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hathor_girlChapter 22: The Joining Ceremony
Rosha POV.
I am sitting in the newly grown Tok'ra ceremonial chamber - and feeling a bit self-conscious. People have really gone to a lot of trouble to do all this! The room is quite big - the Tok'ra are a very close-knit group of people, and everyone on the base wishes to be able to fit in the room, even if we will go to the mess hall for the partying afterwards.
We are waiting for Martouf and Lantash, surrounded by Jolinar's close friends Malek, Selmak, Kelmaa, and Ocker. They have helped us put the last touches on our dress and make-up.
Malek is almost as close a friend of Lantash, but since he has known Jolinar longer, he decided he would be in her group. Martouf and Lantash are attended by Aldwin, Zarin, Jalen, and Korra.
Apparently, the Tok'ra do not think it strange that a man is helped by male and female friends alike for his wedding - nor that a woman has both male and female friends and attendants for the ceremony. It is very different from where I come from, but I am not really surprised. It is as I have come to expect. The Tok'ra have a great deal of gender equality. I wonder if it is because they could theoretically get hosts of either gender? Though, many seem to have a preference and want only hosts of one gender.
Jolinar claims it is because the Tok'ra are more sensible and more evolved than the people on my world. Somewhat insulting, though I have come to know her for being very direct and out-spoken. She doesn't mean it in a bad way, and to be honest, I think I agree with her. At least in this case.
Jolinar calls my attention to our surroundings, and I look up. Martouf and Lantash are arriving now, together with their attendants, and after them come Selmak, looking very regal in her official Tok'ra dress. Everyone else is flocking in after them.
I don't have eyes for the others, though, only for Martouf and Lantash, and it is the same for Jolinar. They look gorgeous!
Selmak, followed by Garshaw and a few other members of the Council, goes to stand before us. I turn to Martouf/Lantash standing beside us, and smile at them. Martouf smiles back - it is obviously him. I realise I can recognize who is in control just from their smile, and Jolinar makes a friendly 'I told you so' remark. I'm too happy about everything to even answer her.
"Rosha, Jolinar, Martouf, and Lantash," Selmak calls to us, her voice mild but stern. We look to her. "You have chosen to be joined in the traditional Tok'ra ceremony, and it is the honourable pleasure of Saroosh and I to officiate. First, Jolinar, as the oldest, will be called."
I give Jolinar control and she smiles at Selmak.
"I, Jolinar, answers your call."
Selmak smiles. "I then call the oldest of your mates."
Martouf dips his head, giving Lantash control.
"I, Lantash, answers your call."
"Jolinar of Malkshur, do you wish to bond Lantash, child of Egeria, to you, expecting the bond to last for eternity?"
"Yes, that is my wish."
"Jolinar of Malkshur, will you do all that is within your power to protect Lantash, child of Egeria, from the evils of the Galaxy, will you keep him always in your heart and soul, and never permit time and distance to weaken the bond between you?"
"Yes, I will."
"Then, eat this sweetbread, and drink from this sparkling wine, as a symbol of your wish to always keep your relation sweet, and your love sparkling." Selmak hands Jolinar a piece of soft, spicy - and sweet bread. She then lets her take a drink from a large goblet held by two attendants, before she turns to Lantash, to repeat the ritual.
"Lantash, child of Egeria, do you wish to bond Jolinar of Malkshur to you, expecting the bond to last for eternity?"
"Yes, that is my wish." Lantash smiles widely, winking at Jolinar and I.
"Lantash, child of Egeria, will you do all that..."
Selmak continues the ceremony, calling on me to be bonded to Lantash, then Martouf to be bonded to Jolinar, then finally me and Martouf to be bonded. It is done in order from the oldest to the youngest, as is Tok'ra tradition. It is a very long ceremony, given that each host and symbiote is marrying each of their mates.
Finally, we get to the end of the ceremony, and we are each handed a necklace to put around the neck of the other.
"Now, Jolinar, as proof of sincerity, and to seal the bond, you will give Lantash and Martouf a necklace from you and Rosha," Selmak tells Jolinar.
"It will be my pleasure." Jolinar half-bows, then turns to Lantash who bows his head lightly. Jolinar puts the necklace around him, and he grins happily.
"Lantash, as proof of sincerity, and to seal the bond, you will give Rosha and Jolinar a necklace from you and Martouf."
"It will be my pleasure," Lantash says, then puts the necklace around our neck.
"With this, the ceremony is complete. You are officially joined mates. May your life together be long and happy, may no Goa'uld or other enemy come between you, may you always have enough to eat and drink, and the means to keep you warm. May you love continue on, forever, across time and space, and conquer death. So wish all the Tok'ra." Selmak smiles happily at us. "Now, please give each other a long, passionate kiss for good luck, before we all retire to the mess hall for a huge party!"
Martouf and Lantash immediately throws their arms around us, kissing us so passionately I feel a bit dizzy. I do notice the kiss change a little mid-way and I think Martouf has taken over from Lantash. Their kisses have begun to differ a little. People around us are cheering us on, but I would actually prefer they went ahead to the mess hall instead - I don't like kissing in public, but neither Martouf, Lantash, nor Jolinar seems to mind.
It's been a wonderful party, with lots of good food, a huge cake, and much sparkling wine. We have danced many times with Martouf and Lantash - and with some of the other Tok'ra who insisted they deserved a dance as well. It's been great, and I am more than a little tipsy.
Now Martouf and Lantash have been taken to our room - the room Lantash and Jolinar shared before, and which they... we, will be sharing again after today. According to Tok'ra tradition, the mate-pair with the youngest symbiote goes to the shared room first, then the older one follows.
I feel more than a little nervous, though nowhere near as much as I did on my home planet when I was getting ready to get married. This is very different. Martouf and Lantash are sweet and kind, and they would never willingly do anything to hurt me. They doesn't consider me their property - and like all Tok'ra they consider men and women equal. Very different - and very much nicer. No, I am not nearly as nervous here.
Of course, there is another big difference - I am in love with them, and they with me. It is unfathomable. I feel lucky.
And then there is Jolinar who will be there with me. Tonight might even be... nice.
Jolinar giggles and assures me that it will be more than just nice. It will be wonderful, and she has been looking forward to this for a long time.
I do feel a little guilty, keeping her away from her mate. Well, no longer.
Rosha POV.
I am sitting in the newly grown Tok'ra ceremonial chamber - and feeling a bit self-conscious. People have really gone to a lot of trouble to do all this! The room is quite big - the Tok'ra are a very close-knit group of people, and everyone on the base wishes to be able to fit in the room, even if we will go to the mess hall for the partying afterwards.
We are waiting for Martouf and Lantash, surrounded by Jolinar's close friends Malek, Selmak, Kelmaa, and Ocker. They have helped us put the last touches on our dress and make-up.
Malek is almost as close a friend of Lantash, but since he has known Jolinar longer, he decided he would be in her group. Martouf and Lantash are attended by Aldwin, Zarin, Jalen, and Korra.
Apparently, the Tok'ra do not think it strange that a man is helped by male and female friends alike for his wedding - nor that a woman has both male and female friends and attendants for the ceremony. It is very different from where I come from, but I am not really surprised. It is as I have come to expect. The Tok'ra have a great deal of gender equality. I wonder if it is because they could theoretically get hosts of either gender? Though, many seem to have a preference and want only hosts of one gender.
Jolinar claims it is because the Tok'ra are more sensible and more evolved than the people on my world. Somewhat insulting, though I have come to know her for being very direct and out-spoken. She doesn't mean it in a bad way, and to be honest, I think I agree with her. At least in this case.
Jolinar calls my attention to our surroundings, and I look up. Martouf and Lantash are arriving now, together with their attendants, and after them come Selmak, looking very regal in her official Tok'ra dress. Everyone else is flocking in after them.
I don't have eyes for the others, though, only for Martouf and Lantash, and it is the same for Jolinar. They look gorgeous!
Selmak, followed by Garshaw and a few other members of the Council, goes to stand before us. I turn to Martouf/Lantash standing beside us, and smile at them. Martouf smiles back - it is obviously him. I realise I can recognize who is in control just from their smile, and Jolinar makes a friendly 'I told you so' remark. I'm too happy about everything to even answer her.
"Rosha, Jolinar, Martouf, and Lantash," Selmak calls to us, her voice mild but stern. We look to her. "You have chosen to be joined in the traditional Tok'ra ceremony, and it is the honourable pleasure of Saroosh and I to officiate. First, Jolinar, as the oldest, will be called."
I give Jolinar control and she smiles at Selmak.
"I, Jolinar, answers your call."
Selmak smiles. "I then call the oldest of your mates."
Martouf dips his head, giving Lantash control.
"I, Lantash, answers your call."
"Jolinar of Malkshur, do you wish to bond Lantash, child of Egeria, to you, expecting the bond to last for eternity?"
"Yes, that is my wish."
"Jolinar of Malkshur, will you do all that is within your power to protect Lantash, child of Egeria, from the evils of the Galaxy, will you keep him always in your heart and soul, and never permit time and distance to weaken the bond between you?"
"Yes, I will."
"Then, eat this sweetbread, and drink from this sparkling wine, as a symbol of your wish to always keep your relation sweet, and your love sparkling." Selmak hands Jolinar a piece of soft, spicy - and sweet bread. She then lets her take a drink from a large goblet held by two attendants, before she turns to Lantash, to repeat the ritual.
"Lantash, child of Egeria, do you wish to bond Jolinar of Malkshur to you, expecting the bond to last for eternity?"
"Yes, that is my wish." Lantash smiles widely, winking at Jolinar and I.
"Lantash, child of Egeria, will you do all that..."
Selmak continues the ceremony, calling on me to be bonded to Lantash, then Martouf to be bonded to Jolinar, then finally me and Martouf to be bonded. It is done in order from the oldest to the youngest, as is Tok'ra tradition. It is a very long ceremony, given that each host and symbiote is marrying each of their mates.
Finally, we get to the end of the ceremony, and we are each handed a necklace to put around the neck of the other.
"Now, Jolinar, as proof of sincerity, and to seal the bond, you will give Lantash and Martouf a necklace from you and Rosha," Selmak tells Jolinar.
"It will be my pleasure." Jolinar half-bows, then turns to Lantash who bows his head lightly. Jolinar puts the necklace around him, and he grins happily.
"Lantash, as proof of sincerity, and to seal the bond, you will give Rosha and Jolinar a necklace from you and Martouf."
"It will be my pleasure," Lantash says, then puts the necklace around our neck.
"With this, the ceremony is complete. You are officially joined mates. May your life together be long and happy, may no Goa'uld or other enemy come between you, may you always have enough to eat and drink, and the means to keep you warm. May you love continue on, forever, across time and space, and conquer death. So wish all the Tok'ra." Selmak smiles happily at us. "Now, please give each other a long, passionate kiss for good luck, before we all retire to the mess hall for a huge party!"
Martouf and Lantash immediately throws their arms around us, kissing us so passionately I feel a bit dizzy. I do notice the kiss change a little mid-way and I think Martouf has taken over from Lantash. Their kisses have begun to differ a little. People around us are cheering us on, but I would actually prefer they went ahead to the mess hall instead - I don't like kissing in public, but neither Martouf, Lantash, nor Jolinar seems to mind.
It's been a wonderful party, with lots of good food, a huge cake, and much sparkling wine. We have danced many times with Martouf and Lantash - and with some of the other Tok'ra who insisted they deserved a dance as well. It's been great, and I am more than a little tipsy.
Now Martouf and Lantash have been taken to our room - the room Lantash and Jolinar shared before, and which they... we, will be sharing again after today. According to Tok'ra tradition, the mate-pair with the youngest symbiote goes to the shared room first, then the older one follows.
I feel more than a little nervous, though nowhere near as much as I did on my home planet when I was getting ready to get married. This is very different. Martouf and Lantash are sweet and kind, and they would never willingly do anything to hurt me. They doesn't consider me their property - and like all Tok'ra they consider men and women equal. Very different - and very much nicer. No, I am not nearly as nervous here.
Of course, there is another big difference - I am in love with them, and they with me. It is unfathomable. I feel lucky.
And then there is Jolinar who will be there with me. Tonight might even be... nice.
Jolinar giggles and assures me that it will be more than just nice. It will be wonderful, and she has been looking forward to this for a long time.
I do feel a little guilty, keeping her away from her mate. Well, no longer.