Welcome to Gaia! ::

Shiro cleared his throat a bit as Haldia came near them. He was a little nervous - she had displayed quite a temper the other night, and he didn't want to be on the receiving end of it again.

Shi'nala beckoned Haldia over, smiling warmly at her, and Shiro translated their conversation for Lin.

"Shi'nala asked Haldia if she's met Kelirahc's new wife and her family yet," he murmured. "She says yes ... but she's not telling about the other night. I think she's ashamed, she's not blushing but her words seem a little forced ..."

He snorted suddenly. "She's asking if Shi'nala is worried that Kelirahc married beneath himself, but Shi'nala says she's worried that Leyenda did."

Shiro's ear flicked back. "From what I gather," he murmured, "Kelirahc seems to be one of the highest ranking people of the village ... it is possible that she could be looking out for his welfare." He shrugged. "Then again, she could just be jealous. Shi'nala says that if he had married one of the women of the village, he would definitely have been marrying beneath himself - with the possible exception of Haldia herself."

He paused. "And it seems that for years, all the women of the village who aren't already married have been trying to get him to marry them." He shook his head slowly. "Poor guy."

Shiro chuckled. "Perhaps we should ask," he grinned, his eyes sparkling mischievously. "It might be interesting to hear such stories ... and once he learns our language, maybe he and Earendil could trade stories." He laughed.

"Still," he grinned, looking over at Kelirahc and Leyenda where they were talking with Alaundil and a few of the other elders, "he seems quite happy now. And even Leyenda looks at ease."

He blinked suddenly as Kelirahc caught his eye and motioned for him to join them. Intrigued, he looked around. Rhea was interpreting for Arwen and Roydon, so he looked at Lin and headed on over to Kelirahc.

When Shiro arrived at the other group, Kelirahc began to speak to him quickly, and Alaundil added something after he had finished. The neko blinked in surprise, and turned to Leyenda.

"They want your opinion," he told her slowly. "Kelirahc has always been anticipated as the next leader of the council, the head elder ... but he has always been held back - by his own request - because he was not married. Now that he - you two - are married, he is eligible for the position. Both of them would like to know your thoughts. Alaundil says that since his birth, and especially since he received his mark, he has been destined for the position - the village would not exist without his family, or without him. He says that he will take the position, if you would like him to, although ..."

He hesitated, and then added softly, "He wants only to be with you. If you want to stay here, he will accept the position; but if you wish to remain with your family, and depart with them when they leave, he will go with you, no matter where you go, even if it means that he will never see his people again."

Leyenda looked surprised at the question, and in truth she didn't know how to respond. On the one hand, she wanted to stay with her family, continue exploring and traveling with them ... but on the other hand, how could she take Kelirahc away from the position that had been his for as long as he had known?

She looked at Lin and Shiro anxiously. "I don't know," she said uncertainly. "I don't know what to say ... that so much should rest on me, and on my decision ..."

Leyenda nodded slowly. "I need time," she agreed with Lin. "I ... I don't know, I had never expected any such thing ... I hadn't ... thought about it ..."

Honestly, she had only found out a few days ago that she was even married, and she hadn't exactly had time to plan anything or think about the future! How could she make a decision now?

Shiro told Kelirahc and Alaundil Leyenda's answer, and both of them smiled and nodded in understanding. Kelirahc cupped Leyenda's hand in his cheek and leaned his forehead against her own, murmuring softly to her.

Shiro smiled. "He says take all the time that you need."

Leyenda smiled and sighed with relief, and she hugged Kelirahc tightly. "Thank you," she murmured.

Suddenly one of the men called out to them, and Shiro grinned. "He says we came on the right night - tonight, someone is going to receive their mark. We're welcome to watch and partake in the festivities afterward."

Leyenda tilted her head. "A wedding?" she asked. "Or just receiving a mark?"

"Just receiving," Shiro replied. "I don't think they have big ceremonies for weddings." He looked at her. "I thought you would have known that, you went through it."

Leyenda blushed. "I didn't know if that was just for me, or if they were always like that."

"That's true," Leyenda murmured.

"I don't think that there are any rites of adulthood in the Four Lands though, are there?" Shiro asked. "I've never heard of any, and you know I've asked ..."

Leyenda shook her head. "On our sixteenth birthday, we just usually have a celebration with our families," she replied, "but that's it."

She grew quiet at the question, her arms tightening around Kelirahc. He blinked and looked down at her, and began to stroke her hair gently, speaking to her quietly.

Shiro glanced over at Lin, then leaned close and whispered so that only she could hear, "I think that was the day Brian assaulted her and then committed suicide." He felt awful ... he shouldn't have brought it up ...

Shiro smiled a bit at Lin. "Sorry. Anyways, do you want to watch the mark ceremony as well?"

He was certainly curious - though it did beg the question, when wasn't he? He loved to know things, especially things that were new to him. And he wanted to know more about the marks: why did they get them? Did they have a deeper meaning than just a help in time of need?