Ok. Sorry for not updating for an ENTIRE WEEK, but I was sorting out emotional issues. I realized how much of a hypocrite I was. I knew I was something of a hypocrite before, but the level of hypocrisy stunned me, I will admit. I felt physically ill. So, I have been trying to figure out how to fix that. I still haven't figured it out, but at least I tried. This is all for now, I'll try to update later today if I can. Thanks for the reviews, I lave you all!
The circle was broken. The Sarmatian tribe's people sat on one side of the fire, while the outsiders (with Habren and Amage) sat on the other. Never had there been such a division at a wedding feast. Sera looked about, nervously. She didn't want to ruin Lancelot's life. She didn't want his people to look down upon him. She could have sworn that Amage gave her a reassuring smile, before she stood.
Amage gazed at her people, sitting so far away from her. Amage was not used to this. Usually, she was the one to distance herself. They were behaving just like Babai! She had already performed the rights, though only the couples and their friends had looked happy about it. Babai wasn't there. Amage was ashamed that this saddened her. She should be happy, really. Babai was not as he once was. He didn't love her any more. It was time to move on. To move forward. Life would continue.
Argimpasa looked on at the foreign women in disgust. How could they wear such a thing? Had they no shame? She looked to that Sebbi fellow, the one who had offended her in such an unforgivable manner. He was casting nervous glances at the sullen Woad woman with no sense of propriety. How could Sebbi be interested in an unfeminine uncivilized freak, and not herself? How could he resist her?
Sebbi couldn't understand why Aine was behaving this way. He had gone back to the tent, not bothering to call out. When he entered, he found, to his shock, Aine preparing for the wedding. Needless to say, Aine was not pleased. But he had apologized! He hadn't meant to look at her naked! And besides, the clothing she was wearing now didn't conceal much, anyway, what was all the fuss about? He had wanted to talk to her, but she shouted at him until he had been chased out of the tent. No, it did not appear that Aine was receptive to his feelings. Amage had been nice to talk to him, but she didn't know Aine. Aine often times appeared far too cold for comfort. But, Sebbi knew she was full of life. On the rare occasion that she laughed, her spirit shone for all to see. Perhaps that was why she tried to hide it. Aine was beautiful in a way many women will never be. She was not the most beautiful woman in the world, but she certainly wasn't the ugliest. Yet, that was her shell. Inside, Aine held life. Sebbi hadn't seen that for quite some time, and he clung to it. He knew she had no love for him, yet he refused to let her go. He couldn't.
Tabiti glared at the Woad in Tristan's lap. The Sarmatian was looking at this creature like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. She was no such thing. Her daughter Avesta was much more attractive, not to mention that she had wider hips. Better for bearing sons. These young men didn't know much. She mentioned her thoughts on the subject to her neighbor, not bothering to keep her voice low. If they heard, what of it? It would do them good to listen to sense.
Habren studied the group around her. This was not going well. While Gawain and Radha couldn't care less about the tribe's opinion, Sera was looking a bit uneasy. Lancelot didn't care what the tribe thought. He loved Sera. They had bonded quickly, under rather unusual circumstances. Often, such bonds proved to be deeper than roots to a home you hadn't seen for fifteen years. This was how it was for Lancelot. Besides, he didn't intend on staying, anyway. Habren was twenty now, and wanted what Lancelot and Sera had. She wanted what her parents had once had. She didn't want to live out the rest of her days alone. At the very least, she could go with Lancelot. She would earn her keep. She had no wish to be a burden on anyone, but if she didn't escape, this life would swallow her.
Amage finally spoke. "Who wishes to bless the newlyweds?" she asked. Utter silence followed. No one stepped forward. No one even moved. Suddenly, Amage felt a shifting of the air, and found Babai, her husband right behind her.
Babai found it difficult to explain, even to himself, why he was behaving as he was. In all honesty, he had nothing against his new daughter in law. He had argued against the marriage because Amage was for it. Amage didn't see him when she wasn't in a flaming temper with him. He was invisible. He would not be invisible any longer. She had been pushing him away for fifteen years. That would not continue. He stared right back into the eyes of the woman who concealed so much, and saw shock, hurt, and most surprising, a flicker of hope. Babai looked away. He would dissect her meaning later.
Babai strode over to his only son, and taking his head in his hands, kissed his forehead. He repeated this gesture on his very surprised daughter in law. Lancelot gave him a look that showed clear admiration and thanks. Sera would have an easier time, knowing that his father didn't hate her.
His eyes scanned the Sarmatians.
"Why will no one step forward?" he asked, incredulously. "My son has been married, yet no one wishes to bless them?"
Tabiti stood. Babai was obviously mad, just like that lunatic wife of his. "I will not bless such an abomination. We need all the men we have, and to waste a perfectly good one on a foreigner is complete madness."
Rebekah had been listening from her highly prized seat on Tristan's lap. Really, the last remark had gone too far. She slid from her comfortable seat, disentangling Tristan's arms from around her waist.
"One might say that our tribe is wasting Sera on a foreigner. But we don't believe that. Your sons have been killing my people for hundreds of years. Yet, here is Sera, taking one of your own for the rest of her life. You should be happy. We have done our part, I suggest you do yours." She said, in a rather annoyed manner. Really, couldn't they see that they weren't the only ones making concessions?
Tabiti and Rebekah had a glaring match until Tabiti finally looked away. She hated to admit it, but the slut had a point.
Slowly, conversations started amongst the tribe. It wasn't as loud as it normally was, but Amage was beginning to count her blessings. Some even began moving closer to the other side of the fire. Some of Lancelot's old friends came forward. They had only recently returned, and had been quickly married. There were so few...They had thought Lancelot would never come back. They found seats close to the happy couple and settled in for the duration of the feast, their wives following a bit reluctantly.
Lancelot asked them how things were, he did not recall having a fighting force to check out newcomers before, there must be something wrong.
"Bandits." Said one of his friends, darkly.
Damn. He should have guessed. With the Empire crumbling, they would not be protecting their people from the bandits any longer.
"Their leader was once a member of the Roman army. Like us."
That was distressing news. It meant that he had survived for fifteen years of never ending battle. He would know how to handle himself with many weapons.
"Have they come here?" asked Lancelot.
"No, but they have struck our neighbors. They will come for us sometime, we just don't know when." Said his friend, in a rather defeated manner.
Lancelot nodded, but said nothing. Well, perhaps the bandits would pass them by, it wasn't as though they had much of any value. Except the women. Men who never settled down sometimes desired some...comfort. Sometimes, they didn't need the promise of monetary things to attack a village. He looked to his sister. She was a pretty little thing. She would not be missed. But, then again, his mother would have taught her how to fight. She might be able to defend herself.
Babai took a seat next to Amage. They didn't look at each other. They feigned interest in what everyone else was saying around them. After a while, talk of bandits just began to depress them and they turned away. It was another staring match. They had not really spoken to each other for quite a while.
"How have you been for the last fifteen years?" asked Babai.
It was a rather shocking question, one that Amage had not expected. She blinked, and was surprised to find tears welling up in her eyes. She didn't cry, especially in front of the tribe. Babai knew this, and gently pulled her away, back to their tent. He was not supposed to be here, but he could only hope she would forget. He sat down in a chair, cradling Amage as she cried. She needed this. It had been too long since she had allowed herself to cry.
Amage hadn't been asked how she was for years. No one really cared enough to ask. Babai hadn't asked since Lancelot had left. Had he been the one to change? Was she the one who had pulled away? Or had they both? She cried into his tunic.
"It's been hell without you for all these years, Babai." She said, quietly.
He nodded. It hadn't been any better for him.