An Understanding

Writers: Avery, Suzee
Date Posted: 30th March 2017

Characters: Bryvin, Zelah
Description: The Lord and Lady have a quiet meal on his birthingday.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 9, day 19 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Yriadha

Bryvin

Zelah

Xeladrie had spent the last month hating herself, and hating her
pregnancy, and hating her husband. She hadn't been quite this
miserable the first time with Brylex - had she? She didn't know what
she hated more: the nausea, the tiredness, the irrational mood swings,
or having to go to the bathroom what felt like twice every candlemark.

Well, there had been one benefit of it. She had managed to arrange to
stay in her chambers most of the time, looking out the window to the
sea and dreaming of it. And she could have her ladies as her visitors.
While she had less visits from her husband, which she favored. This
had been _his_ fault - why had she allowed this?

**Because you have no choice,** she thought bitterly.

Her appetite had returned over the last two sevendays. The cooks had
arranged for a special meal for tonight. She'd be sharing it with her
husband in their private dining area. It was news that had surprised
her, and as she waited for dinner, she wondered. Had she forgotten
some important date?

"Good evening," he smiled pleasantly as he walked into the room.

"Good evening my lord, how are you?" she asked as her husband walked in.

"Very well," he smiled. "And how are you feeling my dear," he asked
and lifted her hand to his lips.

"I'm feeling better than before." She gestured at the table which had
been beautifully laid out, though the food had not yet arrived. "I see
the staff has gone all out."

"Yes," he smiled. "But I'd wanted to keep my birthday low key this
turn. Just you my dear." He lifted one of the covers. "Oh," he smiled.
"My favorite. Yriadha had a hand in this I see."

She'd been wondering why it was so fancy. He'd said why it was
important. She felt a bit of surprise she hadn't remembered. He would
have felt appreciated if she had set something up...

"She keeps your preferences on file?" she asked as mildly in tone as she
could.

A small smile played across his lips. "As should any good headwoman,"
he forked another bite into his mouth and chewed as he looked at her.
"Doesn't she do the same for you?"

Xeladrie considered for a moment. "If she has then I haven't noticed.
But maybe I haven't expressed enough preferences." In truth she tried
to avoid the older woman, who she found unpleasant.

There were times when their upbringing showed through and those things
that his wife, raised as the blooded daughter of a Lord Holder, simply
took for granted. He on the other hand, though a member of Amethyst
Cliff's blood had been minor distaff relation and had always worked
for a living. He looked at the single flower in the tall narrow vase
in the center of the table.

"How do you like that flower," he asked mildly.

She took a moment to admire the flower. "They're beautiful. It has a
lovely color and a fine bloom."

"And do you note," he asked with a satisfied smile. "It is your
favorite color and all the thorns have been removed? Who do you think
would have done that?" A single well groomed brow raised.

They'd just been discussing the Headwoman, so she wondered if that
was where the conversation was going. "The Headwoman? But, it's your
birthday, so maybe you wanted to make it special?"

"I always enjoy dinner with you my dear," he said with all evidence of
pleasure. "You do not seem to enjoy my company though. This makes for
some awkward pauses in our conversation."

This was a dangerous thing to be said out in the open air. Bryvin was
a powerful and changeable man. And he was dangerous, too. If Xeladrie
displeased him too much... She didn't know what would happen to her.
She had to pick her words carefully.

"I may not be the best conversationalist," she admitted. "And I have
been displeased lately. This pregnancy is hard."

He set down his fork and put his fingers together as he leaned on his
elbows. "And you are doing your duty to me and to our Hold." He paused
as he looked at her for a moment. "You are a very beautiful woman and
as I said, I enjoy your company. Try to pretend you enjoy mine as
well. You will be happier in the long run."

Her eyes widened slightly but she tried to keep her face still. "And
you are a handsome and powerful man, my Lord. All must be well for
you."

"Thank you," he smiled and briefly reached for her hand to squeeze it
before he lifted his fork again. "All must be well for you too, my
dear. You are my wife and deserve to be treated with all respect due
you. Should that ever change please make me aware of it at once."

"I have experienced little difficulties so far. Most respect my
position as your wife. And my ladies in waiting are enjoyable to be
around," she said.

"I'm glad," he said and meant it this time. "We must make the best of
our situation, you and I. I'm sure neither of us were the others first
choice. Yet we do what we must for Sunstone." He held up his glass as
for a toast.

That, she could agree to. "To Sunstone," she echoed, raising her own glass.

After a moment, she decided to be bold and ask him a question. "Tell
me, would you rather have remained Steward? Or inherited another Hold
around this area? You know, if you could have chosen where to ascend
to power."

Almost hackles rose on the back of his neck but he quickly suppressed
the reaction. This was his wife whose interests were linked to his
own. "I was satisfied with my position under Lord Morin," he started.
"It was much better than I'd had in my own family. There were many
heirs ahead of me for Amethyst Cliff. I doubt I could have even become
Steward there. But that earthquake changed everything." He leaned back
feeling expansive after the fine meal. "But perhaps I've been more
ambitious than others would have given me credit for." His smile was a
trifle enigmatic."But were I not a Lord, I would never have achieved
you," he held up his glass this time as a salute.

"With the earthquake, weren't many heirs lost? You might have had a
chance," she said. "But I must confess that I would not have wanted to
marry so far away."

"Oh aye," he nodded. "But the people didn't want to stay in the ruins
and Amber Hills was close and unaffected. So, the hall moved as did
most of the people. Benaroy had a very large family so there was no
chance for me there. My cousin Wirnan was steward there for a time."
He smiled at her comment. "It's also very cold so I'm just as happy to
be here."

"Yes, that would be too cold for me," she agreed.

"Snow is fun to visit," he nodded. "But I'd much rather live here."

She smiled at him. This was something they had in common. "I used to
wish that my brother would disappear and whoever I married would be
the one to take over Turquoise Bay," she confessed. That was
impossible - she did have her brother as the heir, and older sisters.
But she could have hoped.

"Well then," he smiled back. "Perhaps we were lucky to find one another."

**Or unlucky,** she thought. After all, he and her sister... But they
had some things in common.

"I suppose we are," she echoed, keeping a positive note in her voice.

His smile wasn't completely convinced but maybe just maybe they had
come to an understanding they could both live with.

Last updated on the April 25th 2017

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

An Understanding