This fanfic - the stories in each chapter are NOT my own work. I want to make it very clear that I am not claiming authorship; I'm just saving them here for myself, because I enjoy reading them all the time and thought it would be more practical to...
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Your heart is beating out of your chest. You can barely hear the Tsahik as she speaks of Eywa and this union and how it will be prosperous for all.
Your breathing is heavy, uneven, terrified.
You don't even dare glance at your betrothed, at the oloeyktan. He seems calm, seems to be pleased by this, but there's something in his eyes that tells you otherwise...
When the match had been made, you were sure you'd find a way to get out of the arrangement. You were convinced Toruk Macto would choose someone else. You thought the Tsahik would rethink her decision.
Turns out, you were in denial the whole time.
It's happening now. You and Jake are being sacredly united. Nothing will be able to pull you apart, and if you try to leave, you will bring shame to yourself and your family.
You have to stick with this. Have to learn to love him...or at least coexist with him peacefully.
As the ceremony slowly comes to a close, you think to yourself, I'll give him kids. Two, probably. That's all that duty requires from me. There's no reason to go beyond that...
The ceremony is consummated. The People cheer. They offer you compliments and hugs and bracelets and necklaces. You feel numb. You can barely breathe.
Jake Sully is attractive, of course, and you're not upset at the union...You're just...unsure. You're being asked to love and live with someone you barely know...That's what makes you uneasy.
There's a feast after, but for the life of you, you can't remember a single thing about what happens. You offer fake smiles, polite nods, quiet thanks. Your mate barely glances at you the whole time.
When it's over, when night falls, you know as much as he does that it's time to give oneself to each other.
Your legs are trembling, weak as the oloeyktan helps you up from your seat. It's the first time you two exchange so much as a glance. He smiles at you, but it's an empty, forced smile.
You're terrified, nervous, uneasy...So many emotions are running through you and you don't know which to pick.
He leads you to his tent—now your tent as well. He wordlessly leads you inside and closes the tent flaps after himself.
You stand there in your pretty beaded top and ornate necklaces, in your frivolous loincloth and complicated hairdo.
He turns to you with a look of rage in his eyes, but the rest of his body seems completely relaxed. He takes a deep breath, rubbing at his forehead. "Look," he starts. "This isn't going to be easy. I know, and you know—"
"Oh, it-it's okay," you quickly say, afraid of displeasing him in any way. "We'll work it out..."
Jake laughs bitterly, his eyes narrow as he looks at you. "There's nothing to work out. We have no choice. All we can do right now is—"
