A/N: This chapter is purely dedicated to the parabatai ceremonies of two parabatai pairs. Sorry if I got things wrong with Devi, I hope I could do him justice! I don't know much about his dad, so I wasn't sure of whether he'd be there, but decided to include him in case. Also, feel free to write your own version/interpretation of the ceremony, if mine isn't quite right. :)

Naya and Devi

On the day of their parabatai ceremony, a carriage came to take them to the Silent City. Looking out of his window, Devi watched as it pulled up outside his house. Naya was already inside, he knew, as it had stopped at her manor house first. A second carriage pulled up behind it, to take some of his family who were coming to bear witness.

He hadn't slept at all that night, too anxious to even consider it.

"Devi!" his older sister, Noelle called out, from down the stairs. "Your carriage is outside. Hurry up."

While he could hear her, he couldn't respond, a wave of dizziness hitting him, as he felt bile rise up in his throat. Rushing to the sink, he leaned over it. He got caught up in these stupid thoughts and couldn't help but worry over them.

What if Naya had only agreed because she pitied him?

What if she was stuck with him forever and she grew to hate it?

What if she missed out on doing things with her life, because of him?

Swallowing, he found he had nothing to bring up, and braced his hands against the sink. Naya would be waiting, and he had to get over it. If he took much longer, one of his sisters was likely to burst into his room and find him in such a state.

"Dev?" came a familiar voice behind him, and he straightened slowly.

It was not one of his sisters coming to check on him; it was Naya.

Embarrassed, he didn't turn around and he averted his gaze, although he knew she could see him in the mirror. "Sorry-… I'll-… I'll be right out," he stammered, thinking he must look like a mess. What was wrong with him?

He'd hoped that she might go, not wanting her to see him in such a state, but she didn't move. He could feel her gaze on him.

"You know, we don't have to go through with this, if you're having second thoughts," she said, quietly. "I won't force you to."

"I'm not having second thoughts," he protested quickly, his fingers digging into the sink. He felt the need to assure her that it wasn't a problem to do with her. "I just… you know what I'm like. I worry I'm just going to drag you down with me."

He heard her take a step closer, and he inhaled, nervously. He wondered whether she was having second thoughts about becoming parabatai with him.

"Do you want to be parabatai with me?" she asked finally, keeping her voice steady.

"I-…" he stammered, feeling the anxious thoughts and doubt still making him question whether it would be a good idea for her.

"I said, do you want to be parabatai with me?"

He nodded, before swallowing and finally finding his voice. "Yes, yes I do."

"Then come on," she beckoned, holding out her hand.

Slowly, he turned to her, his gaze flicking from her hand to her own gaze. He stepped forward, taking her hand in his.

She smiled, a hint of relief concealed in her gaze, before she reached out her free hand to tousle his dark brown hair. "It's our big day. I'm sure they won't mind if we're a little late."

With that, she pulled him by the hand, out of the bathroom, his room, and down the stairs. He barely had time to mutter a complaint as she pushed through the doors and half-dragged him over to the carriage.

"Ladies first," she joked, letting go of his hand and waiting for him to get in.

This time, he did mutter a half-hearted complaint, but he got in anyway, a ghost of smile on the edge of his lips.

Once they'd taken their seats, the carriage took off, and Devi tried to calm his thoughts and concentrate on the ceremony, and what he had to do.

"We're basically parabatai already, you know, without the Runes and oaths and all," Naya said, lightly. Looking over at him, her voice was reassuring. "It's fine. We're going to be fine," she said quietly, giving his arm a squeeze.

Devi nodded, finding himself growing a little less anxious, a hint of excitement now at the edge of his thoughts. "I know," he said, with a small smile.

Sometimes, he didn't know what he'd do without her.

"Dev, we're here," Naya whispered, shaking his shoulder. He had some uncanny ability to fall asleep in any moving vehicle, and it had always amused her. On the way, he'd fallen asleep with his head resting against her shoulder, and she'd smiled, glad at the normalcy. Anyway, it seemed like he'd needed it, for he wasn't quick to stir.

Finally, he groaned a little as he opened his eyes and sat up, before looking embarrassed to have fallen asleep.

She pushed the carriage door open, before hopping out, and waiting for him to follow. A Silent Brother beckoned them forth, and they followed, walking side by side. While she had not been there many times, Naya had always found the Silent City a little eerie, and she tried not to look too hard at the marble arches, as she knew the bodies of those who died in battle were sometimes burned and used to fortify them. Having Devi beside her however, helped to ground her thoughts, and she went over the parabatai rites again in her head.

As they reached the chamber where the ceremony was to take place, she hesitated. Devi's parents were there – his mum was smiling, and three of his siblings were there, with only Becca missing, away on her Clave duties. Her own parents were nowhere to be seen, even when she'd sent them letters to remind them. It was an important day to her – the most important of all - and she thought the least that they could do was to come and see, even if they didn't agree with it.

As if he could see the disappointment on her face, Devi's hand brushed her arm lightly. "My family is yours too, you know that," he whispered, and she nodded gratefully, raising her chin. She was the first to step forward into the room, leading the way.

The three rings of fire were already there in the middle of the floor, and she glanced over at Devi as they both took their places and the ceremony began. She smiled at him, before stepping into one of the rings, and continuing on to their shared ring in the middle. Devi moved to meet her, and she took his hand. It felt right, and she enjoyed the moment as her heart thumped against her chest.

As she recited the oath, her gaze was sure, watching Devi as he said the words with her, in a promise, their voices unwavering.

Once they had finished, she drew her stele out. "You still want the Rune on your shoulder?" she asked, to check.

He nodded, rolling his sleeve up so that she'd be able to access it more easily. At first, when he'd told her where he'd wanted his Rune, she'd rolled her eyes, thinking it was such a boring place to have it. But over time, she'd reconsidered. That was where he'd like it, and it was a much more visible place, compared to other places. She'd grown to like the idea. Pressing the stele to his skin, she drew the parabatai Rune with a flourish, happy with how it turned out.

Devi then drew his stele, and paused. She hadn't yet told him where she'd like her own. Rolling up her sleeve, she chose her right shoulder – the opposite shoulder to his. It seemed fitting to be there, like his, and she liked the idea of such a visible place. He drew the Rune a little more cautiously, and there was amusement in her eyes, knowing he didn't want to stuff it up. Normally she'd tease him about such a thing, but she refrained from doing so on this occasion.

Once it was done, he tucked his stele away, and she gazed at him with pride. They'd got through it just fine. The official part of the ceremony was done, and all that was left was the celebratory dinner.

"Let's go eat, I'm starving," she said, her tone light and content.

"Me too," he agreed, and they stepped through the fire, walking over to join his family for the festivities.

Kellan and Zach

As the Parabatai ritual began, Kellan glanced over at his dad and his sister, who watched on at the side as witnesses. He smiled at them, before he stepped into a ring of fire, Zach doing the same in his own circle. Then, he stepped forward, into their shared ring of fire, symbolising their bonding. They were no longer as one. The fire flared up around them, and he felt everything else fade away – his dad and sister now gone from sight, as it blocked out everything else. Meeting Zach's gaze, they clasped their hands against each other's arms, and recited the oath together. His voice was shaky at first, from the adrenaline running through his veins, before he focused, he words becoming more confident.

Entreat me not to leave thee,
Or return from following after thee—
For whither thou goest, I will go,
And where thou lodgest, I will lodge.
Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried.
The Angel do so to me, and more also,
If aught but death part thee and me.

Giving Zach's hand a squeeze, he then released it, drawing his stele from its place at his side, as Zach pulled his shirt off his head. Inhaling, Kellan stepped closer, pressing his stele against Zach's side, where Zach guided his hand. Concentrating, he drew the parabatai Rune carefully, not wanting to make any mistakes. His stele grew warm and glowed brightly, helping to illuminate Zach's skin. Once he had finished, he tucked his stele away, before reaching for the hem of his own shirt. Drawing it over his head and setting it on the ground, he swallowed, resting a hand over his heart to show where he wanted his own Rune. His heart was beating fast, in a combination of excitement and nervousness. He lowered his hand, as Zach rested the point of his stele against his skin.

"Ready?" Zach asked, and he nodded, sure of his decision.

As Zach started to draw a line, he felt like a fire was searing into his skin, and he cried out in pain, before biting his tongue hard enough to draw blood, and pressing a hand against his mouth. No, he couldn't let his faerie blood ruin this moment for him. He heard a gasp off to the side, and he knew it must be Grace, but he pushed the thought away, trying to concentrate. Zach had paused, watching him with a worried look in his eyes.

"Kellan-…?"

"Do it please, just do it," he urged quickly, his breath quickening. He wanted this, and he would not pull out now like some coward. "It's fine."

Zach still hesitated, his stele no longer pressed against his skin, and Kellan moved his hand over Zach's, repositioning it. "Go on," he whispered, tensing just slightly.

Finally, Zach continued, each stroke careful. Kellan dug his fingers into his palm, trying to control his breathing. He'd never felt such pain before, and he couldn't understand why. Runes had always hurt him, and he'd grown used to that unpleasant feeling. But this, was unlike anything else.

Was his faerie blood really so repulsed by the idea of him having a parabatai?

Closing his eyes, he tried to keep himself lucid, feeling like he might faint, otherwise. Resting a hand against Zach's shoulder, he felt Zach draw the last line, before lowering his stele. His balance was unsteady, and Zach let him lean against him for a moment while he gathered himself. Finally, he straightened, giving Zach a quick nod to show he was okay.

Together they emerged from the fire, as parabatai.