked at him and nodded weakly. Lyren took the bucket without a word and handed me a glass of water. He led me out to the porch-like balcony. I looked at the ground and became light-headed.
"What is wrong with me this morning?" I whispered.
"There's nothing wrong with you, Eluare, you're pregnant." Oh yeah, I thought, there was that. "Take a sip, but don't swallow. Swirl it around in your mouth and spit it out." I did as he'd said. The taste of my vomit now gone, he put the glass down and held me close. I wrapped my arms around his waist once again and we flew down from the tree.
We walked silently over to the crowd gathering in front of the cabin. After several minutes the door swung open and Alana came out and held up the sheet. Cheers went up from the crowd.