The Cycles of Revelation Series

Artifact of the Dawn: The Bonding (A Queer Sci-Fi Adventure)

Episode 82: The happy day of the Bonding Ceremony arrives.

The next morning dawned bright and clear. Keryth had promised them perfect weather for their ceremony, and he’d certainly delivered. It was unseasonably warm for late autumn, but perfect for the day’s festivities.

Ardyn was in their quarters, sitting on the couch with Jevan. Earlier that morning, Jevan had gone out to pick the late autumn blooms that he planned to plait into Ardyn’s hair. The flowers had petals that went from either a white or pale pink at their center to a deep purple, complementing Ardyn’s natural coloring.

Sighing with contentment as Jevan worked on his hair, Ardyn marveled that such a simple thing could make him so happy. “I’m glad we dissuaded your mother from doing my hair. While I have nothing against Asha, I prefer when you do it.”

“I still remember the first time I brushed your hair,” Jevan said fondly. “I needed something to do that night, and it was frustrating watching you try to untangle it with your fingers.”

Laughing, Ardyn shrugged. “My people only used fingers to comb through our hair, so it’s what I was used to. Although, now I can’t imagine not having you brush it for me.”

For the ceremony, Jevan plaited a more elaborate braid, incorporating the flowers and pinning Ardyn’s hair up onto the back of his head in a fetching style he’d found in the Athla’naa database. After he was done, Ardyn went to the bathroom to view himself in the mirror. The effect of the blooms was magical, and Ardyn loved the effect.

“Thank you, my love,” Ardyn said as he came back to the living room and gave Jevan a little kiss on the cheek.

“You look exquisite,” Jevan said, pulling his betrothed in for a deeper kiss. “Now, let’s get you into those bonding garments.”

Ardyn removed the clothes he’d put on after his shower that morning and stood unabashed as he watched Jevan get the garment that Jevan had altered for him. It was a complicated affair, consisting of several layers of textured cloth in various hues of purple. It had originally been red, the color of bonding among the Medellans, but Jevan asked the Athla’naa techs who had helped him alter the garments if they could change it to match the natural coloring of the Athla’naa people.

While Jevan helped Ardyn into each layer, he peppered Ardyn with little kisses. “Are you ready for tonight?”

Ardyn laughed as his face heated at the thought. “I think we’ve had enough practice. I would be a lot more nervous if we hadn’t, so thank you for that.”

Jevan stepped back to admire him. “Wow, you look amazing. Are you sure you don’t want to practice one more time?”

With an exaggerated roll of his eyes, Ardyn gave Jevan a playful shove. “You’re incorrigible. Get dressed. We don’t want to be late to our own ceremony.”

“Alright, alright, but they can’t have the ceremony without us, so technically, we can’t be late.”

Jevan changed into his bonding garments, which remained dyed in various shades of red. Before putting on the last layer, he stepped up to Ardyn and tucked a stray strand of hair behind his pointed ear. “Okay, all kidding aside, I meant, are you ready for any changes that might happen? They still don’t know exactly how the bonding will affect us.”

Blushing at his earlier misunderstanding, Ardyn ducked his head and flattened his ears. “Oh… that. Well, I mean, how do you prepare yourself for something like that?”

“Good point,” Jevan agreed, as he put the last layer of his garment on and checked the time. “I think we should head up. The ceremony will begin soon. Shall we?”

Jevan offered his hand and Ardyn accepted, realizing that the next time they would be in their quarters together, they would be bonded. A small shiver of excitement ran up his spine at the thought.

When they emerged from the elevator, Ardyn was astonished to see all the Athla’naa lining the way toward the exterior exit of the tower, the path they formed lined with an array of flower petals. Hand-in-hand, they made their way while those gathered cheered and shouted their congratulations. This was the first big celebration they’d had since being awakened, and there was an air of festive excitement. Ardyn was glad to be one reason for the celebration, although it was those aboard the Rahn’naa that really deserved it, after all they’d been through.

Once outside, the path of flowers and well-wishers continued to the benches that had been set up. The path of flowers led between the rows of benches and toward the ceremonial arch, where Mathias was waiting, holding the chalice. As they made their way down the aisle, they bowed at each row of guests, as was customary. When they reached the last row of benches, Ardyn smiled to see his parents, Cylaen, and Myria.

After bowing, Ardyn’s father pulled him into a hug, followed by his mother.

“Papa Ardyn! You look so pretty!” Myria exclaimed, making Ardyn smile.

Picking her up and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, he straightened the flower crown she wore. “So do you, little one.”

“Thank you for bringing her,” Ardyn said to Cylaen, before joining Jevan.

Once together under the arch, they both turned toward the assembled guests and made another bow, before turning and giving a final bow to Mathias. Then, facing each other, they sank to their knees onto the pillows that had been placed at Mathias’ feet. Taeglyn had reminded them that kneeling was part of the handfasting celebration, so they added that to this ceremony as well.

Mathias cleared his throat. “We gather here to bear witness to the bonding of Jevan and Ardyn.” Raising the chalice before Jevan, he asked. “Jevan, will you spill your life’s blood to bond with Ardyn?”

Jevan pulled out the dagger he’d secured within his garment. “I will.”

Swiftly sliding the dagger across his palm, Jevan made a fist to squeeze his dark red blood into the chalice. Once the blood stopped dripping, Mathias asked the same of Ardyn, who looked directly into Jevan’s eyes as he slid his own dagger across his palm. He tried not to wince at the sharp pain, instead closing his fist tight, letting his dark purple blood drip and mix with Jevan’s.

Once Mathias had collected the blood, he turned to the table behind him and began stirring the combined blood with the quickener. Ardyn could hear Mathias count softly to one thousand as he and Jevan cradled their wounded hands and waited. Looking coyly at Jevan, Ardyn kept his ears flat, his heart thumping in anticipation of their impending bond.

Once the mixing was complete, Mathias turned back and held the chalice before them. “Jevan, take Ardyn’s hand and wash it in your combined life’s blood, so it may renew him in your bond.”

Jevan reached out and took Ardyn’s injured hand and dipped it into the combined blood in the chalice, massaging the mixed blood as gently as he could into the wound. Mathias then repeated the same words for Ardyn, who took Jevan’s hand and, with his four pale fingers, massaged Jevan just as gently.

Next, Mathias turned and placed the chalice behind him and brought forth the herbal poultices that had been prepared. Holding out their injured hands, Mathias first placed a poultice on Jevan’s hand, which Ardyn then reached out and held.

“Ardyn, bind Jevan’s hand, as you are now bound for eternity.”

Unwinding a strip of cloth from his wrist, Ardyn gently wrapped it around Jevan’s hand, holding the poultice in place over his wound. Then Jevan repeated the process on Ardyn.

Jevan had just finished tying off the binding, and Mathias was speaking again when Ardyn swayed on his knees. The world was spinning before his eyes and the last thing he heard before his world went black was Jevan’s voice crying out. “Ardyn!”