Free Companionship on Gor

Free Companionship is not marriage, but as close as it gets on Gor.
Free men and women have only one Free Companion (presumably only one at a time).

There is no marriage, as we know it, on Gor, but there is the institute of the Free Companionship, which is its nearest correspondent.
Outlaw

One may have, at a given time, an indefinite number of slaves, but only one Free Companion.

However, among the tribes in the jungles near Schendi, we find that a man having hundreds of companions is acceptable.

“Do you truly think that Bila Huruma,” I asked, “who owns or is companion to perhaps hundreds of women would pursue you into the jungle at great risk to himself and his empire to get back one girl, a girl whom he doubtless realizes has by now been reduced to slavery, and has thus been rendered politically worthless, and a girl who was never more to him to begin with than a convenience in a minor political situation on the Ngao coast?”
Explorers

“Lady Tende, daughter of Aibu, high chief of Ukungu,” said Mwoga, “is being conveyed in honor to the ceremony of companionship, to be mated to his majesty, Bila Huruma.”
“She is being sold to seal a bargain,” said Kisu. “How could she be more a slave?”
Tende’s face remained expressionless.
“Of her own free will,” said Mwoga, “the Lady Tende hastens to become Ubara to Bila Huruma.”
“One of more than two hundred Ubaras!” scoffed Kisu.
Explorers

Additionally, this restriction on only one FC is perhaps why the Free Companionship is not recognized in Port Kar. We see mention of "His women" and "My women" throughout scenes in Port Kar which refer to both free women and slaves.

Port Kar does not recognize the Free Companionship, but there are free women in the city, who are known simply as the women of their men.
Raiders

High caste women are more often companioned to men who benefit their families (fathers) politically.

Companionship with such a person, for anyone of position or power, was unthinkable. It would result in the equivalent of ostracism. With her as companion one could be only rich. Companionship with such a person, an ex-slave, one without caste, one without family and position, would be, politically and socially, a gross and incomparable mistake.
Hunters

Bosk considers many women for potential political alliance, rejecting each for various reasons.

I wondered of the daughters of Ubars. It was unfortunate that the great Ubar, Marlenus, had no such daughter. Had he one, she might have been ideal.
Lurius of Jad, Ubar of the island of Cos, was said, by a long-dissolved companionship, to have a daughter. Phanius Turmus, of Turia, was said to have two daughters. They had once been enslaved by Tuchuks, but they were now free. They had been returned, though still wearing the chains of slaves, as a gesture of good will, by Kamchak, Ubar San of the Wagon Peoples. Turia was called the Ar of the south.
Cos and Port Kar, of course, are enemies, but, if the Companion Price offered Lurius were sufficient, I would not expect him to hesitate in giving me the girl. The alliance, of course, would be understood, on all sides, as not altering the political conditions obtaining between the cities. It was up to Lurius to dispose of his daughter as he saw fit. She might not desire to come to Port Kar, but the feelings of the girl are not considered in such matters. Some high-born women are less free than the most abject of slave girls.
Clark of Thentis had a daughter, but he was not a Ubar. He was not even of high caste. He, too, was of the merchants. Indeed, there were many important merchants who had daughters, for example, the first merchant of Teletus and the first merchant of Asperiche. Indeed, the two latter individuals had already, in the past year, approached me with the prospect of a companionship with their daughters, but I had declined to discuss the matter.
I wanted a woman of high caste.
Hunters

Beauty in a companion, of course, is not particularly important. Family and power are.
Hunters

The pledged companions, the Lady Sabina of Fortress of Saphronicus and Thandar of Ti, of the Four Cities of Saleria, of the Salerian Confederation, had, as yet, according to Eta, never laid eyes on one another, the matter of their match having been arranged between their respective fathers, as is not uncommon in Gorean custom. The match had been initiated at the behest of Kleomenes, who was interested in negotiating a commercial and political alliance with the Salerian Confederation.
Slave Girl

Surprisingly enough, a woman who is bought from her parents, for tarns or gold, is regarded as a Free Companion, even though she may not have been consulted in the transaction. More commendably, a free woman may herself, of her own free will, agree to be such a companion.
Outlaw

Reviewed by Scribes of Law, especially if the match is a political alliance.

These alliances, of interest to the expanding Salerian Confederation, were not unwelcome. Such alliances, naturally, might presage the entrance of Fortress of Saphronicus into the Confederation, which was becoming a growing power in the north. It seemed not unlikely that the match would ultimately prove profitable and politically expedient for both Fortress of Saphronicus and the Salerian Confederation. In the match, there was much to gain by both parties. The Companion Contract, thus, had been duly negotiated, with the attention of scribes of the law from both Fortress of Saphronicus and the Confederation of Saleria.

Goreans normally choose companions among their own caste.
If the companionship is of mixed caste, the woman commonly keeps her own caste.
The woman may however change caste to that of the man.

Normally mating takes place among caste members, but if the mating is of mixed caste, the woman may elect to retain caste, which is commonly done, or be received into the caste of the male companion.

Surprisingly enough, a woman who is bought from her parents, for tarns or gold, is regarded as a Free Companion, even though she may not have been consulted in the transaction.
Outlaw

She replied proudly, "My bride price would be a hundred tarns."
I whistled softly to myself--my ex-slave would have come high. On a Warrior's allowance I would not have been able to afford her.
Tarnsman

"She would have brought a thousand tarns," said Marlenus. "Proceed with the impalement."
Tarnsman

A Gorean free woman does not change her name in the ceremony of the Free Companionship. She remains who she was. In such a ceremony two free individuals have elected to become companions. The Earth woman, as a consequence of certain mating ceremonials, may change her last name. The first and other names, however, tend to remain constant.
Explorers

Veils are removed in some cities
Friends gather to celebrate
There may be a Companionship Feast

In certain cities, in connection with the free companionship, the betrothed or pledged beauty may wear eight veils, several of which are ritualistically removed during various phases of the ceremony of companionship; the final veils, and robes, of course, are removed in private by the male who, following their removal, arms interlocked with the girl, drinks with her the wine of the companionship, after which he completes the ceremony. This sort of thing, however, varies considerably from city to city. In some cities the girl is unveiled, though not disrobed, of course, during the public ceremony. The friends of the male may then express their pleasure and joy in her beauty, and their celebration of the good fortune of their friend. Slave Girl

The woman often wears talendars in her hair

A crown of talenders was often worn by the girl at the feast celebrating her Free Companionship.
Outlaw

When I returned to Ko-ro-ba with Talena, a great feast was held and we celebrated our Free Companionship. A holiday was declared, and the city was ablaze with light and song. Shimmering strings of bells pealed in the wind, and festive lanterns of a thousand colours swung from the innumerable flower-strewn bridges. There was shouting and laughter, and the glorious colours of the castes of Gor mingled equally in the cylinders. Gone for the night was even the distinction of master and slave, and many a wretch in bondage would see the dawn as a free man.
To my delight, even Torm, of the Caste of Scribes, appeared at the tables. I was honoured that the little scribe had separated himself from his beloved scrolls long enough to share my happiness, only that of a warrior. He was wearing a new robe and sandals, perhaps for the first time in years. He clasped my hands, and, to my wonder, the little scribe was crying. And then, in his joy, he turned to Talena and in gracious salute lifted the symbolic cup of Ka-la-na wine to her beauty.
Talena and I swore to honour that day as long as either of us lived. I have tried to keep that promise, and I know that she has done so as well. That night, that glorious night, was a night of flowers, torches, and Ka-la-na wine, and late, after sweet hours of love, we fell asleep in each other's arms.
Tarnsman

The Wine of Companionship

When,” I asked, “High Lady, will you drink the wine of the Free Companionship with Lurius, noble Ubar of Cos?”
“I shall return first to Tyros,” she said, “where I shall be made ready. Then, with treasure ships, we shall return in festive voyage to the harbor of Telnus, where I shall take the arm of Lurius and with him drink the cup of the Free Companionship.”
Raiders

The ceremony may be as simple as the drinking of the Wine of Companionship

“Drink with me the cup of the Free Companionship,” said Relius, rather sternly.
“Yes, Master,” said Virginia, “yes!”
“Relius,” said he.
“I love you!” she cried. “I love you, Relius!”
“Bring the wine of Free Companionship!” decreed Marlenus.
The wine was brought and Relius and Virginia, lost in one another’s eyes, arms interlocked, drank together.
He carried her from the court of the Ubar, she lying against him, weeping with happiness.
There were cheers in the court of the Ubar.
Assassin of Gor; p. 402

The end of the Companionship

By Gorean Law, the companionship must be renewed each year with the drinking of the wine.
Either party falling slave dissolves the companionship.
“The companionship is gone,” said Telima. “More than a year has passed,” she pointed out, “and you have not, together, repledged it.”
“That is true,” I admitted. By Gorean law the companionship, to be binding, must, together, be annually renewed, pledged afresh with the wines of love.
“And,” said Telima, “both of you were once enslaved, and that, in itself, dissolves the companionship. Slaves cannot stand in companionship.”
Captive

How beautiful she would have looked as we had, arms interlocked, drunk the wines of a renewed, repledged companionship.
Hunters

It was true that the Companionship, not renewed, had been dissolved in the eyes of Gorean law. It was further true that, had it not been so, the Companionship would have been terminated abruptly when one or the other of the pledged companions fell slave.
Hunters

At that point, in Gorean law, the companionship had been dissolved. The companionship had not been renewed by the twentieth hour, the Gorean Midnight, of its anniversary.
Marauders

Companionships dissolved

Lurius of Jad as a daughter by a long-dissolved companionship.
She remains his to contract in companionship as benefits him.
Lurius of Jad, Ubar of the island of Cos, was said, by a long-dissolved companionship, to have a daughter.
...
Cos and Port Kar, of course, are enemies, but, if the Companion Price offered Lurius were sufficient, I would not expect him to hesitate in giving me the girl. The alliance, of course, would be understood, on all sides, as not altering the political conditions obtaining between the cities. It was up to Lurius to dispose of his daughter as he saw fit. She might not desire to come to Port Kar, but the feelings of the girl are not considered in such matters. Some high-born women are less free than the most abject of slave girls.
Hunters

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