There was no hesitation in his words, nor was deceit, Christopher truely intended to let that man go, it might be a wrong move on his part considering Arslan already knew some of his future plans but he didn't intend to have someone kill him and this in a way was the last consideration he decided to show for a man who was portrayed as a loyal friend in the novel.
Christopher left the room, leaving a stunned Arslan behind.
I was briefed about the ongoing rituals, so it would be better to say I had a very basic understanding of the events and my role in it, my foot led me to the Vice leader's room upon standing at the entrance I found my hear pounding as the memory of my past experience resurfaced, but steeling myself for what was about to come I made my entry.
Mia was standing at a corner, while her parents were discussing something with the old woman(Vice leader), the marriage ceremony of the tribes was disparate from that of the Empire, noting my presence everyone's attention whether knowingly or unknowingly turned to me, as I found myself at the center of their attention my posture straightened, my eyes turned serious, my lips parted as if to say something but my position of a a prince rendered me from speaking first, this is one of the qualities that were drilled into my head, 'Greeting first is the duty of people coming from low status'
All bowed their heads to me except one... Mia.
Braska as if sensing my discomfort went to Mia's parents and discussed something and they almost immediately left the room leaving that Old woman, Mia and me all by ourselves.
Old woman with those hollow eyes turned to me and to my surprise they weren't that scary anymore, guess I got immunity to her stares.
She invited us to take a seat before her, following Mia's actions I too got on my knees, with our faces turned to each other.
A beautifully decorated pot was placed between us, it had a handle on each side and two sprouts. If I remembered it accurately then this pot is what they reffessed to as "Tahabulos" translated to as "wedding vase" in Empire's language.
Feeling us taking our seas, Vice leader closed her eyes and instructed," Mia hold his right hand" and Mia following her instructions outstretched her hand, as if asking for me to hold it, taking her hand I could feel the calluses formed on her thumb and fingers. A normal person might compere them with those of manual laboures but being a swordsmen myself I could tell They were the result of the repetitive motions involved in sward practice and I couldn't help myself from feeling a strange sense of familiarity with her.
I was absorbed in her warmth, didn't notice the change in the atmosphere and upon noticing it I felt the air around me becoming lighter and a sudden brightness enveloped the room binding us, my ears could hear some murmurs probably chantings... being uttered in an unknown language, a few minutes paused and the murmurs started disappearing replaced by the sound of flowing water.
"Open your eyes" said the old woman and we did, after blinking a few times my eyes adjusted themelves and now I could clearly see Mia sealed before me as our eyes locked, an unannounced starring competition starlet but it found an end with Vice leader's words.
" The ritual you will performing is called "Tahabulos carius" meaning Wedding Vase ceremony, This ceremony symbolizes sancity of the marriage and the unity of the couple, it is believed that the couple which drinks water from this vase simultaneously without spilling any liquid has a long and prosporous marriage"
She was explaining it's significance and after that her gaze turned to Mia, "Mia take your vows"
Mia taking a deep breath and closing her before opening them said, "I Mia daughter of the Bihu tribe vow to always be your protector, and confidante, responsible for making sure your need is met, every want is reached and every dream realised and in no circumstances shall I abandon this vow, untill and unless you my partner, Christopher Von Windsor keep your word"
Mia's uttered each and every word of her vow confidently, her intense gaze boring into mine as if challenging me.
For someone refered to as Muscle heads in the novel she sure seemed Clever and her words made me realise how undermining my thoughts on them were, Mia's words were a carefully crafted weapon, weapons that were concealed under a cover called vows and those weapons would be pointed at me, without hesitation on the day I harm the ones she deemed precious and deciphering the extent of her words left me speechless, but one thing was for sure they made my goal clear.
Vice leader turned to me, her gaze asking me to do the same, "I Christopher Von Windsor with all of my heart, take you as my partner, acknowledge and accept your faults and strengths, as they are. Swear to stand before you in crisis and beside you in happiness, Swaer to protect everything precious to you and lastly swear to respect your everything"
I meant each and every word that escaped my mouth, made sure everything she wanted to hear was enshrined in them. As if appreciating it, intensity of Mia's gaze subsided.
Vice leader then instructed us, "You both shall now perform the ritual"
Understanding her words Mia and I rose from our seats and gulped a few glasses of water simultaneously as we did, Vice leader finally announced, "With this I proclaim you both as partners(wife and husband) and shall pray for your happiness in this journey".
The ceremony ended, but Vice leader's words still continued, "His highness, there is an issue waiting to be addressed, in our tribe every couple observes celibacy for eleven days before marriage and because this marriage wasn't pre-planned that didn't happen, so I suggest both of you practice it starting from today"
'What' I was stupefied, but this news brought me an unexpected happiness, I was thinking of ways to ignore Mia, my reasons were rooted in a promise made to Wellesley,
'I promised my first time to her and this is making things easier, now I can be at ease and should definitely plan a good honeymoon with Wellesley.....'
Wait observing celibacy doesn't this mean I won't able to sleep with her during this time period either and that's it all my previous happiness was gone in an instant.
Nodding my head at those I left the room, choosing to spend my time discussing things with Braska instead.
How could Prince refrain from commenting and almost immediately his voice rang in my head, 'Hmmm, thinking about sex again aren't you'
Ignore his words as usual ofcourse