The Dark Truth

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 8th May 2015

Characters: Rethisa
Description: Rethisa ponders her current situations and the choices she has.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 12, day 3 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Zathris, Benani, Demir

Rethisa was up even before the dawn began to light the horizon with a
rosy, pink glow. Even though she was typically an early riser, she was
up even earlier than usual today retching into her chamber pot. For as
long as she had been able, Rethisa had been ignoring the truth,
ignoring what the healers had told her.

For Turns Rethisa had been told that she was barren and would never
conceive a child. That had been further compounded when she'd spent
eight Turns subservient to Verlow, catering to his every sexual whim
and yet never producing an heir. Her inability to bring a child into
the world had been a sore point for Verlow and he'd taken it upon
himself to constantly remind her of her shortcomings.

"And now here you are." A silent tear coursed down her cheek as she
pressed her hand to her still-flat abdomen.

Looking out of her small window and over the dark, quiet landscape,
Rethisa exhaled a shaky sigh. Today was her birthingday, she was
twenty-five. Due to the experiences she'd had already in her life,
Rethisa felt much older than just a mere twenty-five.

**"You're pregnant."** The same feeling of shock she'd felt days ago
when the healers had confirmed her worst nightmare was still real to
her even now. "How?" She had asked them after moments of stunned
silence. The look the man had given her still made her skin crawl.
After all, here she was a "single" woman, the Lord Holder's sister of
all people, and pregnant outside of marriage. There was no way for her
to explain to people, of course, that she had been married at the
time....

But even then, Rethisa new for certain that the child growing within
her was not Verlow's. For eight Turns he'd tried to impregnant her,
nothing, and then one magical, loving night with Pevran... And here
she was, pregnant with his child. Thoughts of Pevran's sweet, gentle
nature, and the way he'd been willing to risk himself to save her made
the tears course faster down her cheeks.

**Now what will I do?** Rethisa knew holders very well. No one wanted
a tainted bride who was carrying another man's child. Yet if she chose
to raise the babe alone she knew the child would always be an outcast,
some "bastard child." Rethisa had no doubt that Zathris and Benani
would support her, they understood, perhaps better than anyone else
ever could, her situation and what had taken place.

Even though the thought of a child brought sorrow, Rethisa was
overcome with relief to know that the child _was not_ Verlow's. She
would never want to produce anything that was a reminder of that vile
man. Yet still she would have no proof that the babe was _not_ his.
And if he found out about the baby.... "I won't let him take you." She
vowed. Rethisa knew Verlow, and she knew that he would stop at nothing
to take the baby if he found out she was pregnant. The man was shrewd
and cruel but not in the least bit stupid. He would put two and two
together quickly once word came to him that she was with child.

"I don't know what we'll do." Rethisa rubbed her stomach again. For
now all Rethisa could think to do was hide the truth until she could
come up with a better solution. She wouldn't tell anyone, not even
Zathris or Benani, not yet.

**Demir.** The man's image popped into her mind and she found herself
wiping tears again. Only a couple of days hence she had bid him
farewell, but before he had departed the Hidden Meadows Holder had
asked her if he could talk to Zathris about possibly courting her.
**If he finds out I'm pregnant he'll want nothing to do with me.**
Even though she had only known him a short time the thought sent a
spiral of despair through her very core.

The honest, good-hearted aura that surrounded Demir was hard to miss,
and even though Rethisa was loathe to ever be bound to a man again, or
have to endure the servitude of marriage, she knew that Demir was no
Verlow.

"Happy Birthingday, Rey." She murmured dejectedly to herself as the
sun finally cleared the dark mountain range and poured golden light
down into the dark valley.

Last updated on the May 8th 2015

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The Dark Truth