The Bonds of Love

Kuai and Eira come into the library after a day out in the town and shopping, laughing and giggling. Larine smiles as they come in, and says, "You two are such a lovely couple. You must love eachother very much."   Eira looks at her surprised. "I. . . don't recall telling you about us. How did you know?" she says as she looks at Kuai and back at Larine.   Larine smiles and laughs. "You did not need to. It's in your body language, your actions toward one another. It's very clear you two are very happy together." she says. "A person's body language, and to that end, love language, can say a lot about them, much that they do not even need to say."   "Snowy's just still anxious and nervous about it all. Like letting people know I think. But she don't need to be," says Kuai.   Eira looks at Kuai. "But you almost got hurt, or worse, and it would have been my fault, Kuai," she says, as she gently caresses her cheek. "If anything happened to you, I. . . don't know what I would do with myself."   "But Snowy, this is my choice too. I love you," says Kuai, as she kisses her. "I've always loved you. Since I first met you."   Eira laughs. "When I pickpocketed Crystal and ran off?"   Kuai smiles. "Yes, you did something bad. But it was what you did after. When you gave it back, and told Fire Lady you were sorry. And then you spent so long trying to make it up to her and pay her back. I saw then your spirit. And you have a very kind and gentle spirit. You just. . . have had to deal with some hard things. Like me, in a lot of ways. You lost your mommy and daddy. . ."   "Or thought I did." Eira smirks.   ". . . You were all alone. You were so much like me. I had no one, before the nice people came and rescued me from the island. I felt. . . a connection to you. I feel a connection to you." says Kuai as she embraces Eira in a warm hug. "Frezlor don't answer to you because of this. . ." she says as she points to the blue sapphire gem around Eira's neck. "But because of this. . ." she points to Eira's heart.   "I think you rescued me too," says Eira, as she gives Kuai a kiss.   Larine smiles. "You two really are a lovely couple. Hey Irus. . ." she says.   "It's Eira," Eira says, rolling her eyes.   "Oh of course, dreadfully sorry. Would you mind coming with me? I have some books I could use a hand with. Will only take a moment," says Larine.   Eira nods, as she gives Kuai another kiss, and then follows Larine, who takes her to a room in the back. Within this small cramped room, there are framed pictures upon all the walls, of two women together and a small desk piled with books. When there, Larine turns to Eira. "Apologies for my bit of subterfuge. But I actually have something I would like to give you," she says, as she opens a small drawer and pulls out a small tan brown wooden box, upon which are ornate carvings. "As you might have guessed from all the pictures, I once was in love too. She was very special to me." Eira looks surprised but doesn't say anything. "Her name was Maria. She was a very special woman. But she was taken from me, sadly, a few years ago."   "I'm. . . so sorry." says Eira.   Larine shakes her head. "Don't be. We lived a full life together. Thirty years, if you will believe it. And now I want to pass this down to you," she says as she hands Eira the small box. "I understand in some other cultures, you give rings as a symbol of your love. But in Native culture, we give a necklace. And I want you to give this to your special girl out there. . . when the time is right for you to tie the bonds."   "Tie. . . the bonds. . . you mean. . . marriage?" says Eira.   Larine nods. "Yes. And you will know when the time is right, for both you and for her. When that time comes, you give this to her as your symbol of your love," she says as she takes Eira's hand in her own and looks her in the eyes. "I understand your anxiety, that fear. You are afraid of the prejudice. I know because I felt the same. Our love, my Maria and I, was never fully accepted by our tribe. So that is why we left our tribe and came to live here, where our love would be accepted. Places like that do exist. You just have to find them."   Eira nods and asks, "Why are you giving this to me?"   "Because I see much of us in you and your Kuai," says Larine. "Love is a special thing. It needs to be cultivated, and watered, and it will bloom. Much like her flowers. Tell me something. Do you want to marry her?"   Eira looks down at the box for a long time. "I love her. I've never really thought of marriage though. But I guess. . . yeah I do. But. . . how will I know when the time is right?"   Larine smiles. "You'll know. You'll just kind of. . . feel it. But you'll know," she says. "Go on, open it and take a look."   Slowly, Eira opens the small box. Inside she finds a beaded necklace of many different colours, like blue, white, red, pink, yellow. "It's a traditional Native Atlantean necklace, it's known in our culture as the B'ok lu shrin. It means the Beads of Bonding." says Larine.   "It's beautiful. It. . . actually reminds me of her," says Eira. "Thank you, Larine."   Larine smiles. "You are very welcome. Now, hide it and head back out to your love. I'm sure she's waiting patiently for you," she says. Eira nods and puts the box in her pocket as she heads back the way they had come.   Larine hangs back and stares at one of the photos of her and Maria. "Oh how I miss you every single day." she whispers as she kisses two fingers and places them over the smiling face of Maria.