Not Fine

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 2nd March 2019

Characters: Bryvin, Yriadha, Sophque
Description: Sophque tells Bryvin, despite the risk, and Bryvin acts.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 10, day 12 of Turn 9

Bryvin

Yriadha

Sophque

Sophque's heart was in her throat. She wasn't certain of how this
would go but she knew she had to take the chance. So she loitered in
the upper hallway near the Lord's quarters. As the evening wore on she
was concerned that he might be with Lady Danrina and had no clue if
he'd be returning to his own rooms. She shifted from foot to foot
until she heard someone coming down the hallway but she stepped into
the shadow of the doorway until she was certain.

Captain growled and Bryvin stopped in the passageway. "Who's there,"
he said. "Come out where I can see you or I send the canine in to get
you."

"I'm sorry sir," She said as she stepped out into the light.

"Sophque?" the suspicion didn't fade but he relaxed slightly and
Captain recognized that and sat at Bryvin's side. "What are you doing
here?"

"Sir, I," All the thoughts just dumped from her head and the words
she'd carefully planned seemed to disappear. So she just went with the
first thing that popped into her head. "It's Yriadha."

"Yriadha," he was slightly puzzled by the way she said it. "Is
something wrong? Is something wrong with Yavin?"

She blew out a breath just realizing the Lord Holder was not in his
normal day clothes. "I'm, uh no, Yavin is fine he's with Humari
tonight. But sir, I think Yriadha's visit to her father didn't quite
go as planned."

Bryvin was becoming impatient with the slow reel... "Just spit it out
woman," he said.

"I went to her room and she'd just taken a bath I saw bruises and, and
think she's been raped sir," Sophque held her breath.

"Faranth," he said and ran his hands through his hair. Then he took
off at almost a trot.

Sophque had to practically run to keep up with him. But she fished
Yriadha's key from her pocket to hold out to him. "I locked her door,"
she said trying to give him the key.

Bryvin reached for it with a grateful look then tossed his head. "You go home."

"Yes sir," she said as she stopped and started toward the stairs
suddenly very thankful he wasn't angry at least with her.

"And Sophque? You did the right thing," he nodded and she nodded
before vanishing down the stairs.

A few moments later, he was letting himself into Yriadha's room and
bolting the door behind him. He walked to the bed looking down at her
in the light from the fire. "Yriadha," he said softly as he sat on the
edge of her bed.

Yriadha was curled into a tight fetal position under her blankets, her
eyes flickering rapidly in a light disturbed sleep. The sound of her
name, despite being called softly, jerked them open. Confusion was in
her eyes for only a moment before they flicked upwards. She stared at
Bryvin and a very real fear gleamed in her eyes. Had her absence been
enough to increase his desires? "My Lord..." She swallowed hard; she
had never once refused him, and feared his anger, but couldn't bear
the thought of it. "I beg of you, not tonight. I'm tired and am not
feeling well."

"Don't worry, beauty," he said. "I'm not here for that." He smoothed
some stray hairs back from her forehead. "I hear someone touched you
without my permission." His voice stayed gentle and non-threatening,
though he was ready to hurt someone who did this to his beauty. He
could see fear in her eyes and that wasn't normal at all.

She shrank from the touch and closed her eyes, forcing herself to
slowly sit up to face him. Sophque. She had told him. A tear slid down
her cheek, unsure to be angry at her friend, or if she should have
expected it. Inwardly she knew Sophque was trying to help her, but she
wasn't sure if she could speak about it again. Not yet. Her eyes
opened once again, and it was clear that she was struggling in the
attempts to pull up some sort of defense, trying to muster the
emotional strength to face him with some sort of pride, but had
nothing to draw upon. She had never felt so weak in front of him, nor
so defeated. Finally, she lowered her eyes, her shoulders slumped, and
she spoke, but the words felt broken. "I'm sorry, my Lord. I tried to
stop it. I'm so sorry."

"It is not _your_ fault, beauty." He tilted his head then he turned to
sit next to her and put his arm around her. "Do you want me to kill
him for you?"

The question made her gaze shoot up to meet his, stunned. She searched
his face, uncertain if he was serious. The warmth of his arm was
surprisingly welcome, being pressed against his side soothed some of
her torn spirits. "You..you would do that for me? You aren't angry
or..." She swallowed roughly, fearing the answer to her
question, "...disgusted with me?"

"I would do that for you, beauty," he said. He placed a finger on her
chin to turn her face to his. "There is no way for a woman to resist
without training or a weapon and the will to use it. I am not upset
with you in any way. You didn't choose this."

She stared at him and as realization sank in that he was indeed
serious, an emotion that she barely recognized softened the strained
lines of her face. She didn't know it that shone from her eyes openly
or even that she was expressing the warmth that suffused her entire
being. "Yes," She slowly nodded, her eyes never leaving his. "I want
him to die. I want him to hurt. I want him to suffer." Her anger was
there, buried under the despair that gripped her, but it was present.
"He hurt me." She began to tremble and then she did something
that she never imagined she would ever do. Hesitantly, she lifted her arms
to his neck and turned towards him, shifting from under the
blankets to curl up on his lap. She pressed her face to his neck,
tears falling once again. She finally felt safe again. "Hurt him for me, Bryvin. Please."

"I will," he promised and gathered her to him; he glimpsed the bruises
on her thighs. The man was going to hurt and know why before he died.

Last updated on the March 3rd 2019

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Not Fine