It's Worth It

Writers: Avery, Miriah
Date Posted: 16th July 2015

Characters: Humari, Zelah
Description: Xeladrie comes to check on Humari
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 13, day 6 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Yriadha, Taril, Bryvin

Humari

Zelah

Finally home from the infirmary, Humari nestled down in a large
comfortable chair, holding her son in her arms. He was still so small,
but he'd gotten so much stronger and was thriving, despite his early
birth. The pure love she felt for her son couldn't be duplicated, she
thought. He slept soundly, his little mouth pursed in a sweet little
bow, the pale hair on his head wispy and fine. He looked like his
father, she decided with a smile, with her dark eyes. "You'll be a
handsome little man," Humari murmured softly, rocking the babe.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on her door and she
lifted her head. It wasn't Taril's knock. "Come in?" Her voice was
soft, careful not to wake the child in her arms.

Xeladrie had been burning with curiosity since the scene earlier in
the month had ended. She hadn't wanted to intrude on Humari after the
string of shocking events, but she'd been wondering how her
lady-in-waiting was doing.

The Lady carefully pushed the door open when she got the assent.
"Humari? I wanted to stop by and see how you were doing. How you both
were doing," she amended when she saw the other young woman holding
the child in her arms.

Humari turned and greeted the Lady Holder with a warm smile. She began to
rise, but the baby began to fuss and she went still. "Lady, it is so good to
see you. Forgive me that I can't properly rise to greet you but I just got
him to sleep. Please come in. As soon as he gets a little deeper into sleep
I'll be happy to get you something to drink."

"I don't want to disturb him, so I can wait," Xeladrie said. She slipped
in and shut the door quietly behind her. "How are you both doing? Tell me
about him."

"Please, have a seat, Lady." Humari gestured to the chair beside her.
Worried about being an appropriate hostess, she rose very carefully.
The child didn't wake and she breathed a sigh of relief. She moved to
the nearby cradle that Taril had given her and laid the child down
with a soft murmur before rising. "We're doing very well. Tumaril
is..." Her eyes softened as she looked at Xeladrie. "he's more than I
ever dreamed."

Xeladrie settled into the chair and watched how gently the other woman
was with the child. "Tumaril is a lovely name, and congratulations on
a son. I hope our children will be friends."

"I would like that." She hurried to the kitchen and poured two glasses
of cool juice, bringing one to Xeladrie before she sat back on the
couch. "And thank you. It was a hard birth and he was weak, but now
the healers think he'll be just fine, especially since he was early."

"I'm glad you're both fine. I was afraid for you. When you
disappeared, and then your mother...I don't know everything," she
added hastily. "But from what I've heard it was a mess."

Humari looked down and then slowly nodded. "My mother was trying to say my
marriage wasn't valid. Even though I was pregnant. My husband found me and
brought me to your husband to take care of the matter." That it was a mess
was an understatement. "My mother dislikes my husband a great deal, even
though she was the one who arranged the marriage."

"That doesn't make sense to me. If she arranged it she must have thought
it advantageous." Xeladrie imagined her own father tring to break faith
with Bryvin, but couldn't see a reason for it. "You're happy back with
your husband?"

"I think she was going to try to give me to someone else better
placed." Humari frowned at the thought. There were only a few
possibilities there and she didn't want to think about it. "I think
she thought she could control Taril and when she couldn't, she didn't
like it." Humari took a seat and sipped her juice. It was nice to be
able to talk to someone about these things. "I'm content. I'm where
I'm supposed to be. Taril takes good care of me and he loves his son."

"I am glad that you sound so happy," Xeladrie said sincerely. She
wished she could feel the same about her own husband.

"Your husband was very kind to me. It was his decision, after all."
Humari pointed out. "If he hadn't, then Tumaril could have been
illegitimate and who knows who my mother would have found for me.
Taril doesn't beat me, he provides for me, and he..." She paused and
shifted on her seat. "...he's a very good husband, I think. "

"So even though you might not have chosen him at first, it's something
you'd choose to keep now? I'm glad my husband decided in the right."
Xeladrie said.

Humari nodded in response. Taril had actually given her a choice, but
it was private. Just between them. "He's the father of my child and a
good man. I could have had much worse." She flushed a little. "And I
like him. Not all wives like their husbands." She tilted her head to
the side. "And how are you faring with your little one? Have you
announced it yet?"

"We're planning to at Turnover. We wanted to make sure that nothing
happened first. No point in getting hopes up, right? I just didn't
think it'd happen so soon."

"That'll make it even more of a celebration." Humari smiled brightly.
"It's a wonderful time to announce it." She looked at Xeladrie and her
eyes sparkled a little. "I didn't either. It happened very quickly.
Even Taril was shocked at how quickly." She tilted her head. "Perhaps
you and Lord Bryvin can have many children together. "

"We thought it would add some to the event. Sunstone may not be
putting on as grand of an event as my father's Hold does, but good
news should lift everyone's hopes."

As for the thought of many children, Xeladrie didn't know if she'd
want them or not.

"An heir and at least one spare would be the most sensible. I'm hoping
for a boy this time. It would be a good omen." So that the Hold would
have an heir. And so that she wouldn't have to have a daughter to
trade away.

"I'm sure everyone hopes you have a boy." Humari agreed. She had hoped
for a boy for Taril and had been lucky in that she had given him one.
"But I'm sure Lord Bryvin will care for a daughter as well."

"I think he'll be happy so long as we're both healthy. I suppose
there's no way of knowing until I get there though. Another three
months..." Her hand drifted down to rest on her belly.

Humari laid a light hand on Xeladrie's arm. "It's worth it." She
looked over at the child in the cradle. "It's very worth it. Besides,
you'll have a whole group of people supporting you and helping you
with the baby."

Humari's warm, human contact made Xeladrie smile. She might have
issues with her position, with her husband, with the expectations
placed upon her. She might never have wanted this life. But she didn't
have to face it alone.

"I hope that'll make it easier. Thank you, Humari."

Last updated on the August 6th 2015

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It's Worth It