Same Room, Different Man

Writers: Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 18th July 2014

Characters: Reven, Arippa
Description: Reven returns to the scene of his kidnapping
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 7, day 14 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Zathris

Reven

Arippa

Reven could not describe his emotions as he walked into his room for
the first time since he had been taken. The man that had been taken
that night was not the same man that walked through the door now. He
didn't know if he could ever be that man again. Reven would scoff at
the word "traumatized", he wasn't traumatized, but his experiences had
opened his eyes to a world of darkness and pain that he had never
known existed. Especially not in his precious Green Valley.

His room had been repaired and cleaned and looked as if nothing
suspect had ever happened there. The holder walked over to his desk
where he had been sitting before he had blacked out and woken up in
the earthen dugout. A chill ran over his spine as he touched his
fingers to the wood of the desk.

A throat clearing behind him made him flinch, and he turned around, "Arippa."

She crossed the room toward her changed husband. It would be
impossible not to see the shadows in his eyes nor the tension in his
shoulders. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," he squared his shoulders a little, but his eyes gave away his
weakness, "I was thinking maybe we could stay in your room?" He didn't
think he could be quite comfortable in this room yet, or maybe ever.

"Of course," she smiled. "I can have the drudges move your things if
you'd rather not come in here."

"Just a few things," Reven told her. "I won't abandon it completely.
What sort of Holder would I be if I could not stay in my own room by
myself?" He shook his head as he looked around at his things. Even as
he said it Reven had the inexplicable urge to get out of the room, and
he stepped toward Arippa, "Let's get out of here."

Her eyes twinkled at him. "Well I know of a reason a holder might want
to sleep in his wife's room," She winked. "I don't think my Uncle
Zathris ever sleeps in his own bedroom unless he's sick or something.
The entire Hold knows it too." She picked up his good hand and began
walking backwards through the communicating door to her room

Reven's smile did not quite reach his eyes, "Yes, I don't think I
would mind people faulting me for being too clingy to my wife. She
happens to be an amazing woman, so I am okay with it." He said as he
followed her through the doorway. It felt as if it had been Turns,
rather than a little over a month, since he had been alone with
Arippa. As much as he wanted to remain her strong husband, she was the
only person he thought could handle his weakness. Not his mother, nor
his father, not even Coran, just Arippa.

"Hey," she said and stopped backpedaling. Her hands reached up to run
over the sides of his short hair and squeeze lovingly on the back of
his neck. "You can stay here with me as much as you want and everyone
will assume you're simply a virile man." Her smile softened. "You've
always been to me."

Reven leaned forward and rested his forehead against Arippa's, "Have I
mentioned that I love you?"

"I'm so very glad," she said softly and leaned her length as snugly as
possible. "I love you too," she breathed. "We'll get through this."

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, "I
guess we'll have to for this little guy," he reached his hand down to
her abdomen, "or girl." Reven added, which lead him to, "And if you
would rather Coran not be your healer for your pregnancy we can
request another."

"Don't worry," she said. "He's a good healer and I trust him. If
you're alright with it I am." She laid her head against his chest.
"We're going to have to tell pretty soon. I can't hide it much
longer."

"I am fine with it, I just didn't know if you would want your
brother-in-law as your healer too." Reven said, and then, "Yes, we
will have to tell everyone else. Starting with family first. My mother
will be in tears, no doubt and will have had bunches of itty bitty
clothing made before you can blink an eye." He shook his head, but
there was a smile beginning to grow, "And then I will have to listen
to my father start drilling me on advice and how to raise an heir and
all of that." He paused for a moment, and then the smile faded away
as he turned serious eyes onto Arippa, "But I am more worried about
protecting you during your pregnancy. Someone doesn't want me here,
and they certainly won't want an heir either."

"It will be fine," she said. Truthfully she didn't really want any
more strangers around her than were absolutely necessary. She smiled
at the picture of his mother making all sorts of baby clothes and he
was right about his parents. "They'll be very happy for us."

"I have Mystery," she said softly. "I can make sure he stays with me
instead of going off on adventures."

Reven smiled and kissed her forehead, "That would make me feel a
little better," he admitted, "and I would like at least one guard with
you. Marle will be with me most days as well. It's silly, I never
thought I would need guards, not here at Green Valley, personal guards
were for Lord Holders." He sighed, "I'm just a farmer."

All she could do was cling to him and nod.

Last updated on the July 28th 2014

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Same Room, Different Man