The silence stretched out, but Kiri felt confident. She had already given her life for Davin, dying to save him from harm, and he had already given his life for her, taking an action to save her that he knew would alter every part of his existence forever. Sacrifice was something they had already mastered.
“Well, then, if you are ready to proceed, husbands, turn towards your wives and take them in your arms.”
Kiri was glad Jaya had warned her not to move. The desire to turn in Davin's embrace was powerful, but she held still while his arms slipped around her waist.
“The next vital element of marriage is duty. Husbands, you hold your wives this way symbolizing your duty to her. A husband's responsibility to his wife is to protect and provide for her. She will have work to do, caring for your children, and it will be up to you to be sure she is able to do that. Husbands, if you are willing to fulfill your duty to protect and provide for your wives, then say now, 'I will to the best of my ability.' ”
The men repeated the vow.
“Now, wives, turn to face your husbands and put your arms around them.” Kiri turned and slipped her arms around Davin's neck. Behind him, she could see Jaya standing on tiptoe to embrace Soren.
“Wives, you hold your husbands this way to symbolize the need they have for your kindness and nurturing. Husbands seem strong and self-reliant, but the best of them realize that their need for softness can best be met in their wives. Your duty to your husband is to provide him with affection, gentleness, and trust. It is vital to the survival of your marriage that you refrain from speaking disrespectfully to him, but handle disagreements with maturity and forbearance. You must also not hold onto grudges against your husbands. They will make mistakes, and so will you, but women have a much longer memory of grievances. Learn to let go of what hurts you so you can find joy in your man. If you are willing to make this vow, say 'yes, to the best of my ability.' ”
Wow, Kiri thought, that hits hard. She repeated the vow, feeling the weight and importance of it sink into her soul.
“Now, since you have both vowed to do your duty to each other, seal that vow in the manner of all vows, with a kiss.”
Davin and Kiri pressed their mouths together softly. Kiri wasn't sure, but she thought Soren might have lifted Jaya off her feet in order to reach her lips better.
“The third necessity of marriage is joy. You stand, holding each other, to symbolize the joy of your union, which is expressed in physical intimacy. You are to be each other's only lover, only partner, for the rest of your days. This trust is most sacred. Those who violate it suffer greatly and cause great suffering to their spouses. Enjoy each other often and passionately so your spouse will want to be with you and will not become frustrated. When women fail to live up to this, it is usually due to letting the stress of life steal your desire, but ladies, you do so at great risk to yourselves. A man who is not well bedded quickly turns either frustrated or unfaithful. Be willing often. Men, you most often fail to fulfill this vow because as the years begin to tell on your wife, other women seem more appealing. Guard your heart and thoughts against such attitudes. Remember your wife pledged you her body and love it, no matter how it may change over time. If you are willing to vow to find your joy only in each other, for the rest of your days, then say, 'I will.' There will be no discussion of ability here.”
“I will,” Kiri said unhesitatingly. She wondered fleetingly whether Davin would one day regret restricting his choices only to her. Fiercely she reminded herself such thoughts were pointless, and he had given up moving freely from bed to bed years before he met her, because he wanted this for himself someday. This day. He had chosen her and she would strive to be enough for him.
“Now, since you have both vowed to find your joy only in each other, seal that vow in the manner of all vows, with a kiss.”
Kiri kissed Davin again, harder this time.
“Finally, children, at the end of this ceremony, we return to the beginning. You cannot know at the start of a marriage where life will take you. No matter what arises, you must vow today to walk that path beside the person in your arms. If they become ill, care for them. If they are angry or hurt, comfort. If some great tragedy befalls, be present and help. This person is your other half, a part of yourself. Love them as a member of your own body. Be willing to sacrifice with generosity and accept their sacrifice with thankfulness. That is the nature of love, and if you do this, your marriage will become a strong building block for your community and you will be a blessing to each other and all around you. If you are willing to love your spouse sacrificially every day for the rest of your life, say, 'I will.' ”
“I will,” came the vows from the four of them.
“Now, since you have both vowed to love each other, seal that vow in the manner of all vows, with a kiss.”
This kiss was not like the others. Long and deep and passionate, it seemed as though the fierce, grave joy of the occasion passed between Davin and Kiri through their mouths.
“Now, children, you have vowed to love, fulfill your duty to, and find your joy in each other. You have sealed each vow with a kiss. Therefore I declare before the gods, and to the community, that you are married. Go forth as one.”
Davin took Kiri's arm in his and led her out the door behind Soren and Jaya. Outside, the meager warmth of an autumn day was rapidly cooling, and the leaves on the trees in the city shone in shades of red and gold. Jaya had her face buried in her husband's shirt and was weeping while he stroked her back. Soren himself looked stunned, as though he couldn't really believe what had just happened. Kiri turned to her husband…her HUSBAND. He was smiling, not hugely, a little private smile that warmed his whole face and made his eyes sparkle…or maybe that was a hint of a tear sparkling? Kiri, for once, felt no urge to cry. She was overwhelmed. She took slow deep breaths and shifted her weight from one foot to the other, determined not to faint.
“We did it, baby,” he said softly, “we're married.”
“I know. What a pretty ceremony. I'm glad I didn't get sick.” Kiri struggled to speak coherently.
“Me too. That would have looked bad.”
“It would have been fine,” Jaya sniffled. “She's the lady of the hearth and home. Morning sickness is part of her job.”
“Still,” Kiri said, and she wanted to laugh, a little hysterically.
“Shall we find someplace to get something to eat? I think a celebration is in order.” Soren commented.
“Actually,” Davin said, “my friends on the police force are throwing us a reception. They invited your hospital friends too.”
“Let's go,” Kiri agreed, and they went off together to celebrate their new marriages in the company of old friends.
* * *
That night, in bed, Davin cradled his naked wife in his arms. He kissed her long and deep but with no particular object in mind. She lay passive, waiting for something to start, but not in a hurry. It wasn't particularly late, and they had the rest of their lives to make love. The party had been fun, and Davin's friends were so happy to see him married. They approved of her, especially after she had dispatched Kaeli so efficiently, something they had all wanted to do, but had not known where to start. Tomorrow, they would open a portal to Caledon and go through to see their potential new home. Soren and Jaya would be coming with them as a sort of wedding trip.
Davin kissed Kiri again and she returned the kiss, skimming her hands over his body. He returned the caress, lifting her small and tender breasts in his hands and tasting the nipples gently. Kiri moaned, eagerly offering her body to her husband, delighted at his caresses.
“Oh, baby, you're so sweet,” he breathed. “I feel like we should do something…different.”
“Different how?” Kiri felt complacent. She was content to let this drift along.
“I don't know.” He regarded her in obvious frustration. “It's our wedding night. I feel like we should do something… spectacular. Something to make the event stand out. But I don't k
now what to do.”
“You, Davin? You've always known what to do before.”
“Well, but I've never made love to my wife before,” he said, lips twisting.
“It doesn't matter, Davin. I love everything we do. Every time has been spectacular.”
“It has?”
“Oh yes. Especially the cave. It won't ever be like that again, will it?” she asked sadly.
“No, baby, that time was special. You giving me your virginity while we both faced certain death. We'll have great sex again, but that one is never going to be repeated. I'm just glad to have the memory of it.”
“Me too.” She pondered. “We've been wild and rough, and we've also been gentle and sweet. What's next?
“I don't know,” Davin growled. “That's the problem.” He kissed her again. Gods she's delicious. Suddenly, he just wanted to make love. He swept his tongue deep into her mouth and began to caress her again. This time, his targeted touch set her on fire as he pressed deep between her thighs, opening her with two fingers and spreading her luxurious moisture around.
“Oh, Davin,” Kiri moaned as he fondled her. “Oh, yes.”
He rose up on one elbow and watched her squirm with pleasure as he worked her tender flesh. His mouth trailed over her chest and down, towards that secret treasure he wanted to feast on. Along the way, he pressed a gentle kiss to her belly. Then his mouth joined his fingers and he concentrated on making Kiri feel amazing. He was successful too. By the time her blazing orgasm had faded away, she was looking a little stunned. Davin trailed his lips back up her limp body until he reached her mouth, where he kissed her and kissed her. She wrapped her legs around his hips, urging him inside her, and he complied willingly, driving deep into her snug sheath, making her pleasure rise again.
And so, the wedding night was spectacular after all. Davin and Kiri had passionate, romantic, deeply satisfying sex. The knowledge that this was only the beginning of their life together made it even better. Davin thrust hard into his wife, and she received that deep penetration with joy. They loved each other well, just as they had vowed to do, and their mutual climax was one of the most intense they had ever shared. Tomorrow everything would change, hopefully for the better, but tonight all the lovers thought about was making each other as happy as possible.
Epilogue
Eight months later
Caledon Province, on the far northern border of Koral
Davin peeked his head around the door of his bedroom. Inside, Jaya was cleaning up.
“How is she?” he asked softly.
“Kiri? She's fine. She's sleeping now. I'll wake her soon, but let her have a moment. Come here, big brother, and see what I have for you.”
He entered the room softly on stocking feet and Jaya handed him an impossibly tiny bundle. He took it, a little awkwardly, and looked down into the face of his newborn daughter. She gazed back at him with blue-gray eyes and a serious expression around her soft brown eyebrows.
“Hello, sweet girl,” he said, amazed his voice would work at all. “I'm your daddy. Jaya, did Kiri pick a name for her?”
“Gabri,” Jaya said, and her voice broke a little.
“My mother's name.”
As he looked at this perfect little person in his arms, he thought back to the months since they had moved to Caledon. The moment Kiri had seen the beautiful little town surrounded by fields on one side and forest on all the others, she had fallen in love and vowed she would never leave. They had also been accepted by the community rather quickly. Kiri taught the young women to defend themselves, which they took to willingly, and this led directly to Davin being able to arrest the rapist before they had been there a week. After that, the integration had been relatively easy, made easier by the fact that Jaya and Soren had also been enchanted, and had decided to stay, Soren as assistant to the local healer, and Jaya as a midwife. With the proceeds of the two apartments in the capital, they had been able to buy a single large home they shared, making it easy for Jaya to care for Kiri during the uncomfortable last months of her pregnancy. Although she experienced no complications, the lack of mobility was hard on a woman as active as Kiri, and she took it rather badly. By the end, she was just sore and miserable, and nothing Davin could do could help her, but the baby wouldn't come, and they had just settled in to wait.
Then, this very morning, Kiri had noticed a dull ache in her back, but her back had been hurting so much already that she had paid it no mind. By late afternoon, the back pain had intensified so much she had asked Jaya to check and see what was wrong with her. It was then Jaya discovered Kiri had been in labor most of the day and was about to deliver. It had gone fast, that delivery, so fast Davin had not gotten there in time to be with his wife at all.
Now, having just arrived after searching for an old man who had wandered into the woods and gotten lost, he was making up for lost time.
“Sweet Gabri,” he murmured, kissing the tiny forehead, “You look just like your mother. I hope you grow up to be as brave and strong and beautiful as she is.”
“Actually,” Kiri said from the bed, lifting herself onto one elbow, “I think she looks just like you. And I hope she's as kind and loving and wonderful as you are.”
Davin sat beside Kiri on the edge of the bed, and handed her the tiny bundle.
“She's perfect, isn't she?” his wife asked, eagerly gathering up the little girl.
“Yes, she is. Thank you, Kiri.”
“For what?” She looked up from the baby's face and met his gaze.
“For giving me a daughter, for loving me, for everything.”
The baby fussed and Kiri opened her blouse and lifted her little girl to her breast. “I love you, Davin. This is only the start of what I want to give you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. Remember, before I met you, I had no idea what it meant to be alive. I fought to save others, but I didn't know what about life was worth so very much sacrifice. You saved my life, and then you made me want to live. Just think what would have been lost that day if you had not convinced me to try.” She stroked the tiny head with one finger.
“I had to, you know. I couldn't have lived without you, baby. I'm so glad I didn't have to.”
“So am I, love, so am I.”
Davin kissed his wife tenderly, both of them utterly content with their new life, far from almost everything they had known: pain, suffering, grief, and the memory of old mistakes. Here, they had a fresh start. Here, they were happier than either of them had ever dreamed possible.
Dear reader,
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