A Warm Welcome

Writers: Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 22nd December 2014

Characters: Benani, Rethisa
Description: Benani greets her Sister-in-law.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 10, day 2 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Zathris

Benani

Benani sat in her parlor and waited. Zathris had told her his sister
had arrived and a little bit about her situation. But she still felt
he'd left a lot out of his narrative. She wasn't a nosey person by
nature but her heart had been touched when she'd heard. She knew what
it was to be abused by a man but for turns on end? It was unthinkable.

The spare change of clothes in the bag that Rethisa carried had been
cleaned, pressed and laid out for her to wear that morning when she
woke. It had been startling waking somewhere that was not Verlow's
bed. It had been frightening and exciting all at the same time. A
drudge had come to tell her that Zathris had set up an breakfast
meeting for her with Benani in the Lady Holder's parlor. It had been a
long while since Rethisa had been in the company of Zathris's wife, or
a real Lady for that matter.

Knocking on the Lady Holder's door she waited until a woman with a
kind smile opened the door and ushered her in, "Lady Benani is
expecting you." She said in a soft voice as she closed the door behind
Rethisa.

"Thank you." Rethisa murmured, self-consciously stroking her long,
platinum braid over her shoulder.

Benani rose from her chair. Close to term in her latest pregnancy she
was still graceful and held out her hands to her sister-in-law.
"Rethisa, you are very welcome here."

"Benani." Rethisa smiled and embraced the Lady Holder. "You are
beautiful. Pregnancy compliments you."

"Thank you," she chuckled. Benani's experienced eye took in the
condition and quality of Rethisa's clothing but she didn't blink and
returned the warm embrace. "I'm so very glad you found your way to us
Rethisa," she said warmly.

"As am I. If it had not been for that kind dragonrider spotting me and
giving me a ride things might not have turned out so well." Rethisa
still wasn't sure if she had even been close to a cothold or somewhere
to take shelter from the elements. "I would love to get together a
gift of thank you for his kindness."

"I'm sure we can do that," Benani smiled. "Did you get his name or
could you know his size? I am sure a nice new gather tunic couldn't
come amiss." She turned and levered herself back down into her chair.
"Perhaps you and I can sew one up for him. I have lots of fabric," she
nodded. "We could also make you a couple of dresses."

Rethisa's eyes lit, "That would be wonderful, Benani. I am in dire
need of some clothing appropriate for Amber Hills." Only a few days
ago she had been begging Verlow to bring her back a bolt of fabric in
order to make herself a dress, and now here the kindness was being
freely offered. She smoothed her hands over the worn cotton of her
bodice.

"Of course," she smiled. "I'll have one of my ladies bring you a few
things. I'm obviously not going to be wearing them soon. They will
tide you over until we can have something made up. Though they may be
a little long, they can be hemmed." In Benani's opinion Rethisa was in
dire need of something that wasn't worn into shapelessness. The dress
she was wearing hadn't been great when it was new and though it was
clean it showed long wear. Still it was better than Crolarin had
allowed her in that cave, which was basically nothing at all. She
wondered for a moment how that thought hadn't caused her to cringe in
terror just then. Perhaps there _was_ hope for her after all. She'd
have to share her minor victory with Zathris later. She smiled
brilliantly at her husband's sister while her attendant went
obediently into Benani's closet to pull out a couple of dresses and
bring them to lay on the foot of the bed.

Tears came unbidden to her eyes and she dashed them quickly with the
back of her hand, "Oh, Benani, thank you. It has been so long since
anyone has shone such kindness." Well, there had been Pevran but...
No, thoughts of him would certainly push her into more tears.

Benani reached for Rethisa's hand and squeezed it slightly. "No need,"
she said sofly. "You're out of his reach now." She knew without a
single doubt that Zathris would not allow any more abuse after seeing
his sister in this condition. "You're safe," she said. Camnae padded
over to the young woman and nosed her hand with a small blow of air.
Her tail wagged slowly back and forth.

Amber Hills had been the only place that she had been certain she
would be safe. If she had tried to seek sanctuary anywhere in the Jade
Harbor territory her father would have sniffed her out and returned
her to Jade Harbor under his oppressive thumb.

Rethisa smiled down at the canine as she stroked the animal's head,
"Verlow did not believe in pets." Her mind briefly flashed to the
horrible way Shadow in the Wind had died.

"Oh," said Benani with a humorless smile. "She is far from just a pet.
She acts like one but.." Benani cleared her throat in a deliberate way
and Camnae's demeanor changed radically. She came to alert and focused
on the Lady Holder. "Sit," Benani said and the canine's bottom hit the
carpet though her attention didn't waver. "Guard," Benani said. This
time the canine whirled to scan the room for threats and twitched her
attention at the slightest movement or noise.

In a more normal voice she said to her sister-in-law, "I'm safe,
because of Camnae. She can sense a threat far sooner than either of
us. I've been training her with the Guard Captain's wife."

Rethisa's eyebrows lifted, "Really? That's amazing, Benani." She noted
the way the canine seemed oblivious to her now, instead focused on the
task at hand. "Fortunately, I doubt Verlow will ever come for me now.
This is his chance to actually marry a woman that can give him more
children." She visibly shuddered at the thought of having a repulsive
spawn of Verlow.

"Stand down Camnae," Benani commanded and the canine gave a soft whine
and went to curl up on the hearth tail thumping briefly. Benani smiled
at Rethisa. "You'll have all the time you need to recover," she
reached out for her hand. It was somehow easier to give comfort when
she understood some of the reasons another person needed it. It wasn't
that Benani was unkind by nature but rather that she'd always lived a
charmed and privileged life.Recent events had changed her perspectives
for the better.

"Thanks Benani." Rethisa couldn't imagine a life anywhere else.

Last updated on the December 23rd 2014

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A Warm Welcome