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Just like every other aspect of their relationship, the path that ends up with the illustrious and world renowned Traveled and the reviled and feared former Harbinger, joining their souls and beings together for eternity, whispering unbreakable vows, and swearing to stand as equals for the rest of their lives, under the sacred oath of matrimony, is one that was walked in silence and with no great fanfare. They would have always ended up there, the inevitability of it at this point was something they both expected and brought comfort to their wary souls.
The beginning of this oath in particular could be traced back to a particular early afternoon.
Inside one of the rooms of the mansion of the Teapot realm they called their home, a library with hundreds of books from all genres and originating from all of the nations, and even fallen kingdoms could be found.
And while the place was always tidy and well taken care of, there was just one thing that always got on the nerves of the former Fatui.
The library did not make use of any kind system of organization. In the same shelves fairy tales and bed time stories could be found alongside some manuscripts from long fallen civilizations. One could take a cookbook and the next one to it a compendium of several works of intricate detail about the minerals to be found in the Chasm.
And as the Doctor’s stay became the norm, and his presence slowly started to settle, soon his own works and materials, both new and old (the Traveler recuperating some of his belongings that were left scattered in several places in different nations;) became a part of the vast collection.
And if the lack of organization was bothersome already it only became worse, when essays, dissertations and other works spawning the subjects of all matters of sciences, and sometimes philosophy were added to the mix.
And so it all started here, an afternoon where he had decided to finally tackle the problem headfirst and not only create a system that worked with all the already existing books, but also took into account the future acquisitions. And once he was created he took on the long task of reorganizing the whole thing.
Hours latter found himself coming to a stop when a certain book came into his hands.
‘Wedding traditions and customs from all over the seven nations’, the title announced, it wasn’t a book that seemed out of place inside Lumine’s collection, as a consequence of being both a traveler, and an otherworlder many books explaining details, history and the culture of the many nations were commonplace in her collection.
The book in itself should have amounted to nothing, months before he would have simply put it amongst the bookshelf it now belonged to and continue with what he was doing.
But months before he was ignorant of the way her lips felt against his, months before he didn't get to see her laying at his side as the first thing of the day. And so, he wasn’t the same man that he was before, and so now he dared to entertain silly thoughts of love and belonging.
And so now, he opened the book and quickly skimmed through the pages. Of course until he reached the part that talked about Sumeru traditions and with something that he didn't dare call hesitance started to read it through.
Unfortunately just as he expected it only depicted the traditions followed by the one who lived in the green parts of the nation of wisdom. It wasn’t disappointment, and it didn’t cause sadness or some kind of affliction. It was simply another firm reminder that there was really no leftover connection to be had with his birth place.
He had been young when he was forced to leave, and with the matter of his survival as more concerning than anything else, his younger version hadn't really focused on remembering the cultural practices of his village. But now once again he asked himself, which foods would be served on an occasion like a wedding? Was it a grand event that involved the whole village, or only the immediate families participated in it?
What about the clothes to be worn? Was there music, and chants to accompany the thing, or was it a quiet affair?
But it was all irrelevant, in the end as it was the norm in the harsh desert that place soon saw its fall. And with no records ever written out, soon only the sands would remember that there was never once a settlement there.
Well, only the sands and him.
“Here you are.”
Crossing the door Lumine enters the room, her eyes quickly scanning the current chaos of empty bookshelves, and books and papers piled up in different categories all over the floor.
Taking advantage of her current distraction in a casual manner he closes the book and goes to leave it at the pile where it now currently belongs. But maybe because of his silence, or the slight tension in his movements, Lumine ends up focusing her eyes on the book that he just put down.
He can see the moment she reads the words on the spine. She says nothing, the silence extends, there’s a tilt to her head, her eyes slowly blink and finally she turns to look at him. And even though he’s all that she is looking at, her eyes are filled with a dint look, her mind travelling far.
“Ah, right! Dinner 's ready.”
She finally says. And then she leaves.
Dinner runs its normal course, conversation runs freely amongst the table, even if Paimon makes up for more than half of it. And it ends up just like it always does. But that distant look refuses to leave the Traveler’s eyes, her memory travelling back in both distance and time.
It’s not until later at night, when both of them are embracing each other in their room, waiting for sleep to come when he finally decides to bite the bullet.
“What were weddings like back in your home world?”
With her back resting against his chest he is unable to see her face, still, he feels the seconds-long tension that fills her body as she processes his question. After seconds of silence he’s about to let go of the subject when she lets out a deep sigh and starts to ask.
Just like in Teyvat, back in her home world the culture was not an unified one, and in matters like weddings many elements would dictate the course to follow. Clans and affiliations, social status and even some jobs would dictate some protocol to follow.
Some of the things she told him were customs unlike anything he had ever seen or heard in Teyvat, some were exactly the same, a bouquet of flowers for one of the spouses, the scattering of flower petals, her clan in particular shared the customs of wearing rings, and the exchange of vows to tie the souls of the spouses to be.
But there was one particular custom that every culture followed. A wedding was only to be had at night time and only where the sky was the clearest and the stars were the most visible.
***
That afternoon had been the beginning of the path, the next steps were just as silent and with no pomp to them.
“Do you still have recollection of the vows?” He asked one early morning some weeks later.
Lumine would only answer him once she finished her cup of tea.
“Yes.” She said, and before he could say anything else she started to recite them. First she did it in her mother tongue, and then she would give him a translation.
After she was done she didn't question as to why he wanted to know, and simply got up and went to the kitchen while murmuring to herself ideas for what she would make for Paimon's breakfast.
He remained there sitting at the table, his own mug still half full.
“Today it’s your turn to wash the dishes!” She half screamed from the kitchen after a while.
Nothing else came from that conversation.
And if in the next few days he would spend the hours she was away reciting the vows in that unknown tongue until he had pronounced it just like she had, well, no one else but the animals in the gardens were there to see him.
***
The fabricated night sky of the Teapot realm hangs high above them, still even if it’s just nothing more than an illusion the stars shine bright and glorious.
All of them reflected over the clear surface of the pond situated below the bridge they were standing over. Occasionally as a fish swam by and the ripples it brought would cause the reflection to distort and make the stars dance around.
Tonight was a sleepless one for both of them. And after hours of sleep avoiding them Lumine had decided to step outside into the tranquility of the gardens and distract her mind simply observing them. With not much thought he had followed behind her.
“Why under the stars?” He asked.
It didn't take long for Lumine to make sense out of his question.
“According to our legends the stars themselves are my species' foremothers. It is said that we were born out of the desire that they had to join the worlds that they held vigil over. But after our creation they were still bound to the high skies, we could join them but they were unable to do the same. So as to not exclude them, and to allow themselves to see and interact with their descendants all events of importance no matter how big and small were to be held at night when they could not only see and talk to us, but we could also see them and talk back.”
Such a cruel play made by fate then, that she was now trapped in a place where the connection between sky and world was under interference.
“I see.” He simply said back.
***
The next steps walked to the inevitable destiny were of the same nature.
A small question here and there, all said in a casual manner, no spectacle was ever made out of the answers. Of course there was always the possibility that one day she would finally start questioning as to why he wanted to know. And of course he was prepared for that day, arguments to show his completely rational and only curiosity filled need to know about the culture of another world.
But the day she finally decided to question his actions it wasn’t about the motives behind them.
“You know. Even when I was still back in my homeworld I really didn’t care for the so-called ‘traditional ways’. And now, even as the last of them, I don't really have a strong urge to do things that way.”
He doesn’t move from where he’s sitting down at his desk. Not even as she approaches him does he light his eyes to meet her.
“But the day you ask me the question, I would like a ring.” And with nothing more than a quick kiss to his cheek she’s gone. Leaving him to plan accordingly now that he knows that she wants the same thing as he does.
***
The making of the aforementioned ring comes with its fair share of difficulties.
First of all, he knows that it is something that he has to make with his own hands. But that is easier said than done, seeing as how currently he is limited to stay only inside the Teapot as consequence of being assumed dead by the world outside, and having the status of persona non grata in several if not all of the nations.
Then adding the fact that Lumine is his only connection to the materials needed to be obtained from the outside world. And while she is already aware of his plans and probably expect and to them, he considers that these are matters that should possess a certain level of secrecy to them.
In the end the solution comes from none other than Paimon. Of course her help comes to the high price of several candy and food related bribes, several sleep related curfews being ignored when Lumine is not present, and taking in majority of her chores around the Teapot form the accorded time of exactly 3 weeks and 5 and a half days. No more, no less.
Of course Lumine is aware of what is going down, but she is willing to look the other way every time Paimon throws some weak excuse about having to go and do something else, somewhere else, and in complete solitude with no Lumines allowed.
It takes a while but once he has everything he needs, he does quick but careful, detailed and thoughtful work.
***
The day he asks the question one singular chaotic event is quick to eclipse it. Of course it hadn't begun like that, and it had started as nothing more than a tranquil stroll through the gardens. All the flowers were in bloom, and even though by this point it was already a familiar sight there was no damage in seeing it once again.
There was no anxiety running through him, no feeling of dread in the case she would say no, and as they walked through the place, their hands interlocked, it was clear to see that she was aware of what he had planned. Still she would entertain him.
In the end it was as they walked through the flowerbeds full of plants from his birth nation that he decided to ask the question. The moment he came to a stop, when he turned to look at her she was already smiling, her eyes shining and expectant.
Of course she said yes, but just as she was basking in the sight of the ring in her finger, one of the goats that also called the gardens it’s home decided that it was the perfect moment to pick up a fight with a brown deer.
Mayhem was quick to fall upon the serene scene, Paimon quick to flee for cover, some of the other animals trying to either join or stop the ongoing altercation.
With an amused sight Lumine had to depart from his side and go to control the situation before it became something worse.
By the end of the day nothing else was said, still ever since that moment the ring never left her finger, not even when she left the sanctuary of her private realm, and others would take notice of it and ask questions.
***
The inevitable night actually manages to catch him by surprise. He hadn't planned it, and from previous talks with Lumine he knew that she was not in a hurry to finally complete what they started.
Still, that night after dinner instead of starting to get Paimon ready for bed, Lumine simply instructed both of them to clean themselves before leaving for the gardens.
Inquisitive looks were shared between the child and man, but none had the answer, and simply obeyed the woman’s command.
When they joined Lumine in the garden she had two objects with her: a bouquet of flowers from all of the nations that were picked from her gardens, and a basket with just petals on it.
Realization dawned upon him. And at the same time the world around became nothing but white. And finally after some long he found himself outside, back into the real world.
He recognized the place she chose by its smell first, seeing as the world around him was still solid white.
But even after years of having last set a foot on it he immediately recognized the desert of Sumeru.
When his vision came back it simply confirmed what he already knew, the night sky greeted them, and the stars and the real moon reflected on the waters of the oasis they were at. Their light was enough to light up the darkness.
“Their voices are mere whispers full of static, and at times I lose sight of the real ones. But right now the barrier of the fake sky is the weakest it has been in millenia.”
And then with her intentions clear he was quick to begin the ceremony with her, and when her face broke out a full smile once he started to recite their vows in her mother tongue, all the times he had spent hours doing so instead of focusing on his experiments and work became worthy.
And under the watchful eyes of the stars, and amidst Paimon scattering flower petals with strong fanfare and cheering for them, their lips meet for the first time as wife and husband.