The Marriage of Drake and Jyn Praxxis

Marriage

Selene Praxxis stood tall and noble upon the dais with Drake at her side. Her gown was cut to bare her shoulders and scooped just to the barest edge of modesty, revealing a hint of cleavage and shifting her visage from conservative and matronly to powerful and predatory. The vibrant sapphire of silk was smooth and taught on her upper body, before giving way to rolling vertical pleats below her hips. Her usually long, fire red hair was elegantly collected and pinned up off of her bare shoulders. She had eschewed the wrap she had held over her shoulders all morning as she walked to the dais. It had happened so quickly that Drake had no time to question her before they had stepped onto the platform.   To Drake’s memory, his mother had never bared her arms or shoulders in front of anyone, save his father. All of her gowns and dresses covered her from neck to wrist, and even then, she wore a wrap or shawl around her shoulders at all times. A quick glance gave him a possible reason why. A pair of scaled beasts, tattooed in exquisite detail, wended their way over her shoulders. Their snarling heads gazed out prominently from nearly the same place as Drake’s own stylized dragons did. He was stunned, Kratan women did not get tattoos, let alone ones such as these. There was no time to ruminate further, the ceremony had begun.   “Noble Aluvians, Selene Praxxis now comes before you,” His mother’s voice was strong and proud as she spoke. “I present the blessing of my womb, Noble Prince Drake Praxxis, The Kratan Dragon. He has won honor by combat, and comes now to claim his prize!”   Drake took a step forward as his mother stepped back, standing with the small assemblage of priests, priestesses and holymen who would bless the union.   “Drake Praxxis, Prince of the Skylands of Kratus. I present to you the greatest treasure of my father’s house- my true-sister, and beloved Quetzalcoatl, Noble Ayeriyaddeshah Jyn Golderrumani Estorborn Undali. Do you reach your hand to the earth and draw her forth?” Kilt called-   “I will.”   Kilt released her hand and she stepped forward in the dark- her hand outstretched, confident that Drake would catch her. His grip was warm and it banished still more of her fear. She smiled.   “I have put my hand to the serpent den and caught my bride. I am honored by the gift, King Eyari-reckah Kilten Golderrumani Estorborn Undali. I will guard her well.” Drake’s voice was sincere with promise.   If this had been a normal Aluvian wedding, they would have curved arms and recited the vows to bring children, but the Kratan had honorable traditions as well. Drake gripped her arm in his, elbow and wrist aligned to his and she heard a scrape of another set forward. Ropes and chains were wrapped around their arms- each one explained in loud, solemn intonations.   “Blue for the sky that is Lord over all. White Gauze for the clouds- the trials in your path that you will overcome. Green for the Earth, the home you will always return to. Gold chain, for the purity of your royal connection to each other.”   Jyn felt a swinging weight added.   “Red blood-stone for the children that you will have-“   Another weight.   “A Lodestone, the promise of House Praxxis- may the magic continue strong in your veins.”   It was beautiful and solemn. These symbols of his culture. She wished she could see them. Another scrape as the Aluvian priest came forward.   “In the sacred twining of arms, feel your mate. Noble Princess, your husband’s arm is your strength. Prince, your wife’s arm is your shelter. Rely on each other and trust in your complimentary gifts.”—there was a sudden change, the deep croak of Draconic and words that were not scripted-   “This union is Blessed. For my Champion has found my blessing and my Blessing has found her Lord. None shall tear asunder that which I have bound.”   The ‘other’ exulted in Jyn’s mind and made her shake. There was a pause, as the Aluvian priest gasped, but hands began to release the chains and ropes- a break of Kratan tradition. They would have kissed over their arms, Innara had explained, but they could not do so with the veil of earth over her.   “The Kratan’s expect a kiss to seal your binding.” Innara had whisper confidentially and Jyn had blushed. To kiss after the revelar seemed almost indecent. The revelar was a demonstration of desire, but a kiss was blatant possession. Now, however she could not wait.   They were unbound and she straightened, ready for this moment. The Aluvian priest recovered himself-   “Prince Drake! Cast off the Earth that hides your Bride. Reveal her to the Sun that we may know your good fortune!”   Jyn’s breath slowed, and she closed her eyes as she felt the tug against the veil. She felt him throw it up and away- and she opened her eyes to see her husband and lover face to face for the first time. She smiled.   From the moment King Eyari released her and she landed in his arms, Drake’s world constricted to a small bubble containing only Jyn and himself. Covered as she was in her “earthen shroud” her form was nearly entirely obfuscated, but Drake’s other senses could not be fooled. The smooth, firm curves of her slender figure did not yield to the restrictions of the heavy garment, and Drake knew the shape and feel of her thighs in his hand; her strong and yet delicate shoulders in his arm. The sweet sound of her voice, as she sighed and settled into his arms for the briefest moment caressed his ears like a lullaby. And her scent…   Her scent; however faint, found its way to him. The curling smoke of the incense burning nearby could not drive it away. The shroud could not hide it from him. Not even the lemon oils that were clearly meant to cover it could scrub it away. Drake smiled. Some instinct he had never known before had awoken within him. She was his, as he was hers. It was primal and raw, nothing would keep them apart again so long as the blood ran within his veins. He inhaled deeply before setting her on her feet.   The binding and blessings were done. The Revelar was upon them. Drake heard the priestess’s words and stepped in front of his bride, gripping the cloak in each hand. A ray of sunlight bathed them both in a warm glow. The audience seemed to be holding their breath.   Drake pulled the shroud up and off of Jyn in one smooth, quick stroke. He silently thanked the sailmasters in the shipworks for making him practice sail handling techniques he swore at the time he’d never use. He took a step back and gazed upon his wife for the first time.   Jyn opened her arms, showing herself to him. Drake smiled from ear to ear. Her smooth curves, taut abdomen, delicate, angled chin… To Drake, the Goddess herself had reached down and sculpted Jyn for him and him alone. He stood, hands on his hips, in complete awe of her, utterly unaware of the hushed gasps and murmurs of his countrymen at his rising manhood.   An Aluvian priest stepped forward, arms spread open as if to take in the entire crowd. “Prince Drake, you’ve brought this gift of woman into the sun. She is Quetzalcoatl, the Sky Serpent, the most revered of all women. She is a prize like none other.”   One of the Priestesses turned to Drake, “You are blessed with fecundity. You are blessed with strength. You are blessed with prowess. You have earned your honor. Take your bride with the blessing of the Dragon Goddess; and the blessing of Aluyia. You are hers now.”   A priest came forward turning to Jyn, “Noble Princess Ayeriyaddeshah Jyn Golderrumani Estorborn Undali, You have been drawn from the Earth by this man. He has been judged true, he has earned honor. The binding is done, you are Firstwife to the Kratan Dragon, Prince Drake Praxxis. You shall take his name, and be called Ayeriyaddeshah Jyn Praxxis. You are his now”   Drake stepped forward and swept her into his arms. He gazed into her eyes, and she into his. “Ayeriyaddeshah Jyn Praxxis, the love I bear thee I will share with no other. I make this vow, that you shall be my one, my only… until my dying breath. In the Kratan tradition, I seal my vow to you with a kiss…” Drake leaned forward as he cupped her cheek in his hand. Jyn’s eyes closed in anticipation. Drake pressed his lips to hers, drinking deeply of her. He wrapped an arm around her back, the other around her thighs, and lifted her into his arms, never breaking their kiss. His head swam in blissful joy.   Jyn could not hear any holy words as she stood before Drake. All she could see was him.   He was dressed in the chang that matched the color of his eye and oh! How beautiful his eyes were. Her eyes darted, taking in all of him. Enjoying every detail: how his gi fit his shoulders, the way the collar opened on those tattoos that she had tasted, the soft smile on his face and the dimples that she loved. Her eyes darted further, anxious to see if he was as affected as she and her eyes widened slightly.   That erection. That had been in her.   Jyn's lips parted in want. Her body reacting to his reaction. Her nipples tightened, her feathers flared- her eyes dilated. Would he kiss her now?   Drake did not step forward yet. The Aluvian priest renamed her, thus giving her to Drake formally. Then Drake drew her attention again and promised that she would be his- his only. Her heart soared.   She threw her slender arms around his neck and conspired to lift herself into his kiss. His grip was sure. The press of his chest firm. The fabric and necklaces between them only serving to remind her how he had felt better skin to sweat-damp skin.   His lips were as soft as she remembered. His erection as insistent. She smiled into his mouth. If they were alone...   Drake swung her about in excessive exuberance and she pulled away and laughed aloud. The joyous sound ringing off the branches and leaves of the great tree. It was an unsual sound in this sacred space, but there seemed to be a glow and a rustle in the tree- a sign of approbation.   Jyn rested her head on Drake's forehead.   "Mine. You to me. I to you." She whispered to him- her elbows akimbo on his shoulders. She kissed him again- pressing herself against him and the pressure of his erection on her. She sucked on his lip and moaned. She was so happy to be joined to him before the Gods and all the people. All the people.   Jyn pulled away- her eyes wide and her cheeks flaming. She had lost herself in him- forgotten all of the gathered Kratans, Aluvians and the members of the World Council. She hid her face in his neck.   "How soon can we escape?" Jyn asked him- her voice muffled in the blue of his gi.   Traditionally, the couple would drape themselves in the veil. The shroud of earth wrapped around their bodies and walk together out of the temple to their chosen bower. She did not know if King Robert and Queen Selene wished to throw a banquet or reception for them, but she fervently hoped that they would not.   King Eyari barked a laugh, even as the Aluvians looked away and adjusted themselves at the blatant display of physical, sexual affection between the couple. A few males looked on her with longing and desire- and she was grateful that challenges were outlawed for today. They looked almost ready to duel immediately for the opportunity to possess her.   The Kratans were also embarrassed, unused to Aluvians traditions of arousal and nudity. King Robert looked thunderous again, Drake's younger sister suffused pink. Deirdre- the elder sister, looked bored and cast her eyes on the other men.   Jyn ignored them as well as she could, hiding in Drake's side. He pulled the shroud over them and began to guide her out of the temple.