#remarriage

It's a follow up to this.

The answer is probably no. The answer is probably moot, because she wouldn't want to. Even if she wanted to, the stigma, her family, the whole history would stop her. And even if not, the Valar probably would.

But just imagine it. The consequences, the gossip, the reactions.

To be clear, I don't want her marrying Miriel. While I like that threesome solution and have nothing against consensual and equal polyamory, it always sounds like a cheat solution here. People do fall in love with two people, and it mostly ends messy; rarely is the solution "let all three fuck each other" actually working. And it's Tolkien's elves, but I still feel like that's too easy.

So let's say Indis marries someone else.

I have half a story planned out here (not with intentions to write it, at the moment, though). In my head, there's a Sindarin, sunlight-born elleth who was born in the early second age and died in the third. She has no real concept of the trials and tribulations of the first age and the times before, she grew up very liberal and while she does worship the stars to a degree, she doesn't really believe in following rules because the Valar say so. The Valar are very distant entities for her anyway.

I've called her Elariel, and I have not checked if that name already exists somewhere or means something; it's a nice sounding place-holder for the moment.

So, Elariel is reborn in the third age, and meets up with some friends who sailed or were reborn around the same time, and they explore Valinor. They come to Valimar and per chance meet Indis, who gives them a guided tour. Especially Indis and Elariel hit it off, and the Sindar invite her to see their community. Indis agrees.

In the next years, they meet again and again, until Elariel and Indis spend almost all their time together. They get along great. Indis likes that Elariel doesn't judge her past, that she gets along great with Findis and Finarfin (and potentially further children that are reborn), that she does not seem hemmed in by society and expectations, living by her own moral code not to harm anyone else, but to live the life you choose. Elariel likes Indis beauty, her intelligence, her willingness to see things through and accept the consequences, her stubborness and decisiveness, her vast knowledge.

Nothing else happens, until one day they are visiting Findis, who is leading a hermit-life in the mountains (I don't remember if it's Fanon or Canon, it's definitely my head canon), who suggests they get married.

Indis is shocked, she did not even think of that. Elariel takes it in stride, while she would like a more physical side of things, by her people's standards they are basically married, and she is also happy with the status quo. There is not much discussion, Indis leaves very confused.

While she is still contemplating the idea, never mind the implications, Findis tells Finarfin that Indis is remarrying (because Findis is of the house of Finwë, and being a hermit does not mean she never meddles.) Finarfin would have preferred to have heard it from Indis herself, but he really likes Elariel, they get along great and she very obviously makes his mother happy. He gives a dumbfounded Indis his blessing.

So it goes. The house of Finwë is still not great at communication, so it takes quite a while to find out that Indis and Elariel never actually agreed to get married, but absolutely everyone likes Elariel and agrees that this is a great idea, actually. Even Miriel thinks that might work out.

(And Finwë, if and when he gets asked, does not really have a leg to stand on, especially as Indis and Elariel are not going to have any more children)

Now how the Valar react, is a different question. And if it actually gets through, whether Finwë gets reborn, too. And then I think we'll have quite a situation when it turns out Finwë and Miriel can't just get back together. And who's supposed to be high king, anyway?

Hello Anon dear!

Thank you so much for the sweet comments 😊

Umm yes I’m a bit lost about your question to be honest.

And the show was also lost on how to bring a remarriage into the picture and I’m forever bitter it went through the typical “Let’s bully and hurt the female lead” way.

The thing being religious wedding validation is intention and rituals

Of course on screen sindoor is like a red colour powder to get the shot. But with intention, even someone putting blood on forehead can signify marriage (like how in the movie Shershaah the whole gesture was truly symbolic).

In IPK no one is saying the marriage was false, they stated the marriage was half done or invalid given the lack of religious validation. Which they’re right about. There were no witnesses. No mantras. No seven pheras. And above all what the characters don’t say but what truly religiously invalidates this is that Khushi was not in a position to give consent. She was forced into this.

But legally it makes no difference because it is implied several times that Arnav and Khushi are legally married so whatever the Guptas or raizadas say hold no weight nor bearing to their marital status.

The families were upset at the elopement and to learn that they didn’t even religiously marry makes everyone upset considering that religion is extremely important to both the families. Also everything is made worse by Dadi. She’s the one who says Khushi is as good as a mistress for there weren’t pheras - that’s what truly angers the Guptas, more than the lack of rituals.

In fact that’s what Madhumati later yells at Khushi. That Arnav chose to humiliate Khushi in every waypossible and Subhadra is doing the same. For Guptas it’s about actually about Khushi’s humiliation fuelled by Subhadra’s words.

Khushi’s take on her invalid marriage is different. She thought legally she and Arnav were married for six months - which were up - and for her the vermilion and mangalsutra mean marriage. Arnav has gone from kissing her to blackmailing her in a span of 72 hours so she doesn’t know what’s her place in his life. A remarriage would’ve made it clear that the necklace he hastily clasped on her neck means something. Except he chose to have sex with her while she was overwhelmed with the realization that she can’t call Arnav her own nor does she have any place in his life. In her head legally they’re unmarried, religiously too their marriage means nothing.

So I guess that sums it all! If you search for marriage in my blog you should come across some interesting posts!

Best,

It had been years since Lily had seen James. 16 years to be precise. 17 years ago Voldemort came into their house and killed Harry, which killed himself as well. A year after that Lily and James finally gave up. That year was the most painful time they had felt in their entire lives. At first they comforted each other, they were the only ones who truly understood. But after a while they started fighting. The Potter household was not a happy place anymore. Vases flew around the house and plates were thrown on a daily basis. They had become so unhappy that they had gotten a divorce. Now, nearly 16 years later they both here, at Rumus’ wedding to Sirius’ cousin. Lily had gone off to France after the divorce. She couldn’t bear to be in England. It felt empty and sad. With the people who knew how her son’s death had ruined her marriage in every corner, she felt so desperate that she went to France. She supposed she always wanted to go there but then again, not like this.

James Potter had not seen his ex-wife for 16 years. He thought she wouldn’t come. He was sure that she hated him enough not to come the same country as him. Isn’t that why she left? He went to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. He didn’t know why but he wanted to look good. He supposed it was a habit, wanting to look good for her. He had strands of grey in his hair. The hair he loved and admired so much when he was young. Now it was lying flat on his head because of the sleazy hair potion but it used to be messy and standing up in every direction. Surprisingly he had had the grey hair since he was 22. Harry’s death hit him hard. And then the divorce…..Well it was enough to age him a few years in advance. His eyes were tired and sad, the glint of mischief completely gone. He had dark circles under his eyes. He hadn’t been able to sleep much. The nightmares kept awake at night. The nightmares weren’t just about that night when…..They were usually Harry all grown up and handsome, telling him that he didn’t do his best to save him. That it was James’ fault that Harry was dead. Besides the nightmares, he didn’t leave much time for sleep either. He was head auror and kept himself so busy sometimes he would be at work for more than 48 hours. He drowned himself in his work after Lily left. He lived at Potter manor alone. He did not have the heart to live in the house he was supposed to live in with his wife and son. Sirius lived in his own flat. He kept visiting James but he didn’t live with him. After the divorce, James had made very clear that if Remus and Sirius take pity on him and come to live with him he will kill them. So that’s why no one could make James eat more than three bites or make him come back from work or even make him go to sleep. He didn’t have wrinkles yet but he knew that soon they would join in. James was living his worst nightmare for the last 17 years and he knew wrinkles were the least of his worries. A man of 37 would look so much younger than he did but when you have little to live for you don’t really stay young and cheerful and perky. His purpose of living was to make sure Sirius doesn’t kill himself because of depression. He was told the beat the way to get better was to marry and have kids again. But every time he tried to talk to a girl he would hear Lily’s voice: “James, by Merlin, if you ever cheat on me I will cut off your testicles. I promise.”

Even though they were divorced, he felt like he was cheating on her. He knew when he still loved her he couldn’t go out with any other girl. He knew until he was over her, even flirting felt like cheating and wrong. And on some level he knew that Lily was the only one, that no matter what he did, it will never be over. And it wasn’t fair to any girl to be his rebound girl. So he gave up. Then he considered adoption and he still regretted the fact that he had EVEN considered it. He had wanted to go and see little andy one day, but the night before going, he had had a dream. It was Harry. He was all grown up. He looked at James with a face like his own but with Lily’s eyes. He looked at him and said:

“Are you replacing me?? How can you? After I die, you try to replace with another boy???”

And that was the end of it. The reason he never moved on. He ruffled his hair but it stayed flat. The potion was really good apparently. And then he smiled sadly at himself.

Lily went to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. She knew James was doing the same thing. She saw him go the bathroom and she knew him well enough to know what he was doing. Her hair was thin, so very thin. It wasn’t the thick, wavy beautiful Auburn hair she once had. It was now thin, almost straight and not very beautiful and it looked more brown then red now. It was like that even her hair dreaded being alive. Her eyes did not shine or smile anymore, they were dead and sad. And she looked 43 instead of 37. So that was that. She had tried to move on but no man could be James. James who doted on her every move, James who chased her for 7 years, James who would gladly walk the gates of hell with her, James who loved her even before he knew what love was, James who made her laugh when she was crying, James who she loved with all her heart. Of course no one could be him. She had tried, she really did but no matter how dates she went on, there was never a second date.

James was her standard. Men were nothing compared to him. Lily had tried to adopt a baby or use a sperm donor but she couldn’t. Every time she came close to doing so, she felt like she was betraying Harry’s memory. After her divorce, she had moved to France and had started working in a hospital. She was a head healer now. But she wasn’t happy. How could she be? But she had survived, somehow.

One last look in the mirror and he thought why did he agree to the divorce when he knew how miserable he would be? On elook in the mirror was enough for Lily to ask herself why had she suggested the divorce when she knew she was never going to be happy without him?

Because we kept fighting. They both thought at the same time.

But why? They asked themselves.

Because we missed Harry and anger was the easiest emotion to let out.

They both headed outside, deciding that they shall be nice to each other.

They went to the ceremony and sat in first row, seeing as Remus had no family and James, Sirius and Lily were closest thing had to one. James sat at the beginning of the bench than Sirius than Lily. There was space between Lily and Sirius and they didn’t talk. After that, they all went to the reception. Remus and Tonks came and Lily went to talk them after the first dance.

“Oh Remus, Dora, it was a lovely service. Congratulations.” She kissed Remus’ cheek and gave Tonks a tight hug.

“Thank you. Where is your plus one?” Remus asked.

“Well, I didn’t bring one.”

“Oh. Is there a reason?”

“No. It’s just no one seemed……..you know what? This is your wedding. Let’s stop talking about my love life. It feels as if all we’ve ever talked about was that!”

After that she sat down at the table, looking at the couples dancing and smiling. She smiled sadly and remembered her own wedding. She was thinking when she a hand extended in front of her.

“May I have this dance?”

Lily looked at the man in front of her. She smiled warmly at Sirius.

“I thought you’d never ask!”

As they danced, Sirius started talking.

“How is France?”

“Not so bad. It’s lonely but I’m used to it.”

“Lonely? You’ve been there for 16 years! How is it lonely? Haven’t you made any friends?” He twirled her.

“I have but they are not really close and I don’t mind. I don’t trust anyone enough to have them as my close friend. Trusting is proving much more difficult than I expected.”

“From what you say about trusting, I assume there is not a man in your life either, correct?”

“Well yes, but not for that reason. You see I tried dating but none of them made it to a second date.”

“Why not?”

Lily smiled but the sadness was visible in both her smile and her eyes. “James. The bloody prat practically ruined everyone for me. No matter who they were or what their traits was, they were always nothing compared to him. There was something they lacked that he had. He has become my standard, a standard no one can ever reach.”

“Merlin knows he would kill to hear those words.” Sirius laughed.

“There was time he would have done so, yes, but not now.”

“Oh Lily, you never change, do you?”

“What do you mean?”

“You sound like seventh year.”

He started imitating her voice.

“Oh Sirius, give up. James doesn’t like me like that anymore. He just wants to be friends.”

“Well that’s rude. What gives you the right to imitate me this poorly?”

“I did it fantastically and since I was trying to prove a point, I had a right.”

“And what point is that, pray?”

“That no matter what you do, where you are or what you say, James Potter will always be in love with you and that will never change. Not in seventh and definitely not now.”

“Don’t be stupid, Sirius. It’s been 16 years.”

“And you think that’s enough time to get over you?” He smirked at her and started clapping because the dance had ended.

“I should think it is.” Lily shouted as she saw Sirius moving away without even listening to her. She scoffed. The bastard was exactly the way she left him: rude, considerate, kind, loyal, sometimes mean and brotherly. She sat down. She was rather confused after that conversation. Did James really….? No. She shouldn’t. She would destroy herself thinking about that. He had moved on. He had brought a plus one. He must have a wife and a few black haired devils.

She was walking when she heard a girl talking to her friend loudly.

“See James Potter? He is still as hot as he was in Hogwarts, isn’t he?”

“Well he has gotten a little bit old. He was a few strands if grey but yeah still hot.”

“I cannot belive he is still single. No wife no kids.”

“Well maybe he’s waiting for 21 year old girl like Remus did.”

“Maybe. Hey! maybe we can get a one night stand out of him tonight.”

“Oh no I work with him and believe me you won’t.”

“Oh damn it.”

No wife? No kids? He hadn’t moved on either? Now that was something she hadn’t expected. She couldn’t believe that James was single. After all this time? She went outside and looked at the beautiful summer sky. It was so beautiful. All the stars were visible. As she was looking up a man’s hand went up to the sky to point to something next her head. She didn’t need to turn her head around to know who’s hand was beside her.

“That’s Sirius.”

“Merlin. I’ve been looking at the stars all night trying to find it.”

“You always did.”

An awkward silence filled the space between them.

“How are you?” James asked.

“I’m alright. You?”

“Yeah. I’m alright too.”

“Wouldn’t your date worry about where you are?”

“I’ve got no date. Wouldn’t your date worry about the fact that you’re talking to ex-husband?”

“No. Since he doesn’t exist, I don’t think he minds.” She smirked.

“Always so bloody cheeky.”

“I thought you liked it.

I did. But that doesn’t mean.....Lily what are you doing?”

She had her hands in his hair so suddenly he was completely and utterly shocked.

“It’s true then.”

“What’s true love?” Damn it. He hadn’t meant to call her love. It was out of habit. She would kill him.

“Your hair, it has grey in it.”

He smiled sadly. “With a dead son, a divorced wife and a very busy auror office can yoo blame me?”

“No. No I can’t.” She ran her hands through his hair and it slowly lost its stiffness and become messy. She suddenly realized what she was doing and dropped her hands. They started walking side by side.

“So how’s Sirius?”

“Well he’s alright I gusse.”

“You gusse?”

“Yeah well we’re not as close as we were.”

“Why not???” It was true that Lily Potter was surprised. These boys were always together. What had happened?

“Well after you left I kind of kept distance with everyone. I do go to the full moons and stuff but......we’re just not ss close as before.”

“I see.”

“So any friends in France????”

“Yes. Only one. We’re not really close. She likes her last name and has asked me to call her miss Bunnting so you can see how close we are.” She laughed lightly. “She calls me Mrs. Potter”

“Mrs. Potter????”

“Yeah I didn’t change my last name.”

James stopped in his tracks. He turned to his side and looked at Lily. Lily slowly turned he head in his direction so that they were facing each other.

“Why not?”

“I think you know why.”

“Lily...”

“James, I’m so sorry for all the trouble I caused you, the sadness, everything. I’m so terribly sorry. I......”

“It’s my own fault too. I was so drowned in my own sadness that I didn’t realize that I’m not angry at you and you’re not angry at me. We were just frustrated and sad and the easiest way to free ourselves was to yell and shout and scream and throw stuff. I should’ve fought for you instead of just letting you go.”

“I should’ve thought harder before I asked you for the divorce.”

“I gusse we both made mistakes then.”

Lily was silent for a moment. She looked into James’ hazel eyes but she didn’t see the spark that used to be there.

“When did you regret it James?”

“The moment I signed. You?”

“Same.”

“Life’s funny huh????”

“Really funny!” She sighed deeply.

When they got back inside, it was the last dance. The song was the “Sleeping Beauty Waltz”. As Lily and James danced around the ballroom to the song the hit married with, they kissed. The kiss was tender, sweet and short. As Lily looked into James’ eyes she found she was the happiest she had felt in a long. James’ eyes shined with a glint of mischief and love. His sad and tired eyes looked happier. His hallow cheeks that begged for more food were gone and the dark circles had suddenly disappeared. He was grinning. The 37 year old tired man was gone and the 21 year old James Potter was back. He looked liked he was he was on the moon.

James’ eyes found Lily’s and he was overjoyed. Her green orbs were smiling. Her face looked younger and her hair was somehow shining. Lily hugged James and slowly danced with him.

It took work and patience because no couple can get back together for the sake of only one night. It took one year and many cries, laughs, screams and kisses but after a year Lily and James went to the ministry and got married. They only asked Sirius, Remus and Tonks to be there. They didn’t need anything else. Six months after that they discovered that Lily was pregnant. They both wanted this. They both decided that having a child was not betraying Harry’s memory so they had decided to get pregnant right away because Lily was not getting any younger. Lily gave birth to twins. Emma Lily Potter and Ethan Sirius Potter.

They were both a mixture of James and Lily. Emma had Lily’s flaming hair and nose and James’ deep hazel eyes and horrible eyesight. Ethan on the other hand had the same messy black hair and the same eyes as his father. Only thing he had that was like his mother was his manner of speaking.

Five years after that Lily was surprisingly pregnant once again with a baby girl. She was named Felicity Rose Potter.

The Potter household would always send their childer away on Halloween. Lily and James mourned the loss of their first child every year. They would go into Harry’s nursery and cry for the little boy they had lost. It was ritual. It went on for many years. Until one day, Lily Potter found herself stumbling towards that room without her husband.

The kids were all grown up and had jobs now. Ethan and Felicity were married and both worked for the ministry. Emma was a professional quidditch player and was engaged. Ethan had had a four year old son named James and Felicity was pregnant.

However, even though Felicity had told her the good news that morning, Lily was not happy. This was the first Halloween she was spending alone as James had passed away seven months ago. She started humming “good old-fashioned lover boy” by Queen band. James loved this song. He always said that song was about him and Lily always laughed when he said that.

Lily thought about all those years of fun and happiness. It was 2036 and Lily Potter was tired yet she still mourned her son after 55 years. She was 76 now and so tired.

Sirius was dead. He had died on a mission about ten years ago. It almost finished James.

Remus was also dead. He died about twelve years ago. He was seriously hurt during one of his transformations and when he was found it was too late.

Tonks was aloof and distant and only talked to Teddy.

Lily had no one left. She sat down by the crib and let her tears come as she hummed the melody. She kissed the crib and closed her eyes and fell asleep.

After 76 years of hard work Lily Potter finally fell asleep. After 55 years that night as she closed her eyes and drew her last breath peacefully while asleep, she saw her son.

Lily Potter finally saw her son!

She saw her best friends and brothers after twelve and ten years. She saw her husband after seven months. She saw them and knew that she was finally at peace.

I'll give you everything I have

I'll teach you everything I know

I promise I'll do better

I will always hold you close

But I will learn to let you go

I promise I'll do better

I will soften every edge

I'll hold the world to its best

And I'll do better

With every heartbeat I have left

I will defend your every breath