The weeks passed quickly. Training didn't get easier. Tarris and Weilyra thought of new, sadistic methods every day. One day they carried enormous packs filled with stones back and forth across the field. Tarris walked easily next to them, his pack the largest and heaviest.
"This is an endurance test, folks! Anyone who can't outlast a tired old man like myself don't deserve to be called a scout!" he shouted.
Scouts dropped in the heat, gasping. It was a hot summer day, the humidity so great that every breath felt like drowning. Sweat poured off them. Fergus watched the others crawl to the sides of the field. Eventually, only he, Seilra, and Balris remained. Tarris seemed to glide across the field, his face no more red than usual. Fergus hustled after him, his legs burning and leaden.
Fergus saw Seilra's scowl and knew she would not give up until she passed out. He looked up at the sky, which seemed to melt.
Fergus hit the ground heavily, and two of the sidelined scouts ran to him, dragging him into the shade.
"Drink this." one said, and held a waterskin to his lips. Fergus drank, and gasped.
"I can't go any further." he said.
"We better hope Balris or Seilra can outlast the old fucker this year." said Virris. "He is already considering not letting the mages along, since none of us managed it."
"How do you know that?" asked Fergus. "Mind-reading magic?"
Virris laughed, his booming laugh identical to Tarris's. "He's my father, you idiot! I can read his mind without magic. Wow, look at Seilra go. Who'd have thought that sickly little Seilra would grow up into such a fine-"
Fergus growled before he realized what he was doing, and then held a hand to his throat, mortified.
"Relax. I was going to say a fine warrior. I have no interest in warrior women, myself. Too many muscles." said Virris, grimacing.
"More like you don't want a woman who can kick your ass." said a female scout next to them, and pushed Virris.
Virris laughed. "Indeed. I had enough of that from my mother, growing up. No, I want someone soft and gentle. Someone like Fergus, here. Do you have a sister?"
Fergus snorted. "I had one. She would have eaten you for breakfast, wizard. She was only 19, and nearly as good as me in combat. She was loud, crass, and fierce. She was also my best friend." said Fergus. He pushed aside thoughts of Katie, and focused on Seilra's stubborn march across the field.
Balris walked next to Tarris, seemingly unaffected by the weight on his back. Tarris eventually began to pant, and his steps became less steady.
Balris pranced out ahead mockingly. "What's wrong, Tarris? Getting feeble in your old age?" he asked, grinning.
Seilra suddenly crumpled, and Fergus ran out to her. He picked her up easily and carried her off the field.
"A good attempt." said Virris as Fergus set her at his feet. "Here, drink this."
The three of them watched Balris dance the harvest dance across the field, Tarris gasping behind him.
"Go Balris!" shouted Fergus. His friend shot him a brilliant smile, the scar on his face crinkling.
Finally Tarris called it, and stumbled over to the cove of trees.
"That boy must be cheating. Mebbe his girlfriend gave him something?" he panted.
Fergus laughed, holding his stomach. "She gave him something, alright. Don't you remember, Tarris, the first time you laid with a woman? The next day, how you felt you could conquer anything in your path? That's Balris today."
Tarris looked speculatively at Balris, who was walking toward them, the smile still on his face.
"Ah, I guess you're right. Our boy has finally got his dick wet, eh?" he said crudely, and then laughed.
"I think it's more than that. You saw the sign." said Seilra. "They're thinking of getting married after we get back from the hunt."
"Really? Isn't that a little soon?" asked Fergus.
"No." said Tarris firmly.
Fergus kept his argument to himself. Balris saw his frown and raised an eyebrow.
"Don't believe in it, do you? Well, Seilra has been avoiding telling you something, and I think you should know." said Balris.
"What?" asked Fergus.
"Come with me." said Balris, wiping sweat from his forehead. They walked to the other side of the field, which hadn't been used since the night Fergus had spent with Seilra there.
"See anything unusual?" asked Balris. Fergus looked down. Strange orange flowers covered the ground where he and Seilra had dueled and later, laid together.
"Seems to me that when I left, you and Seilra were dueling here. You didn't come back until the morning." said Balris. "Want to tell me what, exactly, you were doing all night?"
Fergus stared down at the flowers. "Well, we had sex." he said bluntly.
"And these flowers, which are not native to this area, just happened to grow in the same spot?" asked Balris.
"Must have." said Fergus. He felt a bit light-headed, but he attributed it to the exercise. Fergus was not about to let some damned flower determine whom he married.
"It's a sign, and you know it, thickhead." said Balris exasperatedly. "You love her. I've seen you watch her. What's the problem?"
Fergus turned sharply and left, ignoring Balris.
The next two days, they rested and feasted in preparation. Fergus was nervous about the hunt, mostly because he was paired with Seilra. Fergus had been avoiding her since he saw the flowers. He was frightened by the desperate way he had reacted to her. He also did not want to think about what the sign might mean. No couple in the history of the clan who had the signs happen to them had divorced. Fergus felt a deep betrayal of Oriana. He knew that if she appeared, he would choose Seilra, and it made him feel sick. What kind of man was he, falling in love with another woman? So, he avoided Seilra, hoping to make some sense of his feelings toward her. They only intensified, sharpened by longing. Seilra seemed to understand, and for the most part, left him alone. This made him worry that she did not feel the same toward him.
Seilra kept giving him long, thoughtful looks, and he dreaded what he thought she was going to tell him. Fergus had never been this nervous or hung-up on a woman before. He had heard from various male friends about the "talk," but personally, had never experienced it. Handsome, extremely wealthy Fergus Cousland had never wanted for female attention. He had made the mistake once of commenting on a friend's sister, and later, that sister waited for him in his bedchambers. Ugh, that had been awkward. Oriana had been his from the moment he laid eyes on her. He never wanted to think that she had loved him for his money or his title, but that hadn't stopped the doubt from sometimes creeping in.
Here, in the village, he was just Fergus, a rather clumsy scout. He had thought Seilra was interested, that he had pleased her, but after three weeks of her avoiding any physical contact, he was convinced he hadn't. He was also sure that as soon as they were alone, she was going to suggest they "be friends." He couldn't do that. He wouldn't. The thought of forever being around her and not touching her was unbearable.
"Here, let me help you." said Balris, startling Fergus. "You need to wear this."
"Is that paint? I had heard the Chasind were painted savages..." said Fergus, and was rewarded with a hard cuff on the ear.
"Oh, you had, had you? Well, you're one of us, now. Maybe later we'll howl at the moon." said Balris, and began painting Fergus's face with the green paint.
"It's to help us blend into the forest. The pale ones like you and Virris really stand out if we don't paint them." said Balris.
"I read in a book that Chasind always have their faces painted." said Fergus. Balris rolled his eyes.
"And who wrote that book? Someone who came across us, out hunting, no doubt. No one who spent any time with us would have written that."
Seilra approached them. "Fergus, you come with me. Oh, you look nice." she said. "Very, uh, green."
Fergus looked up at her. Seilra wore little paint, just faint, elaborate designs on her cheeks. "These are just for show. I blend into the forest nicely." she said, pointing to her brown skin. Fergus looked away. Seilra was nearly unbearably beautiful, her nutbrown eyes glowing with excitement. Her black hair had been re-braided, and was now held back with a braided leather band. Some of the ends of her braids had green rooster feathers decorating them. Most women dressed up for dances. Seilra dressed up to hunt. It was unfair, really. How was Fergus supposed to concentrate with a woman next to him who looked like she had walked out of a Witch of the Wilds legend; gorgeous, wild, and intent on stealing his soul. Seilra raised an eyebrow at him, and he realized he had once again been staring.
"Yeah, yeah, brag it up. Ugh, this crap smells terrible." said Fergus. "And my face itches."
"We were two of the last in Tarris's little endurance test, so it us who will be the long-range scouts. We will circle the area and report back." said Seilra as they walked out ahead of the group.
Fergus nodded, his stomach a mass of pit vipers. He didn't want to think of what she might tell him, once they were out of earshot of the others. "Fine." he said.
They moved at a quick, easy pace, with Seilra taking the lead. When the sun was at its highest, Seilra signalled to stop.
"So, just tell me. You want to be just friends, right? Did I do something wrong? Was I too forward?" blurted Fergus.
Seilra crooked a black eyebrow at him, and then exploded with mirth.
"Oh Fergus, that's what you thought? I thought you saw the flowers, and I didn't want to push you into anything. The way I feel toward you-"Seilra broke off, and jumped up.
"Fergus!" she said sharply. "Get up. Right now. Look!" she said, pointing to the large, dark shapes grazing in the clearing ahead.
"Oh, what luck! If we can take some of this herd, the hunt will be over! We must return." said Seilra, and ran. Fergus ran after her, barely keeping up. They arrived at the scout camp an hour later, panting.
"Biteren. In the clearing." gasped Seilra.
"How many?" asked Tarris.
"Ten, maybe twenty." said Fergus.
Weilrya's face broke into a wide grin. "Oh, how wonderful! I'll get everyone. We must move quickly, before they move on."
They walked back to the clearing, the return much slower than their desperate run back to camp.
"I can't believe it. The biteren are not usually seen this far into the wilds. They favor wide, grassy plains." said Balris. "Dangerous beasties, but two or three can provide enough meat for the village for winter."
"Dangerous?" asked Fergus.
"Oh yes. They charge when angry, or startled, or just because they feel like it. Didn't you see the massive horns on them? Those are the females. In addition to their triple horns, they also have very sharp hooves." said Balris.
"Are we going to be able to take them down with arrows?" asked Fergus.
"Definitely. Have you seen what good shots we are?" boasted Balris, but Fergus saw worry in his eyes.
They crept up to the clearing. Weilyra nodded at Virris, who began casting something.
"He's casting protective wards. It will give us a little protection if one of them charges." whispered Balris.
Tarris held up two fingers, then two more.
"Shit." said Balris next to him.
"What? Isn't it a great honor to be chosen?" whispered Fergus. Tarris had assigned them numbers, and then held up Balris's number.
"Doesn't mean I'm not scared shitless." hissed Balris.
"You'll do the village proud. Do Kaetra proud." said Fergus quietly. "You'll have a nice hide to decorate your new house."
Balris brightened at this and nodded. He slowly strung his bow, and then watched for Tarris's signal. When Tarris dropped his hand, arrows flew through the air at the closest Biteren. It dropped, barely making a sound of protest. Balris grinned proudly.
Tarris held up more numbers, and Fergus saw Seilra's number. He saw her gaze, and smiled encouragingly. She grinned confidently, her white teeth stark against her skin. Weilyra signalled, and arrows again flew. Fergus was astonished by the quick and clean kills they were managing. He had never seen such accurate shooting.
Tarris held up the first group of numbers again. Balris nodded, and aimed.
Fergus watched in horror as two of the arrows collided, leaving only one to strike. The beast bellowed in pain, and then stomped a massive hoof into the ground. It lowered its head toward the trees where they were concealed, and charged. Fergus heard a terrible crashing, ripping sound as the animal tore through the wards, and continued to rush toward them. Fergus saw the horns, lowered for Balris, who sat in petrified horror, his face white. Fergus threw him out of the way, and screamed as he felt the horns rip into him.
The world seemed to slow around him, and he watched, detached, as scouts swarmed around them, sticking swords and spears into the beast. They pulled it off him, and he looked down to see the inside of his abdomen, red and pulsing. He held up a sticky red hand, feeling no pain.
Balris was sobbing next to him. "Why did you do that, you idiot? It was my mistake. I should have taken it."
Seilra pushed her way through the crowd of horrified faces surrounding him. Fergus looked up and saw her, outlined with golden light.
"Hi Seilra." he rasped, then spit blood onto the ground.
"Fergus!" she shrieked. "Oh, Fergus. Help him, Virris! Help him!"
Virris crouched next to him, then shook his head. "He's too far gone, Seilra." he said sadly.
Fergus heard him say this, but it didn't register. He stared at Seilra, watched the tears roll down her beautiful face, warping the designs painted on her face.
"It'll be an agonizing death, lass. You know what I must do." said Tarris, unsheathing a long hunting knife.
"No!" screamed Seilra, throwing her arms around Fergus, heedless of the blood staining her armor. She sobbed into his neck. "Fergus, can you hear me? Fergus?" she said. Fergus nodded, though his vision was blurred.
"Fergus, I love you. I was a coward, and I didn't tell you when I should have. I love you." she cried.
"I love you, too." croaked Fergus.
This just made her cry harder. Fergus felt a sharp, terrible pain and groaned.
"What in the-" whispered Balris, who was currently holding Fergus's hand and rocking next to him.
Fergus looked down. The blood had stopped its hasty exit from his body. Indeed, the skin itself seemed to be knitting back together.
"Virris?" asked Tarris, looking back at his son. The mage stared down, his mouth open. Sweat had washed away most of the makeup on the mage's face. He looked very young, his freckles contrasting against his skin, which was white in terror.
"It isn't me, Pa." he said.
"It's a sign." murmured Balris. "It's a sign."
An excited whisper travelled through the crowd standing around Fergus.
"By the Forest, do you see? There hasn't been one like this for three hundred years." said Weilyra.
Fergus groaned, his midsection in agonizing pain. "It doesn't feel like I'm better." he moaned.
"That's because you're not dying! Dying people don't feel pain very often. Oh, Fergus." said Seilra, and hugged him tightly to her.
"You three, get back to the village. The rest of us will butcher and carry the beasts back." said Tarris, gesturing.
Fergus was amazed to see that he could stand, and indeed, walk. He was a bit unsteady, but Balris helped him along well enough. They stopped to rest a few times, and reached the village just as the light was disappearing beneath the trees.
"Balris, would you mind staying with Kaetra tonight?" asked Fergus. "I'm sure she'll be happy to see you. No one was expecting us back so soon."
The woman in question ran forward, her red braids trailing behind her. "Balris! You're back!
Has something happened?" she asked worriedly, then cast an eye at Fergus.
"Fergus! You're covered in blood! Let me see." she demanded, and pulled up his tunic. Fergus's tattered leather armor had been left in the forest.
"Oh my. How did you survive this?" she said, running a hand across the wide, vicious red scar across his abdomen.
"Seilra cried on him." said Balris. Kaetra's eyes widened, then she let out a happy shriek, throwing her arms around her surprised cousin.
"Oh, Seilra! We can have a double wedding. I never dared to hope that both of us would have this happen." said Kaetra excitedly.
Fergus watched Seilra roll her eyes and he met her gaze, then shrugged and smiled.
Seilra followed Fergus up into his house, and then sat on the lower bunk, looking at him.
"Well, I guess it's out, then." she said, and then covered her face in her hands.
"Are you blushing, Seilra? Is the bold little hawk actually blushing?" asked Fergus, pulling at her hands and laughing. "And here I thought you were planning on telling me you just wanted to be friends. Getting gored by that beast was a relief."
Seilra eyed him balefully. "You are incredibly stupid. I don 't even know why I like you, idiot."
"Because I'm handsome and indestructible?" asked Fergus, grinning. He wanted to dance around the room, but he didn't want to push the limits of his healing, however miraculous it was.
"That certainly helps." said Seilra, and grinned back. "I feel shaky, and sick, and relieved. You should be dead. When you were lying there, your life flooding the ground, I wanted to die, too. I always knew love made one a weakling, but I had no idea it would turn me into Kaetra."
Fergus laughed. "She's not so bad, Seilra." he said.
"Oh, she's my cousin, and I love her. But you know how she is...she cries when the animals are butchered." said Seilra, and laughed derisively. "Fergus, don't ever do that again." she said, and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
"Watch it. I'm still sore." joked Fergus, and ran his hand across the top of her head. "Does this mean you'll marry me, then?" he asked quietly. Seilra stiffened, and looked up at him. Silvery tracks traced down her face, which was illuminated from the moon shining through the window.
"I know you don't share our beliefs, Fergus." said Seilra. "I don't expect you-"
"Didn't share, Seilra. I certainly do now. I saw the inside of my abdomen, and yet, I am alive. I watched your tears heal me. I would have to be damned stubborn, and stupid, too, not to believe."
The corners of Seilra's mouth twitched.
"Don't you dare even say it, witch." said Fergus. "So how about it, Seilra?"
"How about what?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"Oh,so this is how it's going to be, huh? Do you want me to beg?" asked Fergus. Seilra bit her lip to keep herself from laughing.
"Of course you do." said Fergus, and pulled out of her grasp, dropping to the ground in front of her. He prostrated himself, nose to the floor.
"Please, oh beauty of the forest, fierce huntress, dearest love. Please do me the honor of becoming my wife." said Fergus. He heard Seilra's loud, surprised laughter, and took it as a good sign.
"I have loved you since you flung my breakfast all over my lap. I love your eyes, your smooth skin, your indominatable spirit. I worship the ground you_
The door flew open, and Balris stood, looking down at Fergus. "What are you doing?"
"Proposing to Seilra, of course." said Fergus smoothly. He could feel Seilra glaring at him, and he smiled.
"You two are....weird." said Balris. "Just came to tell you that everyone is mad to see your scar. You may want to rethink marrying Seilra, with all the beautiful women-"
Seilra growled at this, and rushed forward.
"Whoa, kidding-kidding! Anyway, don't tarry too long with whatever perverted game the two of you are playing, because everyone is anxious to see you and Magic Tears here." said Balris, and exited.
Seilra slammed the door after him.
"Now, where was I? Oh yes, I worship the ground you walk on, the water you swim in, the air you breathe."
"Get up, you moron. You are ridiculous. Of course I'll marry you. I loved you since you insulted Kaetra, and I tightened my hand around your throat." said Seilra.
"Weirdos." came a voice just outside the door.
"Balris Sarillen, if you do not get off that porch this instant, my cousin or no, I will skin you and make your pretty little hide into a drum." snapped Seilra. They heard the ladder creak under the weight of Balris's hasty retreat. Seilra turned back to Fergus, and her eyes softened.
"I'd never seen anyone like you. After my parents' deaths, I refused to go on any trading missions. I hadn't seen a Grippa in over ten years. It galled me that I was so attracted to a noble one, one of the same who killed my parents." said Seilra.
"I am not the same as Arl Howe." said Fergus sharply.
"I know that, now. Let me talk, Fergus, or I'll never say it." said Seilra. "I was sure that Grippa had no honor. I saw the ring on your finger, and I know what that means for your people. I was determined to prove that you were just as bad as the rest of them, so I encouraged Kaetra's crush on you. She is a beautiful woman, and there are not many men who would resist her." said Seilra. "You did. Then you got the news about your family, and you just sat there. It made me so mad to see that I had been wrong about you. I hate being wrong." said Seilra.
Fergus looked at her, and then laughed. "So was that a yes?"
Seilra smiled brilliantly and threw her arms around his neck. "Yes. Let's go make Kaetra the happiest girl in the world."
"Mm, I'd rather make you the happiest girl in the world." murmured Fergus against her hair. He ran his hands up her sides. "Let's get you out of this stained armor, shall we?"
Seilra moaned, long and low as his hands cupped her breasts. "You're still wounded. I don't think we ought.."
Their debate was settled by loud cries and shrieks coming from the village below. Seilra pulled the door open and peered down. "Oh, he's come back!" she shouted, and flew down the ladder. Fergus frowned as he watched her run across the clearing, throwing herself into the arms of a large redhaired man. Fergus followed down the ladder and stood uncomfortably at the edge of the fire.
"That's Garris. He left the clan over two years ago. Looks like his braids are finally long enough to come back." said Balris, suddenly appearing next to Fergus. "He was Seilra's best friend. When he left, she was furious. Didn't talk to anyone for months."
"What do you mean, his braids are long enough? Why'd he leave?" asked Fergus, his eyes following Garris around the village as he was hugged by nearly everyone outside.
"When someone leaves the Chasind without permission from the elders, they cut off their braids. It's symbolic of cutting themselves off from their clan. Sometimes it is a punishment, being exiled. Sometimes it is voluntary. In Garris's case, it was voluntary. He was always restless, and pushed for more trade with the Grippa. Then, he started disappearing at night. A couple weeks later, he announces without warning that he's leaving, and cuts off his hair in front of everyone. He didn't even tell Seilra what he was planning. He threw his hair into the fire, told everyone he was sick of this little village, that he was going to find adventure. Looks like he found it." said Balris, his eyes widening.
A heavily pregnant elven woman stepped out from the trees. "Oh no, he's gone and gotten a Dalish pregnant." said Balris, and slapped his hand against his head. "But his hair's long enough, so we have to at least consider letting him back in."
"None of what you are saying makes sense." said Fergus, frowning at the Balris.
"You've heard of the Dalish elves, surely? They're kind of the elven equivalent of the Chasind. The Chasind and the Dalish tolerate one another, and the Chasind are the only humans the Dalish will trade with. We share a common irritant, the Grippa. No offense intended, of course. Anyway, the Dalish are funny about their traditions, and one of those traditions is arranged marriage. They will reluctantly allow marriages for love, but only to other elves. For her to step out from her clan with a human? Unthinkable. Usually they would just exile her and strike her name from their books, but since the human she chose is Chasind, there will be trouble. I imagine a messenger will be arriving soon, demanding some sort of outrageous reparation for the loss of one of their young Dalish."
"What is all this about his hair?" asked Fergus.
"If an exile wants to rejoin his clan, he must grow his hair back out, and braid it in Chasind style. This usually causes problems with the Grippa, and demonstrates his commitment to rejoining the clan. Then the clan elders debate, and if the exile has proven himself sufficently repenetant, they are welcomed back. It helps the debate along if the exile brings something of value, like a new technology or, in Garris's case, a child. Children are never cast out of the clan, and he knows it." said Balris, shaking his head.
"You don't like Garris?" asked Fergus.
"Not especially. I mean, he's not a bad guy, but he's a blowhard. Always thinks he knows what is best for everything and everyone." said Balris.
"And he's friends with Seilra?" asked Fergus, cocking an eyebrow.
"Hmm, they grew up together, and Seilra tolerates him. She always looked out for him, smoothed things out for him with other clanmembers."
"Seilra, a diplomat? Ha!" said Fergus.
"I know, right? That must give you an idea of what Garris is like, if even Seilra seems nice compared to him." said Balris.
Fergus just laughed.
Balris got up. "Well, I suppose we should make our introductions."
A week later Fergus watched Ceirana, the elven wife of Garris, avidly gossiping with Taedra, her new baby held casually to her breast.
"I can't believe he agreed to have your child tattoed, once she comes of age." said Taedra. "Garris is certainly different, now."
"He finally met someone more stubborn than he is. There is no way I'll let my girl forget where she came from. Also, it will help my father forgive me for marrying a Shem." said Ceirana, and laughed, her green eyes flashing. "Plus, Garris is like a halla stag in rut for me. One shake of my rump and he forgets what he's talking about."
Taedra snickered, her hands moving impossibly fast over her loom. "My man is the same. Always has been, since I first starting growing breasts."
Fergus winced. He did not ever want to think of Taedra's breasts. The older woman had become a second mother to him.
A month later, Fergus stretched one long leg out in front of him. He saw Balris pacing in front of the fire.
"Nervous about the wedding? There's nothing to be nervous about." said Fergus, and stretched the other leg.
"Not really about the wedding, precisely." said Balris.
"What, have you not laid with Kaetra yet?" asked Fergus. Balris gave him a long look.
"You know I have. I've not with her hair down, that's all." said Balris.
Fergus laughed. "So the path you are currently wearing into the ground is from anxiety over a woman's hair?"
"It's not the same for you, Fergus. You haven't spent your whole life waiting and wondering about what unbound hair looks like. The women you grew up with just pranced around, hair down to their waists..." Balris trailed off, a dreamy look on his face.
Fergus laughed again, clutching his stomach. "Afraid you're going to have to cut the festivities short?"
Balris glared at him, red staining his cheeks. "No." he said.
"Yes. You'll see all that hair and it'll be all over. It'll be a wedding night to remember, that's for sure." said Fergus.
"You spend too much time with Seilra. She's rubbing off on you." said Balris.
"She certainly is." said Fergus, and waggled his eyebrows.
"Oh, shut it." said Balris sullenly.
"You'll do fine, Balris. You have what, the rest of your life to see her hair down? With as young as you are, you'll have several more chances that night to makeup for whatever mistakes you might make. She's mad for you." said Fergus.
"Really?" asked Balris.
"Oh, don't do that. You know it. Look at her, mooning around, staring over here." said Fergus, inclining his head.
Balris looked up, and met Kaetra's gaze. Kaetra blushed and looked away. Balris smiled.
"Now, you are making me ill. I will take my leave." said Fergus, and stood up. He made his way to the river, and sat down. He looked down at his tan feet and shook his head. Would any of the nobles even recognize him now, tanned a deep brown, hair long and braided back. Some aspects of his former life seemed to have happened to someone else. He could scarcely remember what sleeping in a feather bed felt like, what silk felt like against his skin. He remembered other things perfectly, painfully. His sister's grin, his son's small, sticky hands, his mother's eyes. He looked down at the signet ring, now loose on his finger. Fergus shook off any macabre thoughts. He had a hunt to look forward to, tomorrow morning. Traditionally, the man would leave with his best friend (and a scout, if neither of them were hunters) and shoot the game for the wedding feast. Seilra had grumbled all week about this tradition, insisting that she should be able to accompany them, that she did not want or need the day spent with the other women, bathing and having her hair dressed. Fergus wanted her to come along, but Balris had balked.
"You'll see why." was all Balris would say on the matter.
Fergus wandered into the forest near the river, careful not to pass beyond the boundaries of Virris's warding. Darkspawn had decreased in the last couple of months, but were still about. He sat underneath a favorite tree. Fergus sighed, thinking about what Seilra might look like with her hair down. Despite his initial disbelief of Balris's fascination with unbound hair, Fergus himself had come to share the fascination, and often speculated on Seilra's hair. He heard rustling behind him and jumped up, reaching for his sword.
Seilra approached him, her long black hair unbound and dripping. Fergus shook his head. His daydreams were getting far too real. Shaking his head did nothing, and Fergus realized she really was standing in front of him.
"Seilra?" he whispered. "But you're supposed to wait until tomorrow night. I mean, this is not proper." he said, and swallowed thickly.
"Since when have I listened to what I am 'supposed' to do, Fergus?" asked Seilra, and pulled the thin tunic she wore over her head. She flung it at him, and it slid down his torso, landing in a heap at his feet. Seilra grinned, enjoying his stare. Her hair glistened down her chest, covering her small breasts. Only one braid remained, with an odd amber bead.
"This is my family's color. I came here to tell you I've decided to take their name, again. I hope you will, too." said Seilra.
Fergus closed his gaping mouth. "Uh, sure, Seilra. I'm ready to leave Cousland behind me, now."
Seilra stalked forward. Fergus stepped back.
"Seilra, we should wait. What if someone sees you here with your hair down?" he asked.
"Then I tell them to mind their own damned business and leave me to my mate." said Seilra, a feral gleam in her eyes. "Don't tell me you don't want me. I can see that you do." she said, and dropped her gaze to his crotch. Fergus answered her grin.
"Well, come here, then." he said, and wrapped an arm around her slim waist, pulling her against him.