It was december fifth. The first round of mateing ceremonies for the year had begun. The ceremonies started in december and ended in November not fallowing the traditional year. I looked at the boy on stage now. Tall, many would agree he was handsome with his dark hair and tanned skin. At the moment his eyes were an excited yellow. His birthday was the first in the season, Anaxious was now a man. He would be chooseing his partner for life in just a few short minutes. The crowd waited with baited breath as the grand priest re-told the story of the first mateing ceremony and how it came to be.
" ...And so it is on this day that a boy becomes a man. Now choosing a single person to step into audulthood with him." The grand priest finished turning towards Anaxious. "Announce the name of your beloved so that no other may take them from you."
The girls and boys around my age all pushed closer begging with their eyes to get picked. I stood in the far back hoping to go unnoticed. It wasn't as if he would actually pick me. Anaxious had been the scourge of my life since the day we met. I would return home crying many times due to his cruelty. Many of the others our age shunned me, wanting to stay on his good side. The mateing ceremonies were so unfair. I may never have a mate and it was all because of Anaxious. My only hope would be that a younger girl or boy had noticed me and would choose me in the future.
I was so deep in my own thoughts I missed the name completely. I only noticed when the few people near to me staired.
"What?"
"I choose Baoy Sindhe." Anaxious reapeted when no one moved towards the stage.
My eyes widened in shock, I was an imoble stone, in that moment petrified.
"Baoy! Come forward so that Anaxious may claim his chosen one!" The grand priest prompted.
I stiffly made my way to the dias in a trance. I got shoved by a few of the hopeful girls. Everyone who knew of Anaxious' treatment of me was sending me a vicious glare others a confused one.
They were all probably thinkimg the same thing I was. Why? How? The man that had tortured me and alienated me for years stood on the stage awaiting my assention. Was he so sadistic that he wished to torture me for the entirety of my existence?
Once on the raised platform Anaxious came forward and took my hand and lead me to the center of the stage as was custome. I did everything in a dull trance. The priest gave me the sacred vows to repeat and I did. It wasn't as if I could leave the stage and refuse the chooser. All choices were sacred and must be upheld.
"It is my pleasure to introduce before the people, Anaxious Baoy and Baoy Sindhe." The crowd all cheered as the priest anounced Anaxious' final surname.
The entire time I stood on the stage my hand in his I felt as if I were in a dream, maybe a nightmare? Anaxious turned to me giving me a small peck on the lips to seal the deal. His eyes shown lilac as he gazed at me. I breathed a sigh of relief at the gesture. The final step of the ceremony was "claiming". The chooser could claim their mate in anyway they chose. The least they could do was give a kiss to their mates cheek. Some did the extreme, which was to have sex for all to bare witness. I thanked the gods that Anaxiouse didn't take my virginity on this stage.
We were soon whisked off the stage and deposited in front of a small home. This is where we would stay for the first month. We would not be bothered and food would be dropped ofg at our front door.
Once the people dispersed to leave us to our "Time of peace" as it was called I pulled my hand from Anaxious as soon as they were gone.
"Whats wrong?" He asked confused. His happy purple eyes wavered to a sad brown for a moment.
If I had a mirror my own eyes would probably be a shocked blue.
"'Whats wrong'? Why did you choose me Anaxious?" I almost growled.
He smiled his eyes softening from brown to a peaceful lilac once more. "I wanted to be Anaxious Baoy."
"Why? You've hated me my whole life and made sure I was tortured by everyone in our year. Why am I standing beside you as your chosen one?" I hissed.
His eyes returned to a sad brown. "I'm sorry Baoy. I only made them stay away from you because you were mine! I didn't want anyone else talking to you, making you laugh and smile. That first time I saw it I got angry. I didn't even mean to put you down but that was the quickest way for me to get that girl to stop talking to you." His eyes were a pleading dandelion yellow now. I didn't reply right away just silently fumed. "I see the red in your eyes. I know you are angry but maybe in time you will forgive me and we can be happily mated. Maybe one day you will look at me with pink eyes.... Your name next to mine brings me such joy. When I go into town now everyone will look and say 'There is Anaxious Baoy.' I'm so happy I can die with Lilac eyes."
I blushed at his confession. He wanted me to look at him with pink eyes?
"Pink! How could you think I would ever look at you with pink eyes?" I spat trying to hide my earlier blush.
His eyes turned a tearfull light brown. "We are together now and forever. You will have to learn to at least tolerate me."
I knew it was true and felt only despare. I think it was better when i assumed I wouldn't be chosen by anyone ever.
