Date: April 22, 1998
Place: Throne Room - Atesh-Gah - Haven
Cast: Anala, Jax, Valin
Scene: A Varati wedding ceremony is performed to unite Valin and Anala.

Throne Room - Atesh-Gah - Haven:

Valin:
The vaunted captain of the black guard is nothing less than a behemoth. He stands near seven feet tall and must easily tip the scales at more than 325 lbs. His body, like all of his race, looks like it was carved from stone. His form is imposing, very highly intimidating. His cold stare never once faltering. His face as stern and emotionless as the stone it resembles. He seems to never change expressions, very rarely showing any reaction to the things going on around him. His eyes are fiery red, seeming to almost glow in a surrealistic fashion. His hair is shoulder length, and is plain white. Despite this he looks very young, no more than thirty years old.
Dressed for his daily duties in the palace, he is currently shelled in a full suit of armor. The metal of the entire suit is black, trimmed in silver and gold in key places. The chest plate is solid black save for the silver stripe across his waist, and the royal seal of Khalid Atar on his left breast which is solid silver, trimmed in gold. The arms of the suit are also black and move down to the large gauntlets covering his hands. Each gauntlet is trimmed in silver around the edges and has silver knuckles. His legs are covered in the same solid black metal and on each leg rests a silver stripe which runs down from the hip on the outside of each leg. Each stripe has a thin strip of gold on each side. His boots are heavy and well armored having no silver except on the rounded tips. Flowing down his back to his ankles is a large cape which is fastened near his collarbones. It has a deep purple inner lining however the outer portion is solid black. All in all this man looks like a formidable opponent for anyone who would oppose him or his king.
On his left hip hangs a great sword. One so large that a normal man would have great difficulty wielding it. On his right hip rests a dagger which is just as intricately detailed as the larger sword. Each depicts the god of fire on the hilt and is made of the same black metal as his armor with the exception of the blades which are normal steel.

Jax:
Ashen face and gray hair, this elderly priest takes every step with the care of a man walking coals. His formal and restrained robe is the traditional deep crimson, patterns of golden thread tracing its edges. Tall sandals protect his thin old legs, simple of form yet of the finest craftsmanship.

Anala:
This creature before you seems to be shrouded in dark colored veils and a loose fitting ankle length garment. The only things visible are her eyes and her feet themselves. Her skin seems to be a dusky color and her eyes themselves are the color of two brilliant dark opals that seem to look around her with knowledge and intelligence. When she steps it is easy to hear the sound of several small chimes from an anklet. Around her neck are several long strands of gold necklaces with several intricately designed pendants of religious origins. Her veils are secured to a delicate thin headpiece which has been inlayed with precious gems. Overall, this Varati maiden does not seem to be overly physically powerful, but the grace and beauty which is held underneath her clothing lead to the power that lays within her.

The elderly priest makes his way into the Throne Room.

Anala enters the throne room from the archway leading into the living quarters, off to one side.

Valin stands near the front of the room with the priest, watching the entryway for the bride.

Jax looks just over the bride's shoulder, certainly not directly at her. "Who is here to speak for your families."

Valin looks down at the priest. "I speak for myself. My family is deceased, and the god-king himself gave his blessing on my desire to wed this woman."

The old man turns his body stiffly bending as if in memory of a bow. "And the family of the female. Who gives her to you. Where is the bride price."

Anala looks to Valin then to Jax as she shakes her head, "I have no family except for the Church of The Khalid. The Khalid himself has seen fit to give his blessing to the Nayaka and myself."

Jax tuts and grumbles a few times. "Such a woman, speaking to a priest."

Anala lowers her eyes to the floor, her expression invisible behind her veils.

Valin inclines his head, "She is a Shechah, therefore only the Khalid can give her to me, and he has." Valin turns and motions for Anala to come stand beside him.

Anala walks quietly towards Valin as she keeps her gaze lowered, stopping at his side.

The fire priest plucks at his robes until he comes across the bump for which he searches. Another mutter, this to Valin. "You have flint and steel for the ceremony. You do have that?"

Valin removes his sword from its scabbard and places the tip on the floor, and slowly removes the flint from his gauntlet. "Yes."

Jax lifts his hands, "Set the brazier here, woman, between the three of us."

Anala walks forward a few steps as she places the brazier down before taking the few steps back once again to stand next to Valin.

Jax begins to kneel, motioning the others to join him.

Valin kneels slowly, doing his best to ensure the sword he has balanced does not fall.

Anala kneels down, her eyes still lowered towards the floor, her anklet unusually silent for once as she looks to the brazier.

The old man kneels, one knee buckling as he takes his place. "Hrm, ouch, hrm," he mutters, then begins to speak. Jax pleads to the empty brazier. "Why is there no fire in this hearth? There is no husband, there is no wife, and so the hearth is empty." He pulls out a sticky ball of resin, splinters and wick. He begins to softly intone the words of binding. "The marriage brings forth the great fires of life...." He goes on, droning through the common ceremony until the last few words. "Strike you the spark that proves yourself worthy of fathering our people. With those words he places the resin ball into the brazier in front of all.

Valin takes the small piece of flint and holds it ready. He places the tip of the sword in front of the resin and splinters and then strikes the flint across the blade of his sword. A single spark flickers down and ignites the wick and resin, the brazier slowly begins to burn.

Anala continues to watch the brazier unblinkingly, a shadow of nervousness flickering in her eyes as she remains motionless, kneeling near the brazier as she listens to the old man.

The gust of aromatic smoke is first blown into the Anala's face. When the old priest catches his breath again he says "Your task, set before you by the god of our people is to bewife this man. You shall bear his children, care for his house, cater to his desires and in all ways serve him." The cloying smoke swirls around the face of the wife to be. "Will you serve?"

Anala nods her head slowly, her voice seeming small and trembling as she answers, "Yes."

Jax blows the fragrant haze towards Valin. "It is your task to protect and provide for this woman. You shall father her children, barring the path of all others who might find delight in her. You will bring fuel, drink, meat, grain and water to the house she keeps for you. You shall provide for all children she bears. And you shall serve the Khalid in payment for this gift." He wheezes and he blows another gust of smoke towards Valin. "Do you agree?"

Valin nods slowly to the old priest, "Yes, I do."

Jax observes sagely, "The fire burns. This the wedding fire shall bring you together. The Khalid's promise in the fire will bind you now, and upon death the fire shall bind you forever. Rise, and praise the fire. Praise Khalid. For there is a new family here today."

Valin stands slowly and offers a hand to Anala, then begins to recite an old prayer in his Varati tongue.

Anala places her hand inside of Valin's as she slowly rises, her voice still sounding soft and meek as she begins reciting the prayers of her teachings.

Old joints unbend slowly, and the priest takes the time of Valin's prayer to straighten himself in standing.

Valin finishes his prayer and then looks again to the old priest.

Anala finishes her own prayer a few moments after Valin, her eyes still focused on the burning brazier.

Jax sighs. "The families should exchange the wedding price at this time, the payments lasting until the flame leaves us. But the Khalid joins you who are without families, to make one anew. We will offer praise to the Khalid as bride price, until the flames leave us."

Valin nods silently and begins his prayers again, reciting every prayer to Khalid he has ever been taught until the flame dies out.

Anala recites slowly and softly, her voice no more than a hushed whisper as she speaks the prayers to the Khalid repeatedly until the flames die.

Bright flickering resin turns from sticky lump to oily tallow, then to smoke and ash in time. At last the light leaves the brazier, and the voice of the priest wheezes out the final blessing. "The flame leaves, to light within this couple. Let the ceremony end, and the long task of wedded life begin. All rise." He looks over the echoing room, "Ah, well. I hereby pronounce you husband and wife."

Anala smiles softly underneath her veils, her eyes still demurely glancing to the floor as she momentarily squeezes Valin's hand with her own much smaller one.

Valin bows his head slowly to the priest, and then toward the throne of the Khalid before he replaces his sword at its place on his hip and turns to face his new bride.

Jax turns his back to the couple, bowing amid his own prayers.

Valin walks toward the living quarters with Anala.Anala bows her head towards the priest before bowing towards the throne of Khalid and follows Valin.Valin and Anala head through the archway together.

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