The Fall

My heart raced as the panic set in. Instead of focusing on the sound of the ceremonial jar being shaken, I tried to listen to the rustling of leaves as the trees around us swayed in the breeze. I inhaled the scent of pine but could not calm myself. Today was not a day for peace; today was a day for terror and pain.

Tomin squeezed my hand, and I reminded myself that enduring the coming fear and agony would prove my love for him. Likewise, he was here to prove his love for me. I felt a hint of a smile return to my face, but it dropped as soon as my eyes caught sight of Denton. His body seemed to move involuntarily, and he had to steady himself with his crooked wooden cane. I set my eyes to the ground.

Again, I fought to calm myself. A high-pitched scream pierced the air. A lump formed in my throat. It was the sound of my closest friend, Marietta, proving her love for her betrothed. I had not been able to watch as she slipped her delicate hand into the large glass box, but I knew she must have been bitten by the venomous spider inside it.

The appointed Pain-Bringer nodded at the Master of Ceremonies who finally stopped shaking his clay jar. "And so, young Marietta has taken pain for her lover and is now approved for marriage."

The witnesses clapped as Marietta pulled back her hand and whimpered at the site of its redness. While I pitied my friend, I also knew she had gotten a light assignment. The spider bite most likely hurt, and she could expect to suffer fever dreams and digestive distress for a few days, but that was not nearly as horrific as some of the tasks.

Jadsen - her intended - gave her a caring smile, and the two of them were escorted to the nearby lake, where he was to be drowned nearly to death per his drawn assignment. A handful of witnesses followed, but several stayed behind to watch as Tomin and I drew our required agonies.

The Master of Ceremonies offered the clay jar to me first. There was silence as I reached in and withdrew a small wooden block. I held my breath as I stared at my assignment. Etched on each side of the small cube was a crude depiction of a whip.

"Racine has drawn the whip," the portly man announced. He paused as some of the witnesses murmured. Once they fell silent, he cleared his throat and continued. "Per tradition, she will be placed against a large boulder where her exposed flesh will receive five lashings."

I fought back the urge to cry as Tomin again squeezed my hand to grant me strength. I had hoped for an assignment that would not result in scars. It would be Tomin's duty to take care of me as I recovered the next few days, as it would be mine to care for him. It was all a part of the Proof of Love ritual.

The Master of Ceremonies held out the jar to Tomin, but my lover invoked his right to delay drawing until after my task had been carried out. We had discussed it the night before; I had told him that it would be too much for me to take physical pain while also worrying about his pain. It left him in suspense longer, but he was always the stronger one, and he had agreed.

The Master of Ceremonies walked us down to the lake where Marietta's beau stood waist-deep in the lake. His boots sat on the shoreline next to Marietta. She cradled her wounded hand and stared at Jadsen's back. He stood tall and brave in the water. The appointed Pain-Bringer stood next to him, awaiting the word from the Master of Ceremonies.

"Let Jadsen prove his love for Marietta."

At this, the Pain-Bringer placed one gloved hand on the back of Jadsen's head and plunged it into the lake water. We waited in silence for several seconds. When Jadsen's body began to fight, the Pain-Bringer placed a second hand on his head in order to hold him in place.

Once the Pain-Bringer had assessed task completion, he dragged Jadsen's limp body to the shore where Marietta performed a variety of motions to his body in the hopes of his survival. No one was allowed to interfere. If he died, then they were not meant to be. Either he was not strong enough to fight to stay alive so that he could love her the rest of his days, or Marietta was not willing or able to bring him back to life for the sake of love. As the seconds ticked by, and Marietta grew visibly frustrated by the futility of her efforts, she finally cried out and slammed her fists against Jadsen's stomach. Immediately, he vomited lake water and began gasping for air. I breathed a sigh of relief. The witnesses clapped, and the Master of Ceremonies declared their marriage request approved.

As I watched my friend hugging her loved one, I reminded myself that Tomin and I would complete our tasks and feel that same relief and joy. Our marriage request would be approved, we would help each other heal, and then our life together would officially begin.

My optimism faded as the Master of Ceremonies and Pain-Bringer approached me. Without a word, they led me to the boulder. I could hear the witnesses following. I desperately wanted to hold Tomin's hand, but it was not allowed at this time.

I faced the boulder and held out my arms. The pain would surely be the worst part, but another part of the whipping was the humiliation. The Pain-Bringer used his hands to tear the back of my dress open. The crowd was respectfully silent. He placed his hand on my exposed back and gently pushed me until my chest rested against the cold rock. The breeze tickled my flesh for a few moments as I waited for the first strike.

SNAP! A flash of white-hot pain exploded across my back. I heard the start of a scream escape my lips, and I forced my teeth together. SNAP! Tears formed in my eyes as I fought to keep my arms outstretched. SNAP! I pressed my cheek into the stone as hard as I could. If I could just focus on the coldness of the stone or how it scraped my face...SNAP! I was shaking too much and began to crumple. I willed my body not to collapse. I stretched my arms as far as they would go and dug my fingertips into the boulder. SNAP! At this final contact, I allowed myself to fall to the grass. I sobbed quietly against the ground as fast footsteps approached. Tomin was at my side. "It's over, Racine. You've done beautifully."

The Master of Ceremonies stood close and announced: "Racine has withstood the pain of five lashings for her lover and is approved for marriage." Soft applause broke out, but I knew I couldn't celebrate yet.

Tomin helped me to my feet and offered me his coat, but I shook my head in response. I worried the feeling of the fabric against my injuries would exacerbate my pain. Instead, I chose to remain partially exposed as Tomin drew his assignment.

I caught sight of his block and nearly collapsed again.

The Master of Ceremonies took it and announced: "Tomin has drawn...The Fall." There were gasps from the witnesses. "Per tradition, Tomin must stand at the top of the hill and allow himself to fall down the side of it."

As the group began to lead the way, Denton grabbed Tomin's arm. "The rocky side, Tomin. You must choose the rocky side."

Tomin nodded. Denton was the only survivor of The Fall for the past twenty years. It had left him partly crippled and unable to work his job. His intended had refused marriage to him after that, and he had never sought love again.

Surrounded by the witnesses, I followed Tomin as he bravely ascended the hill. I couldn't help but stare at the rocks jutting out from the sides. It terrified me to know that my lover would soon fling himself onto those jagged horrors. The other side of the hill was a long and steep drop. Many had chosen that side and died; the impact with the ground had been too severe.

The Master of Ceremonies gave Tomin a moment to choose his side. Following Denton's advice, Tomin chose the rocky side. He stood at the edge and stared down into the forest. Everyone waited in silence.

Suddenly, Tomin's eyes shut, and his body fell forward. It looked so effortless. He simply fell from the hill and tumbled down the rocks. Every sickening thud hurt me. With each rock that his body hit, I found myself wondering which bone had just broken.

When at last he came to rest on the ground below, he remained unmoving. I raced down the side we had walked up - the side which had not been an option for Tomin. My torn dress flapped in the breeze, and my whip marks smarted, but I didn't care.

I reached Tomin's seemingly lifeless body and urged him to wake up. I called his name and caressed his cheek. I wanted to shake him, but I worried about the state of his body.

By the time the witnesses, the Pain-Bringer, and the Master of Ceremonies had reached us, Tomin had just barely opened his eyes. He groaned and reached out for me. Joy and relief flooded me as I gently grasped his hand and held it to my chest.

There was applause followed by the official announcement: "Tomin has proved his love for Racine. Their marriage request is approved."

The fear was over. Now came recovery, selfless care for one another, and lifelong love.