Bride of Azilon
@WeepingLiberty and Sister wife of Aeila
@NarcissisticPotatoRya applied what felt like the thousandth layer of beeswax to her dry lips. The mountain passes air was so much dryer than her humid home near the swamp. One of her captors, no...transporters, a captive could be rescued, had offered it to her when they had started their ascent to the choosing castle. Rya had found his kindness...rather suspicious. Seeing how his carriage now had a gaping hole in the side now from one of her fists. It wasn't like she was trying to be aggressive or destructive, it was just that...well being kidnapped and sold off as a wife to a stranger was a rather emotional journey. There were a lot of emotions that one went through. It was normal, healthy even. This one just caused her to punch a hole through the carriage and rip a few holes in the seats. And break the window. And scream profanities at everything and everyone.
She probably got off easy with a slap to the back of the head ("We don't want to bruise that pretty face of your's") and a few harsh words because it was clear that she wasn't trying to escape. But it did slow their travel down by a day as they had to take her to a healer to have her hand treated. Even now, it was still covered by a white bandage and, even though she was told not to, she couldn't help but take the wrappings off every now and again to admire the number she did on herself. Nothing that wouldn't heal, just bruising and a few scratches in places. It was nice to know that, despite all the guards, they were unable to stop her from doing that. It was almost like having control, although not a way she would choose often, she wasn't a fan of pain.
There were many other emotions that followed, a strange happiness, acceptance, anger again, sadness. Right now, as the castle appeared, growing ever closer, it was nausea. Her stomach rolled with nerves and fear. The choosing was not something that had been explained to her in depth, no one wanted to talk about it. Sure, she knew the gist. Show up, get choosen, live the rest of one's possibly short life in depressing servitude. But knowing the basics brought no comfort to her. Finally, she could bare it no more
"Please, we have to stop, I think I am going to be sick," she said. There was silence.
"No, I'm serious please," Finally a voice responded.
"We can't stop, we'll miss it,"
"Please, just a moment," "No,"
Perhaps it was the gagging noise that finally made them stop. But a moment later, Rya was touching the hard earth, coughing her guts out. But the strength of the earth help calm her down enough that she was able to be escorted the rest of the way without issue, although her stomach still rolled.
When she got to the castle, Rya could hear voices, mostly male, ringing in the night. She was rushed through a back door, a guard mentioning to another captor "Almost thought you weren't going make it, better hurry, they are almost done in there." Rya was then stripped and dunked unceremoniously into chilled water and scrubbed down before she even got a chance to worry about modesty. Her hair was then roughly brushed and sweet smelling oils were placed in it as well as over most of her body. That caused her to feel as though every step would cause her to slip. Then, with her arm dressing re-applied, all that was left was to dress her.
The dress had been her mother's second best dress. Her mother's best dress had been her wedding dress. But, without words, it was decided between the two of them that Ayr should get it for her future, happy, wedding. This one was cut just above the knees, so it would be worn outside, without fear of the soft earth ruining the hem. A soft, green color with green lace covering almost the entire thing. The only pair of shoes Rya brought were her leather ones, the ones she had been wearing when she'd come back from the swamp before she was taken. Instead of matching her mother's beautiful dress with her work shoes, she decided to go without. The stone, while cold, was helping with the nerves anyway. It was a shock to see how well the dress fit her, the last time she wore it, the dress had hung off her shoulders and, despite being short, could still touch the floor.
As soon as she was dressed, barefoot, bandages and all, Rya was forced on to a staircase that lead into a...she could only describe it as a ballroom. As she walked down the stairs, she noticed that many of the gems were...already claimed (there was no other word for it) and their future husbands( and, in one case wife ) were standing over them aggressively proactive. By the time she had reached the floor, the feeling of nausea had returned. Only this one was lead on by another wave of anger at everything and fear for her future. Instead of waiting to be stormed, she started walking, not that she had a purpose or a destination, but... perhaps if she look like she did, then maybe they would all just leave her alone.
TheDoctor