The First Seed

Writers: Avery, Miriah
Date Posted: 18th November 2015

Characters: Vreena, Zelah
Description: The seeds of an idea are planted.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 2, day 23 of Turn 8

Zelah

Xeladrie felt like a pregnant sow, huge and waddling. It took her longer than usual to cross the ladies' solar and settle into the chair she'd claimed as her own. She pointedly ignored any embroidery she should be doing in favor of instead looking out the window at the rainy weather. Dark and dour, it matched her mood.

Always aware of Xeladrie's movements, Vreena came in only moments later, carrying a small basket of baked pastries she'd pilfered from the kitchens. Tilting her head, she looked at Xeladrie's expression and then out of the window, following her gaze. "A dark day, Lady. Are you feeling well?"

"I want this pregnancy to be done with, and the weather to be nice, so I can go outside and not feel fat and slow," Xeladrie complained.

Vreena shook her head slowly. "I don't think you're fat." She tucked her skirt as she sat, looking demure despite her low neckline. "I think you look lovely."

"I think I looked prettier before I became pregnant," she muttered. But Vreena's words flattered her.

"It's a different type of beauty." Vreena offered and continued in a low voice. "I know you dislike bearing the child, but it makes your skin glow. And you're..." She cleared her throat. "Much curvier."

"I suppose that's why they say it's special when we carry life." Xeladrie said, offering Vreena a smile.

"Hmm..." She tilted her head slightly. "May I tell you something, Xeladrie?"

Xeladrie was intrigued. She moved her chair so she was a little bit closer. "Of course you can."

"I was with child from my husband." Her voice was soft. "I hated it too."

"What happened?" Had Vreena lost her child? Was her husband's potency so poor?

Her nose wrinkled. "It was lost early in the pregnancy." Thankfully. The herbs that she had taken had made the process painful, but it had been worth it to not carry the man's brat.

"I wish that had happened here," Xeladrie confessed. "For status, we need this child, but..."

Vreena moved to sit beside Xeladrie and with care, took the other woman's hand. "I know. You're stuck with him." Her voice became compassionate. "While he has his mistresses, he'll still try to breed you as much as possible until you're old before your time. But..." Her
voice lowered to a whisper. "I've heard of teas that the women in the Weyrs take to keep from having children. _They_ have control. Not the men."

"I was hoping if I gave him a son, he'd leave me alone for some time. If the Weyr has something..." Could she get it from Rhosyn? Would the Weyrwoman be willing to interfere?

Vreena stroked Xeladrie's hand gently, her touch soft. "What if you don't? It could be a girl." Her eyes saddened. "I hope you have a lad, Lady. No disrespect to the Lord of course, because I know he wants to have an heir, and he should, but it's awfully hard on the women. Men don't think on that much."

"I was thinking the same," Xeladrie said. "I don't want a girl to have to face the same forced marriages."

She gave a soft sigh. "Aye. And you'd have little voice, I'm afraid. It's we women who have to bear the brunt of their decisions, then get little pleasure from them in return."

Vreena's words aligned so well with the bitter thoughts Xeladrie had been having. It was a soothing balm to rough nerves, like dipping into the cool sea on a hot day. "Do you ever wish you'd been born a man?"

"Sometimes." She admitted. "But not to have their bodies." Vreena sniffed. "But to have the ability to make my own choices and be with whomever I wanted. A man can choose his own destiny. We can't. A man can have a few mistresses and a wife and it's acceptable. But a woman
do that? She's scorned. A man can do more than just sit in a pretty room and bear children."

"You're right, it is unfair. Being able to bear life doesn't make the trade-offs worth it. The highest a woman can hope for is Headwoman. But why couldn't someone good with figures be the Steward, hmm? As for vows, I don't care if Bryvin has one or a dozen mistresses - I'd overlook his if he would let me have my own," Then she stopped short, her eyes widening. Had she said too much?

Vreena's face revealed nothing. "He doesn't ask you if he can have mistresses. Why should you ask him?" Her voice lowered. "I shouldn't say such against the Lord and I know he's your husband, but I've heard of such things happening. As long as the Lady was very discreet."

Xeladrie leaned closer to catch the quiet words. Having her own lover...it was tantalizing. Men guarded against other men...and yet... "Discreet enough where a man might never suspect his wife?"

"If it was done correctly and the wife chose a person that her husband would never suspect, yes." Vreena's voice was a whisper, leaning forward to let Xeladrie hear her. "I would never tell him anything."

Their heads were so close now that Xeladrie thought she felt Vreena's breath against the skin of her ear, though whether it was real or a hopeful imagining she did not know. She so desperately wanted to lean in and hear more, and yet she was conscious they were in a semi-public space. If the wrong person spotted them...

"I trust you. And I would like to hear more. Perhaps...you could attend me after I have dinner with my husband?" she said hesitantly, making the overture.

"I would be more than happy to, my Lady." Vreena smiled, her squeezing Xeladrie's hand lightly.

Xeladrie squeezed back, feeling a shiver of anticipation pass through her. How could she bear to wait till then? But discretion caused her to sit back now and remember the role she was playing.

"So tell me..." she started loudly, seeking to move the conversation into something tactful and safe for the public.

Last updated on the November 30th 2015

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The First Seed