LOVE ME AGAIN PRIM

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Razan woke up feeling groggy and heavy from a hang over. His long dark mane was spread around him on the soft pillows. He groaned as he slowly changed position to sleep on his back and rest his head in his hands.

He smiled to himself as the events of the previous night flooded his mind. He couldn't remember the last time he loosened up like that. It had been years since he totally pulled his guard down and truly had fun.

He rsmiled as he remembered watching his daughter dance amongst the little girls in the Biron household and how the adults cheered for them.

He remembered how good it felt watching Prem dance with Cidara and Yukon's daughters, making them laugh as she played with them while spoon feeding them. He had never seen his daughter look so happy and would gladly give up everything he had to keep her so.

However, the highlight of the night for Razan was when wives and sisters of the house were to dancing beneath the moonlight.

After the dance of the children , Yukon had invited him to join the men in Biron's household in preparation for the main event and he was ushered into a room where Biron and his sons were clad in only white wrappers. Biron explained the historical importance of the event to everyone in the room and prayed for them all including the Razan who upon Yukon's insistence had changed his attire as well.

The men heard a gong and Biron led the men out of the room followed by Razan and Yukon with the other males filing behind them.

Razan entered the courtyard to find Prem singing and dancing with several women around a large pool of water. Among them were his sisters who looked beautiful in traditional ravian attire as they also clapped and sang with the women of the Biron household.

As the men filed out, Razan noticed Ulpe and Vasha held prayer lamps in their hands and were praying for Lord Biron who knelt before them and didn't stand until they covered all of his scars with red vermilion.

Yukon knelt down next and was covered in vermilion by his wife who held her lamp in tears as she softly touched the scars on his head and back. He held his forehead to hers whispering softly as they walked away.

Razan knelt hoping that it was Prem that would come to him but was clearly disappointed when his sisters arrived and covered his numerous scars. He sensed he was been watched and was surprised to find Prem watching him with a solemn expression as his scars were been covered. Behind Razan was Kultar who's wife was very active despite her heaviness and was teasing him by stamping her palm print all over his face, chest and back. She responded upon Kultars complaints that she was marking her territory, which made everyone laugh as they bickered away. Padario knelt before his mother who prayed for him but stopped as Fusha walked towards them both, placed her hand in the vermilion and covered Padarios scars before bowing to them both and going away. Padario was clearly surprised by her actions and kept staring at her until his father yelled, 'Don't just stand there Padario! Get your girl!', making Padario chase after her while everyone cheered him. Goron and Ladiff were the last to be blessed by their mother's before joining the men. The soldiers stationed in the Biron home were also allowed to be blessed by the women in their families before returning to their posts.

All the women gathered around the reflection of the moon with their lamps and began to pray, while the men stood behind them. One by one the couples dropped their lamps together in the pool and the festivities began.

Vasha and Ulpe were sitting with their husband and their guests at a round table, then suddenly Vasha began to sway her hands to the beat of the next song being played. Everyone at the table looked at her in surprise but she didn't care. She got up, threw her veil at her husband and walked close to the stage set up for the musicians who had begun to sing to the beat. Vasha began to sway, lifting her skirts and dancing in circular ripples as she moved her body to the rhythm of the song, she came over to the table and pulled Ulpe to join her. Together, both women danced in perfect synchronization to the beat and everyone cheered while Biron watched them both smiling. Towards the end of their dance, both women walked by walking up the stairs towards Biron and ended by bowing before him. Biron got up from his seat to lifted them, holding them close to him while he whispered tenderly in their ears.

The entire night the men entertained with their experiences of war. Making each other laugh while the women gasped in horror. Biron called the prince to share a drink with him beside a fountain in the courtyard. As both men sat, Biron stared into the distance making the prince apprehensive as he stared at the huge, bald, bearer man who was a living legend.

'Thank you for accepting my invitation Prince Razan', Biron said

'Thank you for inviting us lord Biron, I am truly glad I came. You have a home most men could only dream of.'

'So I am told, but I guess its because marriage for me didn't come easy.'

'How so? You are the great lion of Ravia. How could anyone deny you marriage?'

Biron smiled and responded, 'Before the titles and the glory. I was simply Biron, son of Gunta a simple farmer. The woman I loved was taken from me and married to another man because I was too poor to pay her dowry. I felt so helpless as I watched her get taken away.'

'I felt the same when my wife died. I couldn't save her. I promised her I would always protect her and could do nothing but watch her pass away', Razan replied sadly.

'You loved her deeply', Biron stated as a matter of fact and Razan nodded unable to speak.

'Here in Ravia, we believe those we love never truly leave us. We believe that they stay with us dancing with the wind around us.'

'But the absence still hurts so deeply', Razan responded to which Biron responded, 'It gets easier when you learn to care for others d not dwell on the pain'

'How did you forget that woman?' Razan asked

'I didn't, I could never forget her', Biron responded

'Where is she now?', Razan asked curiously.

'Safe and happy with her second husband', Biron responded looking at the prince who didn't understand the full meaning of the statement. Biron pointed into the distance and Razan followed his hand to see him pointing at Vasha who was talking to the cudanian princesses. She seemed to sense her husbands gaze and turned to him smiling.

'You don't have to let go of your first love to find love again', Biron said smiling back at Vasha

Razan looked at Prem who was laughing with Padario and Fusha and knew what he must do.