I do not own Chaotic nor anything related to it. It belongs to TCDigital.

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The Banquet and the Ceremony

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I have the strangest feeling I've been to this party before. Just enough of it is similar to the celebratory feast for Iflar's return four months ago. There are long tables packed with Mipedians and Humans, there's mountains of food, and there's music and dancing and so much more. There is one jarring difference, though. At a smaller table, a little off to the right side of the royal table, sits the king of the Underworld and his Human wife.

Chaor refused to put on the large violet robe offered to him. He had expressed quite loudly that the clothing he had brought with him would work perfectly fine, and so he's sitting at his table wearing, well, a fur loincloth and a pair of boots. Lilth, however, accepted her gifted robe quite readily, and she's wearing it right now.

Chaor eats just as messily as I remember from three lives ago, without utensils and dripping food from his mouth. Lilth, on the other hand, is sitting and eating with such impeccable manners that it almost looks fake.

Over at the table I'm sitting at is the familiar seating arrangement from four months ago. Prince Mudeenu, his perpetual scowl darkened even more than usual. Theb-sarr, eating calmly as if a huge murderous demon wasn't mere feet away. Prince Iflar, stealing the occasional nervous glance at Chaor. Princess Isis, looking far too interested in her food. Myself, probably looking like I'd ridden the world's most violent roller-coaster. Twice.

It's been a hour, and I haven't eaten anything yet. I'm still trying to process everything that happened today. I still haven't recovered from the circus at the election, the waxing, the washing, and the shock of Chaor being here.

"Pass this to Michael," Iflar says, handing a glass to his sister. Isis sets the glass down in front of me.

"What's this?" I ask.

Iflar glances at Chaor again. "It's to settle your nerves."

"I'm perfectly calm," I lie, "and this smells like alcohol."

Iflar lowers his voice. "Your hands are shaking and you haven't eaten anything. Drink up."

I sigh and take a sip. Yup, it's alcohol.

Theb-sarr stands as I set my glass down. "Is everyone enjoying themselves?"

A halfhearted cheer starts up in the crowd which slowly fades away.

Theb-sarr acts as if nothing was wrong. "Good, good. Now," he claps his hands together, "an hour has passed, so let us move on to the reason why we're having this banquet."

The eyes of everyone in the courtyard snap to me. Or is it Isis and me they're staring at? Regardless, I feel my heart try to jump out of my chest.

Theb-sarr continues, "I'm pleased to announce the wedding of-"

The rest of Theb-sarr's speech is drowned out by a loud laugh from Chaor. "Please, Theb-sarr!" he chortles, "We all know why you're throwing this party! Don't sully our appetites with long speeches!"

There's a moment of dead silence. Lilth raises her eyebrow at Chaor, then turns to the crowd and speaks, "Well, it seems Chaor's reputation as an uncouth brute is well deserved, but all of us who knew about Perim beforehand already knew that."

Several Humans laugh. So, Lilth watched the show?

Chaor growls a little. "Do not mock me."

Lilth covers her mouth in false surprise, "But, your Majesty, isn't your reputation a thing to be proud of?"

There's more laughter from the crowd. Chaor folds his arms and- is he pouting?

Theb-sarr shakes his head. "It seems I'm forever doomed to have my speeches interrupted," he sighs with a grin on his face.

At that comment, the crowd absolutely cracks up. The courtyard is filled with laughter, and I think I spot several people falling out of their chairs.

Theb-sarr sits down. "Not like it matters anyway," he notes. "Everyone should already know about the wedding." He looks over at me. "Any similarities to weddings on Earth?"

I had not been expecting that question. "Huh? Well, not so far really. For one, the party usually takes place after the wedding ceremony."

"How long after the consummation?" Theb-sarr asks.

"Th-the what?" I stammer.

"The consummation," Theb-sarr repeats. "It means-"

"I know what it means," I say. My face feels hot. "The... The consummation usually happens after the party, on the honeymoon, I think." Gah, this is such an uncomfortable topic.

Prince Mudeenu leans forward so he can see my face. "It doesn't happen immediately after the ceremony on Earth? Are there even any witnesses?"

...Oh dear God, directly after the ceremony? No getting a private room? Someone's going to watch us having sex?

Theb-sarr, Iflar and Mudeenu stare at me as I grab my glass of hard drink and and drain it.

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The banquet is wrapping up. Humans and Mipedians are starting to leave. Soon I'll be inside the palace, getting married to Isis.

Soon as in now. Wow, time flies when you're tipsy.

There's a older looking Mipedian wearing a purple cloak. He has a long snout, yellow eyes, and smooth orange scales, and a row of spike protrude from his back and through his cloak. I swear, I should know his name, but I can't quite place it.

"Proceed with the ceremony, Sobtjek," Theb-sarr orders.

Ah, the purple-cloaked Mipedian is Sobtjek. I knew I recognized him.

Chaor is sitting with Theb-sarr, keen on making sure Theb-sarr meant what he'd said earlier. I wish he'd stop looking at us...

Sobtjek looks at Isis and me. "Please kneel," he says.

We do so. The stone floor is hard on my knees, but I grit my teeth and bear it. Ugh, that waxing did a number on me. My nerves are shot, and any amount of pressure on my body is painful.

Sobtjek holds a hand over each of our heads. "Isis, daughter of Theb-sarr, and Michael, son of..."

...Oh, he's waiting for me to speak. "Roy."

Sobtjek continues, "And Michael, son of Roy. Tonight you will be joined together." He places a hand on Isis's head. "Isis, do you accept Michael as your husband."

"Yes," Isis says. Her voice sounds... strained.

I feel Sobtjek place his hands on my head. "Michael, do you accept Isis as your wife?"

"Yes," I say. I'm barely able to keep my voice from shaking.

"Good," says Sobtjek. "Please turn to face each other."

Isis slides her knees across the ground so she pivots to face me, and I copy her. I look at her, and it dawns on me. I know nothing meaningful about her. I've spoken to her only once, and suddenly I'm marrying her. We're almost complete strangers to each other. Do all arranged marriages feel this awkward and impersonal?

"Take each other by the hands," Sobtjek says.

Isis holds out her hands. I place mine in hers. Her hands are warm and scaly.

"Before we proceed," Sobtjek says, "Michael will need a name. The name that has been chosen, and that you will be known by when serving as a member of royalty, is Prince Osiris."

I briefly glance at Sobtjek. Did I hear that correctly? Isis and Osiris. That can't be a coincidence.

Sobtjek places a hand over ours. "By the strength of the Ancient Powers, I join you together. By the will of the king, I join you together. By the consent of you both, I join you together."

...Wait, was that it? That's the whole ceremony?

Sobtjek moves away and head for the bench Theb-sarr and Chaor are sitting at. Now that he's moved, I can see that a... something... was behind him. The word "bed" doesn't quite cut it, because normal beds don't have shapes molded into the mattress and-

Before Sobtjek sits, he says, "You will now seal your marriage."

...Gee, was "Hurry up so we can watch you have sex" not classy enough for you?

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Up next: The Carnal Rite

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Like I said before, Chaotic belongs to TCDigital.

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