A/N I'm sorry it's been a while since I last updated. But I do have a valid reason for not updating. I've been trying to write my thesis since I'm supposed to graduate this spring. I can't promise anything but I'll try to finish this particular story as soon as I can.

As the Turks walked down to the valley, they saw a great bonfire being lit. Chanting and laughter ensued as the clothes came off and a group of women started circling the fire. The men stayed back at first but every now and then a woman would separate from the circle and pull one of them into the dance.

"What is this?" Kandi asked admiring the uninhibited demeanour.

"We are officially kicking off my cousins wedding. All the mothers dance to show that they don't have anything to hide from their mates. They pull their husbands into the dance to express the joining of two lives. This is to show to the bride what her life is going to be", Ram explained, "When the mothers end their dance it's the children's turn. Each and every single woman will take their mothers place and the bride will dance her last dance as an unmarried woman. Look, Neha is getting ready to dance." Ram threw off her coat and shirts and kicked off her shoes.

"What are you doing?" Sage asked nervously.

"I'm joining them. This is why I came here", Ram smiled and turned to her sisters, "You can come too, if you want."

"Hell yeah", Trina just said and jumped to follow.

"Did I see right?" Sage asked out loud when Trina streaked past him.

"Yes", Vincent smirked, "she has some interesting vanities and her body is just one of them." Sage shook his head and was just about to turn to Rude when Reno came running to them. He tackled his partner and breathed:

"I've died and gone to hell! Hide me now."

"What's wrong with having dozens of women pampering you?"

"They're not only trying to fat me up so I can't run away, but each and everyone of them has a daughter they want me to marry. Apparently they have nothing against me fucking their daughters, but since this Flame ran away once, they don't want to take the chance of losing me again."

"I still fail to see the problem here", Sage pointed out and saw a rare smirk on Rude's lips, "It's not like their ceremonies mean anything."

"I have my limits! I don't want to be explaining how I got hitched with some farm girl to- umm – Just hide me!" Reno brayed. Sage was about to laugh when he noticed a figure approaching. He felt a deep chill and decided to run.

"Sure, come on."

After hours of rampaging it was finally morning and Ram's tribe was starting to settle. The Turks were shown a place to doze off for a moment while the natives prepared for the rite. Ram and Neha were traipsing to her bed chamber. Nella was sleeping on her mothers bed and Ram watched her cousin melt into a happy smile. The mother covered her daughter with a rug and brushed a lock of hair away from the child's eyes.

"She's so beautiful and peaceful."

"Yes she is", Ram whispered in response, "and with training, her dreams will continue to be calm when she grows up."

"No."

"Neha, please be reasonable. Nella needs training. She has shown interested to the runes and I can feel her gift. Don't you see how she shines in her sleep?"

"No, no I don't. Don't go giving her any foolish ideas", Neha retorted quietly.

"What is it that you fear? Is it the gift itself or is it the side-effects?" Ram squatted down next to the bed.

"Is there one without the other?"

"No", Ram shook her head, "But training will help her shield from the whiplash. And there are herbs to help her cope with the nausea, which isn't as bad as it sounds. I believe it's different for each seer. Nella might not experience any discomfort at all."

"What about the nightmares?" Neha asked with tears choking her.

"You mean my nightmares? Luckily your child hasn't experienced any horrors that might come back to haunt her in her dreams. It wasn't the training that brought on the nightmares. It was the horror I felt after finding my fathers battered body and it was the scolding I was subjected to", Ram spoke as softly as she could about her sore wounds, "Nella wont have to go through that. She has you and you are much better mother than Aquamarine could ever hope to be."

"Ram, she couldn't have been that bad", Neha tried.

"She was. Maybe she had her reasons for acting that way she did. But a child knows when she's not loved. A child knows when she's nothing more than a commodity and there isn't an excuse to justify treatment like that."

They were silent for a while. Neha counted fifty of her daughters breaths before asking:

"How can you be sure? How do you know this is the best for her?"

"Nella will be safe. She'll learn to take care of herself and bear this burden. Nothing in life is certain, not even for a seer. But one thing I know, without training she'll be lost."

"I don't want to lose my daughter", Neha cried.

"You wont lose me mama", Nella comforted her suddenly, "I saw it in a dream."

"Listen to her", Ram incited. Finally Neha nodded.

"I think it's time for a wedding rite. We should get ready."