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The first time Oeru saw her wife’s face was on the day of their wedding.
It wasn’t that the great priestess of Oerataru was obligated to keep to herself, or to avoid her peers: her mother-goddess wasn’t timid, quite the opposite – she loved big crowds, families gathering, parties and rowdiness.
Rather, to be honest, it was Oeru who was shy. She attended sacred celebrations already wearing Oerataru’s mask, and left as soon as the goddess stopped possessing her. Oerataru often told her to be more relaxed – that she was her daughter, and a hard-working one to boot; that nobody expected anything more from her than kindness and devotion to her duty, which she already gave. Oeru, as for herself, remembered her predecessor, Oerakamu, who’d been eighty-years old and brimming with such bombastic charisma that even the most sullen toddlers laughed when he did. He’d known everything, or seemed like he had; people came to him for advice whether it was his area of competence or not.
Oeru wasn’t charismatic, nor blessed with the wisdom of age. She was twenty-two, taller than most men, and she’d carefully shaped herself in a somewhat aloof and elegant allure to make up for the fact that she wasn’t Oerakamu. Her hair was always done in the traditional manner of Oerataru’s children, braided and sculpted in circular patterns at the top of the head, and she bore perfectly the blue robes and make-up demanded by her rank. If she couldn’t be Oerakamu, she could at least look as sacred as she could and do her best until she caught up somewhat.
Hence, she did not roam her own town outside of her work, and certainly did not visit the nearby Akaregetu nation, though she’d have been welcomed with open arms: although the Ete and Akaregetu’s capitals had been hours away centuries ago, when they’d been built along the river, both had grown far closer, strong with almost a thousand inhabitants each, and citizens frequently mingled together.
Ordinarily, maybe this would have led to rivalry, but Ete’s patron goddess, Oerataru, governed the waters, fertility and dreams: Akaregetu wouldn’t want to irritate such a powerful entity. On the other hand, Akaregetu’s own great ancestor, Ka’hatal, ruled over war, aiding in battle against everything that could harm the body or the mind: Ete didn’t dare attack the beloved scions of such an awesome goddess.
Both nations had agreed: it was far better to befriend each other and to attract the favour of the other’s founding divinity. For decades, they had been privileged commerce partners. Now that both capitals were so close, the Elders, the head priestesses and the goddesses themselves had agreed to unite the two nations. Of course, this meant that the two divinities would marry, which would be symbolized by their own daughters’ union. After long negotiations, it had been determined that the young couple would move to Oerataru’s temple while a joint house was built for the two goddesses: since she was in charge of fertility, she was the most qualified to host newly-weds.
Thus, it was the role of her priestess-daughter to proceed to the ritual kidnapping.
Oeru did not feel up to do any ritual kidnapping. What if she stumbled? Worse, what if she dropped her future wife? What if she did anything wrong? Karete, her bride-to-be, was a trained warrior, surely far stronger than her; why couldn’t she take care of that part?
“Don’t worry, don’t worry!” Oerataru had laughed through her statuette, which stood protected in the backroom of her house-temple. “Where is this coming from? Don’t you love doing the dances and rituals during the festivals?”
Oeru had moaned, her fingers clenching on her necklaces' shells and wooden beads.
“I know those by heart! They don’t count! I’ve never been married!”
“You’ll do just fine,” Oerataru had assured her, so warm and loving that Oeru had believed her.
But Oerataru couldn’t comfort her now. Her statuette was here, of course, placed alongside Ka’hatal’s on the seat reserved for the newly-weds’ parents; however, she didn't talk through it outside of her temple, unless she was borrowing Oeru’s mouth, and obviously she wouldn't possess her daughter on her wedding day; she wasn't one of those rude lower spirits who couldn't, or wouldn't, read the room.
The introductory section of the marriage was a masked dance celebrating the first two humans: the young ancestors played them, of course, wearing the face of those primal ancestors and recreating their mutual seduction. That had been fine. Oeru was a good dancer, though her partner was far smaller than her. Then it was time for a big banquet that the newly-weds wouldn’t attend, as one of them had to kidnap the other.
Oeru steeled herself, breathed deeply, then just grabbed her wife, hoisted her on her shoulders not unlike a sack of potatoes and ran away as fast as she could.
***
She didn’t stumble or fall, much to her surprise. Karete was terribly heavy, but Oeru only had to carry her for a few seconds before she could throw her into their wedding cart, which was dragged by a cow far calmer than she was, and rush home, fake-pursued by the rest of the guests.
Oeru’s heart was beating so hard she almost felt sick and her hands were trembling, but she hadn’t dropped her wife and that was already a small victory. She stopped the cart in front of her (their!!) house and undid the cow’s binding, gently pushing it to roam free.
“We’re here,” she said.
Her voice sounded quite calm and poised. She was quite proud of herself.
Karete nodded and got out of the cart. She was still wearing her mask; they would only take it off after entering the house.
“Thank you.”
Oeru opened the door for her spouse, then closed it behind them. She waited for a second before she slowly removed her mask, hoping she didn’t look as out of breath as she felt. Her wife did the same.
Karete was small, but she didn’t seem small. Her naked arms were thick and muscled, black skin glistening under the sunlight which peered through the windows. She exuded power, and the quiet assurance of a warrior.
Her head was shaved the Akaregetu way, intricate scarification decorating her skull. Her eyes were big with long lashes, and her upturned nose seemed almost cocky compared to the serious set of her features.
Everything about her was very beautiful, Oeru thought dazedly. Very, very beautiful.
“You’re surprisingly strong,” Karete said, looking her over with a professional’s eye.
“Thank you,” Oeru answered on instinct, her focus captured by that dark, calm gaze and that gorgeous face and the shape of those arms. “I used goats.”
“Goats?”
“I carried some.” Oeru realized midway that she probably, no, certainly shouldn’t have talked about it, but it was too late: she’d started and had to commit. Oh no. Oh no. She kept impassive out of habit. “To train for today.”
Karete’s eyes widened, and then she seemed to bite back a smile.
“Do I weigh as much as a goat?”
“Uh… Around four?” Oeru answered honestly, cursing herself for having broached the subject.
Karete laughed.
She really was the most beautiful woman Oeru had ever seen.
“Well, it’s good that you trained. If you want, I can help you strengthen your body. It wouldn’t even require goats.”
“I’d like that,” Oeru answered, as she’d have agreed to anything suggested to her by that clear voice.
“Excellent.”
There was a silence. Karete looked around the room. They were in the left wing of Oerataru’s house, where her child – or children, when a priest had to train their successor – lived. Lower-ranked celebrants and acolytes resided just nearby, ready to provide help or receive guidance.
“Have my chests arrived yet?” Karete asked.
“This morning. I was waiting for you to decide how you wish to organize your belongings. It may be a temporary residence, but we’ll be here for a year at least, so…”
“Thank you. Do you want to have sex?” Karete enquired with perfect, considerate calm.
It was then that Oeru made her choice, emboldened by the remaining excitement of the kidnapping and the way her heart seemed to overflow with something she’d never felt that strongly before.
“I’d like to court you first!” She blurted out.
Karete blinked.
“We’re already married.”
“Still,” Oeru persisted. “I mean, please… If you agree to.”
Karete grinned. The expression lit up her serious face. Maybe she’d built a sterner appearance than her real personality, just like Oeru had. Thinking about it, it would be the first time Oeru would get to talk with another priest since Oerakamu’s death.
“Alright. I agree. How do these things go for your people?”
Oeru had to use all of her self-control not to squeal.
***
The first step of any proper courtship was a gift. It mustn't be too important, so that the recipient wouldn’t feel undue pressure to accept it; all the same, it had to show suitable appreciation of the object of one’s devotion.
People usually just picked a bunch of flowers.
“I can’t just pick a bunch of flowers,” Oeru moaned to Oerataru once they’d finished going over various farmers’ needs, the status of two complicated pregnancies and the pleading of a fisherman who dearly regretted offending the goddess.
Some of the requests made to Oerataru could be solved by her priests themselves: they gave advice, weaved small spells or talked things over with reluctant spirits. The hardest and most delicate cases were brought to the divinity herself, who decided whether she wished to intervene and at what price.
As her daughter, Oeru also submitted slightly more personal requests. A mother wanted to help with her scion’s more mundane problems, after all.
“Why not flowers? They’re nice,” Oerataru answered, her statuette smiling lightly.
“But she’s Ka’hatal’s daughter! I have to pick something more worthy of her status! I was thinking about a pig, but…”
“It’s far too big for a first gift, baby girl! Plus, you’re married, so isn’t this a present to your house as well?”
Oeru pulled on her earlobe, a nervous habit she’s tried to rid herself of since she was a child – with little success so far.
“Maybe I could… cook for her? On my own! It requires more effort than flowers, and since eating well strengthens one’s health, it should please her and her mother…”
“You can do that, dear, but you will have to convince the acolytes to let you work alone. They’ll help even if you order them not to, you know.”
The head priestess ruled over the details of Oerataru’s cult and general decisions about housekeeping: she did not hold much sway in other areas, like the kitchen. Of course, she would be obeyed if she insisted firmly.
If she insisted firmly.
“Mum,” Oeru enquired in her sweetest tone, “can I ask you for a favour?”
Oerataru sighed.
***
On the agreed day, Oerataru’s daughter announced that her mother required a dance from all her priests and acolytes who were not busy attending requests. Oeru would remain and talk to the goddess to cheer her up. The event was to take place during lunch hours.
As soon as the house was empty, Oeru rushed to the kitchen. Such a scheme was a bit underhanded, and she felt guilty, but she couldn’t imagine asking… confessing that it was for… No, that was impossible. She’d blush and maybe even stammer. She wouldn’t look head priestly at all. It would be awful! It was already bad enough that she couldn’t talk with Karete without getting horribly flustered.
She started boiling the meat first, then prepared the rice and the vegetables. She was peeling a sweet potato when she heard a familiar voice.
“So that’s where you were!”
Oeru almost cut her finger, dropped the potato like she would have thrown away a murder weapon and rose with barely remembered poise.
“Karete! I… didn’t think you’d return so early.”
Karete gave her the shadow of a smile. She was still wearing her healer robes; she looked terribly impressive and serious.
“I finished quicker than expected and I wanted to prepare your lunch, since your people are all busy dancing. What can I do to help?”
“Nothing! I’m cooking for you, so…”
“It’s my house too. I won’t let you work alone.”
“But it’s your gift!” Oh no, she couldn’t sound that expressive. “It’s very important that I prepare it with my own abilities. I mean, it’s the present I must offer you to officially start the courtship, so…”
Karete blinked, then nodded.
“I see… So I won’t intervene. But I can set the table, right? I won't be touching the food.”
That was technically true. Oeru could only acquiesce.
“And I can keep you company while you cook.”
“Yes! I mean… I would appreciate it.”
Was that too cold? Or, to the contrary, not dignified enough? Karete gave her a smile.
“Good. Let’s do this, then.”
It was better to work with someone else. Oeru had to put her foot down so that Karete didn’t surreptitiously attempt to help by handing her ingredients or peeling vegetables, but the simple act of chatting together was nice. They’d only been married for three days so far, and their normal conversations were still a bit stilted as they attempted to find common ground; having to focus on something as mundane as preparing food was more… relaxing. Oeru didn’t have to try to seem as dignified and efficient as Karete. A head priestess didn’t have to be the best cook of the temple. She’d have been more stressed about making her dish beautiful without Karete’s comments to distract her: it was more important to entertain her wife than to focus on full perfection.
Once lunch was ready, they carried their plates to their chambers and ate in content silence.
“It was excellent,” Karete said in the end. “We’ll have to cook it together, next time, so I can learn.”
Oeru blushed in pleasure.
“Thank you? I mean, thank you. I would be glad!”
“Can I do anything to reciprocate?”
“I, uh, not yet? First, if – since you’ve accepted my gift, we have to walk through a place I find beautiful so… Could you bring me a stone?”
Karete blinked once. Then twice.
“A stone?”
“The first stone that resonates with you!”
In retrospect, perhaps Oeru should have been a little more explicit about what she had in mind.
***
The next day, Karete came home with her rock.
“That’s quite a big stone,” Oeru commented with the poise she’d trained as a head priestess.
Karete looked down at it. Her (lovely) muscled arms didn’t even tremble from the weight.
“At least two goats,” she said gravely.
“This is going to haunt me, isn’t it?”
Karete gave Oeru her usual small smile, a spark of amusement dancing in her dark eyes.
“Sorry. You’re very cute when you’re distressed.”
Oeru’s heart overfilled with happiness, dizziness rushing through her head. She had had crushes before, but she’d never dared to show it for fear of being ridiculous, or of baring a side of her that wouldn’t feel priestly enough. She’d never been praised that way by someone she loved.
“Ah – thank you? Thank you. I’m… Ah, let me carry that for you!”
“No need, no need. You’ll hurt your back.”
“I’m strong!” Oeru protested. “I carried you...”
“You are, but not from proper training. I won’t allow you to overexert yourself until I’ve taught you how to polish and reinforce your body so that it works in harmony with itself. You wouldn’t believe how many I’ve had to heal after they damaged their internal balance.”
Well, that sort of thing was Karete’s domain, after all: her goddess advised her people on the proper way to eat, to breathe and to shape their body to ensure a longer, healthier life. Oeru nodded.
“Thank you… Can you carry it to our workshop?”
Karete didn’t even look tired by the time she put the stone down, laying it carefully near the spot of beaten earth where Oeru prepared her amulets. Oeru lost a few seconds being dazzled by her power and toughness before she recovered and thanked her.
“You’re really amazing,” she commented shyly, hoping she wasn’t being too forward. “You carried it like it was nothing…”
“You’ll be just as strong in a few months,” Karete promised.
Oeru didn’t dare participate to one of her wife’s public classes – she didn’t want to be that incompetent in front of everyone – so they had settled on private sessions around the end of the week, whenever they had time. Oeru was determined to work hard to be less terrible as soon as she could.
“I’ll do my best!”
Karete smiled and caressed her arm.
“I know you will.”
Oeru didn’t regret refusing to sleep together before the end of their courtship. You could have sex with anyone as a fun, pleasant way to pass the time; if that person was your spouse, it also allowed you to have children and strenghten your bonds; therefore, intercourse with a serious lover needed to be made special. It had to follow precise rituals; you had to prove that your devotion was resilient enough to survive abstinence.
Still.
It took all of her obstination not to pull Karete in for a hug and much more.
***
The dream stones were ready in a few days. Karete’s choice had been excellent, worthy of a goddess’ daughter: Oeru could feel the magic pulsing under the jagged surface of the rock as she worked it into shape. It took a bit longer than usual because Oeru wasn’t used to specimens of that size, but she managed to carve a dream pathway just fine after a few tries.
“So the stone was for an amulet? You should have told me! I’d have picked something smaller...” Karete exclaimed when she saw the two talismans laid near their bed.
“No, no! It was important that you made the choice unhindered. It’s an excellent rock, full of life and power.”
“Yours is smaller,” Karete pointed out.
“I’m telling you this as the daughter of a fertility goddess: size really, really doesn’t matter that much... Anyway, hum – for the second step, I must invite you to a walk somewhere dear to my heart, or somewhere I find beautiful, so I chose both. Would you like to stroll through a dream with me?”
Karete smiled wider than she usually did, her big eyes curving in the most charming way the Creator had ever fashioned.
“You don’t need to ask, you know? I already agreed to the whole courtship.”
“It’s important to follow the proper steps,” Oeru chided her.
Karete just laughed.
***
It was the first time they slept in the same bed – they’d avoided it until now, to prevent temptation: chastity was far easier to uphold when desire itself wasn’t pressed against you, warm and curvy and packed with enough strength to carry rocks without sweating.
“You can’t sleep, huh?” Karete asked after a while.
“No…” Oeru confessed sadly.
“Neither can I. Do you want to chat a little?”
Oeru agreed, which was a terrible mistake: they were still talking animatedly when the sun rose.
The next night was the right one, as they’d both sworn off any naps before and just powered through the day until they could finally sleep. They were exhausted enough that Oeru almost managed to curb her desire when Karete snuggled against her, an act of intimacy which was technically fully within the rules of courtship but still far too sexy for Oeru’s own good.
A small, strong hand caressed her nape, stopping where it rested on the wooden neckrest which kept her sculpted braids from behind irremediably distorted. Oeru shuddered and closed her eyes.
“No talking tonight,” Karete said firmly.
“No talking,” Oeru agreed sadly.
They fell asleep within seconds.
Oeru snapped to awareness almost as soon as her spirit stepped into the land of dreams. The two stones were floating in front of her; she touched them each with one hand and called Karete to her.
As expected, her wife’s dream-form was beautiful. The life enclosed in her real self swirled around her radiant shape and shone on her like intricate tattoos; her eyes were dark suns, teeming with power.
“So this is a spirit stone’s dream…” Karete whispered, sounding in awe.
Giddy warmth sizzled in Oeru’s heart, though she hid it out of habit. She’d carefully crafted the vision as she’d tied the stones down, slipping power into the knots of the wool; she’d drawn rivers and skies, beasts and spirits, fields filled with life energy made manifest. Oeru reached out to Karete and took her hand; though she couldn’t feel its warmth, she imagined it well enough.
“Let’s explore, shall we?”
They didn’t talk as they strolled through the dream landscape; they didn’t need it. They simply enjoyed the sight, and the dream, and the sweet awareness of each other’s presence.
After a while, the vision slowly started to fade. Karete smiled at Oeru, her eyes curved and glowing with quiet happiness.
“It’s beautiful, Oeru. You’ve chosen a wonderful place.”
Oeru flushed, her whole spirit radiant with joy. Karete saw it and laughed; she grabbed her closer, a shape of life and power touched by her mother’s glorious influence, and kissed her – or not a kiss, not in that shape, but something so intimate that it didn’t matter that Oeru couldn’t feel it.
“Thank you very much,” Karete whispered.
“Gnn,” Oeru answered sincerely.
Given the way Karete pressed against her, she probably managed to convey some of what she meant anyway.
***
The next step was a song composed just for one’s beloved.
“Skill doesn’t matter, baby girl,” Oerataru asserted once again.
“But she’s so strong and gorgeous,” Oeru moaned, “and she’s Ka’hatal’s head priestess…”
“What’s important is the heart, dearie, the heart! Anyway, your audience is more than favourably inclined toward you. Even if you didn’t have a wonderful voice, which you do, she’d still love it.”
“She might, but I want a song really worthy of her…”
“Sweetie,” Oerataru said firmly.
Oeru obediently raised her head.
“Yes?”
“If you spend more than one week on this song, Ka’hatal’s daughter will combust.”
***
Oeru caught Karete singing her song to herself more than once after that.
It made her want to combust.
***
The next part of a proper courtship involved a gift exchange: this time, it had to be something far bigger than a simple meal. Oeru had spent the first days of their marriage agonizing about it; now that she knew Karete better, the choice had been far easier.
“A spear…” Karete said softly, weighting the weapon.
As a custom commission, Oeru had traded more than a handful of favours for it, but the cost was well worth the spark in Karete's big eyes as she examined her gift. She mimicked a few thrusts and attacks, then swiftly chained a few moves so fluid they might have been a dance. She was so beautiful and deadly that Oeru had to bite back a dreamy sigh.
Karete stopped and bowed to her. Oeru’s heart tripped over itself.
“It’s perfect, Oeru. You’ve grown to know me very well.”
“Thank you,” Oeru somehow managed to answer coherently. “You… you’re really beautiful when you use it.”
Karete blinked and chuckled, then elbowed her affectionately. Luckily, by that point, Oeru had undergone enough of her spouse’s spartan training to take the blow without folding in two.
“You know how to praise your wife, huh? Well, I hope you’ll like my present, babe.”
“I will,” Oeru predicted honestly.
Karete laughed again and rose on the tip of her toes to kiss her. Oeru returned it gladly, embracing her with a tenderness born partly of fondness and partly of painfully repressed lust. A proper courtship really was a proof of enduring love or, at least, iron-clad patience. She was lucky that Karete felt more and more worth it as Oeru grew to know her.
“Well, open it, then.”
Karete’s present had been wrapped in fabric: it was small and supple in Oeru’s hand. She obeyed her wife's request and caught a glimpse of something glowing under the sunlight – gold?
It was a necklace, simple and elegant, in a style that mixed both Ete and Akaregetu’s influences. One single stone shone embedded in its middle, a deep blue gem.
“It was your colour in the dream,” Karete told her tenderly. “I searched for a gem of that colour for a while, but I found it just in time.”
Oeru stared at the jewel for an instant and then punched her own thigh.
“Oeru?” Karete asked, alarmed.
“One more step in the courtship,” Oeru moaned. “One more week and one more step.”
Karete burst out laughing.
“You know you could bend the rules, right? We are already married.”
“No! I love you, so you must have the courtship you deserve!”
“I love the way you’re so shy and yet so stubborn when something matters to you,” Karete informed her, “even though it will probably be my death.”
***
The final step of the courtship required that each lover offered something to the other’s parent. It was usually preceded by a month-long waiting period, but that wasn’t formally established in the rules, as Oerataru pointed out, and the combustion problem also had to be taken into account. There were only so many nights that Oeru could spend lying one metre apart from her wife until she started to get seriously bothered.
For once, Karete was just as flustered as Oeru. They’d settled on flowers after a cursory questioning of their mutual mother, but she’d asked at least twice about Oerataru’s favourite colours, plants, and the proper size of a bouquet. Paradoxically, her nervousness was making Oeru calmer.
“It will be fine,” she said soothingly. “As long as your intent is good, which it is, my mum will love it.”
Karete took a deep breath.
“You’re right. It’s just that she’s your mother, so… I want to fully express my gratitude and respect for her splendid work in raising you. Well, that and the fact that she’s a goddess. Why are you so poised now? It’s unfair.”
“I go into priestess mode when I see people panic.”
Oeru’s voice was less assured than she’d have liked. At the same time, she’d just been treacherously hit with severe praise and her belly was tingling with dizzy warmth.
“Huh. That’s convenient. Well, let’s go, okay? I really hope it'll please your mother. And… My mum can be a bit sharp sometimes. Don’t worry about it. Get all priesty if it helps you cope better.”
“Now I’m nervous,” Oeru said.
Karete grinned apologetically at her.
“I know! That’s why I waited until the last minute to tell you. Less time for you to overthink it. Come on! It's the final step.”
Since Oeru had started the courtship, they would offer Ka’hatal’s gift first. Oeru nervously and respectfully entered her stepmother’s alcove, then knelt as required in front of an Elder or a god. Here, in this place, a divinity’s statuette could speak to any mortal.
She presented her bouquet.
“Lady Ka’hatal… I’ve come to ask you for your daughter’s hand. As an offering, I bring these flowers; I’ll hope they’ll please you.”
“Finally!” The goddess exclaimed.
Her voice was sharp, clear, ageless. Oeru blinked.
“Do you realize how long it’s been? My daughter’s been itching to fuck you for months, girl!”
“Mum!” Karete cried out.
“I can’t even give you her hand, you’re already married!” The divinity continued, impervious to her daughter’s distress in the way only spirits or overbearing parents could be. “What nonsense! Of course I accept this gift, silly girl. Now shoo, shoo! You have my blessing! Go satisfy your wife at last!”
“Mum!”
The goddess left the statuette. Oeru remained there until Karete patted her shoulder.
“Well… It went better than I expected.”
“It did?” Oeru asked dazedly.
“She didn’t suggest positions.”
“It did,” Oeru agreed fervently.
***
Oerataru was softer, of course. She blessed Karete, thanked her for the flowers, and barely spoke about sex until the end.
“Now, Karete, I think you’ve been waiting for this for a long time, and so has she, but you can do anything you like with my daughter!” The goddess concluded with maternal cheer.
“Mum!” Oeru cried out.
Karete nodded gravely.
“I understand.”
“You’re a good girl,” Oerataru approved, and left.
“I’m so sorry,” Oeru moaned.
Karete walked to her. Oeru felt an impact, then her perspective shifted. It took her a second to realize she was being carried in Karete's arm, quite unlike a sack of potatoes or a goat and more like some precious, fragile thing.
“Oeru,” Karete said in a very priestly voice.
“Karete?”
“First: I love you.”
“I love you too!”
“I was already aware, but it’s nice to hear it again. Second: we’re not sleeping tonight.”
Heat flowed through Oeru’s limbs, flushed her skin darker and tighter. She grinned.
“I knew you were making me do all that physical training for a reason!”
“You have no idea,” Karete promised darkly.
She was very right in that respect, as Oeru realized a few hours later when her body just gave up on trying to keep up with months of her wife’s frustration, though the defeat was really quite pleasant.
Well, Oeru would have to train harder, then.
As the spouse of Ka’hatal’s daughter, she had a duty to excel in matters of the body.