* * *
Because this will be the binding ceremony of the future Chief and the Wise Woman, the entire village wants to be involved. Every family Tarok and I visit to ask for their approval, give it and offer more. It takes only a few days to meet with everyone and already we have more accomplished than we would have if we were just a regular couple.
The only trouble and disapproval we encounter is in Tall Grass. Most of the people there were anticipating Namira becoming Tarok’s intended and were not too thrilled when they learned it was me and not her. We walk away before they start saying anything worse.
Namira walks up and, anticipating some sort of argument, I try to walk a little faster. She catches Tarok’s arm which forces me to stop as well.
“Tall Grass gives our approval,” she says then walks off in the opposite direction we were going.
Tarok and I stare after her in shock. “What just happened?” I ask him.
“You heard it, too?”
“Of course I did; I was standing right here.”
He smirks down at me. “One member of a House can give approval for them all.”
“It is still strange,” I say. Tarok easily shakes it off, but I keep thinking about it for some time. She has been mean to me since we were children and now she is being nice?
“Do not think too much on it. It is one less thing we have to worry about.”
“I worry there is an ulterior motive behind her kindness,” I say.
After leaving Tall Grass, Tarok and I walk up to Natoak’s hut to gain his approval and blessing. The old man sits outside on a chair, looking out into the forest when we come up. He smiles at us, albeit a little surprised.
“Akari, Tarok, I did not expect you.”
“We came to get your approval and your blessing, Shaman,” I say.
“What approval do you need from me? You have had my approval since before you left on your journey, Wise Woman.”
“You do not intend to give us your formal approval?” I ask, a little disappointed that he will not just come out and say it.
“If it will appease you, then I will give it to you. But you know that I have always approved of your doings.”
“It is more for me, Shaman,” Tarok interjects before I can argue further.
“Very well.” Natoak stands up and approaches us. “Tarok of Rising Sun and Akari of Sharp Stone, I give approval for your binding ceremony to occur. May the spirits grant you a long and happy life together. May the ancestors watch over you and protect you.”
The blessing feels bittersweet. Long life together. Will we have one? “Shaman, what is going to happen to me?” I ask nervously.
“I have thought long and hard on this, Akari. I wish I had an answer for you, I really do. Not all things in life and death are certain. The only certainty we have is that one day we will return to the Spirit World to wait for our time as a mortal to begin again. As long as you continue to feel well enough to move about the village, I see no reason to think you will not live until next summer when we can get more herbs for you,” he assures me.
Even with his uncertainty, I feel better. I hope that Tarok does too. I know I have thought a lot about what our future will hold and I am nearly certain that he has too. I just hope that there will be a future for us. One filled with laughing children and lovely memories.