Hins and Marriage, composed by Sasha Silverscales

Two levels of marriage exist within Hin society.

Handfasting is the most common method of formalizing a relationship within a Hin community. Only the two lovers and three witnesses of their choice need be present to complete this ritual. The lovers' hands are usually bound together with leather thongs; these are removed, knotted together, and presented to the couple at the end of the ceremony.

The lovers speak their own vows, which usually consist of a promise to look out for one another's welfare and remain faithful for as long as love lasts. Handfasted couples are entitled to their own homes. If neither party already owns a home, one is usually built by the community at the earliest opportunity and presented to the couple as a gift.

Until then, such a couple usually lives in the home of one or the other's parents. Handfasted couples are expected to live and work together as long as they feel affection for one another.

Some handfastings last for decades, and a few last for life. Often, though, because Hin are intensely curious creatures, one partner becomes interested in someone else, or perhaps one wishes to leave for an extended period to go adventuring or join another community; and sometimes arguments simply poison the couple's love.

In such cases, couples can end their handfasting with a brief ceremony in which the knotted cords they received earlier are untied before three witnesses and presented to the now-separate individuals. Children of such a couple live with whichever parent wants them.

If both do, a child can choose if he or she is old enough to speak; younger offspring remain with their mother unless she refuses them.

The second level of formalization is true marriage. Marriages are much rarer than handfastings and cannot occur between members of the same clan. Most marriages occur much later in life than handfastings, after the lovers have had a chance to live together as a handfasted couple and become certain of their love.

Some couples never take this step at all, content to remain handfasted for their entire lives. A marriage is conducted by a cleric and sparks a week of celebration in the entire community. Most married couples already have homes, but those who do not receive them from the community, just as handfasted couples do.

A newly married couple is showered with gifts, and both husband and wife are instantly accorded the position of elders within the community.

The primary difference between a wedding and a handfasting is that a wedding is for life. The Hins involved may not dissolve the union, and any attempts to separate or stray result in the expulsion of the guilty party or parties from the community. Thus, marriage occurs only between Hin who are quite certain of their ability to weather the storms of a relationship.

Though true marriages occasionally go sour, the parties usually learn to resolve their differences and live together in (relative) harmony.