The Lady Afraid

Writers: Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 9th July 2014

Characters: Yanley, Benani
Description: Yanley comes to help her sister.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 1 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Zathris, Crolarin, Barenziah

Yanley

Benani

Benani had pulled off her clothes again and was sitting in the corner
on the other side of the bed mumbling with her forehead against her
knees. She rocked back and forth and refused to let anyone near her.
Even her women had difficulty getting close enough to bathe and feed
her.

She heard voices in the hallway and was afraid Crolarin had come back
to claim her so she slipped under the bed in hopes that he couldn't
find her.

"Benani, it's me," Yanley called softly when she entered the room. She
had left Daley with the Twins' fostermother. She looked around and
didn't see anybody. "Benani?"

"Yanley?" The voice was muffled by the bed's coverings and timid like a childs.

"Are you playing hide-and-seek with me?" Yanley asked, keeping her
tone deliberately light hearted, while her innards seem to turn to ice
from sheer horror when she realized what state her beloved sister was
in.

"No," the little voice said. "Are you by yourself," she asked. She
didn't see any other feet but people were tricky and could make you do
things you didn't want to.

"Yes, I'm alone. I just have my flits with me," Yanley croutched and
peered at here. "I did bring Daley but he's with your sons'
fostermother right now." She offered her hand to Benani, in a silent
plea to come out.

"Okay," she said and slid out from under the bed giving Yanley a full
view of the bruises and strap marks all down her back and legs from
where she'd been beaten over and over. "Do you think they would let me
have a bath?"

"Of course they will. You're the Lady of the Hold," Yanley said with
gentle voice and wanted to weep when she got the first, proper look at
her.

Confusion crossed Benani's face as she processed that. She'd had to
ask for everything including food or relieving herself in the time
that she'd been gone and through the repeated punishments it had
become habit. "Sorry," she mumbled then a flash of the old Benani came
through for a moment.

"Yanley," she smiled. "It's so good to see you. How's Daley," she
asked, standing there for all the world like she was fully clothed.

"He's fine, it's amazing how fast he grows. Of course, he also eats
accordingly," Yanley replied with a smile of her own. "Come here,
let's take a look at you."

Benani nodded and went where Yanley led her. But then her face clouded
and she looked troubled. "I'm... I'm pregnant Yanley." Her eyes
teared.

"Aw, sweetheart. Do you know w...how far along you are?" Yanley said,
changing her wording mid sentence. This could be tricky.

"I don't know," she said with frightened eyes. "But Crolarin said it
was his and he was counting. He knows Yanley, he won't ever let me go.
He knows!"

"Sshh, sweetheart, we'll keep you safe," Yanley said and hugged her.
"I need to do you an exam, will you allow that?" she asked.

Benani gave an involuntary shiver but nodded. Her sister had been the
closest thing to a mother she'd had when she was little and there had
been times in her life when Yanley had been the only one she could
turn to. She trusted her and even the things that she had gone through
hadn't eroded that core trust.

"Let's combine it with nice, warm bath," Yanley was talking with her
best mommy-voice.

"Okay," she said and moved toward the bathing room she shared with
Zathris. Once she saw the heated water she realized they must have
come in through Zathris side of the room and she looked frightened at
the door. "Can you see if it's locked?"

"It's locked, see," Yanley replied and went to rattle the door handle.
It was indeed shut and locked.

She sighed with relief as the sudden spike of fear eased. "What did
you need to check," she asked with the first spark of curiosity she'd
shown in days.

"I need to see what kind of damage has been done to you," Yanley said
with gentle voice.

That was the voice that had helped her survive the horrors in that
cave. Her mind had gone away and it was Yanley's voice that had told
her it was going to be alright. Tears welled up in her eyes but she
nodded. "Thank you Yanley," she said and reached out to squeeze her
sister's hand.

"Anything for my little Benny," Yanley had tears in her voice and in
her eyes when she pulled her into a embrace.

Benani's fragile control collapsed and her arms wrapped around
Yanley's neck. "Oh, Yanley, he did such horrible things and told me no
one could ever love me again."

"He lied to you. Nothing will ever change my love for you, nor
Zathris' or your sons'."

"Zathris," she turned to look at her sister. "But he told me..." her
shoulders slumped. "More lies," she shook her head and took a deep
breath. "He said Zathris was in love with someone else. I thought it
was that woman Barenziah whos been taking care of me." Her mind began
to wander a bit and she laid her head back. "Alright," she said in
almost a normal voice. "Lets get this over with."

"Faranth, no. Those are pure fiction. You should have seen how he was
when you were missing. Frantic with worry. Actually, he's still
frantic over you," Yanley replied and guided her to bath chamber.

Benani sank down into the heated water and bowed her head. Her sisters
words struck true but even Yanley's certainty didn't fully allay her
fear. **So many lies.**

Last updated on the July 14th 2014

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The Lady Afraid