A Slippery Situation

Writers: AL, Vix
Date Posted: 30th July 2008

Characters: Marida, Tanas
Description: Marida and Tanas have a rather wet and slippery time of it.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 11, day 8 of Turn 4

The food was cooking and would take a while before it would be done. Of
course, it would be a while before Tanas was home. Marida had plenty of
time for a bath. She found it easier to take them when he wasn't home,
to have that relaxation of knowing that he wasn't hovering outside. She
also felt like she could take more time, not have to rush so to tend to
her husband's needs. So, she drew a bath. Her mother had given her
scented oil as a gift and Marida felt moved to put a couple of drops
into the water. The aroma of flowers filled the room and the young
woman found herself relaxing before she even stepped into the warm water.

She bathed herself, washed her hair then took time to soak and let her
hair float in the water. It was getting long, almost to her waist. She
wondered if she should cut it. Maybe. She hardly ever did anything with
it, just kept it pulled back into a tail or bun. Perhaps. Marida closed
her eyes, sinking down up to her neck. It had been a long day. She had
scoured the cot from top to bottom to be absolutely sure it was
spotless. The warmth soothed her, sang its lullabye to her.
Eventually, Marida found herself giving into to its soporic influence
and her eyes closed, no longer able to resist the temptation to sleep.

~*~

It had been a long day – or at least it had felt that way. By shortly
after his noon meal, Tanas was already feeling exhausted. He had tried
to stick it out, tried to continue his work for the usual amount of
time, but had found himself making too many mistakes. Finally he gave
up, tidied his workspace, and headed for home.

He opened the door, shedding his coat and leaving it on the hook inside
the door, then paused. He could smell the food, but knew that she had
been there and that she had started dinner, but she was not in her usual
place, sitting at the table, waiting for him, getting up to welcome him
by taking his coat and the bag containing the bowl from his lunch.

He puzzled over that for a moment, then decided that she had gone to the
necessary. She'd be back in just a minute or two. While he waited, he
paced, realizing that he rather missed her greeting when he returned
home each day. Still, she did not return to the common room. Puzzled and
uncertain, he walked into the bedroom, quiet and empty, and through the
open door into the bathing room.

There she was, still lying in the tub, hair floating around her. She
stirred, then opened her eyes, as if his presence woke her. She blinked
at him, bleary eyed and bleary brained for a moment before it hit her.
Marida shrieked, grabbed her washcloth and threw it at him.

The sodden washcloth hit him full in the face. Annoyed, he brushed at it
and stood looking down at the drips upon his shirt, wrinkling his nose
at the floral scent. "Why did you do that? I was just checking to see
where you were."

"S...s...sorry!" Marida squeaked, hunkering down into the bath. Never
mind that she had shared rather intimate moments with this man, she just
plain wasn't used to him being around her when she didn't have any
clothes on - and lights on! She crossed her arms over her chest, her face
flushed brightly and not due to what little warmth was left in the water.
"I...I'm sorry I...you...you startled me."

It finally occurred to Tanas that the woman was naked. Yes, he should
have expected that with her in the tub, and yes, she was his wife and it
should not have mattered. But it did. "I. . . I'm sorry. . ." His cheeks
were flaming with his embarrassment. "I'll wait out. . . out there." He
made a hasty exit to the common room.

Relief washed over Marida like a wave. She waited a moment then pushed herself up and out of the tub. She grabbed a towel and vigorously rubbed it over her. It was then she realised that she hadn't brought any clothes into the bathroom. She had expected to be done long before Tanas' return, but he had come into the bathroom and left. She didn't realise that he wasn't in the bedroom, and she certainly wasn't going to walk in there when she thought that was where he was waiting. "Um. Tanas." Her voice cracked as she called out, "I...I need some clothes."

"Clothes?" He rose from the chair, glancing about wildly before
realizing that he would have better luck in their bedroom. Striding
purposefully, he entered that room and opened her trunk.

The only clothes that seemed to be contained in the trunk were winter
clothes and a small book, tucked at the side so that a corner peeped
from beneath them. He tugged at the book, opening it and noting that
there were scribblings within, line drawings. He had not known that she
liked such things and suddenly felt as if he were intruding. He placed
the book back as carefully as he good, muttering to himself as he ran
his fingers over the clothing, "Too warm for this weather."

He turned to the wardrobe and there found clothing more suited for this
time of the turn. He selected a loose dress and returned to the door of
the bathroom, pausing beside it. "I've something for you to wear. I'll
hand it in."

"Th...thank you." Marida hurried to the door, reaching out for the
dress. Just before she could grab it, her foot slipped out from under
her upon the still wet floor and with a cry, Marida came crashing to the
floor.

At the noise, Tanas rushed through the doorway, kneeling beside her and
holding out his hands helplessly. "What. . . are you alright?"

At first, Marida didn't respond. She wasn't hurt so much as had the
wind knocked from her. After a moment she slowly began to rise. Where
was her towel? Her dress? "I...I think so." Oh. There they were. On
the other side of Tanas.

He reached for her and started to haul her to her feet, then remembered
that she was naked and let go of her. "Sorry."

The young woman murmured something unintelligible and fully stood up, hands
crossed over her in a futile attempt to cover herself. "I...I'm fine. Really."
Then she realised she could get to the towel. She moved forward,
perhaps more quickly than she should have to snatch it up, only to slip
once more. That time, however, she caught onto Tanas and tumbled into
his arms.

The floor was now quite wet and Tanas, standing in a puddle, realized
just how slick the bathing room floor had become – with the added weight
of her, he fell to the floor, arms encircling her, find himself
entangled with her, wedged between the tub and the wall. This close to
her, he was very aware of her body and its nakedness pressed against
his. He lay still, uncertain of what to do, sampling speaking softly.
"Uh. . . are you alright?"

"Yes..." Marida gasped softly, her mind whirling a bit from all the
sipping and sliding. "I...I'm fine." His arms around her were warm, a
marked difference from the coolness of the air where they didn't touch.
The girl found herself blushing once again as she asked in response,
"Are you all right?"

"Uh. . . yeah." He laughed lightly, but stopped when he realized that
it made his body move against hers. "How. . . uh. . . I'm not quite sure
how to get up."

"I'll get up first." Slowly. If she rushed, she'd slip and fall again.
Oh but she wanted to cover herself! "Um. I'll have to brace against
you." Tanas was the only non slippery handhold.

"That sounds like a plan." He whispered the words, aware of the movement
it caused. Uncertain whether her plan really would work, he glanced down
along the length of their entwined bodies – and then quickly away as he
remembered her nakedness. Still. . . he had never really seen a woman's
nude body, his only contacts with Marida being in the darkness of their
bed, and found that he was definitely interested.

Marida had taken note of his glance and realised that her own breathing
had changed - quickened. She took a deep breath and let it out, not sure
what to make of it, of the strange way she felt when she realised he was
looking at her. She was embarrassed but...there was more to it. She looked
down and pushed against Tanas, using him as a brace so that she could
stand, then turned and carefully walked over to her towel and dress,
both now sopping wet upon the floor.

With her weight off him, he slowly sat up, mentally checking for bruises
and scrapes, but much more concerned with watching her as she walked
from him, all the curves that were usually hidden from view now revealed.

The young woman tried not to think about the fact that Tanas' eyes were
on her. It shouldn't matter, right? He was her husband. But being
naked around him was still quite disconcerting and while being intimate
had gotten less painful and a little more enjoyable when she relaxed, it
was still odd being so exposed, especially in the light. She picked up
the towel and wrapped it around her despite the fact it was wet. "I should
get dressed." She muttered softly, unable to look Tanas in the eye

He remembered that he was staring and quickly looked away. "Oh. . . yes.
You should." He shoved himself to his feet, trying not to glance in her
direction. "We . . . we should have supper."

"Yes, we should." Marida glanced from Tanas to the door and back again,
still keeping her gaze from meeting his own. "If you will...I mean, I
can...I will get dressed." With that, she hurried out of the bathroom,
leaving Tanas alone on the wet floor.

He paused a moment and then headed for the kitchen. The experience may
have been embarrassing, but it had certainly given him something to
think about.

Last updated on the July 30th 2008

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A Slippery Situation