The Cost of Being Irresponsible

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 12th January 2016

Characters: Reven, T'ner
Description: Tener comes to Reven for help.
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 3, day 12 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Arippa, Ayressa

Reven

Reven's head was bowed over his desk, his eyes contemplating the aerial map
of the Green Valley territory. He felt they were ready to expand some of
their crops, maybe try some new plants on some of the untouched land, but
it was a risky venture. Seed cost money, and if the crop didn't turn out a
good harvest then it was money wasted. Green Valley was by no means poor
but neither were they in a place to just be tossing away marks. Every
investment needed to be well thought out.

"Uh, Reven?" A tentative knock sounded on his open door.

"Come in." He spoke without looking up, because he knew already who the
voice belonged to.

"Can I talk to you for a second?"

The hesitation he heard in Tener's voice made Reven look up from the map.
He took in his brother's pinched face, pale pallor, and nervous darting of
the eyes. Something was definitely wrong.

"Of course, Ten, sit down." The map was thoroughly forgotten now as he
looked at his youngest brother. People thought he and Coran looked a lot
alike, but truly Tener was like a miniature version of himself, and he
still had some growing yet to do.

Tener sank into the chair, grateful for it since his knees felt weak.
Running his sweaty palms down his thighs, he looked up at Reven, who was
spearing him with expectant blue eyes.

"Well? What's wrong?"

Did he just blurt it out? What would Reven think of him?

"I'm in a little bit of trouble, Reven."

Reven frowned. "What kind of trouble?"

Was the room hot? It felt hot. Tener tugged on the collar of his shirt and
ran a hand across his brow.

"I, uh, I've been seeing this girl and..."

A golden eyebrow arched. "And?"

"Faranth, Reven, she's pregnant!" The confession burst out of him.

Reven's eyes widened, his brows disappearing into his hairline as he looked
at his little brother.

"Who is it?" he asked.

Tener licked his lips.

"Tener." There was a warning growl in Reven's voice.

"It's Ayressa, okay? She said she was drinking her teas. Clearly she wasn't
doing something right!" Tener put his hands over his face.

White hot anger flashed through Reven. Rocking back in his chair, he tried
to absorb the information before slamming his hand down on on his desk.

"Dammit, Tener! Out of all the girls in the Hold you have to knock up the
one that was just sent to FOSTER with us. Do you understand what fostering
means? We were suppose to be her chaperons, _we_ were suppose to look out
for her, and you go and get her pregnant!" Reven's mind was racing.
Ayressa's father would hatch a dragon when he found out.

Tener groaned, "I know, I know, okay? Why do you think I came to you and
not Dad?"

Reven's eyes rolled, "Feck, Dad will kill you for sure, or tie a knot in
your -"

"I know!" Tener interrupted again with a more desperate look on his face.
"You're my brother, you're suppose to help me!"

"I am your brother, but I am also the Holder of Green Valley and I have to
answer for your actions to Ayressa's father."

"Oh come down off your high and mighty trip, Reven, don't act as if you
didn't sleep around with some girls before you got married!" Tener tossed
his hands up.

Reven did not look impressed. "I never knocked a girl up though, I was
smarter than that." He had by no means been a virgin when he'd married
Arippa, but he'd been careful.

"Please, tell me what to do. I came to you for help." Tener pleaded.

When had his little brother grown old enough to get a girl pregnant? Reven
rubbed a hand over his face again as he considered what options they might
have.

"You got a girl pregnant whose father is a Holder of a Minor Hold. That's
not just something you can sweep under the rug. We're going to need to
grovel, or else your mistake will ruin our reputation. No one will ever
want to send a daughter here to foster again." Reven pinched the bridge of
his nose with his solitary gloved hand. "Most likely you're going to have
to marry the girl. Knowing her father I feel certain that's the only way
we'll be able to patch this situation up." That and they would have to put
forth a hefty dowry.

Tener's eyes bulged. "_Marry_ her?! I barely know her!"

"Well you know her well enough!" Reven snapped, irritated by his younger
brother's lack of responsibility. "You should have thought of that before
you dropped your pants!"

"But what about my craft?"

"What about it? Coran's married and he still practices his craft. Maybe
having a wife and kid will give you some incentive to buckle down and earn
your journeyman knots." Reven mused.

Tener covered his face again with his hands. He couldn't believe this was
happening to him.

"I'll contact Ayressa's father. In the mean time, you need to go tell mom
and dad. They should hear it from you and not from me." Reven warned.

"I will." Tener said, even though he felt so sick to his stomach he was
afraid he would puke all over the freshly polished floor.

"Tenny," Reven's voice was softer. Tener looked up. "You'll get through
this. You'll see."

If that was true why did it feel as if the world was ending?

Last updated on the January 20th 2016

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The Cost of Being Irresponsible