Pretending in the Sunlight

Writers: Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 4th December 2017

Characters: Benamil, Nazli, Benani
Description: Benamil and Nazli get to know each other a little better.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 2, day 2 of Turn 9

Benamil

Nazli

Benani

It was the next day before Benamil tracked Nazli down again. After the
ugly fight he'd had with Arion the night before, he was feeling more
nervous about his decision to marry the girl. **Not that I have a
choice.** If he wanted to keep himself and Arion safe this was the
only thing he could do.

Benamil decided that the best course of immediate action was getting
to know Nazli better, and making it clear what kind of marriage theirs
would be. If she ever expected him to be like other husbands down the
road, she would be sadly mistaken. Although Benani had hinted that she
would never want intimacy.

He still had the piece of paper in his pocket that Benani had given
him the night before, "their story" that they would have to memorize
to tell to others about how they'd met and fallen in love.

Benamil found Nazli in his sister's quarters, which was what he had
counted on, "Benani, would you mind if I took Nazli for a little
while?"

Benani smiled and her brother. "Of course not," she smiled and waved
at Nazli to go with him.

Nazli set down her embroidery hoop and stood. She wasn't overjoyed but
Lady Benani had made it plain how she'd need to behave at least up
until the gather. "Thank you M'Lady," she said with a small dip. Then
she turned to go with Benamil.

"Sorry to pull you away," Benamil said as they walked. He led her
toward the family wing of the Hold. "But I thought we should talk a
little, since everything happened so quickly the other night." He opened
the door to one of the private family parlors and ushered her inside.

She walked into the room and scanned it to see that it was empty.
"Sir," she said turning to him but not quite meeting his eyes. She
held her hands clasped together in front of her and seemed to look in
the vicinity of his clavicle.

"Please have a seat," he gestured, "and if you would stop calling me
sir." He smiled a little. "People will expect us to be a little more
familiar with each other than that."

"Yes," she murmured remembering not to say 'sir' and turned to sit on
the small settee. "I'm sorry this is all very sudden and strange."

"I am in complete agreement," Benamil said as he sat in a chair across
from her. "I was hoping if we got to know a little more about each
other it might make this whole process... smoother." If that were
possible.

His response made her feel slightly hopeful that they could find some
common ground. She looked down at her hands still clasped in her lap
and the beautiful ring on her finger. If this man was truly going to
marry her he needed to know... "I am the daughter of a hold woman and
a dragonrider. She never told anyone who my father was so she was
rejected by her family. When she died my aunt and uncle took me in but
they were not kind." She took a deep shuddering breath. "They made me
work hard and beat me frequently." Her fingers twisted in her lap. "My
uncle was especially vicious." She began to shake.

Benamil listened carefully, his eyes watching her white-knuckled
fingers, "Do they live here?"

"No," she said softly. "I ran away. I was very lucky when M'Lady found me."

"I see," Benamil said, just as softly. "Your Uncle then was where you
experienced... difficulties?"

She closed her eyes and nodded. She drew a deep breath and dared to
ask the question that plagued her. "Can you marry me and forgo your
rights? I just can't...," her courage failed her. "S-sorry," she
whispered. She held herself very still dreading a slap or backhand for
her question.

Benamil laughed and then held up a hand at the look on Nazli's face,
"I'm not laughing at you, I swear." His features sobered and he leaned
forward a little, hands clasped together, "You have nothing to worry
about, Nazli. I have no intention of being intimate with you, or any
woman. I don't like women. I like men."

Her eyes darted to his face when he laughed. "You like... men," she
repeated not really processing what he'd said. Then her eyes flew wide
and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. "You like men," she said
finally understanding why this marriage would benefit him. "Oh that's
wonderful!"

"I'm glad you think so," Benamil grinned. "So you see, the reason I
need this marriage is to cover-up any ideas that the holds people
might have about me. I do have someone that's special to me. He's
furious about the marriage."

"Oh I'm sorry," her fingers rose to her mouth. "But I'm so happy to
marry you si... Benamil," she impulsively reached out to touch his
hand. She hadn't voluntarily touched a man in a very long time but
somehow he's slipped into another category altogether. "If you need
you can explain to him."

"I did already," Benamil revealed sheepishly, "I had to to try and
calm him down. So you can see, I meant what I said. I have no problem
taking care of you, and providing for you as my wife, and you don't
have to worry about being physical."

"Thank you," she said. "What does Lady Benani want us to do?" She
assumed he'd read the paper and would guide her.

"According to this, we started seeing each other once you started
working for her...." his eyes scanned the paper, "and.... Love at
first sight," he murmured as he continued reading.

"So a few months," she nodded. "I've seen how Lady Benani looks at
Lord Zathris," she nodded. "I can do that." She knew he wouldn't
misinterpret anything she said or did as wanting him to..., she took a
deep breath. "Like this," she looked at Benamil with sparkling eyes
and a sweet smile.

Benamil laughed, "That's good actually, really good." They would both
have to do their best acting to convince people in the Hold that their
marriage was legitimate. "Of course I will be the perfect gentlemen
and escort you where we go and open doors for you."

"I'll know what to do if I pretend to be Lady Benani and you are my
Lord Zathris," she nodded. "If you are there with me I can do it. But
don't let anyone else touch me please. I don't think I can handle
that."

"Don't worry," Benamil assured her, "if someone tries to touch you I
will play the very possessive new husband." He was no slouch with his
broad set shoulders and muscles earned from hard manual labor out with
the runners.

"Thank you," she said and actually smiled her own smile which was very
rare indeed. "I promise you, I shall never resent or come between you
and your hearts desire. I will care for you in every other way a wife
should and try to make you happy." She was very earnest in her
declaration. "Do you think we could be friends? I would like that."

"I would like that a lot," Benamil said, feeling more hopeful about
the situation than he had the night before.

Last updated on the December 10th 2017

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Pretending in the Sunlight