A/N: I've decided to post this fic here as well. It's a long gaiwin arranged marriage AU with lots of plot, worldbuilding, battles, and of course some good old enemies-to-friends-to-lovers slowburn romance :
A couple of worldbuilding notes that might be good to know before reading:
In this AU, the Battle of Fezebel didn't take place, so no tsunami, no Auj Oule clans losing many of their men, thus less incentive for Gaius to take up arms like he did in canon. He's still got a rebellious spirit, because of course he does.
Since Gaius' canon rebellion and creation of Taurus didn't happen, he and Wingul are referred to by their original names: Arst Outway and Lin Long Dau.
New locations: Xian Yang is the Long Dau capital, upstream of the same river that runs through Xian Du, under a mild spirit clime (think Hamil). Darhan is Gaius' hometown, located in the mountains further north, with a clime similar to the Mon Highlands.
Canon side characters from side materials: Lars Long Dau (Wingul's dad); Yan, Ying and Bruno Long Dau (Wingul's uncles); Nils Frieden (Wingul's attendant/best friend).
OC side characters: Kamal Outway (Gaius' dad); Kohei Morli (Kamal's bff/Gaius' mentor); Nui Long Dau (Wingul's mom); Minah (apothecary & resident grandma); other minor side characters like Wingul's cousins, ministers, servants etc.
Having built their capital on a river, it came as no surprise that the Long Daus worshipped the spirit Undine above all others. Some might have expected them to honor Efreet, the patron of brave warriors and often the great spirit favored by those who sought power, for fire was intense and destructive like the wars they waged to expand their territories. However, swift and strong currents were no less symbolic to the founders of the Long Dau clan, and the shrine they built to the Great Spirit of Water was an undeniably impressive structure.
Polished stone paved the courtyard and interior, while crystal-clear water flowed through the shrine grounds via a complex network of ornate fountains and gutters. Inside, the altar held a large basin into which droplets dripped down from a ceiling duct at timed intervals, the mechanism likely powered by spirit artes.
Arst Outway was currently standing before said altar. Next to him was another young man with long black hair—Lin, the heir of the Long Dau clan. Arst's husband-to-be.
A gong signaled the beginning of the wedding ritual. In traditional Long Dau fashion, the future spouses would first bow to their respective parents to thank them for raising them. Then, they would kneel before the altar and accomplish a cleansing ritual. And finally, the spousal bow would seal the alliance.
Arst turned to face his family, which solely consisted in his father and his sister Karla, their mother having passed away a long time ago. His father's expression was closed, like he was trying to hide what he was truly thinking about the event under a mask of neutrality and indifference. Arst, who had seen his anguish up close in the privacy of their home, could not help but admire his ability to put on a calm and collected front in difficult situations. Perhaps, if he'd learned to do that—if he'd stayed impassive—if he hadn't been so rash… Then perhaps, they would not be here now. Arst silently promised that from now on, he would try to hold his tongue and remain impassive even when his insides were boiling with anger, just like his father.
His gaze swept past his father and caught his sister's teary eyes. His heart constricted at the sight. He knew she blamed herself. She had told him as much, and even if she hadn't, guilt and despair were written all over her face. As he lowered his head for the bow, he recalled their previous conversation.
"I'm sorry," she had whispered as they shared one last hug before they entered the Long Dau capital. "This is all my fault."
It was in no way her fault, but she had managed to let rumors and gossip convince her of it. Or perhaps she thought that, by shouldering the blame, she could create the illusion that this situation could have been avoided, that they still had a minuscule amount of control over their destiny, and that their clan would not be suffering such a harsh blow if she had not messed up.
The reality was that she hadn't messed anything up. There was nothing she could have done to prevent the unfortunate chain of events that led to their current predicament. The cold truth was: in a world where the strong preyed on the weak, their very lives were governed by the whims of those in power, and there was nothing they could do to avoid it.
Relations between the governing Long Dau and the Outway clan had been tense for a long while. Though small, the Outway clan had always produced fine warriors and strong-willed leaders. The way the Long Daus trampled over the northern clans had never sat well with their forefathers, and they had always attempted to retain a certain degree of independence, which, of course, had never sat well with the lords of the Long Dau clan, who liked to think that their power over the region was absolute. As one of the most powerful tribes of Auj Oule, the Long Daus only answered to the king himself, and every clan residing on their vast territory was forced to follow their rule. Arst's father had always tried his best not to exacerbate those tensions. However, that was not enough for the Long Dau elite, who eventually wanted a more tangible proof of his loyalty.
That was where Karla came in.
Promised at a young age to a man nearly a decade older, she had dutifully accepted her role in the making of a political alliance. In truth, it was an advantageous match, an opportunity a small clan such as theirs could not pass up—and doing so would have been an insult with repercussions they were not ready to face. Her betrothed was a cousin of the Long Dau chief, not a direct relation but close enough that he was considered part of the main branch. As his rightful wife, she would enjoy the wealth and privilege that his position offered. In return, she would serve as a readily available hostage to keep her father and brother in rank. It was a truly good match, that benefited both parties.
In her youth, Karla had been fond of the man she was promised to, and he in turn had treated her kindly, if a bit condescendingly (in Arst's opinion). She was set to marry in the spring of her fifteenth year, and awaited the moment with a certain enthusiasm. She would be sad to part with her family and friends to live in the capital, but she was eager to play her role for the sake of her clan, and was looking forward to her new life with her future husband.
That day never came.
A month before they were to be wed, a small scandal erupted. It was revealed that her fiancé had impregnated another woman—a lady from an influential clan—and to avoid losing that clan's loyalty, the Long Daus welcomed her as a bride within the week.
The Outways received the news with barely an apology, and just like that, the union was broken, and the future relation between the clans uncertain.
Somehow Karla was blamed for the dissolving of her betrothal. She was too young, gossipers said, or too plain, or not powerful enough. Who could fault a man for looking elsewhere?
To the outside world, she bore the heartbreak and the scorn with dignity befitting the daughter of a chief, but in private, her family was privy to the anguish and the tears this affair had caused.
Arst had never liked Karla's fiancé. He found him arrogant and unbefitting of his sister. He had vehemently protested the union, to no avail. Eventually, he had learned to keep his misgivings quiet so as not to upset her. When the affair broke out, however, his dislike for the man and the whole clan behind him increased tenfold, and he vowed never to let them intimidate him like they had his father.
In insight, his disrespect and rebellious spirit must have been obvious to anyone who met him, which must have greatly displeased the Long Dau lords. They tolerated it for a while, because he was still young, and his aptitude in combat was an asset during military campaigns. As long as he was useful, they did not punish his transgressions too severely, and he learned how to toe the line.
It all came crashing down six years later, when the Long Daus launched a campaign to claim some eastern territories they had been feuding over with the Kitarl clan. Karla's ex-fiancé was appointed commander of the Long Dau army for this campaign, and Arst and the fifty Outway men that had been requisitioned were supposed to obey his orders. However, Arst failed to behave like a good subordinate.
His disdain for the man was apparent in any interaction they had, and he questioned every decision he made. In Arst's opinion, the man was a poor leader and tactician, and was constantly ordering maneuvers that only served to deplete their resources for little gain. After a virulent argument about an upcoming battle, Arst stormed off from the strategy tent and decided to lead his own men into battle in the way he saw fit. What that resulted in was an overwhelming victory, eclipsing by far any of the commander's own accomplishments.
When Lars Long Dau received the full report, he flew into a rage so intense that his own brothers did not dare approach him for a full day. If Arst had merely disobeyed orders, he could have simply been executed for insubordination. However, his contribution to the victory was so great that he was hailed as a champion by the people. Those who had witnessed his prowess sang his praises far and wide, and the population, hungry for this kind of heroic tale, gobbled it all up in no time. Getting rid of him now would have been an unpopular move, and for all that Lars usually liked to solve problems with his sword, he realized that he would have to tread carefully. If he could not outright get rid of him, he needed to find a way to crush his power and spirit in a way that did not look like a punishment to the uneducated masses.
When the troops came back from the battle, Arst was sent home to his clan with congratulations and the promise to be rewarded later. He took the news with a certain degree of dubiousness, for he knew that despite his accomplishments, his insubordination was unlikely to go unaddressed. When the heat of the battle died down, he even came to regret his rash act. Although he was convinced of his righteousness, he could not help but worry about the repercussions, and was a little ashamed of himself for letting personal grudges influence his conduct. Had his father not told him time and time again to keep a clear head and avoid provoking his superiors? He had basically done the exact opposite!
A week later, a messenger brought a missive to the Outway chief.
It was a marriage proposal.
To reward Arst for his daring spirit, Chief Lars Long Dau demanded that he entered the Long Dau court as Prince Lin's concubine.
Outwardly, it was a great reward indeed. To small clans, a daughter taken as one of the prince's concubines was an honor, a reward for their good service, and an opportunity to rise in status. The sons they bore, while lower in status than direct heirs, stood a chance of inheriting their father should the official wife fail to birth a boy. Although the practice was usually followed to ensure a ruler would not lack heirs, it was not uncommon that second sons of clan chiefs were chosen as well. Entering the prince's household would prevent them from fathering children of their own, but in return, they could reasonably expect a life of luxury and promotions.
However, Arst was the heir of his own clan. To be bound to the prince meant forfeiting his right to succeed his father and become a leader himself. Moreover, the role came with its share of obligations that would greatly restrict his freedom. He would not be allowed to leave the castle without his husband's permission, would have to obey his every order and tend to his every whim, and would never be allowed to pass on his own bloodline. Stripped of the power he possessed as a future clan chief, isolated from his family and retainers, given no choice but to submit as a simple man, he would be trapped in a golden cage for the rest of his life.
Unable to either appease him or behead him, this was Lars Long Dau's scheme to restrain him before his insubordination turned into full-scale rebellion. Coming from a man known for his swift and explosive reactions, this was a surprisingly well-thought move.
No one in the Outway household took the news well.
Karla blamed herself for the deterioration of her brother's relationship with her ex-fiancé, and somehow convinced herself that everything would have been fine had her own engagement not failed.
Arst's father, Kamal, acted more like he was making preparations for a funeral rather than a wedding.
The clan's retainers and the local villagers, who had been looking forward to having Arst as a chief one day, frequently complained about how unfair it was to take him from them, and had to be reminded to keep their opinions to themselves before outsiders caught wind of the growing dissent brewing within the clan.
As for Arst himself… He thought he might have preferred it indeed if the message had simply asked for his head instead.
When he straightened up, Arst offered his sister a small reassuring smile.
"I'll be all right," he tried to convey. "Don't worry."
The first part of the ceremony now accomplished, both young men turned around to face the basin on the altar. Now came the second part, the cleansing ritual that symbolized the transition to their marital life.
Arst scooped up water with his hands and moved backwards, kneeling. From the corner of his eye, he saw his betrothed do the same. In unison, they raised their hands high and bowed toward the altar, letting the water held within their palms drip down their arms. The droplets were cold on Arst's skin and left a tingling sensation where they trailed down, and a burst of energy coursed through his body. The water was infused with spirit artes, he realized. Some kind of healing spell, though the nature of it escaped him.
Once the last remnants of the spell dissipated, they got up and faced each other.
If this were a formal marriage ceremony, they would bow to each other and share a cup of sake to seal the union. They would then move to the castle's main hall for a grand banquet with dances and entertainment, before retreating to their marital bed. But such treatment was only reserved for the rightful wife—concubines only went through an abridged version of the spiritual cleansing ceremony before their status was made official and they were brought to their new residence. They were also the only one required to bow to their new husband.
Thus Prince Lin kept standing while Arst reluctantly lowered himself on the ground once more, keeping his expression as neutral as possible to hide the disgust that threatened to twist his features into a grimace. The smooth stone that paved the ceremonial hall was cool against his forehead. He remained prostrated for one second, two, three, until the shrine's officiant chimed the bells signaling the end of the ritual.
Slowly, he rose, his eyes traveling up until they finally met the prince's for the first time since he'd entered the capital.
Well…
Arst supposed he should find comfort in the fact that his new husband seemed to want this union about as much as he did.