Of Rituals and Red Ribbons

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This story is set in the Squirrel Fic timeline, shortly after “Flyboy” and before “Letters Home”. If you haven’t read Flyboy I would recommend you read it first.

Of Rituals and Red Ribbons

Kass sighed as she looked at the walls of the prison- bare blank stones, just like every other alien prison. What was different about this one however, was that instead of being held in here with her team she was alone.

The negotiations had seemed like they would be easy, until it was mentioned that the Goosians would only negotiate with one who had been ‘claimed’ by another for life.  Of course it had come out that Kass wasn’t claimed and the next thing she knew she was cooling her heels in jail, waiting for her team to get back from fetching Evan from the city.

He’d proposed a few weeks before but they’d yet to do much in the way of planning, Kass having pointed out that the triplets would want to put their 3 cents in.

The door cracked open, the echo of heavy boots approaching the cell. Evan’s face appeared on the other side of the bars, a familiar grin playing on his lips. “You know, it’s not often that I get to play Prince Charming riding in to save the princess.” He teased Kass with a soft chuckle.

“Ha-ha, real funny.” Kass said with a soft smile, as she walked over to the bars. “Thanks for coming.” She said in a quiet voice, as she grabbed his hand through the bars.

“You honestly think I wouldn’t come?” Evan replied, a look of false horror on his face.

“Well it’s just that…” Kass started to say before Evan cut her off.

“I was just teasing Kass. You should know I’d have come no matter what.” Evan said, as he squeezed her hand. “Now you just sit tight and I’ll see what I can arrange for your release.”

*************************************

Evan ran a hand through his hair as he exited the council chambers.

“How’d the negotiations go, Sir?” Lt. Smith asked with a slight grin as Evan approached.

“Well enough, I guess Lieutenant.” Evan chuckled, “though I should have known it would come down to a ritual alien wedding, when they called me out here.”

“Ritual alien wedding, sir?” Smith asked, frowning.

“Yeah, it is matrimonially based society after all.” Evan sighed. Not that he didn’t want to marry Kass; he wouldn’t have proposed otherwise, he just thought they’d have more time. “Well we better go get ready for this thing, Lieutenant Smith”.

***********************

Kass shifted nervously again as she glanced at Dr. Rogers, waiting for the locals to take them to the town square.

“You know, you two aren’t the first and you won’t be the last to go through one of these things.” Dr. Rogers said, trying to calm Kass’ nerves.

“Yeah, well it’s just that it is my first ritual wedding.” Kass said with a soft laugh.

Reele, one of the native women, appeared suddenly in the chambers. “The elders are ready for you in the square.”

Kass paused for a moment as she emerged from the prison building, allowing her eyes to acclimate to the harsh sunlight.  Looking down she furrowed her brow, running her hands over the heavy material that made up the dress she’d been handed.  It was a sunny almost golden color that made her glow, her hair having been tucked back in a neat bun.

Only Dr. Rogers had been allowed in to ‘attend’ to her since Evan had finished negotiating with the natives. The general understanding was that she and Evan were now going to have to go through the traditional Goosian claiming ceremony.  Kass wasn’t certain but from what she could gather, the ceremony was similar to many Earth ones.

“It will be fine, now that the one who claims you is here.” Reele reassured them as she led the other two women toward the town square where the ceremony would take place.

Reaching the square the native woman paused for a moment, surveying Kass’ dress, before quickly producing a wreath of flowers and laying it atop her head. “We shall proceed with the ritual now.” She stated simply, before taking Kass arm and leading her toward a dais in the middle of the square. Gesturing at a simple mat on the dais, she murmured, “Sit here and your chosen one shall join you for the claiming ceremony.”

Kass sat where Reele had indicated, taking in the town square that was filling with people. Dr. Rogers moved off to the edge of the square to talk to Lt. Smith who had suddenly appeared with the MALP.  She heard the approach of heavy military issue boots, turning toward the sound, she couldn’t help but grin when she saw Evan approaching. He was attired in a deep red shirt and pants that were embroidered in a golden design. It was a striking contrast to his normal Atlantis uniform and she sucked in a subconscious breath as he approached.

Evan approached the dais taking a seat on the mat next to her as indicated by another elder. “Hey you look nice.” He whispered, smiling at her as he settled in.

“You don’t look half bad yourself, flyboy.” She whispered back, as one of the elders took their hands, binding them with a heavy red and gold ribbon.

The elder recited a traditional Goosian chant while he did so, murmuring blessing and platitudes about the claiming ritual. Kass listened closely as the elder chanted, picking out what she could and whispering a translation to Evan. “He’s binding us together and asking that we be protected from harm by those around us.”

“Okay, but what is with that?” Evan whispered, as he jerked his head at the Goosian people filing up to the dais and laying items at the base of it.

“Uhm, well best I can gather it’s the Pegasus version of bridal gifts.” Kass said with a soft laugh as she surveyed the items, everything from rugs and blankets to dishes and other items a new family in Pegasus could use.

Kass sat a little straighter as the Goosian chief approached them, smiling as he unbound the ribbon, handing it to Evan. “Come, now that you two are claimed we celebrate.” He said with a bright laugh, leading them off the dais.

****************************************

The party to celebrate their claiming lasted late into the night, Evan finally getting a chance to drag Kass away sometime in the wee hours of the morning. Pulling her into a quiet alcove, he tugged her close to him. “You know, you make a really pretty bride” he said with a soft smile as he kissed her forehead lightly.

“Well you don’t make a half bad groom.” She retorted, laying her head on his shoulder with a soft sigh.

“So, uh, I hate to ask…but I was thinking soon as we can, I’d like to go back to Earth. Make this all official. If that’s okay with you of course?” He looked at her intently, waiting for a reply.

Kass smacked him lightly before she answered, “of course it would be fine with me flyboy. I said I’d marry you didn’t I?”

“Yeah, but….” Evan started to say, Kass’ glare cutting him off before he could finish the thought.

“No buts.” She said with a grin. “Oh so I noticed that Lt. Smith and Dr. Rogers were able to film the whole thing, using the MALP. We’ll have to get a copy of that video, I have an idea.”

“Should I be worried?” He said with a light laugh, seeing Kass shake her head.

“No…I was thinking we should make a care package for the Trouble Triplets.” She said a hint of a grin on her lips. “Break the news to them nice and gently.”

“Sounds like a plan.” He murmured, before leaning in to kiss her lightly for a second. “I better let you go finish your trade negotiations though; I want to take my wife home.”

The End