106, The meeting and the greeting

Ayya woke up to the sound of people moving around in the tent. It was still early as the open gap in the tent roof that let the smoke out, still showed a sky that was moving from night to morning. Ayya sat up and stretched. She always slept well in the little nest of blankets and pillows. 

“You need to leave, Cetu,” Beruda told her husband. 

“Now listen here, Beruda. I can have a sit and drink my morning coffee before you start with the women stuff,” Cetu objected. Beruda looked at him and pointed to the tent flap.

“Out,” she said.

“Beruda, this is my tent, I’m the man, I’m the chief,” he told her.

“Out!”

“You are my wife, you should obey me,” he tried. Beruda actually rolled her eyes at that.

“Out.”

“Beruda, please. I just want to drink my coffee in peace,” he pleaded. 

“Out.” Before Cetu could say something more, Tariana walked up to him.

“You told Tenac yesterday a man needs to know when to fold. I think you need to take your own advice,” she told him. Cetu sighed and stomped out of the tent. 

“Men,” Beruda said, shaking her head. “You need to make sure they know who’s in charge,” she told Ayya. Ayya smiled and nodded. Her mother, Anna, and Firlea joined them and they all ate breakfast together. After breakfast several women brought in a big wooden tub and then others came with warm water, filling it. 

“Time for your bath,” Beruda said while Bettina was scattering herbs into the water. Ayya looked around at all the women gathered. 

“With everyone watching?” she asked. 

“No need to be shy, we all have what you have,” Tariana said with a laugh. 

“Right,” Ayya agreed and stripped off her slip dress and underwear and got into the water. Bettina, Tariana and Beruda helped to wash her while the others made sure the oils and soaps they were using were available to them. In some way, it reminded Ayya of the cleansing bath she had taken before the final test of becoming an aari. After the bath she dried off and Beruda came with a robe made out of thin white wool. 

“It’s beautiful,” Ayya said as Beruda helped her slip it on.

“It’s usually woven with the traditional colours, but for you, this will be better,” Beruda said. Ayya were made to sit as Hinat and Firlea brushed her hair and braided it in two braids that was then twisted into a low hanging loop. 

“Time for the traditional flower giving,” Tariana said, sounding excited. They left Ayya alone in the tent. After a while, her mother came in, she had an Eastern spring beauty in her hand. The white flower shifted in light purple as she handed it to Ayya. 

“I’m so proud of you,” Bettina said. 

“Thank you, mom,” Ayya told her. Next, Tariana came with a twig of a birch tree, with the newly sprung leaves. 

“It’s been a long journey, but I’m happy to be here for this,” Tariana told her, when she handed her the twig. 

“Thank you for getting me here,” Ayya said. Then Beruda came with a strand of grass from the plain. One after one, her family and friends and then the women of the clan came and handed her a flower or foliage and gathered around her. When everyone was gathered, Ayya used some of the flowers and grass to braid a wreath for her head. The ones left over, she made into a bouquet. 

“Time to get ready,” her mother said. Ayya got help to slip out of the robe and then they brought out her dress. Cheara had outdone herself. They hadn’t given her much time, but she had done wonders. The slip dress was entirely made out of lace. It had a round, wide neckline and long trumpet sleeves and was entirely see through. 

“Someone will appreciate this later tonight,” Firlea commented and everyone except Ayya laughed. She was too busy blushing. Over the slip dress, there was a dress made out of white silk. It looked as if it had been wrapped across her chest, creating off the shoulder short sleeves and then flowing down her body. The slip dress was visible across her shoulders and with its long sleeves. Firlea helped Ayya put the flower wreath on her head and Hinat handed her the bouquet. 

“You look beautiful,” Tariana said. 

“My baby,” her mother said and caressed Ayya’s cheek as a tear fell down her face. 

“Don’t cry, mom. You will make me cry,” Ayya said. 

“It’s only natural. You look like an angel,” Anna told her. She herself had a tear rolling down her cheek. 

“Mom?” Ayya heard Jason calling from the tent opening.

“In here, Jason,” she answered, and the women parted to let him through. 

“Wow, mom. You look like a princess,” he told her. Ayya smiled.

“Thank you, honey.”

“Uncle Cetu sent me to tell you the first guest will arrive in half an hour according to the scouts,” Jason said. 

“Alright, it’s time for the meeting,” Beruda said. “Jason, go tell that husband of mine that we will meet at the tent in five minutes.”

“Yes, auntie,” Jason said and ran out. Ayya had learned a Che’hul wedding had three main events. The first was the meeting. It was a remnant from the old times when the marriages were arranged. The men would crowd the groom and the women the bride and they would meet at the man’s tent. The couple would be ushered inside to greet each other for the first time. Now days, it was more used as a moment for the couple to prepare for the next part. The second part was the greeting. The couple would walk out of the tent and be brought to a place where they could greet the guests, both the clan and any visitors. It could be a gruelling experience, especially if there were a lot of guests. Ayya wasn’t looking forward to that part. The third and last stage was the ceremony where they would vow to be husband and wife. That part she was looking forward to. The ceremony was usually followed by a great feast. The women exited the tent and crowded around Ayya, hiding her from the outside eyes. Ayya’s naked feet walked over the earth and grass on their way to the tent. A crowd of men stood outside the tent. They all cheered as the woman came walking and moved away from the opening. The women surrounded the opening and then parted to let Ayya walk into the tent. Tenac stood in the middle of the tent, his back turned against her. He was dressed in his ceremonial uniform and Ayya smiled at how handsome he was in it, even from behind. As the flap on the tent closed, Tenac turned around. The tent was lit by the opening in the roof and by two oil lamps. The moment his eyes fell on her, they grew big as saucers, and he froze. 

“Tenac?” Ayya asked in a soft voice. She took a step towards him and next thing she knew, he was in front of her, kissing her. Ayya leaned into the kiss. When they drew apart, Tenac leaned his forehead against hers. 

“I can’t even begin to describe how beautiful you are,” he whispered. 

“Thank you. You look very handsome. You always do in this uniform,” she whispered back to him and ran her hands over his chest. “Are you ready for this?” she asked.

“Always,” he said. 

“Even the greeting?” 

“Maybe not that,” he admitted with a smile. He took a step back to look at her properly and he made her twirl around. “Jason said you looked like a princess, and he was right,” he told her. 

“Stop it. But thank you,” she said and put her arms around his neck. She knew their time alone was almost up. Tenac brushed his finger along the neckline of the slip dress.

“Is the whole thing in the same material?” he asked, sounding mischievous. 

“Tenac!” she said, pretended to be shocked. Then she leaned into him. “Yes it is,” she whispered in his ear and enjoyed the sound of his breath catching. She looked in his eyes and saw a look she didn’t recognise, but she knew it as she felt the same. 

“Time to start the greeting,” Cetu called from the outside. Tenac looked like he was ready to kill his uncle. Ayya giggled and gave him a quick kiss before taking his hand and towing him towards the opening. They stepped outside to see the clan and their friend standing outside. They cheered and ushered Ayya and Tenac to where the greeting would take place. The bridal couple started by greeting the clan, then their friends, and finally their family. As Kopa came up to Ayya, she saw the tears in his eyes and she couldn’t help but get teary herself. He drew her into a hug.

“I’m so proud of you, little one. You have become a beautiful, kind-hearted and intelligent woman. It has been my absolute honour and pleasure to be your father,” he told her. 

“Thank you for coming back for me, dad. I don’t know what I would have done without you,” Ayya said.

“Always, Ayya. Always,” he said, letting her go and placing a kiss on her forehead as he wiped away the tear that rolled down her face. He moved on to Tenac. He shook his hand, and the two men looked at each other and nodded. It looked like they already had a conversation. Next was her mother, and since Ayya was already in tears, it didn’t make it easier to hold back. It was the same when she greeted Tariana and Beruda. Even Cetu had tears in his eyes when it was his turn.