interesting? Maybe they were simple rites. My own people had their own way of marriage ceremonies. I hoped it was the
same.
As I flicked my eyes to the first few lines, I realised then how different the two were and how way over my head I now
was. I shouldn’t have ignored these. I should have prepared.
“Well, what does it say?” Morgana asked after almost an hour of me reading through and taking some notes.
By the time I looked up at her, she’d already drank most of the tea while my cup had grown cold. She’d even eaten the rest
of the cakes. She now sat in one of the more comfortable chairs, with her legs draped over the side and had her eyes closed as
she rested her head on the arm rest.
“It says we need to get completely naked and roll around in the mud,” I jested, watching as her eyes flung open.
She moved almost like lightning towards me. “Are you serious? Maybe I should rethink this marriage thing!”
“I’m just jesting! It doesn’t say anything like that!” I exclaimed with a laugh.
She smacked me lightly on the side of my arm. Giving a little huff, Morg moved back to her seat and tried to get
comfortable again.
“It says the night before our wedding ceremony, we are to bathe with one another. Clothing is optional. We are then meant
to take turns to wash each other’s hair and bare skin, while sharing personal details about ourselves. Then we are to write
promises to one another on a piece of parchment, and burn it using the flame of a red candle. Finally, we must say a prayer to
the Goddess.”
“Is that all? Doesn’t seem too hard. Don’t know why they make such a fuss about it all then.”
It was going to be harder than Morgana thought. I didn’t know how much I was willing to bare to Nicholas, in clothes or
without. What personal details were we supposed to share? Secrets? I was pretty sure he already knew my secrets as he often
heard my thoughts, even without meaning to.
And would I really want him to see me naked? I still didn’t know how I’d react to anyone seeing me down to my bare skin.
The thoughts of my uncle doing what he did rolled in and I shook my head, trying to remove those images.
If Nicholas was to see everything, I knew, deep down, he wouldn’t attempt anything. He’d made that perfectly clear
whenever we’d got too close.
My mind raced with more unanswered questions and a blush engulfed my cheeks. Any man that has seen me, it wasn’t with
my consent. Now I was sure Nicholas didn’t want me, and would likely offer not to do the rites.
“It also says, during the ceremony we are to share a drop of blood with each other. We can mix it into a glass of wine, but
this will complete the bonding ritual. I’m not sure how I feel about drinking your brother's blood.”
“Ah, that’s just a formality I believe, it’s just for show.”