The hand in Noah’s hair came down and rested over Elann’s tummy, remaining there as she started on her explanation on her people’s wedding traditions. Bits and pieces were explained to him in the past before when they were friends, little lessons given by her to him. This was the lengthiest explanation he got since they were arranging their own marriage. It was a lot to take in but Noah’s attention didn’t waver, partially due to Elann’s hand moving about over his torso, but mostly because she was answering a question he wanted to know the full answer to.

The traditions were odd and silly to him, that didn’t show on his face though. He could see the importance of the practices to Elann and kept his own opinion to himself. Though, what struck him as most odd was the groom was sent away into the desert to find Yahal. Noah had a hard time wrapping his head around the importance of a single deity to one race of people. Being in the desert, he assumed their patron deities would be the goddess of rain and life, any deity that made their lives in the deserts better.

Noah recalled exchanging the mangala sutra with Elann for his gift of the eagle headed dagger in place of rings, feeling as if it didn’t quite live up to the explanation Elann was giving him. There was dancing and singing and praise of the husband and Yahal seemingly more so than the bride, and Noah didn’t quite like or understand it. The explanation also explained why she drew so much joy and pleasure from serving him, whereas his own need as a Kelvic was to do the same for her. She was worthy of worship in his opinion, so long as their relationship stayed unmarred through mutual respect for one another’s personalities, practices, and cultures, though his own was much less developed than Elann’s, it was just as strong and prevalent because it was forged by magic, not years of tradition.

“I was asking because of that, yes,” he answered. “Some of the weddings I’ve watched are kind of like yours, but they only last a day. There’s the wedding and then the feast that usually lasts well into the night, people and guests leave in the morning or late that night. There’s music and dancing, and sometimes there are singers as well.” He paused. “I’m sorry that we can’t do all of that.”

Noah showed her an apologetic glance, one that lingered as his hand rubbed over her tummy. “There should be a festival after we get there,” he went on. “It celebrates the flower trees blossoming and love too, it’s when a lot of weddings take place. It’s supposed to be a good omen if the trees blossom on your wedding day, but it celebrates all relationships, people don’t have to be lovers. So, we’ll have the party and then we can attend the festival too. How’s that sound?”