Stark's Diary 9:  Marriage

Yelling at him, did not make me feel better. I lay on the ground later
that evening thinking about the days events and listening to Cecily^Òs loud
breathing. Every rock on the cold floor reached and poked at me. The
princess and the pea syndrome, no doubt. I tossed and turned, the nylon
rustling of the sleeping bag sound like a pit of snakes. I heard an
aggravated sigh from Cecily and tried to still myself.

My mind raced with the words that I had thrown at him, as he hung his head
in shame.  I can't think of a more pitiful way that you could have handled
that.  I threw that out at him, knowing that it would hurt that proud
warrior. I was still simmering at how he had manipulated me, but perhaps I
had been too harsh. I^Òm angry, he had presumed so much. And now after all
that I had said, he still sent Illie after to me, to guard his wife. The
old seeress was no help. She gave me the wedding gift, something I would
guess was meant to be passed along to our miracle child some day. I took
it, because I knew it would be gauche to refuse it. It is obviously quite
priceless,   a jeweled jade green dragon. The little dragon on the necklace
reminded me of Cammi. I wanted to deny the gifts of Illie and the necklace
for they just validated the marriage in the eyes of their clan, but I knew
it would do no good. I know Illie wouldn't leave even if I demanded it.

The rest of the group had reacted oddly to my marriage announcement.
Fletcher had been as outraged as I. I thought he was going to go off and
challenge Dragos. I was touched by his concern in my direction, but begged
him not to interfere. I didn't want to see Fletcher or Dragos hurt on my
behalf. The bard seemed bemused by my predicament I had a feeling this was
not going to play well as a ballad. Shen seemed to be taken in by the
pronouncements of prophecy.

I didn't know why, they thought I should be the saint.. Was it because as
they contended, I felt the call of the wind. I loved the feel of the air
rushing by my face, seeing the world laid out below me in miniature, and the
heat of the sun on my skin contrasting with the chill of the air. Goddess
knows, what to make of this mess. Funny that, swearing by the Goddess after
who know how long. I had been an ardent Wiccan, up till I had the lost the
baby. I still respect nature, and find it the best companion of all.