To Marry A Gemcaster

20250509

Prompt from DailyPrompt.com

“My love, I have a question.”
Lynn shifted, her body snarling until she went still once more against the couch. Hopefully he wouldn’t see the pain in her face. “Yes, sweetness?”
“Do you wish only for diamonds?” Ralph waved to the gems adorning her clothing and jewellery. “Does your magic work only with them?”
“No, I can work with most gems. Citrine is the only one I cannot connect with. And opals are difficult.” She managed a warm smile. “But please, gift me whichever you love best.”
Ralph didn’t reply. Just gazed searchingly at her foci.
This was embarrassing. But… he was to be her husband; better to get this out of the way.
“These are to combat my weakness.” She brushed a fingertip across one. “While diamonds are often used for beauty, they are also strong. They act as… spiritual armour. It keeps my pain at bay so I can work.”
The crease between Ralph’s brows smoothed out and his expression became sorrowful. She flinched and looked away. Unable to face pity or revulsion, no matter how reasonable.
Her voice was almost steady as she assured him “Whatever you gift me, I will cherish and make good use of it. Please, do not trouble yourself over the particulars.”
“My father often tells me that marriage is a long art of particulars.”
“And he is surely a wise man.” Lynn murmured. Her mouth helpfully filling in for a knotted mind.
Ralph politely excused himself, and she was too tired to even feel shame at failing her hosting duties.
They didn’t speak of gems again for months. He brought many gifts - flowers with cleansing scents, sweets gentle on her stomach, soothing silk garments which carried her foci’s protective magics across her whole body. But nothing which resembled a betroth gift.
She consoled herself with how pleasant his attention was. He couldn’t be faulted for hesitating to wed a… someone like her. No matter how strong her gemcasting, no matter her fine lineage, no matter how hard she worked in the small stretches her body allowed her. She would never be a good catch.
Even if he called off the marriage, she would treasure the memories of these golden afternoons together for years to come. Her whole life, even.
She was so resigned to this fate that when he walked in with a box which sang to her inner ear, her reaction was curiosity rather than excitement.
“I’m sorry it took so long.” Ralph held out the box to her - his thumb flicking it open so she need not fumble with the catch.
The symphony took her breath away. Hundreds of beads woven into a tapestry of gold. The moment her fingers touched it she felt her pain lifting.
“Amber and bloodstone?”
She should protest. She wasn’t weak. But oh, the relief as it drank her suffering…
Ralph fastened the glorious band around her neck and kissed her. “Nobody may criticise your wedding gift. And you need not be armoured with me.”

Prompt was “Diamonds are beautiful, but they are also strong”.