Woman's Power
I started with what Eonigia had described her first moments of life were like, though it didn't tell me much about her thoughts as to what would come next.
In the original stories, they elaborate further on her creating women first, from the soil of the island, then men, as companions. Naturally these stories have created a matriarchal leadership throughout the centuries, simply reinforced because there's been no serious discussion as to the validity of just having women in charge. Frankly, given the rest of the world, it seems it has worked out quite well for Eonians to have women in charge, as it's kept us from most of the petty squabbles and wars that civilizations led by men have had.
Unfortunately, that's not everything concerning the issue. I wish it was because it feels as though it just reflects poorly on women as a whole, but there have been accusations in the past that Eonians are misandrist. I disagree, the men have never been mistreated by us, or at least not as severely as an extent that men had been treating women in the outside world.
Yet they still shout at us to let our men go "free", accusing us of not allowing them to decide for themselves, not allowing them any chance at power through our aristocratic lines. It's true the power is passed daughter to daughter in the royal lines, but that is a matter of tradition that every generation agrees is significant and important to uphold as a memory of how far we've come.
Although, the fact that such conversation makes me uncomfortable makes me wonder. There are stories about this kind of thing, about women who yielded themselves to men and the resulting tragedies that came of allowing them to get their way. Perhaps I am being slightly hypocritical in questioning the stories, judging the next generation without allowing them to properly speak, and then not allowing that same space for men in my life. Xarin has argued with me time and again that I tend to snuff out his ideas too quickly.
My father never seemed to have any issues with my mother though. Yaldabaoth and Sarothi came together in a happy marriage, where their children were born of love and not obligation, according to both of them, and remarked upon how fluidly their relationship worked because they could communicate as they needed.
That actually reminds me of a story Sarothi told me, one of a similar calibre of her meeting my father and how their relationship seemed unshakeable given how they treated one another.
Nox'iIim and Naveha
Nox'iIim had spoken softly that morning to his new wife, who laid peacefully asleep at his side.
"My beloved, may I speak to you in this waking world?"
Naveha awoke with a small yawn, stretching before she hugged Nox'iIim with a sleepy smile. "Of course, what's the matter?"
Nox'iIim hesitated, waiting for her to wake just a little more before he mentioned, "I feel this has been a mistake. That we shouldn't have been married–"
"What?" Naveha woke up when he confessed this, her eyes growing wide. Her heart leapt into her throat as she shook her head. "Why? What makes you say that?"
"I see how you've treated other men, other people you think are under you," Nox'iIim continued cautiously, "I don't think I'll be treated like a proper husband, but more just your plaything." He had to choose his words carefully, after all, he was just her husband, not some concubine, and she had forbidden him from calling himself anything less.
Naveha paused, before pulling Nox'iIim to her chest. With a heavy sigh, she let that thought sit with her for just a moment. Naveha knew that this conversation was coming, so why was it such a surprise that he would say something after their honeymoon. Had she really treated him so poorly?
"Nox'iIim, my heart, what did I promise you when our souls were tied?"
"That you would protect me as your husband, but I don't see how that means you would treat me any better than those you look down upon." Nox'iIim shook his head, looking Naveha in the eye. "Explain to me how a promise of protection from you is supposed to protect me from your own self?"
"I also promised to work with you to uncover faults in both of us, that we would work together to be happy," Naveha scolded him, she couldn't help it. The questioning of her intentions from a man who had happily married her no earlier than a week before was infuriating. "I know this was all arranged, that we need time to know one another. But I keep my promises, and I promised to keep you safe, to make you happy, and above all, to treat you like my husband and nothing less."
"So all I am to you is a husband, and not a person?"
"Aren't husbands people?"
"To refer to me as only a husband feels belittling! I've done so much for you, your family, for our home!" Nox'iIim finally snapped, getting up as quickly as his tired body would let him. "I taught half our children to write! I am one of our most successful hunters! I've managed to mark out the seasons well enough to predict the first fruits for us to harvest before the winters! I've been sought to guide Eonigia herself in areas that most are clueless in! And yet all I am to you is A HUSBAND?"
Naveha's expression fell, watching as Nox'iIim's eyes pricked up with tears. He shook his head, scoffing at himself. Of course this would end poorly for him, he had just taken his temper out on his Wife, his superior in this relationship.
Yet, when her voice was gentle, when she spoke so softly, it caught him entirely off-guard.
"Nox'iIim… You're right."
"What?"
"You're right, you are more than just a husband paired to me," Naveha sighed, the quiet realization dawning over her as she spoke. "I hadn't seen it this way before, but.. I understand. It must be frustrating to have your achievements ignored in favor for how someone else's status defines you..Am.. I on the right track with that?"
Nox'iIim blinked, tears streaming partway down his cheeks. Naveha was sitting up, watching him now, trying to understand now, when he needed her to. And that was the important part, even if she would never fully understand him.
She was trying.
Nox'iIim nodded slowly, seeing how small Naveha had made herself, letting him take up as much space as he needed to just express what he needed to.
"Y-yes.. Exactly… I don't want to die as just your husband, though I am honored and happy to be. I just don't want to be looked down upon by you or others," He swallowed hard, "It is terrifying to think my name might be forgotten as just your successful husband."
Naveha nodded, getting up out of her bed slowly, crossing the room and taking Nox'iIim's hands. She bowed her head slightly to make sure he could see her, bringing his gaze up to meet hers.
"And you feel as though because I treat others…Poorly?" She had to guess, she wasn't entirely sure.
"Poorly, or just differently, with less patience," Nox'iIim nodded.
"Because I treat others differently, that I would think less of you as a result?" Naveha asked, her eyebrows slightly raised as her lips pursed at the thought Nox'iIim might believe her to think poorly of him of all people. "You know I wanted you as my husband because I respected your talents, your achievements, don't you?"
Nox'iIim shook his head, "It certainly doesn't feel like it," he could barely contain the pitying laugh that rose from his throat, "It hasn't felt like it this entire time. Always just introducing me as your husband, and nothing more."
"How would you like me to introduce you then? What would make you feel respected?" Naveha nearly gagged on the words, not because of the request itself from Nox'iIim, but because of a rising disgust at herself, at what she had allowed her to inflict on Nox'iIim.
"By my name, then my title, please?" Nox'iIim could barely allow himself to be hopeful, but he tried. He watched as Naveha nodded, silent, "And try not to sound so disgusted by the idea that we could be equals."
"I'm not-" Naveha had to catch herself in a halfhearted chuckle, "I'm not disgusted by it, or by you being my equal. I'm more disgusted by the fact I didn't realize I was hurting you like this."
Nox'iIim's eyes widened, his expression dropping from trepidation to confusion and surprise. "How could you not realize it would hurt me? Why would you be disgusted with yourself when I said nothing?"
The words tumbled from her lips, "Because in all my years, no woman would ever be cast aside as only her partner's title in comparison to her, now would she?"
Now, it would take time to make such adjustments, especially when the habit was so well-ingrained. But with every fumbling correction, "my husband- sorry, Nox'iIim, my husband-" there was a change that slowly caught on, at least in that part of the Eonian culture.
Something that made Nox'iIim smile was the fact that Naveha really was trying. There were moments where she would go further, when someone would discount Nox'iIim. She'd scold them for disrespecting him, and then have them address him by name and apologize.
It was a start, and while their relationship wasn't perfect, being treated and spoken to like an equal at home was all Nox'iIim had wanted, so they were as happy as they could be.
Nox'iIim was content in the end! And the problematic nature of men and women's relationships has changed for the better since then too! Men hold the same jobs, the same responsibilities and are treated just the same as any woman. Sure, there are places where it might be harder for them to rise to the challenge, but the problem there is they simply don't have the same knack for some of the work as women do.
Lots of men are also content as house husbands as well, some even choosing to fulfill older roles as "love-meets" for lonely women. There hasn't been such an extreme issue as thinking men are lesser than women in hundreds of years.
Xarin disagrees, calling me blind to the fact that men have to try harder to appease women nowadays. He tells me that most women aren't keen on being kind to men who make genuine mistakes, instead assuming they're trying to take power that doesn't exist to begin with.
I know Xarin's been called names, but I've come to expect to defend him given the already tumultuous relationship he has with most Eoni. It's not because he's just a man stepping up into a woman's former role. There are other hangups present that drive us both crazy.
