Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 4)

(Sara would get her a new one but yeah)

Tomhas took a deep breath. "Right. I'll head up to my room to get my warm clothes, then I'll meet you down there, okay?" She looked a bit more relaxed than he did, which was good. Maybe the gift giving had helped?

(Hmm do you think maybe she should, then? I feel like she may feel like she should wear her wearable gifts for this since it's a special occasion -- and she fully intends on tucking away the necklace and never touching it again after tonight xD She just feels like she should wear it to show her appreciation haha so I could see it being realistic for her to wear her new cloak for the same reason but I also don't want to overcomplicate things.)

Ky nodded, flashing a nervous smile. "Sounds good!"

(Sure, that's fair! It'll be sad but not as sad as if she died.)

Tomhas dipped his head to her and left the room.

(xD yeah)

Ky hesitated, looking at her mountain of gifts. Was she supposed to put those away now? She didn't want to leave a mess for someone else to have to clean up -- or, worse, to look ungrateful! But she wasn't sure she had time to make enough trips to her room to stash everything and still make it out to the ceremony.

Right, then. She'd come back and do it right away afterward. Everyone was going to be outside anyway, so hopefully, this wouldn't get in anyone's way before she could come back to clean it all up.

She felt the necklaces. Part of her wanted to take off the one from the King and stash it in a box in the bottom of her closet and never touch it again. It was far, far too expensive for someone like her to have it. And it made her nervous just having it on her person.

Still, she was afraid it would make her look ungrateful if she didn't wear it. So, she'd wear it for this one thing once. Then just not touch it again after that. Unless there was some reason in the future that she'd need to be in front of Harold again wearing it. Still. Tonight first. She'd wear it.

... Which meant she should probably also wear the cloak and gloves from Sara. They did look quite warm, and were wonderful quality, and would complete the look of her wearing things far too valuable for her. She bent and grabbed the cloak.

Tomhas reached his room and shrugged on his knee-length bearskin coat. The hide was turned out so the fur was on the inside, insulating his body heat. He pulled on his fox fur ushanka, leaving the flaps up, tugged on his gloves, and finally slung his bright orange cloak over his shoulders and secured it with his caracal paw brooch. The brooch was much like the one Ky now owned, and he wondered if Sara had that in mind when she had it made.
As he headed down the hall he wondered again if he was overstepping with this whole adoption thing. He didn't think that so much now, and it was too late to turn back since the gifts had all been given and the family had met her. She could always back out, of course. Tomhas wouldn't blame her; his family had a lot of issues. But then, so did every family. It would be fine, he told himself. Everything would be fine.

(aww that's so wholesome! twinsies!)

Ky pulled the cloak on and fastened it with the brooch Sara had given her. It really was so beautiful and thoughtful. She pulled on the gloves as well, swinging her hips to make the cloak swoosh around her. She decided she didn't want a hat because she needed to be able to see and hear everything to be sure she didn't miss anything. She could handle cold ears.

Which meant this was all she needed.

... She hesitated a long, long moment. She wanted this so desperately. Wanted to keep living in this paradise surrounded by people as thoughtful and kind and generous as they'd all proven themselves to be -- in general, but doubly so after these gifts. She hadn't had any idea whatsoever of what they might be getting her -- but she certainly hadn't expected them to be so incredibly individualized and hand-picked especially for her. She was impressed that they knew her so well already!

She took a deep breath. This would be fine. Just a signature and some words. It was no more stressful than opening the gifts had been. The attention had been focused on her during this -- and her words and reactions hadn't even been scripted. She could do this.

She started towards the door of the Keep.

(Omg omg)

Tomhas exited first. The gates to the Keep were open, revealing a set of candles leading the way to the great tree, where Skald Taro stood in her heavy furs and headdress of bones and feathers. She held in her hands an elk femur and a ritual knife. The family, King Harold, and Tadaaki's family had been situated in a cluster around the base of the tree. Tomhas came to a stop at the beginning of the candles to wait for Ky. His breath puffed out into the frigid air; he was thankful it wasn't snowing, at least.

(haha I'm getting so giddy xD)

Ky hesitated just outside, taking a moment to take a deep breath. The cold air was a shock to her system that immediately felt unpleasant -- it always did -- but then made her feel better. It was grounding. Something to focus on besides the pounding of her own heart in her ears. And the coolness soothed her burning face.

Ky saw Tomhas waiting for her, though, and quickly strode forward to join him.

(Me too it's finally happening!)

Tomhas gave her a quick smile, and then Skald Taro began to beat the femur against the tree gently. kakh, kakh, kakh. With the steady beat, she began to sing in Nortung.
"We walk now," Tomhas whispered to Ky, moving slowly forward. The Skalds and the gods were some of the oldest surviving parts of the Tribal Period. They and their traditions had remained even as the castles rose up and towns were formed, and they were respected by most of the Lords and the King to this day. The gods slept, but that didn't mean one simply stopped paying tribute.

Ky nodded tensely and squared her shoulders and walked next to him slowly, matching his pace, as she did her best not to look as utterly terrified as she was.

It was about two minutes to walk at the pace they were going, and when they finally reached Skald Taro she directed them to either side of her, then stopped singing and beat the tree one more time before holding the elk femur out for them to each take and end.
"Brothers sisters, fathers, sons, daughters and mothers, aunts and uncles," she intoned in a clear voice, "children of the gods all. We are gathered here tonight under these branches and atop these roots to welcome a daughter into her new family and a family into the arms of its new daughter. In the closed eyes of the gods, it is so, and in their dreams they will bear witness. Children, take hold of Brother Elk's bone."
Tomhas took hold of one end of the femur, running his hand over the smooth, white surface before resting one hand above the other as if in tug of war.

Ky took the other end of the femur. She was trembling; could he feel it? She hoped not. She was trying not to look miserable, but she was getting so anxious. She didn't know what was going to happen and it very much felt like a ceremony she should have witnessed before she participated in one. Afterall, no one's own marriage was the first one they'd experienced. They always got practice. Why didn't she get to practice?

(Let's pretend Taro covered all this in her explanation because I hadn't planned on anything this elaborate back then but it seems like this is something she would mention)

"Do you both consent to the commencement of this ceremony?" Skald Taro asked, positioning the knife in one hand now. "Ky Ruiarc." Tomhas glanced at Ky.

(Okay fair! I'm fully winging this though haha if there's anything specific she needs to know to say -- i.e., if she was supposed to say in response to this question -- then please just let me know ^-^)

Ky nodded quickly. "Yes, ma'am."

(Nope that's good!)

"Tomhas Loquitur."
"I do." Tomhas nodded.
"Excellent." Skald Taro slit the tip of her index finger open and drew runes on the femur with her blood. She then marked two vertical lines on Ky's forehead and a horizontal line on Tomhas's. She then unrolled the contract and pressed her finger to the bottom right corner. From her robes she produced a charcoal pencil, which she handed to Tomhas. He took it.
"Tomhas Loquitur, repeat after me. 'In the sight of gods and men, I will take Ky Ruiarc into my family's fold.'"
""In the sight of gods and men, I will take Ky Ruiarc into my family's fold,'" Tomhas repeated, gripping the pencil and the bone tightly to keep his hands from shaking.
"'I will care for Ky Ruiarc as I would my own daughters, for she is my own daughter.'"
"'I will care for Ky Ruiarc as I would my own daughters, for she is my own daughter.'"
"'I will uphold the conditions agreed upon in the contract, which I assert has been reviewed and altered to both our satisfaction.'"
"'I will uphold the conditions agreed upon in the contract, which I assert has been reviewed and altered to both our satisfaction.'"
"'I will accept Ky Ruiarc both as my legitimate child and a daughter of House Loquitur, so help the gods.'"
"'I will accept Ky Ruiarc both as my legitimate child and a daughter of House Loquitur, so help the gods.'"
"Sign there." Skald Taro pointed, holding out the contract, and Tomhas signed with the pencil. "Now pass it to Ky." He passed it to her, smiling anxiously before resting both hands back on the bone. "Ky Ruiarc, repeat after me."