With You

2

    As I walked down the rest of the stairwell my father continued to speak, "Kalila, I am delighted to introduce you to your husband, Otto Imani."
    A man walked towards me, arm outstretched. He was tall and broad, taking on the look of a noble in a peasant's body. He was like all his countrymen, dark and sun kissed, their hair curled close to their heads, cut short, and elegant clothes that mixed color and design. A small smile grazed his face, no apprehension showed on his face. He looked satisfied with me and that fact reassured me, boosting my confidence enough to accept his outstretched arm.
"Glad to finally meet you, my lady," Otto said when I accepted his arm "I am excited to get to know you over these next few months, then for the rest of our lives."
"Finally meet me?" I have only known about this arrangement for 5 hours. I understand he would have known for a couple weeks, maybe that is enough time for a man to become impatient.
"Glad to meet you too, sir. I hope my company is pleasing." I reply, hoping that is the correct thing to answer. I had friends that were the opposite gender and could interact with them easily, but never in a romantic sense. I was just grateful that my speech was smooth and not interrupted by stutters and pauses, as it was plagued at times when I was nervous or excited.
"I'm sure that every moment with you will be pleasurable." He answered running his gaze over my body. I was confused, knowing that it had a crude meaning behind it, just unable to pinpoint why.
"Come along, gentlemen. Tea is served in the dining room. Tonight our chef has graced our table with Baked Chicken with roasted vegetables, that we raised on our own acreage. Kalila often helps in the gardens, so this is the result of her hard work." My father addressed the men as we walked toward the dining room. I was blushing slightly due to the nearness of Otto and the unexpected compliment from my father.
"Dinner was wonderful, sir. I am pleased that it was the product of my fiancée's hard work." The men were talking after dinner had been finished and Otto was complimenting my father but looking at me.
"Oh, I can take very little credit for what was on the table. Thank you though." I answered catching his eye for the first time tonight. I had answered all his questions but hadn't had the courage to look up and look him in the eye. It was strange to look the man you were going to marry in the eyes. If this was a book, his eyes would be filled with love and warmth, but this is reality, they were carefully blank, with a hit of humour that caused his eyes to lift up the slightest bit and wrinkle.
"My lady, you are too modest. Your father tells me that you are quite adept at most things domestic, cooking, gardening, and I hear even art." Otto's eyes wrinkled even more, finding our exchange humorous. Why? The things I enjoyed were simple, that's why I enjoyed them. Cooking was the simple matter of organization and pattern. Gardening was the thought processes of memories and identification. Art was a touch more difficult, you had to find a style you enjoyed, but mine was always just flowers and stars, easy subject that always remained.
"Yes, I quite enjoy those things. While you are here I will cook a meal for us and then perhaps I can convince you to join me in the garden, and I can show you some of the subject of my art." As soon as I finished this sentence, my father looked up, glared at me and replied,
"Kalila! Gentleman, my daughter doesn't know what she is saying. You do not have to join her in the garden, as that's were the servants work, and not the place for the nobles." My father glared me down and I looked down into my lap. I squeezed my fist, creating half moon marks on my palms, over the preexisting marks, as anxiety rose in my chest. I wasn't good at receiving criticism in public, I would rather get punished after so I could escape to my room and prevent anyone from seeing me upset.
"I would love to join you in the garden, little lady." "My mother works in the gardens at home" "I would love to see your garden." " I am sure that you keep the gardens in tip-top shape, little miss," All of Otto's men started talking, defending me. I looked up surprised, and looked over to Otto.
"What are they doing? They are going to make my father upset," I said trying to make him understand that not standing up to my father was the best way to get through the day.
"My men can handle your father. Trust me, Lilala. When we are married, I want you know that you have my country's support now," Otto replied looking straight at me.
"Men, please join me in the parlour. Lalila, you are excused to go to your room." My father was speaking again, dismissing me, trying to prevent any further embarrassment.
   "Actually, I was hoping to spend some time alone with my fiancée. Would you mind if we strolled around your home and gardens? We would be in sight of the servants at all times, even though we are officially engaged and have no need for chaperones." I was grateful for Otto, but I honestly did not want to
spend more time embarrassing myself in front of him tonight.
   "I will allow that. I will discuss with your men about our business. I will also be thinking about moving the wedding forward, maybe later this month?"
    "Sounds wonderful, sir. I will join you in the parlour after I see Miss Kalila to bed"
    Otto leads us out of the room while my mind is racing. "What business? This is a marriage to show goodwill between providences, and move the wedding forward, the end of the month is less than two weeks away! How am I supposed to become intimate enough with Otto to consummate this marriage in front of everyone in less than two week!"
    Otto seems to see my racing thoughts and stops walking "I understand that this is all moving very fast for you. You see, I have known about this marriage for a couple years now, since you were a child. I thought you had been told years ago, not 5 hours ago."
    "Years ago? My parents have had me engaged for years? Why is our union so important?"
   "I am sorry that your parents didn't tell you, but it is the way it is now. Our marriage is important because over the last few years, tensions have been even more tense and the cardinals who rule our two providences have a growing hatred. Our two families are important enough without being vital to insure peace for at least the next few years."
     I sat down, breathing hard. I was angry, not because of the reasons for my marriage but because I could have known a long time ago and prepared for what marriage meant. "Otto, excuse my rudeness, but how old are you?"
   "My Lady, I am 27. I was born in cold dry season, the hardest on babes."
    "You are nearly 11 years older than me. Why do you not think me a child? Why are you treating me with any importance?"
   "I do not think you a child, because I have spies who have seen your hardships, although I do not know the details of them. I treat you with importance because you deserve to be treated with it."
    "Thank you, although I don't know how I feel about the spies. I am a private person, so I will try and share those things with you, but please allow me some time."
   "I will give you as much time as you need, but I have flaws like everyone else. I can't promise I will not hurt you, because I do not know you." He moved into to hug me and I allowed it but couldn't handle it for long. I moved away, uncomfortable and embarrassed.
    "I'm sorry, I don't remember I was hugged by someone that wasn't one of my female friends. I will try and become more comfortable with you before our marriage night, but I understand what we will have to do and I will not fight it"
   Otto had a strange look on his face that I wasn't able to understand. He slowly grabbed my hand, gently picked it up from my side and held it against his face. "I will not force you to do anything you are not comfortable doing"
     I looked at him, grateful but confused, "You understand that we have insured consummation here, right?
      "Insured consummation?"
      Oh dear, I thought. Answering his question I said, " Yes, after the wedding celebration, everyone gathers in the public room and watched as the newlywed couple consummates the marriage to insure that it happens"
     The look on Otto's face scared me, it looked like he could attack someone. I didn't know what to do, so I gently touched his arm. He looked at my hand and sighed, "I didn't know about that barbaric tradition. I promise I will not hurt you though. I will speak to your father about changing that aspect of our marriage. If I can not get it change, I will come up with a plan."
     "You don't have to do that, I can handle it. Please don't speak to my father. He will think I sent you and punish me."
   "I will tell him I came on my own free will."
  I didn't realise that while we were talking we had walked around the whole house and had ended up at my room. Otto looked at me, his face carefully blank again. I decided to try and hug him again. I reached up around his neck, having to get up on my tiptoes to reach and he wrapped his arms around me waist, resting his chin on my head. I was comfortable, but only for a few moments. I pulled away first, and turned to go into my room. He lightly grabbed my hand, squeezed it and gave me a small smile.
   "Please know that I will try and protect you. Perhaps one day we can grow more between us."
     I answered a small smile, and walked into my room.

*I didn't realise how much I enjoyed writing! I will try and keep this story PG-13. If you do read this story and enjoy it, please vote! Thank you!*