AHH-HMmH: Always

Writers: Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 13th February 2017

Characters: Demir, Rethisa
Description: A walk on a winters day
Location: Hidden Meadows
Date: month 9, day 4 of Turn 8

Demir

Snow from two days before blanketed everything that Rethisa could see
as she stepped outside. The cold and snow had kept them inside for
most of the last three months. Her breath wafted through the air in a
smokey cloud as she crunched across the yard toward the stables, where
she was sure she would find her husband.

Demir had been working with the hands all morning feeding the animals
in the main paddock and loading a wagon with feed to take to one of
the outer pastures. This was a daily ritual and while he didn't take
a hand every day he did as often as he could. He heard the murmurs of
the farm hands in time to turn around and greet his wife with a
surprised smile.

"Rethisa," he smiled.

Rethisa spared a smile for the stablehands who ducked their heads out
of respect, before she turned her eyes to her husband, "I needed some
fresh air and thought I might find you here."

Demir ran his hand through his normally well maintained hair to get it
out of his eyes. "Are you warm enough," he asked with concern.

"I am," she assured him, pulling her hood up further as if to assure
him. "I don't want to bother you if you're busy, I was just thinking
of getting a walk in."

"Good," he smiled. He stripped off the heavy work gloves and took his
more decorative pair from his belt. "I would love to go with you," he
nodded. He ignored the good natured jesting of his men and took her
arm to steer her toward the path with a chuckle. "I'll be back later,"
he called over his shoulder.

Even though it had not been her intention, Rethisa smiled, pleased
that Demir was going to be accompanying her on her walk. "I love the
snow but I dread all of the muck and mud when it starts to melt." She
wanted to take a more prominent place in the hold, instead of her
sister-by-marriage, and she was already imagining the mud that would
be tracked through the main hall.

"The ground is still fairly well frozen if you don't walk in the
middle of the track," he smiled. He angled for a small field at the
rear of the hold that currently was empty. As they walked up to the
fence he paused and gestured. "I was thinking of building you a garden
here."

Rethisa's face lit up, "I would love that. I had a garden before, it
was my favorite place to spend time." Well, until the day that Verlow
had ruined that for her too.

"Well then, I'll make sure we bring in a gardener to help you plan how
you'd like it laid out. Then we can look for the right plants and
trees to bring in." He held her hand and warmed her fingers with his.
"Do you want decorative or functional?"

"A little of both. I really like growing herbs and things, but there
are a few more floral plants that help keep away insects." Rethisa had
never been one for gardening when she'd lived at home at Jade Harbor,
but when she'd been married off to Verlow, it was the only task she
had been allowed to do.

"Well I remember where I saw some Klahbark tree saplings last spring.
I'll bet they'd transplant for some shade and harvesting later. My
mother always wanted a garden here," he mused. "But da never got
'round to actually building it for her."

Rethisa tilted her face up to Demir, squinting one eye against the
bright sun on the snow, "You'll keep your promise, won't you?"

His eyes darkened. Whatever their differences had been, that was in
the past. He had found love in a way that still left him wondering
about his own sanity at times. Whether or not she'd ever feel the same
he couldn't say, only hope. "Always," he smiled.

Returning her husband's smile, Rethisa turned her eyes back out onto
the untouched patch of snow, already envisioning her garden.

Last updated on the March 2nd 2017

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AHH-HMmH: Always