Guaranteed Celebration

Writers: Miriah
Date Posted: 13th November 2014

Characters: Humari, Torinya
Description: Torinya helps Humari plan for a celebration
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 9, day 12 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Taril, Yarmel, Yriadha

Humari

Carrying a newborn was made easier in a sling and Torinya adjusted
hers as Humari gathered her own belongings. "We'll need to get quite a
bit before you give birth." Her voice held both excitement and
satisfaction. "There's so much to prepare for. I'm happy for you,
Humari. Especially with it happening so quickly."

Humari gave a brief smile and nodded. She wasn't surprised; her mother
had planned the wedding around her fertility, but she was still
pleased that she was able to get with child so quickly. There had been
that fear that Taril might have put her aside if she hadn't been able
to bear his heir as stipulated in the marriage contract. "Taril is
very pleased."

"I'm sure he is. I'm sure mother is thrilled too." Torinya settled her
son against her chest and stepped out of the door, leading Humari
towards the market.

"I haven't told her yet." Humari's voice was soft as she braced for
the questions.

Her sister's brows shot upwards. "Why ever not? She arranged your
marriage and made sure that you'd be well cared for. She'll be
thrilled matters have worked out so well." She then glanced at
Humari's face, still swollen from the bruise. Well, as well as it
could have. Apparently Humari's husband had a harsher hand than she
realized, but it was no worse than she had received before from her
own. Humari would learn her place; perhaps the child would help with
that.

"I haven't spoken to Mother since the wedding." Humari's face was
perfectly serene, but there was a hint of bitterness in her eyes. The
dress, the horrible hair and even worse, the remains of the beating
that Taril had viewed had left more than a sour taste in her mouth.

Torinya sighed. "Really, Humari, you have to just put the past behind
you. I didn't like my marriage at first, and I'm fine now. I have
children and a nice home." She put a sympathetic hand on Humari's arm.
"She was just looking out for you."

"She was looking out for her own reputation. She was getting rid of
me." Humari suddenly snapped back, and then clicked her jaw shut,
looking away as they walked down the path.

Torinya paled and looked around. "She was looking out for the family
and that's you included. She had to do something and you know it. You
were behaving…" She trailed off and cleared her throat. "She was
protecting you."

"By beating me? By having you put fellis in my drinks? By having
Yarmel watch me?" Humari's arms crossed over her chest.

Torinya chewed on her lower lip and tried to pull her sister towards
her in a stiff hug. "She was doing what she had to. And I'm sorry it
had to be done, but we really just wanted the best for you. And
Yarmel…well, you know how he is. He gets…a bit overbearing at times, I
know." Humari couldn't hide the grimace and snort of derision at the
understatement.

"I hate him."

"Don't say horrible things like that. He's our brother. He just has a
temper, that's all." Torinya peered at Humari's face. "Besides, are
you unhappy now?"

Humari shook her head slowly. "No. I'm not unhappy." She was...alright.

"And is being wed to Taril so horrible? I mean, look at you. You have
all these pretty dresses now, fine shoes and your apartment is
beautiful. And he's not there much, is he? So you don't have to look
at him much."

Humari's head lifted to glare at her sister. "There's nothing wrong
with Taril. He's a good man." She barely noticed the scars much
anymore.

Torinya touched her cheek. "He doesn't do this much does he? It
wouldn't be good for you to walk around like this too often."

Humari jerked her head away from the touch. "Taril doesn't hit me.
Ever. He's…kind." And warm..and gentle, she thought.

Her sister frowned. "Then…what happened?"

"It wasn't Taril. And I don't want to talk about it."

Torinya lifted her hand in acquiescence. "Alright. We'll talk about
something else then. I'm sorry." She took a deep breath. "So, what are
we shopping for?"

Glad for the change of subject, Humari's hand went to her abdomen. "I
want to make a nice dinner for Taril to celebrate the baby."

At that, Torinya smiled. "Oh, that's always a good idea. Men are
always so puffed up when they get their wives with child." She lowered
her voice. "As though they did it all on their own. They just do the
easy part, right?" She winked at Humari and tucked her free hand
through her sister's arm. Humari's smile did come a little easier now
that they were on a safer subject. "So it's just the dinner? Because
if you're celebrating, he might want more, you know."

That brought a blush. "Well, maybe, yes."

Torinya chuckled. "He will for now, at least until you get big, then
you'll get a break from it."

As they approached the stalls, Humari cleared her throat. "What if I
don't want a break?"

Her sister blinked at her, one brow raised. "Oh. Why wouldn't you?"

She flushed further and then shrugged, quickly picking out the
vegetables she wanted and paying for them just as quickly before
moving on. "Well…I..uh…want to make sure that he's happy. He's been
good to me." **And I keep feeling like there's something more, but
never get to feel it. It's so close, but so far at the same time.**

"Oh." Torinya thought about it for a moment. "Well, if you're wanting
to keep him happy, we could find something fetching for you." She
mused and then grabbed Humari's hand. "I know just the thing. You want
your husband happy with you? I know just what to do."

An hour later, Humari held up a dark green slinky night gown, staring
at it with wide eyes. It was low cut and the slits went all the way up
to her hips on both sides. Lace barely covered what little bodice was
there. What would Taril think about it? "I can't wear this, Torinya.
It's utterly…"

Torinya smiled widely and snatched it away. "You said just get green.
I did." She folded it and put it back on the bed. "You want your
husband happy? Wear it. He might be a bit vigorous, but he'll be
happy. If you wear it often, he'll be even more happy. But not too
often. That's the last thing you need. He'll start treating you like
one of the dock women then. Just on special occasions."

"Have you ever worn something like this?"

Torinya adjusted her babe in the sling. "Just the once. He got so mad
at me and I had to think of a way to appease him. It worked. He was on
me like a rutting herdbeast bull."

"But Taril's not mad at me. And Taril's not like that."

Torinya gave a sidelong glance at her cheek, but shrugged. "Of course
not, but you did say you want to celebrate. This will guarantee good
results."

Last updated on the November 20th 2014

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Guaranteed Celebration