Nav'hian moved towards the den that he shared with his banu and daughters - his sons were in their own dens or out on their quests, so it was only his banu and daughters left with him. It made him feel slightly...old, now that his sons had banu of their own. It wasn't terrible though, he mused, not nearly as terrible as he'd once thought it would be.
What really made him feel old, though, was the fact that he had been approached by a young pad asking for his daughter - his Auri - to be a part of his harem. Now that made him feel old - and more than a little protective. Auri was his golden angel, and he wouldn't let her go to just anyone, but the male who had asked was the son of his oldest friend and the Sultan of the pride. Still, Nav'hian worried.
He couldn't keep his daughters with him always, that would be an insult to them, but he had rather hoped to have them with him for a while longer. His sons were already gone, was he truely loosing his daughters too? He heaved a sigh, peering into the den for a sign of his golden daughter.
"Auri?" He called out to his daughter. "I need to speak with you."
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Auri came willingly when called, not just out of a sense of duty but genuine desire to please her father. She loved and respected her mother, but above all other things, she was a daddy's girl. Well, aside from being neat and proper, that is. She padded out into the sun from napping, a light doze to conserve her energy for a hunt later for the family.
"Yes, father?" she asked lightly, eyes and ears inquiring. She usually spoke formally, but it was her expression and actions that conveyed how she felt about someone. For her father, her eyes always glowed, a smile was always on her face, and she tended to lavish more physical affection on him. This time it was an immediate cheekrub before sitting primly with her tail curled about her paws, waiting patiently for whatever he wanted to talk to her about.
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Nav'hian couldn't hold back the smile that bloomed on his face at the sight of his daughter. He loved all of his cubs, but Auri was his little girl. His daughters were always precious to him, and Auri and her sister had always been given plenty of affection by Nav. He nuzzled her lovingly, before his face became more serious. He wasn't sure how his daughter would respond to his news - he hoped she wouldn't be too displeased.
"I.." he paused, and sighed. "Let's go for a walk," he encouraged, since they were in the den area of the pride, which was usually quite busy and full of people. If she did react badly, he didn't really want people around to witness it, and going into the den wasn't really viable since his banu would be around soon. He got to his feet, ready to lead her towards the lake.
It also gave him a few more moments to work out how he was going to tell her he'd found a Pad for her, and that she was going to him - without ever having met the boy.
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She purred ever so softly and demurely at his return nuzzle, but tipped her head in puzzlement at his sudden serious face. Though her father tended to have fits of stern soberity, it really wasn't like him to be quite so serious in this fashion. She wondered idly if something had triggered the need for a lecture, though she did not worry that it was her own action that did so. Maybe one of the females of her age had done something shameful, and he felt the need to instruct her on how not to behave similarly. She endured such things calmly and patiently, accepting the lessons for what they were rather than taking insult or feeling injured by them.
She nodded her head in acceptance of his suggestion, and padded sedately alongside him. She endeavored at all times to carry herself with proper decorum and grace. She loved her mother, but she desperately hoped she succeeded at this better than her mother had or did. Fura simply wasn't pride-born, and it tended to show. That was fine, since she had been a rogue for most of her life, but Auri felt the distinct need to conform to all required standards of a banu, matching and surpassing all requirements for being exceptional in manners, composure, and obedience.
Her father's behavior was vaguely unsettling though. Something told her that this was not merely an opportunity her father had taken to instruct her. This felt more... personal. She appreciated his taking time to distance themselves from listening ears and prying eyes, and waited until the dens were left behind before turning questioning eyes to him. She still walked as bidden, and did not speak, waiting for him to speak first, as was proper. He'd called her out here, after all, not the other way around.
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He was pleased when she didn't question him, though he had known before asking that she wouldn't. Auri had grown up to be a rather perfect banu - at least in his eyes, though he fully acknowledged that he was bias towards the young female. What father wasn't bias to their daughters? He wanted the best for his daughter, and he knew that someone from the royal line was the best pick for Auri, but still. He worried.
He kept silent as they walked to the lake, away from the dens. He didn't go all the way to the lake, as it would be crowded too, but rather led her away to the side of the path to the lake, to an area that was deserted.
He turned to face her, resolving himself to look into her questioning eyes as he spoke. "You are becoming a beautiful young banu now, Auri," he started off - and it was the truth. "At your age, there comes certain...decisions that need to be made about your future."
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She had not exactly been expecting this particular discussion right this moment, but she nodded as if to herself. Yes, she supposed it was about time for such a topic to come up. She had privately wondered if it would be her mother or her father that would speak to her about it first, as her father wasn't really that good with delicate subjects. So far as she was concerned, though, he was doing a fine job thus far.
Her own feelings on the matter were perhaps predictable, considering her entire attitude towards being a banu. She was aware that someday she would be given to a male as his banu, a much different role than the one she played for her father currently. In the depths of Auri's heart, she vainly hoped he'd be handsome, or perhaps influential, but she knew it might not be up to her at all. This was acceptable to her, though, since she knew her father was unlikely to toss her to just any male who asked for her. So, since he had not yet asked a question or offered choices, she held her tongue and continued to listen attentively, gazing steadily into Nav's eyes.
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Nav'hian was very happy that she didn't try to speak - not because it would be out of turn for her to do so, it would have just made his job a little harder to do. She was so calm and serene, even about her own future, which made Nav proud. She'd be able to handle anything life threw at her, he decided, and relaxed slightly, despite his mild anxiety over the situation.
"Yesterday, a male approached me to ask for you to take a place in his harem," he told her honestly, staring at her, watching for any sign that she might be upset or anxious about the news. He knew many banu were given away without consultation of them, but he didn't want to be the father who forced his daughter into harems. He would experience backlash if he backed out of Aziz's offer now, but if Auri was against it so much, he would do so, though he doubted his sweet angel would ever ask that of him.
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She held her head high, clearly proud and confident. There was no hunting about for a Pad for her. Her father wasn't going to have to try and search for a male who would take her. No, that was not the path for her. Her father had had a Pad come to him to ask for her. She merely smiled serenely and waited to hear who she was to be beybanu to, for clearly that was the position she was best suited for.
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It was going well so far! She almost seemed...happy with the news. Nav was both pleased and mildly sad about that. Was she so anxious to leave the family? He supposed at her age, it was likely an exciting new prospect, not anything worrying. He smiled slightly but grew serious again after a moment or two.
"The pad who has asked for you is Pad Aziz'din, one of Sultan Aali's sons by his banu." Aziz was not born of the sultan and his beybanu, merely one of his other banu, but he still possessed the Sultan's blood through his veins, so he was still of royal blood - just not a potential heir.
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Auri sat up straighter, eyes wide. Now this was unexpected! She itched to pelt him with questions and find out as much as possible, but still was bound to stay quiet until asked a question or given permission to speak. She had shown acceptance to what her father had to say previously, but now she was clearly eager. So eager, in fact, that she began to shift her weight and wiggle her tail about like a cub. This was about as much "unacceptable" behavior as she would deign to show, but this news was so exciting and so welcome that she could not help it. She leaned forward, whiskers spread and eyes wide, waiting to hear more.
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He blinked in amazement - not because of the unrefined behaviour, but because the wide eyes and wiggling movements sent her back in age, reminding her of when she had been just a cub. He couldn't help but chuckle lightly, smiling at her affectionately. She was obviously eager.
"Do you have any questions?" He asked, feeling a little like he was allowing a dam to break, expecting many questions from his daughter, but prepared to answer all of them to the best of his abilities. He wondered what she'd ask - if she asked any questions at all, that was.
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She sat back with more dignity now that she'd been given permission to speak. She considered her questions carefully, then ticked them off as if from a list. "First, have you had other requests from other Pads? Second, how many banu does Pad Aziz'din have? Third, it is my assumption, but will I be his Beybanu?" She fluttered her lashes just faintly at the last. It was her full expectation to be answered yes to this last question, but she felt it was only right to inquire first. The other questions were less important, but valid to her perspective. She wanted to know more about him, but seriously doubted her father could fill her in much more than he already had. If he was to be her Pad, she would find out more about him soon enough. But a Sultan's son! It was quite the honor!
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Nav's mouth twisted up at his daughter's questions. All very sensible questions. He was proud of her for thinking of them, and set about answering them as best he could. His posture was more relaxed now. He was still sad to see that his daughter was eager to leave, but it was something that had to happen.
"No, I haven't had any other requests from pads," he admitted, which had surprised him, but she was still young enough that it was not uncommon for not many Pads to come calling on her. "I believe that he has two banu so far, one from the rogue lands and one that he has taken in the pride." The last question was one he had rather hoped she would not ask, but since she had, he had to answer it.
"No," he said calmly, watching her carefully. "Aziz has expressed no desire to claim you as a beybanu, though neither of his other two banu have claimed the rank that I am aware of."
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Her eyes sharpened to narrow slits at the news that she was not requested to be a beybanu. She frowned just slightly, a minute downturn at the corners of her mouth, a faint furrowing of her brow. By rogue standards, it would have been a subtle frown indeed, but for Auri it was an unwelcome and uncommon expression. Her ears flickered in thought, processing the information. At least it seemed the position was still open, and clearly Pad Aziz was not aware of her qualifications for this position. She merely would have to prove it to him herself.
That decided, her expression cleared, ears and brows relaxing and her mouth curving once more into a more pleasing smile. "I understand, father," she said calmly once more, and though her expression was as serene as before, her jaw was set in determination and her shoulders were squared with firm intention. "Have you agreed to the arrangement with Pad Aziz'din?" Her tailtip very lightly lashed at the name, as if she held back tart words that longed to come out, but she was too polite to speak.
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Nav blinked at the subtle frown on his daughter's face, unconsciously frowning along with her. He knew the last answer was the one that had upset her. Most banu aimed for beybanu status, though few actually achieved it. When her expression cleared, Nav couldn't help but blink in confusion, though a smile grew. She was a good banu already - Aziz would be foolish not to make her beybanu, Nav thought with some bias.
Considering her earlier reactions to the news, Nav had little doubt that she was accepting of the situation, so at her question, he nodded. "I have agreed - Pad Aziz'din will take you into his harem at the earliest convient time - unless you object to his offer?" It was not a question that was asked often to banu, but Nav had to make sure. It wasn't the Pad in him speaking, it was the father who adored his little girl.
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She gathered every bit of her dignity about her before answering. "I have no objections father. I will go to my new position when Pad Aziz'din comes to collect me." And there it was. Her future. Despite the calm aplomb she had accepted it with, the reality of it hit her like a ton of bricks, all in a rush. Her pupils widened, and her whiskers quivered, even as her ears wilted just slightly. No longer the sublimely confident banu, she gave her daddy a mildly panicked look and asked in a squeak of a voice, "Do you think I'll do okay?"
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He nodded as she agreed, pleased that she was happy with the decision. He had half hoped that she would not agree, and he could keep her with him a little longer, but it was not to be. She was leaving him, at the earliest possible convience. He longed to hold her close, and the opportunity came at her question.
"Oh, Angel," he said gently, moving closer to her. He wrapped a paw around her, drawing her close to him. His body was largely fluff, which he kept well groomed now that he was amongst the pride. "You will do better than okay. You are already a wonderful banu - Pad Aziz would be crazy not to see how wonderful you are." He held her tight, not only to comfort her, but also himself.
