Aria sat in a final debriefing at unit command struggling to maintain composure. As the hours droned on, she calmed her thoughts with the anticipation of the first kiss with her lover as soon as she opened the door to their home. She also imagined 2 of their 3 daughters beaming at the sight of her. She would miss the eldest, but she had already begun her mandatory military service at the capital. Maybe they would all call her and vid chat once she was settled in?
Her deployment had been over a year, during which there was zero contact with her family. Although her entire unit was stationed on the remote planet, she spent most of her time alone since she was far and away the best sniper in the group. She quickly learned that the large insects were just as deadly as the rogue asaris wanted for selling military secrets to the highest bidder.
'Goddess how officers like to hear themselves speak,' Aria thought to herself. How many more times did she and her comrades need to hear the same information repeated? Aria swore then and there that if she ever became an officer, she would be short and too the point. Anyone stupid enough to need repeated instructions deserved to die anyway.
Her thoughts trailed back to her family. Most maidens her age sought out adventures throughout the galaxy. She surprised herself at the desire to stay at home, to become more domestic. Never as a young asari did she imagine being in love with her children, or with a matron that came from a higher status than she, much less with the famed professor of advanced commando biotics and guerilla warfare. Aria's body began to ache with anticipation as she remembered the first time she and Samara had sex. Her young body could barely keep up with the more experienced and more aggressive partner. Samara held nothing back. She explained, less than patiently, that if Aria was to be with her again, she better be agile and open minded enough to do so.
Aria should not have been surprised that news of her encounters with Samara reached her mother. The matron's prowess and conquests, both in combat skills and with lovers, was of legend and made for juicy gossip among her peers. When her mother contacted her after learning of their relationship, she did not hide her disfavor and strongly warned that the older woman only wanted her for the moment. Furthermore she was convinced that since Samara's family was one of the wealthiest and politically longstanding in their species history, she would be used and tossed aside as most lower cast members usually are. Fortunately for Aria, she was naïve and hopelessly in love with Samara almost from the first time they met. A fact that helped ignore both her mother's warnings, and any minor concerns she may have once had.
She laughed to herself as she remembered when Samara asked Aria to travel with her to Omega. At that time, the thought of visiting the galaxy's underbelly made her sick. Any reservations she may have had vanished when Samara vowed to always keep her safe. In fact she never had one doubt about her safety since then. She loved Samara and trusted her from the center of her being.
She was not sure who was more surprised at Samara's eventual confession of love. It was more than Aria imagined, and something that Samara admittedly never before imagined. The memory that daily sustained her above all else, that kept her heart beating, especially on long deployments on god-forsaken planets, was the moment Samara stopped fucking her and began to make love to her. She remembered that night with great clarity: Aria underneath Samara, her clothes cut from her body by her own blade, begging the matron to put aside her thirst for other flesh and love only her. The vulnerability in her lover's eyes made Aria weep. The culminating and explosive orgasm resulting from the intimate moment said more between the two of them than any combination of words that could possibly be uttered.
She dreaded telling her mother she and Samara had chosen to become bonded, and for good reason. Her only response was that asari from THAT family could not bear to have untouchable enter their very protected circle. She quickly reminded Aria that many criminals peppered the annals of their history. Most recently that of her "uncle", a batarian slave trader who specialized in child abductions.
"Have you considered, daughter, that it will only take one person to uncover this unsavory secret. Once this happens, your ridiculous dream of happily ever after will surely end. Powerful people", her mother said, "do not welcome threats to their power. No matter how raucous their fuck-fests may be, or how bright and pliable the pretty young thing may be."
"Mother you are wise about many things, but with regard to Samara, I completely disagree." Aria surprised herself at her candor. "Indeed Samara is wealthy, famous, deadly, and had every luxury desire at her command, but I am convinced she is her own woman and does not subject herself to anyone's expectations. Not even those of her family."
Nevertheless her mother's words found fertile ground and fear began to grow in Aria's heart. What if her family's history did pose a threat to her dreams? Should she ask? What if she asked and Samara became angry that she didn't tell her previously? Or Worse. What if Aria's past shamed her?
Three weeks before the ceremony, the two sat alone in their expansive dining room. Samara finished pouring their wine and sat next to her young betrothed. The food before them was as beautiful as it was fragrant. Delectable fruits and cheeses from across Thessia adorned the serving plates; yet Aria could not find her appetite. Her eyes could not lift themselves from the floor, where fear had been hiding her heart for the past few days. The words of her mother echoed loudly in the chambers of her mind, until she thought she would go mad.
Samara pushed her shoulders into the chair and asked, "Aria, it is not my custom to pry into your thoughts, but it concerns me that your heart has been so heavy as of late."
Aria stole a glance at her beloved and inexplicably found the courage to share the most recent conversation between she and her mother. She hung her head and began to tremble. She tried her best to stutter out an explanation about the more murky limbs of her family tree family, in particular the rot brought on by the poor choices made by her mother's sister. Not only did she bond with the batarian crime lord, but also she chose to stay with him even when he abused her and their children. No one was safe from his greed or his foul temper.
Samara gently reached with one hand and touched the trembling hands that were clasped beside her. With the other hand she mercifully stopped Aria's struggle by lifting her chin. "I know everything there is about you, Aria. I also know about the batarian. He has nothing to do with you."
Curiosity got the better of her and she had to ask, "How did you know about him?"
Samara's blue eyes fixed upon hers and she calmly replied, "Aria, my love, trust that I do not make many mistakes, that I know everything about everyone I encounter. How much more about someone I love? A fact that he apparently did not consider." She sipped her wine while contemplating just how much she should share with Aria.
Aria both flinched and gasped. The thought of her family's shame embarrassed her more than she anticipated. "Samara you must believe that I had no idea…"
"I know, my love. Nebulo Scelus introduced himself while I was waiting to meet you for lunch at Nexus several months ago. He poorly attempted to threaten both you and me." Samara laughed and continued, "I congratulated him and said that he was now at the bottom of a very long list. Many people twice his worth had tried and failed to intimidate me. If he had any intelligence, he would have left at that point, but instead he wanted to convince me about his powerful connections, and unless I wanted him to soil the family name, I should began paying him lump sums of creds whenever he demanded."
The specific detail that shocked Aria the most was the fact that anyone was brave, or stupid, enough to ever threaten Samara to her face. She then wondered how the restaurant was able to scrape him off the ceiling. "What did you do to him?" Aria was mystified.
"Very little energy was required. He followed me to a side street where I pinned him against the nearest wall, pulled out his right arm and beat him in the face with it until he couldn't open his eyes, all of which with biotics alone. I explained to him that it was only out of respect for your mother's sister that I did not end his life, and if I ever believed that he posed a threat to you, I would kill anything that he ever loved, and sell him to the highest bidder. Interestingly enough, I would probably gain very little because he was now a worthless batarian with only one working arm."
Aria howled with laughter, "I can't believe you didn't kill him!"
"I am certain that whoever sent him received the message I intended to send: you are mine, and I will always jealously protect you… from anyone." Samara's faint smile poorly mirrored the beaming smile across Aria's face. And with that hint of a smile, Aria's doubt and fear died. She returned to her wine signaling the discussion was at an end.
Their bonding ceremony was more than most young asari maidens could imagine, much less afford. Ironically much of it was free because many asari wanted to be Aria's new friend, or moreover, did not want to be her soon to be wife's enemy. The entire 5 floors of the exclusive Azure hotel was reserved, gratis, by the owner, a long time friend of Samara's family. Most of the creds that were spent by Samara were lavished on their attire. As true with most asari, neither woman was ashamed of their bodies or sexuality. From a very young age, regardless of social class, asari assure their daughters that their bodies are symbols of love from the Goddess. So it was not unusual for the two women to have little fabric on their form, but what silk and jewels did adorn their bodies rivaled the even ancient queens of old. Aria's choice was an Illisium silk dress with one small strap around her neck. The loop reconnected at the crest of chest. Light danced in and out of the transparent material as it snugly fit the curves of her breasts and thighs. A single line of white moon crystals rested upon dress beginning at her neck and seemingly floated down her body to fasten around her waist. Two flawless gold bracelets on each of her wrists matched perfectly with that of her soon to be spouse. Samara wore a brief close fitting cover blouse that covered only the tip of her breasts, exposing her taught midriff. It was accompanied by a silk, floor length skirt that was slit up to her hips on each side, revealing her muscular and lithe, long legs with each step. A polished jade symbol of her family, a djet, hung on a gold chain and sat nestled between her sensuous breasts. Both women wore gold sandals that ribbed around their feet and ankles up to mid calf. At the altar, they faced a priestess who stood between them and the impressive guest list that had gathered for the occasion. Samara stood as straight as a spire, studying the crowd before them. Aria imagined no one more formidable or sturdy, except perhaps the goddess herself. No foe, lover, or challenge had ever defeated her. Aria knew Samara would be her strength every day for the rest of their lives together. Only once did Samara break her pose to meet the gaze of her young love and it instantly sent silent thunder throughout Aria's body when their eyes met. She leaned in kissed Aria's neck and whispered that now all doubt and gossip would be silenced because everyone could now she see why she had chosen Aria above all others.
After the ceremony and celebration with guests, the two women left Thessia to travel. Some destinations were romantic, some were dangerous, but all of them were together. At the end of one year they returned. Aria chose to continue in the Asari military, specifically in espionage branch of the Asari government. She would never be sure if it was her own skill, or Samara's renown, that produced the accolades and promotions. It did not, however, provide comfortable assignments. Each assignment in some way exposed the corruptness of governments, so much more than she would ever possibly forget. Many times over she thought that the wrong woman chose this profession. Samara was more capable of dealing with the unscrupulousness and ruthlessness of individuals. It was a trait Aria admired and wished one day to master. The times she could be home with her wife and daughters proved to be invaluable in keeping her sane and grounded.
Indeed Samara had no desire to continue in the military or government. Rather she chose to take an executive job at her family's company. When they decided to have children, she left the company and once again began teaching physical training at the academy. Not because she needed the money, but because she saw the value of contributing to the future of their people, especially since she now had a personal investment by way of her children. Her fortune allowed their daughters to receive the highest and most prestigious education and biotic training that money could buy. But fortune did not equal entitlement in the home of Samara. Their daughters were expected to follow her directions with respect and immediate cooperation. Their two oldest daughters did so without question, but their youngest, Mirala… well she was… not so cooperative. Her stubbornness was beyond frustrating. She would only compromise once she believed it would benefit her in some way. She questioned her mothers' knowledge and discipline almost without exception. Her confidence and intelligence far surpassed her sisters. Her posture and demeanor could not be mistaken for anything other than proof of a birthright of asari royalty. She was, in every single way, Samara's daughter. Because of this, Aria loved Mirala above all else, save Samara. Aria cherished those qualities in her daughter but they set Samara's teeth on edge. Yet, the challenge Mirala posed for Samara actually softened her as a mother. She became more patient and determined to harness this natural power. She increased her meditations with her children which softened her temper and her heart. To some the change was subtle at best, but to Aria the changes were astonishing. Aria mused that their smallest daughter might one day be the only person to do what no one else could ever do: best the unbreakable Samara.
"Yes," Aria mused, "this homecoming would surpass all others. Of this I have no doubt."