Page 129 of The Seducer
Zeus nodded and moved on. “In a few minutes, our ruler, Lord Aurelius will perform your wedding ceremony and you will be husband and wife. Do you have any last messages for your countrymen before you unite?”
“I’m just happy and proud to be marrying the finest human I ever met,” I said. “We Nmen make a lot of fun of the Motlanders, calling them naïve softies. I used to do the same. Then I had the privilege of spending ten days with a Motlander myself. I saw firsthand how badass Motlanders can be.” I looked at Athena and melted a little. “This petite woman faced me head on, even though I was a foot taller than her, much stronger, and trying to mess with her head nonstop.” Her whole face softened and made her even more gorgeous as she sat there listening to me.
“The kindness that radiates from Athena blows me away. It takes strength to practice what you preach. The truth is that I’m incredibly grateful that someone as amazing as Athena will hook up with a big flawed brute like me.”
Zeus cleared his throat. “What do you say to that, Athena?”
Without words, she smiled and lifted her hand to my face, pulling me in for a kiss.
Zeus chuckled. “I take it that means you think Finn is amazing too?”
Athena ended the kiss and nodded, but was too choked up to talk. Her fingers were drying away tears.
“See?” Feeling emotional myself, I pointed at her. “A soft Motlander all the way, but I love it.”
Zeus, Athena, and I laughed together.
“We’re all very happy for you,” Zeus assured us. “Maybe we should address some of the more serious concerns that many have on both sides of the border. Surely you must have an opinion on that.”
Allowing Athena time to find her voice, I took the question. “Athena and I are excited that our countries are uniting. We agree with the Council and Lord Khan, that a process like this will have many steps. With the wall’s collapse the process has been sped up significantly. To those Nmen who feel the wall should come down right away, I want you to think of the wall as a dam. Demolishing it too quickly could potentially drown us all.
“The integration has begun. Three Motlander women have already moved here. Now I will be moving to the Motherlands, followed by nine other Nmen who will be selected by the women in the Motherlands willing to open their homes to an Nman.
“Soon we’ll be able to communicate across the border and a matchmaking system will allow everyone to register if you’re interested in a friendship or a romantic relationship.”
Athena nodded and smiled at the camera. “Who knows, you might be the next one to fall in love.”
Zeus made sounds of agreement. “That’s right, and what do you think, Athena, will the Motlander women be interested in us Nmen?”
Athena thought about it before she spoke with a graceful eloquence that had me soaking up every syllable. “I have no doubt that many will be interested. I’m asking everyone to respect that for most Motlanders this is a very frightening time. Right now, our country is suffering from the aftermath of the horrible earthquake, and many are scared of what a union with the Nmen will mean to us. Just like the Nmen have mocked us for being soft, we have whispered about you Nmen being monsters.” She paused. “Finn and I are proof that a joyful union is possible. You Nmen might look huge and scary, and you talk with deeper voices and swear a lot, but you too are sons of Motlander women. Take away the height and the cultural conditioning and we’re not that different.” Athena smiled at me and looked back at Zeus. “I know my fellow Motlanders to be kindhearted people. Now I call upon them to extend that abundance of inclusiveness and kindness to all neighbors, near and far.”
Zeus cleared his throat. “I would say that the same goes for us in the Northlands.” Turning to look straight into the camera he added, “Speaking of being neighborly: The Northlands is a compassionate neighbor. Food and supplies are being shipped from here tomorrow to those in need of help after the earthquake in the Motherlands.”
“Thank you,” Athena said and bowed her head. “I think many Motlanders will sleep better tonight knowing that the peace between our countries remains. The rumors of the Northlands invading can be put to rest and instead we can focus on a slow union that will benefit us all.”
When the interview ended, Khan performed the ceremony with a small audience consisting of Tristan, Magni, Pearl, Boulder, Christina, Archer, Kya, and the boys from the school, who had all been allowed to come while the girls had to stay behind with Marco and Shelly, since their presence in the Northlands wasn’t official yet.
“Not so long ago, I had the privilege and pleasure of marrying a spectacular woman myself,” Khan said as he stood in front of Athena and me. “It’s something I wish for all my fellow countrymen. Today I’m honored to see you, Finn, marry the woman of your dreams. I was here when you two first met. Let me say that the odds of you, Athena, falling in love with Finn were one in a million. He managed to charm you. Somehow.” Khan flashed a wide smile. “May the love you two share become a symbol of hope for our two nations, that we can all unite in friendship and mutual respect.”
We both nodded and smiled.
“Do you, Finn MacCumhail, take Athena Kelly to be your wife?”
“I do.”
“Do you promise to protect her, respect her, and love her?”
“I do.”
“And you, Athena Kelly, do you take Finn Mac Cumhail to be your husband?”
“I do.”
“Do you promise to obey him, respect him, and love him?”
Athena’s smile vanished. “Did you say obey him?”
“Yes,” Khan confirmed.
