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Being given an arranged mate was something like a toss of a coin. It was sheer luck if you ended up loving the one you were destined to be with.
Despite the arrangements of suitors being highly disliked, Neytiri turned back to the tradition of her forefathers, a part of her following the custom in memory of the late Olo'eyktan, Eytukan. As much as he didn't like it, Jake followed his wife's wishes, knowing how much her culture and her father meant to her.
And so, with the consultation of the current tsahik, Neytiri and Mo'at had decided who her firstborn would be promised to, both looking at the candidates for the next tsahik. It was decided that the matched pair would be introduced when Neytiri's son, Neteyam, the next in line for Olo'eyktan, was of age to be part of the People.
Unfortunately, the young man hated it. Neteyam hated the notion of not being able to experience falling in love, and he had hoped that he would be able to understand the look his parents shared when they looked at one another, and share it with someone who would be his equal.
Sure, he would try his best to get along with whoever was planned to be by his side as his mate. But for all he could know, they would've already been in love with someone else, and it was just another unlucky draw.
He dreaded the way his parents spoke of his arranged mate. His mother passed him a slightly pitiful look, and his father only gave his wife a guilty one, knowing what happened previously between her and her chosen mate.
So far, he had turned down nine of the women his mother and grandmother had introduced to him, and he had turned them all down. They just didn't click to him, especially after most of them had passed him thoughtless grins with wandering eyes.
His mother was at the end of her rope, praying to the Great Mother that this time, her son would consider her current option to be the next tsahik. Besides, all she wanted was for her son to be happy and loved, just as she was. And she was starting to lose hope.
"Nete," Neytiri frowned, trying to convince her son. "If you're lucky, she would love you, and you could grow to love her."
"But mother, I want to be a mate to someone I'm already in love with!" The firstborn protested, his frown deepening at his mother's suggestion.
