Chapter 24

Part 3

“As I said, I know that most of the time he will have to rape me, and that sometimes he will have to spank me.” Talia stated as she turned back to Alilia. “What else will he have to do, and how often?”

Mark’s gruff interjection came before Alilia could answer. “Now hold on! No offense against the rest of you fine people, but these will be the details of… I mean, it’s bad enough that I have to do these things, things that no decent man could be proud of doing, but I don’t see why anyone else needs to know what Talia and I will be doing during our intimate moments as man and wife! If we don’t have to do anything else till tomorrow, I don’t see why Alilia can’t tell us the rest of that later, with only her and Talia and me present! And I ask the rest of you to avoid learning the details of what happened to Yzandra, and to not let anyone else know that Alilia’s curse is based on Yzandra’s ordeal!”

“Quite right.” Yazadril nodded. “We understand completely. You can be certain that we will do as you ask in this.”

The others nodded agreement.

“You should know this too, for I have wronged you more than you realize.” Alilia stated bitterly. “We were in the Council Hall of The High People today when Yazadril asked of the nature of the curse I had cast upon Talia. Though I gave no other details, I loudly declared that I had given her to you, to be raped by you until the end of days. There were many present, of The High People and my people as well. By now everyone knows of it.”

“Well, isn’t that just great.” Mark bitterly declared a moment later.

Hilsith cleared her throat, and spoke. “I am here in my role as a Healer, to try to minimize the suffering that will be caused by the curse. As our people have an innate ability to heal normal physical injury, most of my work deals with the healing of minds, and emotions, and injury caused by magic. I welcome you to seek my council on these matters, and recommend that you do so. If you do, you can trust my confidentiality as a sworn Healer.

“Beyond that, there seems little more that I can do here right now. Though there is a treatment that may help a little, I need to do some research before I reveal or apply it. The course you have set for yourselves is likely the healthiest possible way to deal with the curse, over the next few days at least. And so, I will offer my congratulations on your engagement, and take my leave.”

“Thank you, Hilsith. I hope you come to my wedding.” Talia said as she turned on Mark’s lap to exchange a fond embrace with the Healer.

Then Hilsith hugged Mark as well, or rather hugged his neck, saying: “Be well, young Mark. Though you could not have foreseen this fate, you could not have found better to be your wife than Talia, or any better than Yazadril and Nemia to be your family. All of you will need all the care that you can give each other, to recover from your losses. If not before, I will see you at your wedding.”

“You won’t have long to wait.” Mark told her, and tried to smile. “We have to be married before the sun sets. We can’t take the chance that the curse will strike again before we’re married.”

“He’s right.” Talia nodded.

“In that case, is there anything I can do to help with the preparations?”

“We just want something small, I think…” Mark mused, then stopped at Talia’s hurt expression.

Then she realized how she looked, and dropped her eyes. “Ah, that would be fine.” she murmured.

“Uh, then again, I’ve always wanted a wedding that was more… uh, traditional?” he ventured.

She lifted her eyes to his, smiling hopefully.

“Perhaps something grand and beautiful?” he continued, his growing smile matching hers. “It’s hard to describe. And us men don’t really care much about the details of such things anyway. Perhaps if you have something nice in mind, my intended bride, you could help me out with a few ideas about it?”

“Oh Mark, you are so sweet!” Talia beamed, and knelt up on his lap so she could throw her arms around his neck and kiss him full upon the mouth.

“He will be a great husband for our daughter, Nemia.” Yazadril chuckled as he hugged his wife. “You must admit that was a brilliant bit of husbanding just now! Masterful diplomats could not have done it better!”

“I agree!” Nemia laughed. “He is indeed a perceptive gentleman.”

Suddenly Mark broke the long and deep kiss by gently but quickly lifting Talia a bit and sitting her back in his lap. Before she could ask what was wrong he whispered in her ear; “I’m sorry, but your kiss has… aroused me, and I didn’t want everyone to see it.”

“Oh.” she said in surprise. Then, struck by curiosity, she wiggled in his lap a little like she was trying to get more comfortable, so she could see what it felt like. “Oh my!” she said, and upon realizing that he was blushing scarlet, buried her face in his chest and giggled.

“Who traditionally plans the wedding in your culture? And do you hold a reception afterward?” Mark asked the group.

“The mother of the bride plans the wedding.” Nemia chuckled. “And I already know what Talia would prefer in that regard. And if by ‘a reception’ you mean a huge celebration with feasting and music and dancing, we do indeed do that.

“You must realize that among our people, weddings are a very rare and special event, because of our low birthrate and longevity. And because elves almost never divorce, and so almost never remarry unless they are widowed. You should also know, Mark, that the vow of an elf is magically binding, and that the vows of marriage are the most profound and powerful of all. The presence of other elves adds power to the binding. It helps to insure the happiness of our marriages that the power of the attendees adds to the power of our vows to love each other and to strive to bring happiness to our marriage. For all these reasons, we tend to invite as many as possible to the wedding.”

“That sounds like good thinking.” Mark nodded.

“The wedding that all of us have always envisioned for Talia,” Nemia continued, “Would be attended by all of the High People.”

“But… Yazadril said that there’s thousands of you!”

“That is correct.” Nemia smiled. “But only a few thousands.”

“Don’t worry.” Yazadril chuckled. “I’m the one who has to pay for it, and not you!”

Mark laughed, and shared a smile with Talia. “Then that’s the way it must be.”

“Thank you. “ she whispered, and drew his head down for another kiss.

“Well, since they must be married tonight, we are short of time.” Yazadril stated. “To save a bit of it, I will send a Speaking to all of my people, rather than inviting each of them in person. And since I lack the power to cast a Speaking to so many, Alilia, could I presume upon you to lend me a bit?”

“Certainly.” Alilia nodded.

Talia had ended her kiss and was smiling up at Mark, and he noticed at that moment that Yazadril’s glow became markedly brighter.

“Source above! Not so much, Alilia!” Yazadril laughed. “I don’t need to shout their ears off! Though I must say, that always gives a feeling that would be easy to get used to!”

Alilia slowed her flow of power to him, and his glow diminished a bit.

“That’s about right.” Yazadril nodded, then hummed a short melody, and cast the Speaking.