Ribbons and Scarfs
Tied Together
Graydon felt the sand beneath his feet with every passing step. The cool air of the desert dusk mixed well with the salty breeze of the ocean he knew lay just beyond the large sand dune in front of him.
It had been near an hour out of the Mirain capital as Graydon traversed the rising sand, inching ever closer to the shoreline, alone. Even Graydon had to admit, as the new emperor over an empire, it was difficult to find time to himself. Sneaking passed even the citizens in Fukushu proved almost impossible. Proved to be really frustrating.
But his betrothed, Unmei, earnestly requested to meet him on the rocky coasts just west of the capital, tonight. For Graydon, his response was simple. Nothing else mattered, and nothing else did he care as much for.
Rising above the sand dunes, he stopped, getting a good reminder just why they were called the rocky shores. Boulders and stone littered the shoreline from one end of Graydon's sight to the other. Like pillars of a long lost world, they stood, unwavering as waves blasted over them again and again.
Graydon remembered back to her words the following morning. "Meet me on this night where the rocks become a pier."
"Rocks become a pier... become a pier..." Graydon mumbled lowly to himself as he surveyed the beach. In the distance, he could see the orange sky beginning to dim as the clouded sun continued to set. Night would be upon him very soon.
His gaze continued to shift until they landed on a long outcropping of pure rock. Like a small cliff that reached out into the water as a small peninsula. Graydon couldn't help but feel an odd recognition with it. Like it was familiar to him somehow.
"That's a pier to me." Graydon said, and began forward.
Bare foot, he clambered across the rocks, scaling some and avoiding others as that rocky pier came closer and closer.
Then, he was upon the base of a sandy dune, that rose up to the top of the pier's end. Graydon's face never faltered, never doubted. His eyes and breath were steeled, and he began to walk it. At one point, the dune became so steep that Graydon was nearly scaling a wall of sand with his arms as they strained.
With all this effort, Graydon really hoped this was the place. But then he also wondered, would Unmei have gone through such effort too? Was this the wrong place? Perhaps she had said the night after but Graydon had neglected to listen?
Graydon shook his head wildly, shaking the doubts from his head. "Worry later." And he continued.
He neared the top, his hand reached over the edge, and he pulled himself up. A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek, soaking into the scarf around his neck as he remained on all fours, collecting his breath.
Suddenly, a pair of feet were in his sight, right between his hands. Beautiful sandals, feminine feet. He smiled, looking up.
His betrothed stood tall over him, Unmei's form glowing from the setting sun behind. That long red ribbon still flowed from the back of her hair, that symbol of what she was.
But his eyes widened. Graydon had grown so used to the dark colors she always wore. The swords she always kept sheathed by her side. But tonight, she wore... a dress! A beautiful white dress, sinking passed her feet and laying over the rock behind her like a waterfall.
He gazed at her face. At the veil she wore over it.
Surprise filled Graydon. Followed by confusion, and what he swore to be fear. As instantly as those feelings emerged, he shot to his feet. His mouth agape, unable to form a word.
He heard her laugh a small laugh, and his heart melted. "I am happy you did not allow a woman to be left alone all night."
Suddenly more thoughts filled him. Was he late? By night, did she mean day somehow? Was he supposed to bring something?
"...How long have you been waiting?"
A hand reached up and brushed his cheek gently. "Don't worry about that, my Tozoku." And she turned, gazing out at the sea over the rocky cliff. Graydon couldn't help this feeling, that this place was so familiar.
The veil and her dress came back to Graydon. He hadn't a clue why Unmei was wearing it now. Not when the royal wedding was set to happen tomorrow in the city courtyard for all to see.
"My love." Unmei called, turning back to him. "Do you remember this place?"
"Yes... though I don't know why."
She strode closer to him, taking his hands in hers. "Look down at where you stand."
He did, though he saw nothing more than the wet and sandy rock he could feel on his feet. He tried to think, yet nothing. He shook his head in her direction.
Beneath that veil, he saw the slightest glimpse of a smile. Slowly her hands left his, reaching up and lifting the veil as it draped behind her hair.
"Graydon. I know what I look like right now. I know our wedding is actually tomorrow." Her eyes flashed a sincere innocence. "But I don't want our true lives to be shrouded in the view of the public."
"What do you wish Unmei?"
"I wish for our marriage. Our real marriage... to be just us."
Floods of feeling wafted over Graydon. He couldn't keep himself from taking Unmei in his arms and embracing her. "Then let it be so."
He saw the intention of his betrothed. So many lives had the luxury of privacy in abundance, the ableness to walk behind a door without anyone wise to wonder. Graydon remembered when he had that too. Until he became an emperor. Unmei was no different.
"But I still have one question, Unmei."
She gazed up at him. "Why here?" She asked his question as if she had read his mind. He could do nothing but nod.
She laughed playfully as she gestured out to the entire area around them. "Tozoku, I am devastated. You have forgotten that this is where our paths crossed for the first time."
Answers immediately shot through Graydon's mind. Everything around him became so clear. The land, the rocks, and even the ocean's scent. He had been so blind to forget. This was where he and Unmei first met.
To many, the bright and searing heat of the sun was a difficult thing to bear. But to Unmei, it was a nice change of pace from what her father expected of her.
Cooped up within that sand-forsaken palace for days on end. Learning Mirain etiquette here, empty pleasantries with other royals there, always the same old routine.
For a while, Unmei had respected that. But today, the life of a princess had felt more difficult to bear than others see the sun. She needed space. So now she found herself walking the edges of the shoreline, outside the walls of the capital.
Maybe simply running wasn't the best solution? Perhaps. But to Unmei, even that choice's unpredictability felt refreshing. What was life without a little bit of chaos? Everyone called this desert the Chaos Desert after all.
One foot after another, her dirtied sandals sank into the sand, hands always resting on the small blade at her side.
Unmei admitted to herself she didn't dislike everything that came with living a royal life. The blade training she garnered with her father always felt exhilarating.
In that moment, she stopped. Hand tight on its hilt, she unleashed the katana in a clean slice through the air. Nothing did she enjoy more than the whistle of a blade. The sound of the waves filled her ears. One splash after the next. Unmei sliced again, then again.
Soon her slices began falling in time with the waves that lapped endlessly. Nothing did she enjoy more.
She steadied herself, focusing on the midday breeze, centering on the katana's grip. Noticing nearby boulders that jutted high out of the ground, she walked slowly over to one. She climbed on top of it, balancing her feet there.
Her body poised, she held the blade, aimed out towards the ocean horizon.
...
The horizon. The Shinpi Ocean, ocean of mysteries. She wondered what mysteries it held. What lied beyond the water's edge.
Perhaps dangerous creatures that ancient beings sealed away from her land for their protection.
Maybe celestial beings waiting to award any and all daring enough to cross the waters.
Maybe more mysteries, and nothing else.
Slice. Another swift cut through the air. Then two, then three.
Moments passed, then Unmei put the blade away, hopping down from the rock.
"Of course there wouldn't be any change here." The truth was, she expected something to happen. Nothing specific, just...something.
This walk was not enough change, she knew. Only a temporary escape.
It seemed, if anything lied beyond the waters, its eyes were not on her land. It couldn't help her.
Eyes becoming sodden, she began to make her trek back.
Then, a glint of gold in the corner of her vision. On the water's edge. Whether it was from her tears or something else, she did not know. She turned nonetheless. And there was that glow for but a second longer, then it was gone.
Curiosity overwhelmed her, and she moved closer. Once obscured by several rock faces, they soon gave way to something else on the shore. Washed up. A prone man, clothes almost molded away, body soaked. Unconscious.
She immediately scanned for passing ships. Nothing. She looked over his body for any tattoos, insignia of any provinces. Skin completely clean... at least, all she was willing to check.
She leaned down over his form. His chest lifted and sank lightly, but steadily. He was alive.
Who is he? Unmei had so many questions already. His face was not Mirain, skin a paler color than anything she'd seen. How long had he been here? Where did he come from? What happened to him?
In his hand, a strange purple scarf. Undamaged, dry to the touch. Unnatural.
Excitement rose in Unmei. A mystery had actually washed up on the shore. Was he from beyond the horizon?
So many questions Unmei had. Yet, she knew none could be answered until this man was awake. What if he was an ancient warrior? Some angel meant to be a savior? She needed answers.
With her fingers, she began poking at his face that was firm as wood, tapping his chest that was hard as rock.
It began to distract her, marveling at the muscled form of this man. So much that she shot back in a scare as the man gasped, awake.
He began heaving, coughing violently. Unmei saw small amounts of seawater exit his mouth and she felt guilty for not checking for such a thing before.
Then the man stopped. Like he was never injured in the first place. He scanned where he was like an animal in a maze. His eyes rested on hers.
Awkwardly, Unmei forgot to speak, giving nothing more than a light wave. The man returned it and spoke. But the words he said, she understood not even a syllable of. When Unmei tried to speak back in her language, the man gave a confused look.
Definitely not Mirain. And definitely not from this land.
Hoping to find a foundation, she switched to the elven tongue, something her father had taught her.
"Who are you?"
An expression of serious relief washed over the man, who replied. "Where am I?"
"What happened to you?" Unmei retorted. He paused.
"You like asking questions and not giving answers." The man said through pressed lips.
"I'm a very curious person."
"I am also." The man lifted his arms, gesturing to everywhere around them.
Wonder began to surface in Unmei. How far was he from home?
"Where do you come from?" She continued asking questions. The man rolled his eyes, but gave the first answer.
"Tenelea. An empire."
Ten... elea? "Whatever place that it is, you won't find it here."
The man scooped up his scarf, giving a large breath as he stood up on his bare feet. His gaze continued to look out upon the endless sands in front of him. "What exactly is here?"
"You really are from beyond the horizon." Words Unmei meant to think but couldn't help but speak.
A grumble came from the man's stomach. She wondered how long it had been since he'd last easten. Then an idea came to her.
This could be a sign. What sign, she didn't know, but a sign. His arrival could change Mirai for the better. The tales he had to tell, the empire he was from. The lands beyond. This was exactly what Unmei had wished for, and it had been answered.
Softly, she reached a hand out to him. "You are hungry. My city is not far from here. We can clothe you and feed you. Keep you safe from the sands out here."
The man's eyes seemed to drift for a second, off in thought. A moment passed, then he reached out and took her hand. And started shaking it weirdly. A gesture Unmei didn't recognize.
"Lead the way, miss." The man said.
Unmei couldn't help but introduce herself as she began guiding him back to the capital. "My name is Unmei, daughter of Aki."
A single word was his response. "Graydon."
Graydon's heart fluttered at the memory. How serious she had been back then. How quick she was to accept a complete stranger.
And now he gazed upon her many years later in this one moment. Her face covered in a warm smile, masked only by the night sky beginning to rise. Her hand was outstretched to him, almost exactly like she had done that day on the beach.
Only this time... "Will you take my hand in marriage, Graydon?" She did it for love, not curiosity.
Without hesitation, he scooped her hands into his. Held them tightly as they pressed against each other's collarbones.
He saw Unmei's eyes peering into his, and he peered deep into hers too. Her expression was one not even a mother's love could muster.
"Of course." His only response.
Unmei smiled widely, eyes squinting from the grin. Then, she pulled away, turning around from him.
At first, Graydon grew confused, but she spoke. "Okay, well, then... we need to do this right."
Graydon raised an eyebrow. "Right?"
"You know," Unmei patted her hips with her hands now in soft fists. "how a wedding is supposed to play out."
Suddenly, Graydon struggled to hold back a laugh. And it was hard to make him laugh.
"You haven't thought any further than this," He chuckled, "have you?"
Her body went rigid for a couple seconds. "Of course I have..! Maybe..."
"Well, wouldn't it be more right if we faced each other, for one?" Wordlessly, she turned back around, face more flustered than confident now. Secretly, it amused Graydon.
"Okay... Maybe I didn't think this all the way through."
"You've never experienced this type of stuff." Graydon strode over to her side. "It's only natural that an infant learns to walk."
"Hm, the scholar Dric, back again with more wisdom." And she wrapped her arms around him. "So, then what should we do?"
There were fewer things Graydon cherished more in the world than his love held tight against him. "Do we have to do anything?"
"To do nothing would be lazy." She peered up at him. "By that logic, all the world's people would be married to each other."
Not the most pleasant thought to have in a conversation like this, but Graydon didn't let that bother him. Instead, he thought hard how they could seal their bond.
"Think my sisters could watch?" The grin she gave him in response said this: "No."
"Perhaps our good fellow Gorok, somewhere in the sky?"
She scoffed, surprised. "That buffoon, he would have already decimated this shore by now from his recklessness alone."
Truthfully, Graydon enjoyed that dragon, but... "Agreed."
An awkward silence fell over them. Night was now upon them, only the stars and moons to give light.
He felt her face press against his chest. "A promise."
"What?"
She straightened her arms against his torso, pulling back but now out of his grip. "A wedding is supposed to be a promise, right?"
It still baffled Graydon that marriage was not a common tradition in Mirai. "Of course."
"Then we shall each make a promise to each other, right now, as part of our marriage." A vow.
Without another sound, Graydon chose to oblige her words, pulling her in and leaning close to her ear.
"I, Graydon," he whispered, "promise to love you for all time. I will never leave your side. I will slay all of your pain, and cherish all of your joy."
He turned Unmei out toward the sea. The horizon. "More than anything, I promise to show you the world you've not yet seen, to satisfy your hungry curiosity and unveil the mysteries of this world."
He paused and stood for a moment. Was that enough to say? Graydon couldn't tell. Slowly, Unmei turned back to face him. A small sniffle escaped her nose.
"Well, how could I possibly top that?"
He ran his hand along her arm, gently. "You don't have to." He began, with a smile.
To Graydon, Unmei was everything he needed. She had welcomed him into her nation, taught him many things about it, including their language. He had fought for her when the Tekian empire had invaded. He had persisted for vengeance when he thought her dead.
But then came the day that group, the Aku no Hana, led him back to her. Alive and well. He couldn't recall a happier day than that.
She was all the promise Graydon needed.
"You already have." He finished. And she smiled back.
His hand rose to cup her cheek and she leaned into it, eyes closing. They stood there for a long while. The cool, night breeze flowed past them, the scent of salt water overtaken by the scent of each other.
Then, she reached back behind her head. With her hands, Graydon saw her untie the ribbon from her hair. She took a step back, looking to a tall rock a couple feet to their sides.
She moved over to it and beckoned Graydon to join her. He did.
That ribbon she held in her hands, the Rida's Ribbon. A symbol of her leadership, Graydon knew. "Now that we have made our promises," she began, "we must seal them."
And she took the ribbon, wrapped it around the rock, and tied a good knot into it, fixing it tight to the rock. With a hand, she trailed the scarf Graydon still wore over his neck.
"Will you seal our promise with me, my Tozoku?"
He would. He showed it by removing his scarf, revealing the lower half of his face others rarely saw. The scarf now rested in his hands just as her ribbon had rested in hers.
"These knots shall be what ties us together." She said.
Graydon looked at the scarf, at his sister's scarf, for a second longer. With one motion, he reached it around the rock, and with strength, tied a large knot.
Graydon saw the rock then, decorated in red and purple. Ribbon and scarf. "Our lives are sealed." His words, quiet. Solemn, but proud.
He felt her hands join his, never taking his eyes from that rock.
"...What now?" She asked, back to her flustered self.
Not another word was spoken. Instead, Graydon turned towards her just as she did too. He leaned down, and kissed her.
Not a kiss to solidify their marriage. Not a kiss as part of tradition. No, this was their first kiss as husband and wife.
And the tails of both the ribbon and the scarf blew proudly in the wind that night.
"And now, the fairest leader of our lands, Rida Unmei!" Unmei still couldn't get over how unnatural it felt for Tao to yell so loudly.
Flanked by several maidens who carried the back end of her dress, she stood in the front foyer of the Eien Palace, midday. The large doors of sandstone that rested in front opened widely at the call of the general's voice.
Enveloped in sunlight, she had to squint in order to let her eyes adjust to the sudden change. She could hear the cheers of the people just outside, see the pairs of heishi guards that flanked each door in front of her.
This was it. This was the day her nation had been waiting for for months now. She took her first step, feeling the tug of her dress as several maidens sought to follow.
One after another, Unmei carried herself out the door and into the open square of the capital. There she gazed upon the masses that crowded around each other for this day.
Many piled into the streets around the open court, all manner of colors intermixed. There were many upon balconies of homes, of statues and fountains. Crowds sat upon the edge of many roofs like the building itself had a layer of hair.
And directly in front of her, a wide open lane. Where at the end of it, her Tozoku and a third figure stood.
And she had to say, Graydon looked well suited in the royal armor of Mirai. A little too military for her taste, but a celebration was a celebration.
Unmei knew what mattered most was what came from the heart.
She kept walking, hearing almost a new round of cheers with each new step. Getting closer, she could soon see Graydon's loving smile, see his bright brown eyes that looked alive as ever.
In the back ends of the palace, this had been rehearsed many times Unmei knew. But even now it felt like an experience completely isolated from everything else. She didn't know how to react, for it felt so... heavenly.
Before Unmei knew it, she was not even two paces from her husband.
She stared at him. He didn't say anything, only continued to grin. She flashed one back at him, and joined her place beside him. It was at that moment Unmei noticed it had gone silent.
Unmei gazed at several of her people. She saw their faces. Waiting, expectant, invested. It was as if they knew what needed to happen next.
At that moment, she peered back up at Graydon. He gave her a nod and took that as her cue. She glanced over at the third figure beside them.
"Pontius, you may proceed." His face, slightly wrinkled and aged lit up with a glee like that of an innocent boy.
"Oh boy, so exciting." He tried to mumble below his breath.
Graydon had told Unmei about a person who mediates weddings. Usually they had some kind of book, but she noticed Pontius didn't have one.
'Of course he doesn't,' she thought, 'The man's got it all piled up in his head.'
"Lovely beloved!" He called out. "Wait... dearly beloved..!" And just like that, Pontius' voice trailed off as he began the official public ceremony, for Unmei had already lost herself in thought of what was next to come.
It was all so much to take in.
The better world Unmei hoped to shape here. The new world Graydon was constructing a fleet to find. Was this the last time they would face enemies? Surely, not. What new faces were they destined to meet? Here, or across the waters even?
Only in time, she supposed.
Suddenly, a resounding cheer washed over Unmei from the crowd. She watched upon their jubilant faces, full of hope. They didn't know she and Graydon had already married themselves last night.
And they didn't have to. Instead, she'd give them the satisfaction of today, of watching two human beings come together. Of believing they did not need to stand in open opposition with everyone else. That they could all live together as one people.
So Unmei went through her promises. She heard Graydon go through his. Together they went through this for everyone, she was sure. Before she knew it, Pontius had reached the end of his mediation.
"Oh boy, my favorite part!" He exclaimed. "You may kiss the bride!"
Yes, only time would tell. But for now, she would cherish this moment, clutched in her husband's arms.
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