Make It Easy on Yourself

Writers: Miriah
Date Posted: 1st July 2014

Characters: Humari, Yriadha, Torinya
Description: Humari's sister offers words of advice
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 7, day 28 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Taril; Follows Have to Get Away

Humari

Yriadha

Humari woke to the feeling of moist cold on her back and turned her
head slowly. Her eyes searched until she found her elder sister,
heavily pregnant, by her side. Torinya was laying something cool and
soothing on her back. It helped the ache and she sighed in relief.
Large brown eyes met hers and she saw a look of sympathy on her
sisters face.

"How many times has this been?"

Humari closed her eyes. "Five I think." She shuddered as Torinya
placed another cool slather of numbweed on her back.

"This has to stop." Torinya's voice was soft. "You can't keep making
Mother angry, Humari."

"I'm not trying to." Humari's voice was just as soft. "I just…"

"Stop." Torinya interrupted and she sighed. "Look, I know things seem
horrible right now, but she's really just doing her best for the
family, Humari. Somethings you just have accept things and do what
Mother tells you to do. You'll end up doing it anyway." She stroked
Humari's hair with a gentle hand. "You have to get married, even if
you don't want to." She reached to wipe away a tear that beaded under
Humari's lashes. "It's not so bad all the time."

"But I'll have to do things and…"

Torinya looked down at her abdomen and stroked her hand over it
slowly. Her third pregnancy was progressing well. "I know. After the
first time it doesn't hurt anymore. Sometimes it almost feels good and
its over really quickly anyway. And then you'll get to have children
and they fill your life more than you can ever imagine."

Humari looked at Torinya with a numb expression. "Mother wants me to
get with child right away."

"Well, of course." Torinya nodded as if that was to be expected.
"It'll bind him to you. Being the mother of the first born is
important, Humari." She looked over at Humari's back and sighed,
rubbing another slather of numbweed over her lower back. "Stop
fighting it. It could be worse you know. Mother could have married you
off to an old man. Taril may be scarred, but at least he's wealthy. He
doesn't seem like a bad sort even with his face and leg the way they
are."

"No." Humari admitted. He'd been very generous and kind so far. "He
doesn't seem to be."

"See? And once he gets used to being married, he'll find a mistress
and you'll not have to worry about his attentions until he wants
another child."

Humari looked at her sister. Torinya didn't seem unhappy with her
lot, just very accepting of it and she did adore her children. "Does
Erined ever hit you?"

Torinya frowned a little. "After I learned to do what he wanted, he
never raised a hand to me. It was only to correct my behavior, Humari.
Once I accepted that he knew what was best he had no reason to. Life
is much easier now."

"Taril says he has never struck a woman."

Torinya shook her head and patted her shoulder very lightly. "Really,
Humari? Of course he's going to say that. He'll want you at ease for
the first few days while you get used to him in your bed. If you want
my advice to make sure that he keeps to that, just do what he wants.
Whatever he wants. Don't argue with him. Never tell him no. And when
he feels his needs, just spread your thighs, get it over with and
he'll roll over and go back to sleep. It's really not that difficult."

"I don't know if I can." Humari swallowed.

"You have to." Torinya said firmly and her hand kept stroking Humari's
hair with gentle motions. "Those dreams of yours, Humari…they're just
that. Dreams. They're not real and they won't ever be real. They're
Harper tales and nothing more. I know its scary and I understand how
you feel. I didn't think I could do it either, but I did and I'm fine.
I was scared too. But Erined isn't too demanding and my life is
settled. That's all they can ever be. It could be that way for you
too. Don't you want that?"

Humari nodded slowly and Torinya smiled with encouragement. "Good.
It'll get better. You'll see." She awkwardly bent to kiss Humari's
brow. "So no more trying to run from this, okay? I hate seeing you
like this."

"I won't run."

Torinya nodded and turned to pick up a cup. "Here you go. It's tea and
I snuck a little fellis in there to help." She held the cup to
Humari's lips and tilted it, allowing her to sip slowly until the cup
was drained. "Get some rest, dear heart. I'll be back tomorrow to
check on you."

"Thank you, Torinya."

"Anything for my sister." She stayed until Humari's eyes drifted shut
and then rose from her chair with a grunt of effort. Waddling out of
the door to Humari's room, she closed it behind her and faced her
waiting mother.

"Well?" Yriadha's brow arched.

"She won't run, Mother. I put fellis in her cup to relax her and help
her sleep. I think she'll accept everything now. But Erined says to
give her a little bit in her water to keep her calm until the wedding.
Just a single drop in her water in the morning and evening or she'll
want more each day."

Yriadha nodded and bent to brush her lips over her oldest daughter's
cheek. "Good. You did your family proud, Torinya."

"Thank you Mother."

Last updated on the July 13th 2014

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Make It Easy on Yourself