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To say he was nervous wasn't entirely true. There was a stitch in his shoulders that bound them together and his feet couldn't quite sit still, leaving him to pace the redstone, but it wasn't nerves. To Azzan, being nervous made it seem as if he had regrets or fear about his decisions and he could not stress to himself, or anyone, how very wrong that was. Chau was a bright spot in his life and without her, he was sure, he would not have made the transition from lonely watch dog to respected Claw with such ease. No, she was everything now and he could not wait to see her.

His mismatched eyes swung away from where Ruka had gathered on the crest of Ashiki's overlook and the witnesses that milled around her so that he could stare, instead, upon the path that lead up to the Queen's cave. Any moment now his dark rogue would round the bend and greet him with that same, playful smile..

And then they would make their oaths.

Chau thought this tradition very strange; but Azzan had ampul faith for the both of them. She knew that he truly believed in the Ancestors and in the ways of the Outlands. The dark lioness was unsure about what she believed, she had witnessed many prides on her travels, all with their own ways of life; all believing theirs to be the truth. Yet, in Azzan’s own words, none of those lands mattered here; and if this was his way, maybe his ancestors would listen to her.

Hopefully more than her sons did. It was Ebu that walked with her, a great white mass of a male that just seemed to grow and grow with each passing day, though she was sure that he was more fur than muscle. Not like his brother, who was set to be a warrior; it was why Imaski was picked to be her witness; Ebu had no complaints. He had started to call her mom as a joke; now he was not even sure himself it was one. “I will talk to you later.” She whispered to him almost affectionately before she walked ahead.

“Really?” He mumbled, his brow rising as his adopted mother looked back over her shoulder, winking in his direction. “Tomorrow.” She corrected herself; before her attention was stolen from him completely. The white male nodded his head, before looking towards the other guests that had gathered. He did not know Azzan’s family very well; but nevertheless, took a place not too far away from Mjrn and Takha, bright eyes briefly drifting upwards to find his brother.

Chau glanced at her in-laws, knowing that she would have greeted them in any other circumstance, but she was too excited to stop; her paws simply would not cease until they carried her to him.

A good, reformed, refined lioness might have been more graceful in the approach; but the once rogue was not and she let herself slither up his flank and bury her face in his thick mane. ”Hello, handsome.” She mumbled with a face full of fur; before she stepped away an inch to look towards Ruka. No, she didn't need to believe in their ways, she believed in him; and if he was willing to bind himself to her in such a way - what more could she ask for.

While he waited for Chau to join him, Azzan threw a pleased smile in his mother's direction - it was his only way of comforting her from where he stood. He knew that her presence in his father's company was only for his sake and he could not express to her with a simple smile just how much that meant to him - but he tried, none-the-less.

"Father," he dipped his head with all the respect he could muster, finding his own emotions and affection harder to express with another male that seemed so terribly like minded. Stoic, strong, proud - Azzan was lucky his mother's affection ran so deeply in his veins or he might've found himself in a similar position to Takha himself. "I know he would come if he knew, it's alright. To be honest I'm kind of surprised that so many of us are here again on these lands. I'm not really a dreamer but it's.. a pleasant surprise. Thank you."

He let his eyes drift away only as his father walked back to join his family and the pale lion that had taken a seat not too far. He recognized the boy as one of Chau's and turned to look for her the moment that she sidled up next to him. If he hadn't been such a brilliant red already he was sure that his flush would have burned right through his fur for everyone to see. Even still, he couldn't be ashamed, and he returned her affectionate nuzzle without question.

"Come on my heart, let's get this going before Ruka changes her mind." With as many cubs as the female had, Azzan was sure she wasn't getting nearly enough sleep and he wasn't one to test her. Not even today.

With a flick of his tail, he leaned down and nudged Chau's shoulder so that they could make the last trek of the path up to stand before the pale vessel. He turned as they reached her at last, putting his profile into view for her and his gaze directly upon the dark lady that was about to become his wife.

"Ready?"

Ruka offered a small and pleasant smile to Chausika, as if to soothe any worries that there could be bad blood between them. Ruka had lost the duel, but she did not take that defeat personally. All she had tested was Chausika's strength, and she had found the lioness to be quite capable. It was no surprise that Azzan liked her. Now, one of her sons probably would have raised quite the fuss over his mother overseeing the marriage of her 'arch rival'.

Which was why said son was tucked away as far from this ceremony as possible. Ruka wasn't exactly thrilled to be doing this, and she'd be far less thrilled if she had to chase her own cubs around. There were far too many of them now that her mother had dropped them off in the pride (not that Ruka really considered Talayeh to be her parent). The pale lioness had thought she only had to worry about two boys, but now there was a large group of cubs under her care and that idea alone stressed her out.

She'd almost rather be doing this instead.

The couple approached her, and her expression remained neutral. Ruka was content to slip into the background, to let the moment go to the happy (and mushy) couple. "Well, you can't run away now," Ruka interjected with no small amount of snark. "It is time for your vows."

She was supposed to be in the background, but she couldn't help it - someone needed to bring a break to this romance. Ruka personally couldn't wait for the duels to start, and while she wouldn't participate, she enjoyed watching them.

Chau remained silent as the rusty male made his oath; taken back by how surreal the whole thing was. She never thought she would take an oath; or that she would find someone that she wanted to bind herself to. Azzan had inspired some strange behaviour from her and stood before him now, she was more certain than ever that this was the path she wanted to travel. When she was young the very idea of commitment caused anxiety - now she felt it at the very thought of being parted from him.

Silver eyes were focused on him, widening slightly at his words before they were forced to look away. Her skin reddened under her dark pelt, blood pooling in her cheeks and pounding her in ears. Their wedding day was to become the first day they truly confessed their love for each other; and though she knew it already, hearing the words made her heart skip a beat.

When he fell silent it was her turn to make her vow.

“I am Chausika, Shield of the Ukuhlwa'Izwe. I promise Azzan that for as long as his heart beats I will remain by his side; that I will remain loyal and devoted to him. That his cubs will be raised with his beliefs, in the land he loves and protects.”

The black lioness looked to Ruka for a brief moment, then to the party that had gathered to watch them - before her gaze returned to the handsome Claw before her.

“By blood and bone, I swear this oath to him.”

Her eyes closed, her head lowering. She wanted to hold him close but was not sure if it was the ‘proper’ thing to do at this moment. Instead, her voice lowered, her words less formal; spoken quietly as if they were only meant for him. (Though she was sure Ruka was close enough to hear them, also).

“I love you.”

It was such an unimaginable feeling as he stood before his small, dark lioness and listened to the words tumble past her jowls, words that would seal them as one beneath the eyes of the Ancestors with a binding oath. Overhead he knew a raven was circling and listening and around them his family and her adopted boys were gathered.

What had he done to deserve this? Was it simply his steadfast guard of their lands throughout all the years?

A well of emotions surged through him with Chau's whispered love and, overcome and impossibly moved, he let his eyes raise in a silent prayer to the stars that were hidden beyond the day's light. Somewhere the great kings of the past, his aunt and grandmother and Taka himself, were all smiling down upon this day. He let his thankfulness soar up to them and at last, his eyes closed before he lowered his head and let them open upon his beautiful mate once more.

His mate. Chau.

"I love you," he whispered back gently before stepping forward and dipping his head so that he could brush his cheek along hers. A paw rose and pulled her closer, burying her face into his the scruff of his neck as she was so often apt to do. Over her shoulder, he leveled a thankful smile upon Ruka.

"Thank you for this, I will remember."

Watching Chau and Azzan voice their vows was doing some peculiar things to Azisa's insides.

It wasn't the ceremony itself. That had actually been rather nice so far, impressively swift and blessedly low-key. Thanks be to the virtues Taka had bestowed upon the pride, as most of this affair had been focused on the lovers and their dedication to each other, without a whole lot of fluff or additional ridiculousness. Their love for each other was damn near palpable, and Azisa was pleased that they could celebrate it here in their recently-reclaimed homelands. It was a boon on them, all of them; a taste of normalcy that would help every Outlander adjust to the idea that this was their proper place.

A smirk touched her russet muzzle. Not that most needed the help, of course. Certainly not her dear cousin there, nor those who shared his old ties and even older blood.

No, what bothered Azisa was deeper down, buzzing annoyingly among those annals of self-reflection where she didn't often care to dwell. She found herself thinking, however grudgingly, about her own ceremony. Mentally, her own voice traced Chau's words, soft and vulnerable and alien. Her inner Azzan, though, was conspicuously absent. Would she ever say vows of her own? Who would say them back? What warrior - because it would have to be, Taka's lineage would accept no less - would ever be able to stand beside her? Did she even want someone to?

Were she not in public, the princess would have laughed at her own foolishness. The question was moot, all things considered. She lived for the pride and her people. Whenever she took a mate...if she took a mate... They would not be there for her. They would be there for the Scion of Taka, Protector of the Realm, Third-born of Ashiki, Princess of the Ukuhlwa'Izwe. That was who she was. That was the way it had to be.

Her ears pinned for a moment, but only just. This was not the time to bemoan a happiness she knew was not to be. This was the moment to celebrate joy, and bear witness to the union of the royal line with the most...unlikely friend she could ever imagine having made. Azisa did laugh then, a low, genuine chuckle. And it was a beautiful ceremony. So she nodded, her smile and slow, contented blink proof of obvious agreement with Ruka's words.