Easing Over Time

Writers: Miriah
Date Posted: 16th December 2020

Characters: Yriadha, Riadem
Description: Yriadha and Riadem reach an understanding
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 8, day 1 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Bryvin, Asaile, Noriya

Yriadha

"You look somber." Yriadha studied her son over the rim of her wine
glass, watching Riadem as he picked at his food. It had become
something Riadem had started doing after the wedding, coming to eat
with her in the evenings. Yriadha knew why; not only did it make it
more difficult for her to see Bryvin in the evenings, but also, her
son seemed to actually want company.

"I'm afraid I'm not very hungry," Riadem murmured, finally setting
down his eating knife. He picked up his wine glass and stared at the
dark red liquid before tipping it back and down his throat in only a
few swallows.

Yriadha watched, slowly arching a brow at the display. "She left." It
wasn't a question as much as a statement.

Riadem fell quiet for a long moment, continuing to stare at his glass
before he poured himself more. Yriadha reached to carefully take it
from him and set it aside. He looked up at her, lips thinning. "Stop
it." He reached and took it back. "I'm not going to get drunk mother."
He sipped it and sighed. "Yes. She left this morning." The muscle in
his jaw twitched. "I didn't get to say goodbye to her."

Yriadha exhaled. "I know. And I'm sorry, my son."

"I'll never love another woman."

That made dark brows rise. "Riadem..." She began slowly.

Riadem shook his head firmly. "No. Don't say it." He finally looked up
at her, his eyes showing a deep, aching loss. "Don't say that I will.
I love her, Mother, and I know she loves me. You don't know what
that's like. I know there was no real affection between you and
father. And this last husband of yours, Stenlis, you didn't grieve."
He shook his head. "You have no idea what I'm feeling."

Yriadha took a quick breath and leveled a gaze at him. "Don't I?"

He looked back up at her, his lips thinned. "No. You don't." His jaw
set. "You know Lord Bryvin doesn't love you." He ignored his mother's
flat, cooling expression. "He's entranced with his new wife. Word has
already spread that he is with her nearly every night and is seen
waking with her by the maids. He didn't do that with Lady Xeladrie,
I'm told. And now that she's with child, the hold is buzzing with how
gentle and considerate of her that he is."

Yriadha's jaw clenched. She was well aware of the talk. The entire
staff was entranced with the new Lady Holder. They spoke of her
gentleness, her kind sweetness. They all loved her. And Bryvin...she'd
gone to his rooms through the secret passageway several times since
the wedding. He'd not been there a single time and she felt the loss
keenly.

Her eyes glinted angrily at her son, but he looked at her with somber
eyes, that suddenly appeared to comprehend something that he'd never
considered. "Do you love him, Mother?" Yriadha looked away then,
swallowing hard, and refused to answer, her lips tight. Riadem laughed
and the sound was bitter. "I should have known. No wonder you defend
him. No wonder you bore him a child. Why else would you have done
either?" He sipped his wine and shook his head. "Let's face it,
neither of us will ever have what we want."

Yriadha spoke softly. "Lord Bryvin is different, Riadem. There is much
you don't understand. I've known him for a long time and accept all
that he is. He knows that."

Riadem suddenly slammed his glass down on the table. "He's _using_ you."

Yriadha's hands flew to the intricate dark red garnet necklace that
was draped around her neck. It had been Bryvin's gift to her the night
before his wedding; he had fastened around her neck himself and she
could still feel the light kiss on her neck after he'd done so. "No.
He's not." Her voice was soft. "He's done more for me than you know,
more than you will never know and more than I can ever tell you.
Riadem, you mustn't go against Lord Bryvin, whatever you might think
of him. He is a man in power and if he decided to move against you,
for whatever reason, it would be for a purpose. Everything he does is
for a purpose, my son. I heard about your argument with him about the
inheritance; you lost your temper. You can't do that with Lord Bryvin.
You have to wait until _he's_ ready to reveal what he's planning."

"He cost me..."

"No," She interrupted. "He didn't. Even if he'd given you everything
early before my time came, Noriya wouldn't have been allowed to wed
you. Her family wouldn't have allowed it. Don't you think he knew
that? You're blaming the wrong person."

Riadem looked down, feeling his eyes stinging as he tightened his grip
on his wine glass. "He beat you." It was a last objection as Riadem
struggled to find another reason to despise the man.

Yriadha bit the inside of her cheek, her fingers stroking over the
necklace slowly. "Yes. But it was a matter between him and me and I
won't discuss it with you. And it's never happened again. The matter
is long settled."

Riadem looked up and finally noticed the necklace and the matching
bracelet around her narrow wrist. His brow furrowed as he studied it.
By the stones and the delicate settings, it was clear that the
necklace had not been inexpensive to purchase. His eyes lifted to his
mother; there was no other person that could have gifted those to her
except the Lord Holder. Perhaps there was more than he knew, but he
didn't have to like it or approve of their clandestine relationship.
"I still don't like him."

Yriadha's lips curled lightly. "You don't have to. But you do have to
respect him, Riadem, and believe me when I tell you there is more
between him and I than occasionally sharing my bed. As for Noriya, I
do feel your loss, Riadem. I know your feelings for her. And you're
right, I don't know what it's like to be loved in return." She could
admit that much. "It does ease after a time, son, I promise you, it
does. It may not feel like it now, but the pain will ease. Sometimes,
the best you can do is love them enough to hope they find some
happiness, even if you feel you are breaking inside."

Last updated on the January 14th 2021

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Easing Over Time