Unions and Bonding

Union:
Once into adulthood in Arenthum, the parents or close relatives (or City Councillors if none of these exist) arrange a Union between their child and someone of the opposite biological sex whom they deem to be an acceptable partner in genetics, of which the only purpose is to create a child. For two days every week until conception occurs, the two lie together.
After the child has been born (in the case of miscarriages it is deemed an unworthy match and a new Union Partner is found for each individual) the two have no duties to each other. Rarely the two will fall in love, in which case they may choose to be Bonded, but otherwise they usually part ways and only remain in contact for the welfare of the child.

Bonding:
After a person has taken part in a Union and produced a child, they are free to be Bonded to someone as they please. This takes place when two or more people are in love and wish to devote themselves to each other.
The ceremony takes place in the woods, and five of the to-be-Bonded's closest friends/family and a priest(ess) stand over them as they sleep and say prayers to all five of the gods, in particular to Health and Contentedness, until they wake up (it is often said that the longer the to-be-Bonded sleep and the more prayers that are said the happier the Bond) and their friends/family leave. They then make each other a memento out of the resources of the woods, and present them to each other. The priest(ess) leaves and the Bond is consummated.
The memento created by the Bonded during the ceremony are kept safe until one of the partners dies, at which point the memento(s) created for them are hung up on the wall.
If a person falls in love before their Union, they can ask their parent/close relative/City Councillor to consider their partner(s) as possible candidates, and if these are accepted Bonding can sometimes take place before a Union. However, these are often rejected.

Primary Related Location

Arenthum

Related Ethnicities

• Arenthian (Ethnicity)