ιηтσ тнє {∂σтняαкι} ѕєα

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echo only <3

"Lady Catherine, it is time to leave," Catherine Florent tore her gaze away from the empty bedroom as one of her handmaidens gently touched her shoulder. It had come as an awful shock when her father gave her the news that she would be leaving the Reach to travel across the Narrow Sea. If leaving Westeros for Essos wasn't bad enough, Catherine was to become the bride of Khal Akeson, a fearsome leader of a Dothraki Khalasar. Catherine hadn't objected to her father's wishes, because it would have been pointless, but she had not expressed any sort of happiness over the arrangement. 

Catherine stood up from the bare bed and clasped her hands in front of her, "Very well. Thank you, Elsie. I am sorry I cannot take you with me." She embraced the young girl, gently patting her back, and stepped back. She could never whisk away any of her girls to Essos, where they'd surely be lost and confused. She turned and left the bedroom, bidding her family goodbye as she climbed into her carriage. She was to ride to port and board a ship that would take her across the sea.

---

Her journey took more than a month, a result of rough waters and issues of other ships. Catherine was sufficiently seasick when she arrived in Essos. From there, she had to take horses out to the Dothraki Sea- which was just a large grassland that seemed endless in her dark eyes. Her dress was sticking to her legs and itched like mad under the hot sun. Catherine sighed and closed her eyes, trying to keep herself calm as she road closer to her fate.

[~echo~]

Khal Akeson was preparing to meet his bride. It was to be merely a strategic marriage, exactly what he had been looking for, only to provide him with sons. His servants had scrubbed his skin clean, dressed him in his finest clothes (or what the dothraki considered fine) and then rubbed grease on his chest, shoulders, and arms to make his skin gleam. His hair was combed and put into a neat ponytail at the base of his neck. Black eyeliner was put around his eyes to make them look bigger and more ferocious. He inspected himself in a cracked mirror from across the water and then nodded gruffly. "I am ready," he said in Dothrak. While he knew how to speak in the language of his bride-to-be, he preferred to speak in his own language.

Striding confidently out of his large, elaborate tent, Akeson mounted his grey dappled horse and kicked its sides, making it ride forward. His entourage followed- they were to meet the girl halfway. As it was, Akeson couldn't understand why she had crossed the waters- the horses couldn't. He shrugged inwardly and trotted along the road. The land was flat so that he could see the bride and her group when she was within a mile of them. She was beautiful, or so he could tell. She would do well as a mother to his sons and his faithful wife. He didn't smile, though, adding to his fearsome look.

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The horde that was coming to meet them was huge. Catherine couldn't even count the amount of Dothraki riding on horses, or the slaves that followed beside them on foot. She'd been warned of the brutal nature of the Dothraki. They raided and pillaged villages, a nomadic group, and took women and children as slaves to use as they pleased. She swallowed against her dry throat, holding out a hand for a small canteen of water. It soothed her throat, but not her nerves.

She could tell which was Khal Akeson straight away. He road at the head of his Khalasar, a fighter much larger than she even imagined. He didn't look friendly, either, which was something Catherine had resigned herself to. She had been given a Dothraki crash course by a few of her escorts and she struggled to remember everything that she was told to do to show her new husband respect.

[~echo~]

Khal Akeson kept his face blank of any emotions, making sure that none crept through the mask of iron will he had donned. He was pleased, however, with the beauty of this girl. She was not like any of the dothraki women in his khalasar or any other. He reigned in his horse as they approached her party, which was easily a fourth of his. He dismounted and stood next to his powerful warhorse, Apax. The horse snorted but otherwise stood quite still- it was apparent that he was a well-trained horse that was used to bending to the will of his master. Akeson waited for his bride to dismount as well.

(I don't actually know much about the dothraki so you might have to help me xD All I know about is their weddings and some ritual having to do with eating a horse heart. 0.0)

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[ Here's a bit of information, if you ever want to read it: awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Dothraki ]

Catherine pulled her horse to a halt, the beast snorting and pawing at the earth with one hoof. Slowly, she slid off of the horse's back and stood before Khal Akeson, her dark brown eyes lifting to meet his for only a second. She did not curtsy as she would for a nobleman at home. The Dothraki didn't follow Westeros customs and didn't bow to one another. She didn't speak either, letting the Khal look her over to decide if he found her worthy.

[~echo~]

Khal Akeson swaggered over to her, crossing the small distance between them in a few large steps. He gazed at her, at her face, her body, her dress. He walked around his, inspecting her like he would a horse. The two groups of people seemed to hold their breath in apprehension- it was silent except for the gusts of wind that nearly flattened te grass. Finally, Khal Akeson took a step backwards and nodded. He had truly been pleased.

(Cool! So, the wedding should happen the next day or start immediately?)

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[ The next day. It's typically an all day thing, from dawn to dusk, so it makes sense to start it the next morning. ]

Catherine breathed a sigh of relief and gazed down at the grass. Being accepted by him was better than the alternative- which was probably ending up dead by an offended Khal. She smoothed her palms against her dress, pushing against the heavy fabric. Her dresses from home wouldn't work in Essos. It was too hot and humid to be so overdressed. She was informed that she would have her own slaves that would dress and assist her in bathing. Catherine looked to her new husband, then back to the group that escorted her. A few would stay for the wedding, so they could bring word back to her father. She nodded to them, a tendril of her coffee colored hair brushing over her cheek.

[~echo~]

(Yeah, haha. That's why I asked :3)

Khal Akeson looked at a member of his bloodriders, giving a wry smirk. The man nodded and smiled at him. Akeson snapped at a slave and told him in his language to start pitching the tents. He then patted his horse and thought of the horse he had gotten for his bride for their wedding gift. He hoped she would like it. His thoughts then drifted to the people who would die tomorrow at their party.

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One of the men dismounted and walked over to her, "You will be taken to a tent once they are pitched. Don't worry, My Lady, you'll have some of the slave women to help you undress and find more suitable clothing. The wedding will be tomorrow and I do have to warn you, it's all day. You will have a long day."

Catherine nodded and looked around at the suddenly very busy Khalasar, "I will have a very busy life, Sir Carrick. I've accepted that fact."

[~echo~]

Khal Akeson watched the goings-on with steely eyes, his arms crossed. Occasionally, he would say something in dothrak to a slave who was shirking but mostly he stood still. Finally, when the tents were all raised, the Khal made his way to his own after saying something to one of his bloodriders. The man made his way other to Catherine. "I will lead you," he said in halting tones, "to your tent. Khal Akeson has ordered you stay in your own tent with your new servants until tomorrow evening. This way."

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Catherine was surprised that the Dothraki spoke the Common Tongue, but she veiled that surprise. She nodded and gave Sir Carrick a farewell nod, "Thank you. Lead the way."

[~echo~]

The man, who was smaller than Khal Akeson, led her towards the center of the colony of tents- the safest place to be. He finally stopped in front of one and held open the tent flap. About five slaves were standing and waiting for her- one of them was paler than the rest.

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Catherine stepped in and looked around at the slaves. Her gaze was guarded, but not cold. She felt bad for them, to be in their position.

[~echo~]

The man nodded at Catherine and then withdrew. At once, the servants seemed more at ease. The pale one tentatively approached the woman. "You are our new Khaleesi, yes?" Her accent was strange- part Westeros and part dothrak. It was apparent that she had been among the Dothraki for quite some time, given her accent.

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"Yes. My name is Catherine," She managed a smile at the woman, feeling much more at ease in front of these slaves than the Dothraki. They looked kinder, they made her breathe a sigh of relief.

[~echo~]

The slave smiled. "It is nice to meet you. Let's get you out of those clothes and into some cooler ones," she said. "I don't know how you northerners survive with so many skirts."

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Catherine nodded slowly and followed the slave girl over to the others, "What are your names?"

[~echo~]

The other slave women uttered some guttural sounds and looked at the first slave expectantly. "They say that they no longer have names. They are slaves. I do not feel that way. My name is Alexandra. I am from your country."

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Catherine smiled and dipped her head to Alexandra, "I am glad to have someone who speaks Common Tongue, Alexandra."

[~echo~]

The girl smiled. "I am, too. It is rumored, though, that your husband knows some as well."