Marriage-Magma

I sit and watch from the chair in Xander’s office as he and Maximus toss out ideas back and forth. We have been here for almost two hours, and they have yet to come up with a solution.

Why do we sit around while our mate is out there

without us. We should go to him.

I contemplate explaining the situation to dragon, but I know that no matter what she will not understand why we are unable to. I blink tuning back into the conversation.

“That won’t work. We would have to show proof that a marriage license was filed for. We would also need the statement of a priest and we don’t have one. That is too many forms we would have to lie about, and they would have been filed through the state.” Xander says rubbing his face in frustration.

“What is with these humans and their damn documents. Does there have to be a record of everything?” he yells as he paces. “Is there any type of union that we could prove that would not have to be filed with the state?” he questions.

“Yes, but they have not known each other long enough to file for a common law marriage. There is also no established religion here that would give us a way around it to have our own marriage practices” he answers with a sigh.

We do not need to be married. If we bite him he is our mate. Then he can have no other.

Maximus begins pacing once more and I tune out in thought. Religion is a system of faith and worship. I don’t know of any dragons that believe in a god and anything like it. Then my mind starts to race, and a puzzle begins to form. For the first time since we entered into this office I have hope.

“Xander stop.” I say as he begins to answer another asinine question for Maximus.

“We were both smokejumpers. No one knows exactly how long we have known each other. We both work long shifts on and off. We wouldn’t have had time to meet each other’s people with the way that our schedules are. We also live in the same valley” I state as I sit higher in my seat.

“Where are you going with this, Magma? We need a way that is legally binding without having to produce paperwork. Maximus got us into a real pickle with this one and if we don’t have proof we could be fined for lying. Someone could even do jail time and…..”

“A proxy marriage!” I yell interrupting him. “Just hear me out. If we have our own religion because we have our own laws here then their laws don’t apply to us. I’m betting that in that paperwork you have you as our Alpha have permission to deem fit any punishment inside the camp except for murder, right” I say leaning forward.

“Well, yeah we are technically our own small city and because of what we are the government didn’t want to sacrifice men if one of us were to get out of hand. Oh I see where you are going with this” he says as he rushes to type something into his computer.

I sit back with a smile on my face knowing that I have just figured this out. Maximus looks back and forth between us wondering what we have figured out. ‘Would someone like to clue me in to this decision that just saved the day?” He ask angrily when Xander and I remain quiet.

Xander and I exchange a smirk and then he answers. “We figured that we would let you stew a bit after getting us in trouble once more with your smart mouth” he says as he continuously types. Maximus starts stomping his foot in irritation waiting until Xander is ready to answer him. “All right, simmer down. The answer is simple really. If we have our own religion here where they consider us to be barbarians we would need a way to wed to get around their laws. So, a proxy marriage comes into play. As Magma pointed out she and Igneous have busy schedules and since they could have planned a wedding not knowing a fire would occur, they qualify for a double proxy marriage” he answers as he begins to grab papers from his printer.

“What the hell is a proxy marriage?” he spits out.

“It is a marriage that is allowed to happen when both parties cannot be present for it. Since smoke jumpers have travel restrictions during fire season they could have had two others marry on their behalf who represented them. All these needs is witness statements. With a proxy marriage they have up to ninety days to make it official in front of a judge” I say gloating.

At his dumbfounded expression I laugh. He scowls at me and vanishes from the room probably finding something to do because he is no longer needed here. “How long would you need to form a religion?” I ask him as I sat in the chair once more.

He sighs as he lifts his head from the paperwork he has begun filling out. “It may take a day or two Magma. We would need proof of having a religion here and I would need to brief everyone in the clan on this matter in case they are questioned. Every religion has narratives, symbols, traditions, and sacred histories. It needs to be something that they won’t question. I’m so sorry” he says.

Is there nothing we can do.

My body has once again chilled under his words. I knew that getting proof wouldn’t be something that was easy to find but I had hoped that I would be back with Igneous today. “No dragon, there is nothing that we can do today. This is the only way to do things so that no one can take him from us again” I caution her.

I miss mate.

I watch as she curls up in my mind and feel a deep shudder through my body at her pain. I miss him too I want to tell her. I want to tell her that in this she is not alone. I need him too. I have no idea what to do now that he isn’t here. I clench my teeth to stop them from chattering. It has only been a few hours and I am already starting to get cold.

“I don’t know what to do, Alpha” I say brokenly as tears fill my eyes. Now that I have nothing to focus on, the pain of Igneous being gone is starting to take over once more.

“We do what he said Magma. We help you stay warm.” He assures me. “Maximus” he bellows.

In just a few second he appears back into his spot.

He holds a blanket in his hands and begins to unfold it. As he holds it out toward me I begin to shake my head knowing that it won’t work. “The blanket is just to get you to where we are going. It should keep you warm until we get there” he murmurs gently.

I rise on shaky legs from the chair and take the blanket from him. I wrap it around my body tightly trying to hold in what little body heat I have left.

As Maximus begins to leave the room I follow him. I turn back form the doorway to say something to Xander. “Just in case, I want to thank you for everything you have done for me. You are the best Alpha” I say.

His gaze meets mine and a sad smile is upon his face as his eyes flicker. He says nothing as I exit the room.

Outside I follow Maximus slowly past a few houses in the village. After a few moments I lean against the side of one to catch my breath hating that my body is becoming so weak. Maximus stops his steady pace and rushes to my side. “If I carry you the rest of the way, will it cause you pain?” he demands.

Let him help us. We are already so weak, and I do not know where we are going to fly.

I shake my head as I say “No skin” through my chattering teeth. He sweeps me off my feet and cradles me bridal style in his arms. For a moment he pauses as his eyes meet mine. I see an odd expression cross his face before his dragon eyes appear. When they disappear he moves his gaze forward and clenches his jaw as he begins to jog.

We make it to the trees and as he slows I take in the scenery with heavy eyes. I see other members of the clan gathering sticks and stones as they form a pyre. My eyes mist knowing that so many have gathered to help.

This is our family. This is what you deserved to have so long ago

I send love to my dragon in thanks for what she saved us from. As I take in the structure I quickly assess it to make sure that the fire will not get out of control. I have no idea what my state will become in this declining condition. Maximus takes me to the center of the pile which is a smooth slab of stone. I know that Franklin must have created this with his earth abilities. As I am laid atop it I look at the darkening sky.

“I really hope this works Magma. We are going to take shifts adding wood to the fire. Try to match your inhales with your normal breathing like we trained when we were kids. Don’t worry if you see a stray flame either, we have buckets of water set out to stop them. Your only job is to use the fire here to stay warm, you got that” he commands in a surly tone.

I take my eyes away from the sky and look at him. There is a tightness to his eyebrow, and I realize I have never seen him like this. He is our brother.

He worries for us.

I smile at him sadly and nod knowing that I won’t be able to get out much through the chattering of my teeth. I am so grateful for everything he is doing for me.

“Fire” he yells as he vanishes. I watch him pop up outside the lines of rock that form the perimeter of the pyre. I watch as others begin to light matches and the sticks and leaves begin to light.

As they come flames start to lick closer I take my first slow inhale and moan against the burn it brings to my throat. I can still feel the chill in my bones, but the heat is a nice distraction. I immediately inhale more.

Slow and steady. We are not doing this to put the fire out. It must sustain us. Feel the fire Magma. Now breathe in. Hold. Now exhale slowly. There you go, again.

As my dragon coaches me to take shorter breaths a slower burn develops. As I concentrate on the motion my teeth start to chatter slower. The world around me disappears as I close my eyes to focus.

I imagine the slow burn that builds when I am in the presence of my mate. The heat that is in his eyes when he looks at me. The way he laughs. I picture the sorrow on his face when he told me about his parents. As I remember the fleeting time we have spent together. My limbs fill with a monumental feeling as I slowly start to warm, and the shudders stop.

That feeling is love. Love is more healing than anything else in this world.

I smile in the glow basking in the love I feel for Igneous. If this is what I have to look forward too, then I can survive until he comes to me.