The other cermony (Raisa)

[Velox Sicarius]

Velox looked around the small changing room nervously, his gaze constantly shifting from window, to painting, to dresser, to something else in an attempt to distract his mind. It wasn't working, and he was almost certain he was beginning to sweat. He was also certain that his arm was twitching, his legs felt weak, and his chest was heavy. Why was this? Was he sick? Did he have the flu, was there a doctor around to cure him of this sudden virus he had contracted? He paused, sighing. He really didn't want to admit it, above all things did not want to tell himself this one thing. But he had to admit it. He was nervous...

He had accepted Raisa's proposal to be her consort, and was now here at the Palace in order to complete the small ceremony for it not long after the wedding. Infact, he had just come back from the wedding. Despite what everyone thought, he had watched the wedding from a nice, far spot in which no one could see him aside from a few guards whom had kept a rather watchful eye on him. He didn't want to be visible to Raisa in such an event, but he would not miss it, not for anything. And now, here he was, attempting to prepare for an event that would change is own life. Perhaps smaller in scale compared to the wedding, but to him, it was just as important as Zuko might have found the marriage to be. In a way, he would forever be tying himself to the earth kingdom, but also in a way he was shedding his false claim of being of earth kingdom nationality. His adoptive father had died not too long ago, finally free of the cursed coma he was in, and along with him died Velox's remaining ties to his past. He was just an airbender now, and forever would be. It was time to stop hiding, especially from Raisa.

Finally cure of some of his nervousness, Velox managed to find enough will power to decide upon a suitable outfit for the small ceremony. It was not precisely monks clothing, but it was a very loose fitting and multi-layered outfit consisting almost entirely of white and silver colors. The baggy pants, made of a fine light gray fabric, had silver etching the ran up the sides to match the style of the loose shirt. Ontop of this was a large v-shaped vest of a darker gray, held close by a thick belt wrapped around him. The air-nomad crest was shown in white on the vest in a large design, and a smaller version hung as a pendant around his neck. He felt like an air-nomad in this outfit, and was proud of it. This pride soon washed away though as he realized what was ahead, and it was very soon.

Velox collected himself, talk a calming deep breath, and then took an elegant, graceful stride out of the small changing room and into the slightly larger, yet empty, room for the ceremony. The earth kingdom sage was already there, waiting, but aside from him Velox was the only other person in attendance. All the remained was Raisa, who was likely caught up with stuff right after the wedding ceremony. He glad, happy that he had time to collect his thoughts and calm down from the nervous state he was in. He hoped that Raisa didn't come in right now, seeing the once proud, strong weapons maker of the earth kingdom now as a small, shy, nervous little airbender.

[Raisa/Darkmoon]

Shang-hui had taken Raisa away from the music and the dancing and the laughter that had made her head dizzy with delight long before she was ready. What had snapped her back to reality though was the absence of heat. Away from Zuko's side, Raisa felt as if her gown were filled with shards of ice that pricked her skin with every movement. And for what? To be stood up by her consort? To be brought to an empty altar when the warmth and security of her husband was at her beck and call? She hadn't even let Shang-hui fuss over her outfit and tie the delicate white and silver cloak over her shoulders for the Air nation, certain she would walk into an empty room.

The loss of Zuko's energy left Raisa short-tempered and bitter. She stormed through the dressing room, thoughts of the friend she hadn't seen in two and a half weeks filling her mind. The afternoon in the market. The morning in her garden. The evening in her private chambers. All of it seemed like a haunting memory now, a cruel trick played on her. He wouldn't be there. He wouldn't come. He would have left after her page gave him the news about his father. Who knew where in the world he was now... Attendants at the doors parted them before her as she strode proudly into the room, Zuko's circlet and ring still on her. And she stopped short.

"V... you're here..."

Raisa stood at the end of the small room, ornately decorated for their respective nations, though empty but for them. She couldn't bring herself to move forward, or to turn back. She wanted so badly to run to her friend and have things return to the way they used to be, but in the same breath the tingling left on her lips and finger tips from Zuko reminded her of what awaited her in the ball room. And that reminded her of something else far more troubling; Velox was about to take the same vows that she and Zuko had just taken moments before. Things would never return to the way they used to be. Velox could never again be seen as just a friend.

Feeling suddenly embarrassed about still wearing Zuko's gifts, she approached Velox timidly, her anger now abated. "I... I really didn't think you would come."

[Velox Sicarius]

Velox was glad to see Raisa, though it was hard to hide the slight hurt in his expression when he saw her reaction to his presence. In the end, he had kind of expected it. After all, he had not given her a formal answer in all the confusion that had happened between the time she asked, preparing for the wedding, and learning of his father. He should have given her an outright answer...but somethings were too difficult, even for him. Either way, both were here now, and his answer was evident, or so he hoped. He was unsure, however, if Raisa was having seconds thoughts based upon the reaction she had given him. Was it a reaction of surprised relief, or regret?

"As if I would forget to come here on this most important of days..." Velox stated with nervous humor. He paused, before quickly adding "You looked very beautiful during the cermony, Raisa. Your nation is proud of you..." He finished with a slight smile, hoping the compliment might ease any strange tension between them. He was not about to let this go badly, by any means. Even if it ended up they didnt go through with the cermony, he was not going to lose his only existing friend. He did not want to go back to solitude. "Well, I am here, my friend. You are the one who offered this to me, it is your choice if shall go through with it or not..." He said mainly out of politeness, to show that she was by no means bound to what she had asked of him weeks ago. As it was, in seemed the marriage already was changing her slightly.

Though it was Raisa's choice as to what to do for the cermony, he himself made no move to exit the alter. He stood firm and tall, trying to seem happy and calm. Beside him lay his ceremonial gift to her wrapped in a fine, purple fabric to hide it from view. It was the only thing he could offer her that came from his own hands: a small priceless dagger of the finest make, from his own skill and talents. The blade was not encrusted with rubies or anything, and the hilt was not made of gold. Such things only made a dagger worthless to use. No, this was a dagger with a blade of polished steel and silver, filed down to the sharpest he could make it so much that he had required the assistance of his airbending. Runes of an ancient language where engraved down both sides of the blade, and the hilt itself was an emerald green color bearing an insignia that resembled a merger of the air and earth symbols, all surrounded by a firm grip and delicate engravings. It was a sharp, deadly dagger, lightweight and perfect for a queen in need of easy defense. He could offer nothing else that held as much value. If Raisa truly wished to do the ceremony, she would accept the gift now, or leave him at the room alone.

[Raisa/Darkmoon]

Friend. That one word seemed to snap Raisa back to her senses. He was her friend. She was his friend. Apparently that was all. And considering after this ceremony he would no longer be allowed around her while Zuko was nearby, that was probably for the best. Once again, she found herself wondering if Shang-hui would have been the better choice, but she'd known Shang for far too long. She couldn't bear to exile him from her presence, not for any length of time. And that would mean losing him as captain for the position as second in command of her Kingdom if anything should happen to her and Zuko was not available, and the guard could not afford to lose him.

A chill swept up her spine again, though this time not from loss of the Fire Lord. She was not the only one changing tonight, and she was very worried about the outcome. It wasn't too late to turn back. Velox would probably hate her, but eventually it would be better for them both. No one in the Kingdom knew that she was taking a consort, it had never been done before. Only female rulers could take a consort because of what Raisa believed was a truly ridiculous notion that women needed male validation of their rulings. But in this case... well, Raisa had actually been looking forward to the idea. Until it had all started to unravel at the seams.

"Velox, I-" Raisa was about to apologize for dragging him here when she saw what he was offering to her. Exchanging gifts was a tradition for royalty, and usually involved giving something symbolic of a respective nation. But he had brought something so personal and symbolic of their first meeting that she couldn't help but take back her dismissal before it even left her lips. The dagger was impressive, and the craftsmanship superb, but what caught her eye were the two tiny initials carved into the hilt. This was possible, it could work. She glanced back up from the dagger to Velox, carefully taking the blade from him and smiling slightly. "I have your cuffs ready for you, just on the table."

[Earth Kingdom Soldier(s)]

The Earth Sage stood before tall white and green pillar candles, looking between the Princess and her consort. "If you two are in agreement, shall we proceed?"

[Velox Sicarius]

Velox smiled, still very nervous about how to view and approach this entire situation, though still very willing to go through with it. No matter what happened, he felt it was the right decision. Though, this wasn't the first time that trusting his heart over his mind could be potentially dangerous. He carefully removed the earth-kingdom cuffs from the table and placed them around his wrists, adjusting them so that his tattoos were still visible underneath. With the earth-kingdom crest visible, and the airbender symbols covering the rest of his body, it was time to proceed. He turned and smiled at Raisa, a last push for a sense of trust and intimacy, before turning to the Earth Sage and taking a bow, gesturing with a nod of his head. "Yes, please proceed with the ceremony, we seem to be in agreement." He said happily before going quiet, both deeply paying attention and lost in his own thoughts. I will be tied to Raisa now, and will have to answer to her, and keep both of our interests in mind. I cannot act as a lone wolf, now anymore. If the triad should appear, how will I approach it? Will my love for Raisa, or my dead family, be greater? he debated silently to himself, fearful now of potential problems in the future.

[Earth Kingdom Soldier(s)]

The sage smiled at the Princess and her consort, taking one of each of their hands and pulling them together. "Spirits of Earth, spirits of Air, spirits of Water and Fire bear witness to this now!" He put their hands together, placing his own over them. "I ask that you join these two together in your power and bless them, watch over them, and guide them in their lives.

"Princess Raisa, you agree to take Velox Sicarius as your consort, investing in him the loyalty and devotion as that of a husband. Velox Sicarius, you agree to take Princess Raisa as your bride, investing in her the protection and attention a bride requires. Even when the Fire Lord is present, and you two are forbidden to meet, remember your bond. It is as unbreakable as that which the elements share, and just as powerful. By the power of the spirits, I now pronounce you wedded by witness of the elements and their greater beings." He drew the marks of marriage on their foreheads with ash from the sacred tree, retracing the mark already in place on Raisa.

"You are united now, until the end of your days. Do not take this bond lightly - it is more powerful than that of any normal marriage. Trust in each other, and remember what it is you now are." The sage opened the door to leave, pausing briefly. "I leave you now for a moment of privacy, though Princess Raisa, do not delay too long. Your husband will be awaiting your return." With that, he left, shutting the door behind him.

[Raisa/Darkmoon]

Raisa was infinitely glad for the private room. The first ceremony had been nerve wracking enough with the hundred of people watching, but this time - and to Velox - Raisa was flustered enough to have fallen right off her heels had not first the sage and then Velox taken her hand. She gazed steadily at Velox through the ceremony, barely hearing the sage's words, and instead wondering if she was doing the right thing by Velox. Had she forced him into this? Did he really want to be here? Was this a mistake? Would he regret by tomorrow? She couldn't read his face for all the world, and was left fighting the icy chill that was left inside of her, worrying and wondering.

And yet, at the end of the ceremony, the sage spoke exactly the words she needed to hear to snap her back to her senses. There was no "You may kiss the bride" as there had been before, but a message of wisdom, which seemed to double as a warning. Raisa watched the sage leave, wondering if he'd somehow heard her internal doubt throughout the ceremony. She was being ridiculous. If she had any reason to doubt anything, it should be her marriage to Zuko, not to Velox. Zuko was foreign and unknown and unpredictable. Velox was familiar and safe and trusting. Raisa remembered this and relaxed some, though apparently her nerves were the only thing keeping her standing, for as soon as she sighed in relief she toppled right off her shoes and fell in a mess of silk and rhinestones on the steps of the altar.

"Well, at least this happened in front of you and not the other people out in the ballroom." Raisa said laughing, flattening her skirts out before her and sitting up to straighten her circlet. "I guess two marriages in one day isn't the best thing for my nerves..." She sighed again and looked to Velox, who hadn't seemed to change from his stoic demeanor. She couldn't help but feel like she was taking away his freedom yet again. "What about you, V? Are you alright? We're sort of... married, in a sense. Are you... are you okay?"

[Velox Sicarius]

Velox had listened to the entire ceremony while simultaneously trying to sort out the many thoughts and fears and debates raging inside his head. Furthermore to add to this, his nerves were trying to show again, and he felt like he could collapse at any moment. All he could do was to stand still, hold a blank expression, and grip Raisa's familiar hand which seemed to anchor him to the earth. Yes, she did exactly that. Raisa was the one who was keeping him tied to the earth, tied to reality. It was as if without her, he might just float away into the heavens, never to return. This was a good thing, not a bad thing. He was not losing freedom, but gaining a life. He was sure of it. The last words that the sage said seemed to echo in his head just as loudly as the echo produced when the door shut behind him as the sage left. It was a strange last few words, but they had great meaning.

Any further thoughts that Velox might have had, any containment of his nerves and the debates in his head were shattered by a small amount of laughter as he watched Raisa collapse to the floor. A smile spread across his face, almost happy to see there strange helplessness together once again. He leaned down, outstretching arm and to help her back to her feet for support. Had this room been full, he might have fainted on the spot. But with them alone, he could be free of himself, and even laugh out there own young idiocy. As expert as they were in their own graceful fields, they both had very clumsy moments.

"Oh, Raisa, we wouldn't be us without a few imperfections to make our days so strange and funny. It reminds me of our water fight in the fountain back at your home..." He said laughing, taking a seat beside her, filled with happiness, yet still shaking with nerves. He stared down at his trembling hands and laughed again, glad that he was infact human enough to feel fear and embarrassment, even if he never showed it in a battle. "I am quite fine, Raisa. I am very glad we did this. It feels....right, you know? Earth and air...." He smiled to himself, lost in his own little world, his spirits strangely boosted all of a sudden. All of his walls and emotional blocks from earlier were, for the moment, gone, leaving only his strange humor. "You will help to keep me anchored to the Earth, Raisa. Ill help give you strength, and keep you safe. But, don't let me keep you too long, Lord Zuko is awaiting you..." He said, his smile fading slightly. He had never hated the Fire lord, Zuko, but never liked him either. He wasn't a bad person, but something about him didn't settle right. "We will have plenty of time to annoy each other back home at the Earth Kingdom, incase you have forgotten, my love..." He added quickly with a flush of red in his cheeks.

[Raisa/Darkmoon]

Raisa smirked and looked at Velox slyly for a moment at his last words, happy to see that Velox was once again himself. She toyed with them hem of her dress for a moment, not looking at her consort from her own embarrassment, then leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Zuko can wait." She didn't feel the need to add that he'd have her for the next two weeks - it didn't need to be said, not in this moment.

With the last wisps of fire gone from her skin, Raisa was thinking clearly again and was incredibly grateful for Velox's stability. She traced a finger absentmindedly over the engravings of Velox's cuffs, playing over the near future in her head. "Velox, you know that you can't be anywhere near me while Zuko is present, right? I would never have you leave the palace when he visits, but you'll have to stay with Shang-hui when he does come. It's been law for as long as anyone can remember for a consort. A stupid one, in my opinion, but I'm not about to upset my people over something as flippant as an old tradition right now. They have enough to worry about without it. Still, I don't like that it... Lord Zuko will be staying at the palace most all the time that I am not away at his. There won't be much time in between when he is not around, or that I am not away."

[Velox Sicarius]

Velox sighed, listening to Raisa's words as he stroked her hair, staring into the distance, lost in thought. It was a bit of a sad thought, that he wouldn't have as much time with her as he would have liked. But still, even a little time was well worth it. They would find a good balance, a good way to do things. Zuko couldn't be at the palace all the time when he had duties to his nation to attend to. And he himself had many things that could keep himself busy when Raisa was with Zuko. The triad was still a threat, and there was much help he could offer to the forces that were trying to fight it off. Things would work. He would be happy. He had to be, for Raisa's sake.

"I am well aware of it, Raisa. Time will be slim for us, but it will always be worth it. You do so much as it is, you deserve atleast a little time to do as you wish. I will always be around to do whatever it is you wish that will bring a smile to that lovely face of yours. And when you are...busy, I will be able to help with the Triad. Things will be good, you'll see...." He said as he kissed her lightly on the head, hoping that what he was saying was true. In his earlier life, he had been content. Now he had tasted happiness and wanted more. But could he obtain it, truly? In the least, he could provide Raisa with happiness. It was now his official job to do so. It would be fun. "I'm yours, now Raisa. Don't forget that. You practically own me. Is there anything you wish from me before I have to leave you with zuko?" He asked absentmindedly, still stroking her hair and thinking about the future. Would he be a husband like figure, a servant, a friend, or a warrior? Or maybe all of those. Such a thing wouldnt be so bad.

[Raisa/Darkmoon]

Raisa bit her lip as she listened to Velox. Time would be slim, though she doubted he understood exactly how slim. This marriage had come about because of the Triad, and it was the Triad that must be dealt with efficiently and thoroughly. When Zuko was not in the Earth Kingdom, she would be in the Fire Nation. She and Zuko had already arranged a schedule to spend six to eight weeks in each nation, which would alternate who traveled where. At most there would be a week every two months that she was alone in the palace. That time that she was away is when Velox would, as her consort, stand in her place at the throne. Shang-hui had practically been ruling the Kingdom by her side since her coronation, he would be able to advise Velox on how to proceed in her absence.

But all of that wasn't what troubled her. What worried her was Velox's duty to the Kingdom. She remembered a baby bird that had fallen from its nest and broken its wing in her garden. Raisa had nursed the bird back to health, but it sang such a sad song throughout those long months of healing. It was trapped in its little bed on her window seat, just inches from its friends flying by right outside. And every day Raisa had brought the bird outside and retaught it to fly, but every night it still came back in until the day it was strong enough to fly away. It was a captive freedom, not quite whole. The only difference between the bird and Velox was that the bird was able to fly away in the end. Velox could not.

Sitting up and turning to face Velox, she gripped his hand tightly. "Promise me that you will always do as you please. That you'll put your own desires ahead of what you think I'd want best. That if you ever wanted to leave, you would. You'd have to flee the Kingdom, run away, do anything to escape this bond. I wouldn't send the guard after you. I would understand. Just promise me you'll keep your freedom."

[Velox Sicarius]

Keep...my freedom? he thought to himself. It was such a strange request, one he had expected at all. She was practically telling him to be selfish, to but himself first and not others, something that went against how he usually lived his life. How was he supposed to run away if his desire's told him to? How was he supposed to run away from his responsibilities for something like...freedom? It was so confusing. Raisa was a smart woman, and they both knew they liked each other. She wouldnt ask this of him without good reason...so why? The more he tried to think about the, the more it seemed to get away from him. But then it clicked, as he looked down it his airbender clothes, and the earth nation style around him. The earth kingdom was about order, stability, and rock-solid judgements....but that was not him. As an airbender, to be himself, he needed to move, to fly...to be free.

So...to keep what she wanted him to promise, he had to simply remain himself. To do what was in his heart as an airbender. He could do that...it was already beginning to happen anyway, since the day his step-father died not to long ago. He smiled, glad he understood it now, though also a bit sad at what it could mean if he actually would have to run away. "I promise, Raisa. Ill keep my freedom. But trust me when I say, the last thing i'd ever want to do is run away." He reassured her. But was that really true?

He sighed, the good mood from earlier had seemed to go downhill rather quickly. Their time was already dwindling away. Soon he would be back in the Earth Nation, talking with the army, discussing things about the triad, talking with officials, and finally for once bringing his airbending back out from the rusty parts of his mind. "In return, promise me that you wont be afraid to ask me to do anything that will make you happy...its what I'm here for." He replied, leaning back on the cold stone steps and staring up at the ceiling. It would give him no answers. Only the stars ever gave him answers to his questions, but it felt good to look upwards, where he knew the sky was.

[Raisa/Darkmoon]

"Anything?"

Raisa searched his face desperately for any answer she could find there. It was such a horribly multifaceted proposal that Raisa didn't know where to begin. How could she ask anything of him, without it hurting him in some way?

One thing she could ask of him was to be the perfect consort. To stay seen but not heard, to stand by her side and present himself to the Kingdom as her loyal servant and to do only as she instructed. But that would mean asking him to be a puppet, a prop, and that was not only inhumane but cruel to him on so many different levels. If he did this, not only would she be asking him to be her pet, but also to give up his Bending. No amount of peace and calmness among her people was worth that, it would be worse that killing him.

Another she could ask him to do was to take on the Triad, to go after them, infiltrate their ranks and help to destroy them from the inside out. She knew, though she was not supposed to, that several of the most skilled in the guard were in the process of doing this now. Velox would have an easy time of getting into the Triad and doing a fair bit of damage, but that would mean losing him by her side and knowing that he was always alive and healthy. Raisa didn't know if she could handle the stress of him being away like that.

Yet another option was to ask that he accompany her as a member of her personal guard, which would grant him access to her even while the Fire Lord was around. It was improper and would turn heads, but it would make the months of Zuko's residency in the palace more bearable. Of course, this also ran the risk of angering Zuko, which would be more trouble than she was certain she could handle.

So no matter which angle she looked at it, Raisa was being entirely selfish and running into dead ends. She knew what would make her happy, though that possibility was slipping further and further from her grasp with each passing moment. Before the meeting in the North, it had seemed like such a real possibility she had actually began planning out how it would work without upsetting her people. Now, only a month later, Velox becoming her consort was the closest she'd ever get to realizing those dreams. Still, Velox had said anything, and as much as she wanted to ask his help for what was in her heart just as much as she wanted to ask him to leave and never look back, Raisa was stuck in the middle with no clear direction, and wished only to pretend that things were as simple as they used to be.

"Kiss me."

[Velox Sicarius]

The pause had been long. Obviously she was thinking of some strange, evil plan to ask him to do that would utterly humiliate him, to make herself laugh and show that he wasn't invincible. Maybe she would force him to wear a dress, or serve her food. Maybe it would be something more serious, like telling him to run away, just as she had said earlier. Whatever it would be, he would have a hard time ignoring what ever it was she asked, no matter what it was. He had just said he would do anything she asked.

And there it was, her answer. His thought of her response was clear by the pure shock written in his eyes, as well as the slightly half-dropped mouth and silence pouring from it. Had she really just said that? Yes, she had said it. And now he was obliged to follow her request. But really...a kiss....so sudden? He could feel his cheeks flushing red, and it took effort to keep looking up at her. He had no idea what to say, her two words echoing in his brain like a bouncy ball. The only response he could think of was humor. "Well, I suppose you will be the dominate one in this relationship" He said with a half smile, still completely surprised.

He sighed, closed his eyes and breathed in, leaning forward as he pressed his lips to hers just as she asked. At first it was a gentle kiss, but slowly he hugged his arms around her and kissed her fully. He loved her, he knew he did, and it was things like this that made him feel like he was flying again, like he used to do so long ago. It felt good, and it felt reassuring that Raisa was the one who wanted the kiss, not just him.