"Cora, I have a question," Mayra leaned over to whisper during the celebratory part of the wedding. Fires had been stoked, and a feast was cooked. The atmosphere of revelry was only slightly dampened by the lack of local women to join the men in dances.
"Yes, Mayra, how can I help you?" The matriarch said graciously. She seemed to find the Klain girl oddly endearing, despite her forward words and intense curiosity.
"In the ceremony, The Commodore mentioned 'in all worlds,' or something similar. What does that mean?"
"Oh, it's an expression," Cora's eyes followed the dancers, "It means that the bond of marriage is very strong."
"Where did the expression come from?" Mayra pressed.
"What are you trying to ask?" Cora finally turned her face to study the young woman next to her.
"I'm asking if Cetoans go to different worlds?" Mayra could hedge no longer. She had to know.
"And what would you expect to do with the answer to such a question?"
"I expect to learn more about Ceto and its people, and try to judge whether you are at risk of letting danger to OUR world." The young woman eyed the elder evenly.
"We have not made the mistake of trusting an entity that desires the destruction of your kingdom." Cora smiled tolerantly. "The treaty talks and trade discussions between our peoples are still in their infancy. Given the history of Klain's breach in the past, you will of course overlook it if we are slow to trust again."
Mayra ducked her head. That breach had been at the behest of the Void masquerading as Queen Titania, but Ceto only had Lysander's word, through the emissary, as evidence to back that up.
"There is no rush for our peoples to know everything about each other immediately." Cora said gently, to soften her harsh reminder of Klain's treachery. "For now, trust that we are sincere."
It wasn't unkind, only cautious. Mayra nodded and changed the subject.
"Can you tell me about some of these dishes? I've never eaten or seen many of them before…"
______
Nearby, Caspian and Naomi sat next to one another receiving the good wishes of the guests. So much attention and interaction was quickly draining the bride's energy.
If Caspian noticed, he said nothing. She supposed that if she wanted to leave, she could say so. He wasn't her caretaker, and she shouldn't expect him to guess what she desired. That wasn't reasonable or fair.
She repeated names to try to memorize them, received compliments with grace, and asked questions to learn more about the guests. With each person, she took time to smile, welcome them, and thank them sincerely for their good wishes. She was a model bride, but it took monumental effort for her to be so.
She wondered how long she would be able to keep up the pretense of enjoying being around so many strange people. What she really needed was to be left alone for a while, but that hardly seemed likely any time soon. Still, she was grateful the Cetoans were being so welcoming, and appreciated their efforts.
Caspian mostly ignored her, but he clapped friends on the back warmly and smiled at them genuinely when he spoke to them. It changed his face entirely, nothing like the taciturn stranger Naomi had thought him to be so far.
It was encouraging to see this side of him. Perhaps after the nerves of the day passed, he would treat her in such a friendly way.
But not so far. The more the guests seemed to warm up to Naomi, the colder Caspian seemed to grow toward her.
Although most Cetoans had dark hair, no one had seen large, soft curls like hers before. It was a point of much admiration and curiosity. Naomi was flattered by the many compliments she was receiving, but it also embarrassed her deeply that her new husband had yet to express agreement with anyone on that topic.
Did he disagree? Or just hate that she was being complimented, particularly by other men? The importance of learning to read his face was paramount to bringing a measure of peace into her mind.
When a lull in guest greetings allowed them a moment alone, she wondered if she should speak. She wanted to know what he was thinking, but concerned herself that he would think she was fishing for compliments.
She'd had plenty of those to last her quite a while. She decided to give one instead.
"Your mother has done a wonderful job with the arrangements." Naomi said softly. There could be nothing to find fault with in that assertion.
"She told me the same about you," Caspian replied blandly.
"She is very kind to say so." Naomi wasn't sure how to navigate this conversation.
"And therefore you are also kind for saying so about her?" He challenged, meeting her eyes. She dropped her gaze and then brought it back up. Assertiveness. That's what these people valued.
"I meant no such thing, but if it pleases you for your wife to be kind, I shall do my best to accommodate that desire."
He studied her, perplexed. She had tried to keep her tone steady and calm despite the subservient words.
"Are you being sarcastic?" He finally asked. She frowned, then gathered herself back together to stare at him with a neutral expression.
"Is sarcasm common and playful among your people or considered disrespectful?" She asked.
"You didn't answer me." Caspian narrowed his eyes, growing visibly irritated.
"I was not being sarcastic, but the fact that you thought I was distracted me. Is it playful or disrespectful here?" Naomi asked again. She'd always thought of it as disrespectful, but Mayra often used it playfully.
He studied her, seemingly unsure if she were serious or not. She'd always been told she wore her emotions openly; surely he could have no issue seeing that she was sincere.
Another guest approached, cutting the conversation short. The couple smiled and thanked the man for his well-wishes. Naomi marveled again at how handsome Caspian was when he smiled. Why wouldn't he smile at her?
She shook away that thought. He would get used to her. Even if he didn't, she was glad that their children might have beautiful smiles like that. She turned crimson at the thought, and Caspian shot her a curious glance.
She was cognizant that the event was drawing inevitably to its close, and they would be left fully alone. It was a daunting and vulnerable prospect. Better to get it over with, maybe.
Haf raised a toast to the couple, and then one or two other members of the community who must be Caspian's friends did the same. They spoke of his courage, good humor, and other admirable traits.
Naomi took diligent mental notes. She'd seen none of these aspects of her husband so far and wanted something to look forward to. It began to sink in that she was married... to one of the higher-respected members of this nation, no less. The son of the leader!
Her future was secure in the sense that she would be provided for and protected... but now what? How did she relate to this man with her? How would they spend their time together? Even now he seemed reluctant to look at her, let alone talk to her.
That was probably fine, she equivocated. She wasn't chatty anyway, naturally. It was exhausting having to talk to all these people, some silence at home would be a welcome haven. The rest of her life stretched out before her as she looked around the gathering.
This wouldn't be too bad. She could do this. She smiled in an effort to believe the thought.
The toasts finished, and Haf announced it was time for the bride and groom to dance.
"What??" Naomi desperately whispered to Caspian. "Nobody told me about any dances."
"Don't the Rhone dance?" He whispered back, annoyed.
"Well, yes, but I don't know any of your dances!" She fretted. He rolled his eyes and reluctantly offered her his hand.
"Calm down. All you have to do is follow." He led her chivalrously to the dance floor in a way that was obviously a show for the watching audience.
She stared up into his eyes, fearful of being made to look a fool. There were so many people watching, judging her. Making their first impressions of her. Why? She'd prepared as well as she could for every part of this process. Cora had neglected to warn her about this or teach her any steps.
Caspian's hand shifted hers into a dance position. He took her other hand and put it on his shoulder, and then put his hand just under her shoulder blade. Her eyes flew to his in utter alarm.
Naomi let her gaze plead with him to save her from humiliation in front of all these people. She'd never danced much at all for fear of looking silly or being ridiculed. She wished now she'd taken the opportunity to learn more.
The music began and she snapped her eyes shut against the dread that gripped her.