Laff entered the partition. "King's blessing on you, my parents. Are you well?"
          "Greetings, Laff." His father rose slowly to his feet. "Please have care with your mother, she is now no longer able to leave her couch."
          "My time will soon come to return to my fathers, Laff. But I am so blessed to have been able to see you grow to manhood. We must soon consider how the fulfilment of the King's promise to your father will occur."
          "Seran!" His father spoke strongly, but love was in his voice. "Once before the family tried to work out the king's plan for him! Can you believe, this time he can work it out himself! Do not worry, it will become clear at the right time what I must do!"
          Laff knelt by his mother's bed and leaned over, kissing her soft and wrinkled cheek.
          "Mother, be sure that I know yours and father's wishes in this matter. I have no desire to have a girl that would make it hard to serve the good King! He has done so much for us. My very life, my birth was a miracle from his hand, - with you and father so advanced in years! Do you think I could forget him and go after one of the idol worshipping local girls, to join in their frenetic attempts to escape from their fear filled lives! No mother, you have no need to fear for me. Father will find a way, for the King will help again!"
          Seran shut her eyes. Tears squeezed out from under the lids. "My son, my son, how blessed I am to have such a one, and such a husband, so strong, so loving in spite of my weakness and lack of trust in our King. How blessed are we amongst so many to have heard and followed his voice!"

          And soon the way became clear. An old servant was entrusted with the task of returning to the clan lands, and finding a suitable wife for Laff.
          "How will I know which one is right?" The puzzled man asked.
          "I think you'll know when you see her." replied Adran.

          The journey was long and there was ample time for meditation. "I know!" the servant exalted, "It is just a matter of picking the most pleasant girl - beauty after all doesn't last, and the usual family quarrels would spoil anyone's looks." And he decided to set a test of character...
          Confirmation of the wisdom of the servant came, the first girl he met gave him just the help he needed - greatly above the norm given to a stranger. And when he enquired as to her name, which was Bekka, and who her family was, it was the very same as he had been sent to find! What was more astonishing, she wanted to leave with him straight away, a*nd she was also beautiful. The bridal gifts were given to Bekka, and her family, and they set off, in company with her personal servants.

It was Laff's practice to walk out in the late afternoon and watch the sun go down, and think on the things that were dear to him. His mother had died recently, and he missed her sorely. He was not sure if he was looking forward to marriage to an unknown wife, yet he longed for the feeling of completeness a woman could bring to make up a family. He knew his father wanted grand-children before he passed on, to see the line continue, and the King knew he longed for children and fulfilment of his manhood. It was hard for him to wait, to be patient, to be responsible; so this time of meditation when the evening light intensified the colours of the grass and trees, was precious to him. The birds' songs would first grow frantic, then die away to an occasional sleepy cheep as they went to their rest. Laff would wait for the sun's ball to drop fully below the earth's rim, and pull the fiery curtain behind it, then he would walk quietly to join his father at the evening meal.

          It so happened that the servant had arrived with Bekka at this time of the day, while Laff was watching the sun about to touch the horizon. He was at peace with himself and the world, ready to take what came, believing that the good King would somehow make it right. While he watched, the silhouetted figures of the travellers appeared and Laff leaped to his feet and with slow striding steps ran to meet them, his heart strangely quickened and sure. With the sun full in his face, he was a glowing figure to the travellers. "Who is this?" Bekka asked her companion.
          "It is my master's son, your betrothed." he replied.
          Bekka got off her mount, and covered her face.
          Laff reached them and soon the excited servant had told him all the details and brought Bekka round to him, placing her hand in his. The two stood in silence for a few minutes, Bekka with her head down.
          "Come on and see your new home." said the servant to Bekka's maids, and the young couple were left by themselves. She peeped up from under her eyelids quickly, and saw the young man's face was full of longing, and shyness, yet strength too. Taking the veil from her face she slowly raised her head, smiling and blushing sweetly.
          Laff smiled back, then bowing his head, he thanked the good King in his heart.
          "Come Bekka, we will go to the evening meal, you must be tired and hungry."

          They were soon exchanging details of their life stories, and the more Laff heard, the more his heart warmed to the girl, and hers to him. Within a few days, amongst great feasting and celebration he married Bekka. He gave her his mother's tent, and their tenderness grew into a deep and abiding passion for one another. He loved her, and she, as his wife, was able to comfort him for the death of his mother.