People See Things

Writers: Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 25th November 2017

Characters: Benani, Benamil
Description: Benamil tells Benani his secret.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 22 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Zathris

Benani

Benamil

"How is my lovely sister?" Benamil said as he entered Benani's parlor
and dropped a kiss to her cheek. The beastcrafter's mood had been much
improved ever since his return from Lantern Ridge. Of course, the real
reason he had been so happy lately was because of Arion, but it wasn't
something he could tell anyone. It was hard for Benamil, keeping
something secret that felt so right and had made him so happy. Maybe
he could tell just one person?

"Benamil," she smiled at her older brother. "It's good to see you. You
look happy."

"A change from the usual, I know," he said said as he took the seat
opposite her."How are my niece and nephews?"

"You know how children are," she smiled. "They are wild and
wonderful." She was quite proud of her small brood.

"As they should be," Benamil sometimes wished for those carefree days
of childhood. "How are things with Zathris? The two of you look...
happy, when I see you out together." He knew that it hadn't been that
way when Benani had first returned to them.

"We are," she smiled. There were no shadows in her eyes to try and
hide. They'd come through most of their difficulties as best they
could. "Zathris is loving and a fair and strong Lord. Could I ask for
more?"

"No, I don't think so. He's certainly worked out better than I had
previously thought." Benamil held his hands up, "Call me a cynic.
You've got all of these 'sons of Benaroy' and none of them are picked
as heir? At most Holds that would have caused a fight for sure." He
lowered his hands. "But it's worked out here, I believe you're largely
to thank for that. The bridge between our family and Zathris."

"Well thank you," she smiled. "I had always thought it would be Nimroy
or Royan, but neither of them wanted it. They even told the Conclave
that." Both of them were considerably older than either she or
Benamil. "Did you every want it?"

Benamil wrinkled his nose, "Could you imagine me as a Lord? As long as
father was alive I spent most of my time outdoors hiding, hoping I
wouldn't have to do any 'lordly' duties. It was fortunate for him that
there were older sons to take care of those things."

She grinned. As one of Benaroy's youngest, she'd had so many older
brothers and sisters she'd been overwhelmed with parent figures around
her. "I certainly never expected it."

**There's something else you'd probably never expect...** Benamil came
to the entire reason he'd wanted to see Benani. As far as family went,
she was his closest sibling, the only one he'd share something
personal with...

"Benani, there's something I would like to tell you, about me,
something that may be surprising..."

She looked at him with a touch of concern. "Are you alright?"

Benamil licked his lips, wondering if he looked as nervous as he felt.
He'd thought it wouldn't be so hard to tell Benani, of all people, but
he suddenly found his palms clammy, his stomach twisting into knots.
What if she was repulsed? What if she told Zathris and he was told to
leave Amber Hills?

"I'm not sick or anything," he said with a little nervous chuckle,
finding irony in his own words. "It's just, well, you know for the
past Turn or so I've been dating a lot of women...." His family had
set him up with many of them.

"Yes," she said a little carefully. She herself had been trying to
figure out what kind of woman he'd be interested in beyond a single
date.

"I kept wondering why I never had much interest in any of them...."
Benamil looked up at her. "And I found out it's because I don't like
women, not like that anyway, I like... I like men. Well, one in
particular."

That took Benani long moments to process. She took a deep breath. "But
Benny," she used a pet name from their childhood. Her mouth opened and
closed but she couldn't get words to come out so she just pulled him
into a fierce hug. Her mind spun with the need to solve all the ugly
issues that could arise.

Benamil felt a little trickle of relief, and oddly enough, tears at
the corners of his eyes. A hug from his sister was much more than he
had expected. "I know," he sighed, "it's not what I was expecting when
I figured it out."

She took a deep breath and her hands went to her temples. She rubbed
them as she shook her head. "What are we going to do?"

He smiled at the 'we'. 'We' meant that he wasn't alone. "You can't
believe how relieved I am, to have told someone, it's been a difficult
secret to keep."

"Don't tell anyone else," she warned and put a hand on his arm.
"Promise me." She was confused and only wanted to do what she could to
protect her brother. "Do you want to go to the Weyr," she asked
dreading the answer.

"No, Amber Hills is my home, going to the Weyr would be the last
resort..." he trailed off. "Do you- do you want me to go to the Weyr?"
It would probably be easier on everyone and on the family reputation.

"No," she said and reached for his hand again. "No, I... just want you
to be safe."

"I am trying to be very careful," Benamil promised.

She nodded, "But people see things Benny. Once the whispers start..."
a knock sounded on the door and a young woman with a tray stepped
inside. "My Lady," she curtsied to Benani and brought the tray
forward. Benani had forgotten she'd sent for tea. "Thank you
Nazli," she smiled. The young woman bobbed once more and left the room. She
reached out and poured them each a cup. "I'm afraid for you.
Especially with all the recent unrest." She shook her head. "With all
that Zathris is dealing with right now, I just want to make sure
you're protected."

There had been a lot going on around the Hold, and Benamil had been
privy to some of the resentment toward Zathris as Lord Holder when he
traveled to Lantern Ridge. "I'll do everything I can, after all, I
want to protect... my friend.. as well," he smiled a little, thinking
of Arion.

"Of course you do," she said. "You're blood and people watch us all
the time. We're going to need some kind of cover for you or you'll and
your friend will be found out. "Let me think about it. I'll figure it
out."

Last updated on the November 27th 2017

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