She Chose to Stay

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 3rd September 2021
Series: The Hallmaster's Ladies

Characters: Enamra, Thayde
Description: Enamra comes home with news.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 9, day 17 of Turn 10

Enamra

Thayde

Enamra walked down the beach, still mulling over what she'd been told.
The pack she carried was heavy, but it didn't matter. Her news meant
that there was only one thing she could do. As the moons began to
rise, she dug her toes into the familiar sand and made her slow way
towards the Hall.

The walk was refreshing and allowed her time to think. By the time she
reached Thayde's quarters, she was relaxed and far more certain. She
stopped by the door, reaching to open it, then hesitated. What if he
wasn't home? Taking a breath, she opened the door and found their
quarters quiet. Padding on quiet feet, she set down her pack and moved
to their bedroom. The glows were dim, but she saw the dark shape on
the bed. A smile lifted her lips as she slipped out of her sandals,
wiped her feet and slowly slid into bed, wrapping her arms lightly
around her husband.

Instinctively, like breathing, Thayde's arms enveloped her, pulling
her petite body against his longer, lanky one. She fit perfectly into
the curve of his body. They were like two seashells smoothed and
molded together by the tide.

Thayde emitted a throaty, contented sound as he buried his face into
her hair and inhaled deeply, the muscles in his body relaxing.

Enamra gave a contented sigh as she felt his arms go snugly around
her. _This_ felt right, no matter what she might be giving up be
coming home. _This_ was what mattered. She nuzzled her cheek against
his shoulder and smiled, coiling one leg around his. Softly, she
stroked his back, then murmured, "Home."

His arms tightened spasmodically around her as he stirred at the sound
of her voice. His hands moved down over her, tracing familiar curves
as if to determine if she was real or not.

"Enamra?" he croaked in a voice rough from sleep.

She nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder again and cuddled even
closer. "HmmMmmm....You're nice and warm."

Thayde's eyes fluttered open, his eyes squinting into the darkness in
confusion as he looked down at his wife. "Enamra?" he said again as
his brain started to click into gear. "What are you doing here?" he
asked, glancing towards the curtained window to assure himself that it
was the middle of the night.

Finally leaning her head back, Enamra settled back into the bed with a
smile on her lips. "I came home. I need to be home." She reached up to
brush her fingers along his face. "I don't want to stand at the
Hatching. I can't."

His brow furrowed. She had seemed so happy the last time he'd visited
her at the Weyr. A place where she'd felt accepted.

"Why can't you Stand? I thought you wanted to give it a shot, no regrets."

Taking his hand from her thigh, she brought it to her belly and let it
rest there. "I had my checkup before the Hatching this morning." Her
eyes grew soft. "Master Urlene said I was expecting a child." She laid
her hand over his on her belly. "We belong with you. Here. A family."

A jolt flashed through him. A child. He remembered the loss of their
last one keenly. Various questions and thoughts swirled around in his
brain. When? How? "The day we went swimming?" he asked, thinking to
his last visit at the Weyr.

She shook her head. "No. I'm farther along than that. I just didn't
realize. It was likely from just before I left."

His healer brain kicked in. Of course it wasn't from his last visit,
that would have been too soon. Just before she left? Thayde thought
back, remembering easily their time together on the couch in front of
the fire. He'd been slightly melancholy, thinking for sure that he was
letting his wife walk out of his life.

"And you are.. happy? Or disappointed about not being able to stand?"
Thayde asked hesitantly, withholding his feelings about it until he
could gauge hers.

Enamra blinked up at him and tilted her head to the side. Her brow
knit in confusion, he didn't seem happy about it. Why? She took a
moment to reply honestly. "No, I'm really not disappointed. I liked
the Weyr, but..." She tried to figure out how to say what she felt.
"It wasn't home. It was too different. And I missed you." She again
brushed her fingers through his hair, letting the strands slide
through her finger tips. Then her smile gentled a little and there was
a glow that came to her cheeks. "I am happy. I'm not afraid now."

For the first time since she'd slipped unexpectedly into their bed,
Thayde smiled, the strength of it reaching his eyes as he took her
face between his hands and kissed her. "You can't imagine how happy
that makes me, Enamra." He'd worried every day since they'd married
that he was inadvertently holding her back from her dreams, or from
opportunities that other girls her age had. But now that she was here,
choosing to stay.... "I don't want to ever live apart again," he said
against her lips. He moved over her, pressing her gently into the
mattress as he moved his kisses to her neck and ran his hand over her
abdomen to explore the slight bump there for himself.

"oof..." She smiled against his mouth as he quickly moved over her and
felt his hand stretch out over her belly. WIth a contented sigh, she
wrapped her arms around his shoulder. "I'm your wife. I don't need to
go anywhere else."

Thayde hummed his agreement against her skin. "Yes, I'll just keep you
here all to myself." There was a hungry gleam, visible even in the dim
lighting of the room, in his eyes as he drew back and looked down at
her.

She was still wearing the clothing she had received from the Weyr, the
tight trousers and tunic. When he leaned back and looked at her, she
smiled with invitation, but couldn't help but ask, "Can I still wear
the trousers? I like them and they're comfortable."

He arched an eyebrow, but didn't answer immediately. Instead, he
hooked his fingers inside the hem of the garment in question. He
pulled them down slowly, looking with appreciation as her thighs were
slowly revealed. His hands traced along the length of her legs as he
pulled the pants down, working them carefully over her ankles and feet
until he held them aloft in one hand. "You can wear them, but I'm
killing the first man who makes a suggestive comment."

She lifted her hips to help him along, then giggled when he held the
trousers up in his hand. She wiggled her toes, and bare from the waist
down, half-sat up on her elbows to look at him. "That's not likely to
happen." Enamra then gave another little giggle. "Should I put a night
gown on? It _is_ the middle of the night."

"A nightgown?" He growled playfully, tossing the pants over his
shoulder. "I don't think you'll be needing one of those," he said in
her ear, his hands slipping underneath her shirt.

She gave a quick intake of breath at the touch of his hands. Swollen
and tender even beneath the breast band, the touch of his hands seemed
more intense than previous. His own eagerness played upon her own and
she pulled up her tunic to toss it aside, leaving her in nothing but
the breast band. "Careful. I'm...sensitive right now."

"Ah," Thayde's touch gentled immediately as he carefully removed the
last piece of clothing. "I'll take extra good care of these," he
promised, fingers skimming softly along the undersides of her breasts.
Slowing himself down a little, he pulled back and shed the linen pants
he slept in. Shells, he hoped this wasn't a dream. Enamra, home,
saying that she wasn't going to stay at the Weyr, saying that she was
pregnant...

She shivered at his touch, skin immediately prickling into gooseflesh
at the light sensation. At his touch, she was ready for his, eager to
be folded into an intimate embrace; she had missed him. Reaching out,
she slid her hand along his side. "I love you."

He captured her hand from his side and pressed his lips into her palm.
"I love you, too."

Last updated on the October 1st 2021

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