"You seem nervous," Paara said as she styled her hair. "Are you… Are you having second thoughts?"
"Of course not," Ty whispered, putting his hand on her back. "I can't wait to marry you."
"Then what is it?"
"Nothing, really. Some of this is just a bit unfamiliar for me, is all."
"Oh," Paara replied sweetly. She turned around and kissed him softly, then smiled. "I get that. In your world, do you go to temples to marry?"
"Sort of. Sometimes," Ty responded. He placed the necklace over his head and adjusted it, then smiled softly. "So we go to the temple and… What exactly happens next?"
"One of our village elders will marry us officially before our ancestors. There will be a lot of holding hands, but they'll walk us through everything," Paara replied. Ty grinned and nodded. "Then after, obviously we'll have our ceremony for everyone else."
"I can't wait to show you how people from my time celebrate getting married," Ty murmured, pulling her into his arms. They shared several kisses, then pulled apart to finish getting ready.
Once they finished getting dressed, Ty opened the curtain and followed Paara out of the hut. She took his hand in hers and smiled up at him, then led him down the path, stopping to hug a few friends as they walked through the fort. Once they arrived at the base of a small hill, Paara stopped and turned to face Ty.
"I've already lost one marriage, Ty. I can't lose this too. If you're having any second thoughts-"
"You're not losing me, Paara. I promise you. I want this, and I want you. Nothing else could compare to what I have right now," he whispered. He ran his thumb over her cheek and smiled softly. "God, how did I get so lucky?" he whispered before leaning in for a soft kiss. Paara giggled and wrapped her arms around him. They hugged for a short while, then pulled apart. "Are you ready?" Ty whispered. Paara nodded and looked him in the eyes, then smiled.
"I've never been more ready for anything." she responded softly. They nodded in agreement, then slowly started making their way up the staircase.
"Do you have your gun?" Paara asked softly, pulling her treasured knife from her boot. Ty shook his head but when he saw that she was taking out her knife, he did the same with his. "Weapons don't go inside," she said, setting her knife on the ground.
"Understood," he replied. "That's all I have. I'm not counting on today being anything but perfect."
Ty wasn't sure what he was expecting when he entered the temple. He'd never been inside before, although he knew that Scott and Lucas had accidentally found themselves inside it before. Small lanterns were placed around the room, and there was a small table against the wall.
Just then, an older man appeared from behind a wall and smiled softly.
"Paara, Ty," he said softly. "Are you two ready?"
"Yes," Ty said eagerly. Paara giggled a little and leaned against him.
"Yes," she said as he wrapped an arm around her.
"Sit with your legs crossed," he said to both of them, pointing at the handprint made of rocks in the center of the room. They followed his directions and quickly got to the floor. "Join hands," he said once they were seated. "Now I'll begin the prayer, okay? Paara, you're allowed to translate it for him."
"Okay," Paara said, barely able to contain her smile. She squeezed his hands as the man began speaking. "Close your eyes," she mouthed. Ty immediately closed his eyes, not sure how he would get any further cues but happy to obey his soon-to-be wife. Paara did the same. Ty didn't understand a word that the man was saying, but he was pretty sure it was good. He listened to the man's voice until he felt Paara lightly tug his hand. He opened his eyes and smiled softly. Then, the man spoke again, this time pulling out what appeared to be a leaf of some sort. He held it to one of the lanterns until a small flame appeared, then he waved it lightly around the space. When Ty saw Paara inhaling the scent, he did the same and smiled softly.
"This is to bless us," she whispered, running her thumb over his hand. Ty nodded and smiled softly. As the man walked around the space, Paara spoke softly. "He asked our ancestors to bless our marriage," she whispered.
"How does that work for me?" Ty asked sheepishly. "I mean, considering my ancestors are technically alive right now." Paara giggled and rested her forehead against his.
"I don't know," she admitted softly. "Their ancestors? This is black sage. It's a holy plant," she explained. Once the plant had fully burned, the flame was extinguished and the man spoke again.
"You stand now," the man said softly to Ty. As he got to his feet, Paara got to her knees and took his hand. Ty bit back a comment about their position reminding him of the previous night. "She's going to make some promises to you," he said. Ty was about to comment, but Paara squeezed his hand softly.
"It's not like what you're thinking," she said, seemingly reading his mind. "You're next, don't worry." Ty grinned and ran his thumb over her hand, already picturing the way it would look with a ring on her finger. The man began speaking again in the language that Ty didn't recognize, and after Paara repeated it, she translated it for Ty.
"Ty Coleman, I promise you my respect, my love, and my obedience," she said, her eyes filling with tears as she looked up at him. Ty grinned as the man spoke again. "I promise to protect you, to cherish you, and to care for you."
"Ty, your turn." Ty smiled softly. As Paara got to her feet, Ty kneeled before her and smiled softly as he held her hands. "I'll say this in English first, then we'll help you pronounce it." Ty nodded in agreement and smiled softly. "Paara, I promise you my respect, my love, and my obedience." They went over the pronunciation, then Ty said it again to Paara. "I promise to protect you, to cherish you, and to care for you," he said, then helped Ty pronounce it. "Stand," he coached them. "You can do this part in English."
"Hey," Ty whispered. He gently wiped a tear from Paara's eye as they shared a smile.
"Ty, is there anything you want to say to Paara before she becomes your wife?" Ty grinned and nodded.
"Paara, I, um, don't really know where to begin. I was in a horrible place when I came down here, even when I met you. You, Paara, you changed that. Meeting you gave me a purpose in life; a reason to fight. You're the most amazing person I've ever met and I love you," he whispered. "Marrying you, this day, today, this is the best thing I could ever ask for." Paara grinned and kissed him softly, then quickly went back to her original position.
"Paara? Anything you want to say to Ty before he becomes your husband?"
"Yes. Ty, um, for a really long time I thought I was never going to feel loved again. I thought that what I had with Taamet was the best it was ever going to get for me. I didn't show it, but when we were in the cave that day, I was already falling in love with you. And… When you told me you were staying here, I was so happy. I am happy, Ty, because I met the most amazing man in the whole world, and you showed me what it means to truly be loved. These past few months haven't been easy, but they've been the best part of my life, and I can't wait to spend the rest of our lives together," Paara whispered.
"Beautiful. Anything else?" the man asked softly. Ty cupped Paara's face and smiled softly.
"No, I think that covers it," he whispered "You?" he asked his wife softly.
"No," Paara whispered.
"Join hands," he said softly, and laughed when he realized that they were still holding hands. "Okay, repeat after me. I promise you my love in any situation or circumstance."
"I promise you my love in any situation or circumstance," Ty and Paara said in unison.
"I promise to be gentle and care for your needs," he said.
"I promise to be gentle and care for your needs."
"Paara, this one's you," he said. "From this day until my last,"
"From this day until my last," Paara said, biting her lip as she grinned.
"I take you, Ty Coleman, as my husband."
"I take you, Ty Coleman, as my husband," Paara repeated, bouncing a little.
"Now it's your turn, Ty. From this day until my last," he said.
"From this day until my last," Ty repeated eagerly.
"I take you, Paara, as my wife."
"I take you, Paara, as my wife."
"You may now share your first kiss as husband and wife."
Paara wasted no time launching herself into Ty's arms. She kissed him intensely and grinned as he did the same. They spent a few moments enjoying their kiss, then separated. Paara leaned against Ty and grinned.
"Now you'll share this," he said, producing a small bowl with six acorns in it. "These are sacred to us. They are thoroughly cooked, so they're safe to eat, and have many benefits for your health. My job here is done, so I'll leave you two alone now, okay?"
"Got it. Thanks," Ty said, grinning as he accepted the bowl. They consumed the nuts slowly, feeding them to each other as they shared soft looks.