95, Coming clean

As the white carriage got close to the city gate, Ayya could hear the guards calling out the news of their arrival. Then they were through the gate and in the city. All three aari had huge smiles on their faces as they watched the familiar city. 

“We’re home,” Hinat said. 

“It feels nice,” Ayya said. 

“I can’t wait until I can go for walks without having a rider with me,” Firlea said. 

“I think Jontak will stay more or less glued to you in the coming weeks,” Ayya laughed. A happy smile showed on her friend’s face, making Ayya understand Firlea liked the idea. When they had snaked their way to the centre of the city and arrived at the river field, they found it was full of people. Ayya could see her father and Tariana with Ayya’s mother, and Mikhalie stood a little to the side. The council was there as well, and family and friends of the ones that had been on the journey. The carriage stopped and Tenac helped Ayya down. 

“Ayyanapia Teeran, protector of the white rose of Treenia, candidate of the aari, deputy of the Lady and protector of Dermes,” the head of the council called out. Ayya was a little taken back, but as this seemed to be a formal event, she played her part and walked up to Tariana and bowed. 

“My Lady, I, Ayyanapia Teeran, have returned from Domne with a completed mission. I am ready to give you my report,” Ayya declared. 

“Welcome home, Ayyanapia, protector of the white rose of Treenia. We are pleased to hear your mission was a success. Your achievements have brought glory to the aari and allowed us to forge a new bond with a brother we had lost. You have our thanks and admiration,” Tariana said and bowed to Ayya. The council bowed as well, and the rest of the people followed suit. Ayya was lost for words as she watched the scene in front of her. Then Tariana stood up and gave her a brilliant smile and drew her into a hug. “Welcome home Ayya, I’m so happy to see you again, but if you continue to add more titles to your name, it will take a full day to announce you,” Tariana said. 

“Thank you, Tariana. I’m happy to be home,” Ayya told her. When Tariana let go of her, she was engrossed in a hug by her mother and father. Ayya fought back the tears as she hugged them back. 

“Welcome back, sweetheart. You look a little tired. Have you been sleeping okay?” her mother said and wiped away tears from her face. 

“I’m fine mom, it has been a long journey,” Ayya told her. 

“It has, little one. But we are so proud of you and we are very pleased to have you back,” her father said. 

“Thanks dad. I have missed you, both of you,” she said and got another hug from them. Ayya could see Firlea in the arms of Jontak and Hinat being kissed by Terway. Ayya was released by both of her parents and she saw her mother looking around. 

“Ayya, weren’t there supposed to be a boy with you?” she asked. 

“He is taking a detour with Sinhera to look at the horses in the winter paddocks,” Ayya told her. She turned towards Tariana and Tenac. “Tariana, do you have time to come back to my parent’s place for a little while? There are some things we need to talk about,” Ayya said. Tariana and her parents looked a little taken aback. 

“I don’t see why not. I have a feeling this will be entertaining,” Tariana said with a smile. 

“Is that okay with you?” Ayya asked her parents. 

“Of course, dear. We will go home, have some tea and cake that I baked this morning and you can say what it is you need to say,” her mother told her. 

They were all sitting down at the kitchen table, and Ayya’s mother had just finished pouring the tea and handing out pieces of cake. Ayya was thinking of a good way to start the conversation when Tenac just went for it. 

“Kopa, Bettina, mom, when we were away a lot of things happened which made things clear for me. I asked Ayya to marry me, and she accepted,” he told them. The kitchen became silent, you could hear a pin drop. Ayya watched the three people that had got the news. Both women looked stunned for a while, then they both broke out in big smiles and looked at each other, like they were sharing a secret. Her father looked at her. She met his eyes and smiled at him. He nodded.

“Well, that’s not the worst news,” he said. As if his voice were the trigger, Tariana and Ayya’s mother jumped up from their seats with a happy squeal and dragged Ayya and Tenac up from their seats to give them a hug. Then they switched child for another hug.

“I had almost lost hope,” Tariana told Bettina. 

“You and me both. Who knew we would have two such stubborn children?” Bettina answered as they sat down again. 

“What are you two talking about?” Ayya asked. Tenac had taken her hand in his and the look their mothers were giving them as they saw it was one of pure happiness.

“Oh, honestly. The two of you have been skating around this for years,” Tariana said.

“You were driving me and Tariana insane with your refusal to do the logical thing. And your father was of no help, blind as a bat, that one,” Bettina told them and kissed Kopa on the cheek. “Wait, the boy,” Bettina suddenly said. 

“Yes, Ayya and I adopted him,” Tenac confirmed her suspicions. Bettina and Tariana looked at each other. 

“A grandson,” they both said at the same time, sounding like all their dreams had come true in one big swoop. Ayya smiled. She had an amazing family.

“Yes, but Jason’s family only passed away a little over two weeks ago. He is still getting used to it. He calls us Ayya and Tenac and we are fine with that,” Ayya told them. They all nodded and understood what she was saying. They had to let Jason take his time to settle into his new life. 

“This means we will be getting married as soon as possible,” Tenac said. 

“Oh, of course. We need to start planning for it straight away,” Bettina said.

“We have been talking,” Ayya told them. “We were hoping to ask Cetu and Beruda if we could hold the wedding at the clan,” she continued. 

“Oh, that is an excellent idea. It will be something special,” Bettina said. 

“I know the two of you probably were hoping to keep it small and simple. But with Ayya being who she is and her reputation growing with each day, we will have to invite other nations and our allies,” Tariana pointed out. 

“We already figured as much, uncle will most likely also want to invite the other clan chiefs,” Tenac told them. 

“We were thinking two months will be enough time to plan everything,” Ayya said.

“Oh, we will make do with it. There is so much to plan. We need to get in touch with Beruda,” Tariana exclaimed, sounding excited. 

“Let us at least ask if they will agree to host it first,“ Tenac said to his mother. “I will take Ayya and Jason there later this week and ask my uncle.”

“Of course they will host it. Your uncle knows it will raise their status, and he loves you,” Tariana reassured him. Then the two women started to talk about what they needed to get in order. Kopa looked at Ayya and then at Tenac. 

“You will be wanting to buy a house then,” he said. 

“Yes, that is on top of our list,” Tenac agreed. Kopa nodded. 

“I know of a couple of places for sale that would be suitable. I’ll make arrangements for you to look at them,” Kopa said. Ayya smiled at him. It was as close to a blessing as they would get from him. They continued to discuss things until there was a knock on the door. Ayya and Tenac looked at each other and smiled. 

“We will get it. You just stay where you are,” she told their parents. Ayya opened the front door to see Sinhera and Jason. Jason ran up to her and gave her a hug. “Did you have fun?” she asked him.

“So much fun. We saw so many horses,” he told her. 

“Thank you for taking him,” Tenac told Sinhera.

“It was fun. He is a good kid. See you later, Jason,” Sinhera said. 

“Bye Sinhera,” he said. 

“This is where you and me will be staying for the next couple of weeks. Does that sound good?” Ayya asked Jason. 

“It’s so big,” he said. 

“It is. I’ll give you a tour later. But first we would like you to meet our parents,” she told him. Ayya and Tenac each took one of his hands and led him to the kitchen. The kitchen was silent again. Ayya had a feeling they had been listening to their conversation in the hall. Their parents stood up from the table and they all smiled at Jason. 

“Jason, this is my mom,” Tenac said and Tariana walked up to them.

“Hello Jason, it’s so nice to meet you. I have been looking forward to it. May I give you a hug?” Tariana asked and got down to his level and opened her arms. Jason smiled and nodded and walked right into her arms. “You remind me of Ayya when I first met her,” she told him and let him go. 

“I do?” he asked. 

“Oh yes, you have the same fire in you as she has,” Tariana said. 

“Jason, this is my mom,”Ayya said as Bettina stepped forward. 

“Hi, Jason. I’m Bettina,” Betina said and opened up her arms. Again Jason stepped in to them without hesitation and Betina gave him one of her signature hugs. Jason’s grip on her tightened and Ayya saw the tears in her mother’s eyes. “We will get along great, you and I. Do you like to eat?” she asked as she let him out of the hug.

“I love to eat. Do you know how to make biscuits?” he asked. 

“I sure do,” she told him. 

“Jason, this is my dad,” Ayya finally said as Kopa walked up to them. She saw Jason look up at him and for a moment Ayya was worried Jason would be scared of her father. He could look intimidating.