A Lack Of Understanding

Writers: AL, Ames
Date Posted: 10th April 2011

Characters: Wirnan, Kaya, Zathris
Description: Zathris, Wirnan, and Kaya bid farewell to her father and Wirnan attempts to talk to Kaya afterward.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 17 of Turn 6

Wirnan

Zathris

The deed was done. On parchment, she and Wirnan were married. Several days had passed since then, and now Kaya stood before her father, the harper having left to go file the contract, next to the man who was now her husband. Flanking the other side of Wirnan was Zathris, his form towering above the smaller steward, though Wirnan towered above her, three people making a set of stairs.

Yarovan faced him. He was more satisfied now that the names had been
signed. His reputation could be salvaged. "I will leave early on the
morrow. We will say our goodbyes tonight." That was directed to Kaya
mostly, but when next Yarovan spoke, it was to Zathris. "My Lord, you are a
fair and just man. I thank you for putting this to right."

Zathris managed not to wince at the holder's words but rather extended his
hand to take the one Yarovan held out toward him. "May you have clear skies
Yarovan." He started to say to the holder to let him know if he could be of
any assistance, but hadn't Zathris already done enough? The Lord Holder
glanced at his Steward and hoped to Faranth he wouldn't start something. He
knew the man's feeling about the entire affair.

Wirnan's glare was stone cold as he looked at the man who was her father.
Not only had he pushed this upon them, albeit Kaya had started the brunt of
it, but he had beaten her nearly to a bloody pulp. Just to show the snide
old man that he was _not_ about to let him ruin things, Wirnan threw his arm
around Kaya and pulled her to his side.

"Oh, I can't thank you enough, Yarovan, for giving me your daughter. For now
I can show her exactly what a _real_ man is made of." The face smile he wore
never even came close to reaching his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to
beat the man for what he'd done to Kaya, but he knew he would never live
such an action down. So, instead he decided to play the game, to make the
man leave and hopefully never return again. He would deal with Kaya once he
was gone, though how he didn't know yet, but he would find a way.

Kaya literally had to bite her tongue, not because of Wirnan's words but
because of the pain he had caused with his actions. As it was, a hiss
escaped and she stiffened against his hold. At least she'd had a couple of
days to heal a _little_. Yarovan's smile was a lot more reaching than
Wirnan's. "Good. As I would expect a good husband to do." His eyes settled
on his daughter, hardening, cold. "Daughter." There was ice in his voice,
and it warmed a little for Wirnan, perhaps affected by the Steward's
assurance that his daughter would be shown exactly what a real man is made
of. "Steward." Then to Zathris, that warmth breaking forth even more. "My
Lord. I bid you all clear skies."

Zathris nodded. "Clear skies, Yarovan." And with that, the man and his
entourage turned to head home. The Lord Holder breathed a little easier,
but there was concern in his gaze as he let it settle upon his steward. A
real man? Those words had almost a threat to them. his gaze flicked to
Kaya. Granted, she had caused a lot of sorrow, but he didn't want the girl
harmed. He would have to talk with his steward.

But it would have to be later. A drudge hurried up with a message for the
Lord Holder, who took it, read it, then sighed. "It seems my time has come
to an end for now. Wirnan, I'm more than happy to give you a couple more
days off, but I would like to speak with you." He glanced at the note. "In
the morning. First thing, my office."

He breathed a sigh of relief when Yarovan turned and started on his way.
Perhaps it was the joy he'd had with his own grandparent's as a child, but
he found it hard to believe a man could be so cold and unfeeling towards his
own kin. Family was important to Wirnan, and while he wasn't sure he liked
it, Kaya was now part of that family. At least until he figured out a way to
make this all disappear.

"Of course," he replied, releasing his hold on her shoulders. "Is everything
alright, Zathris?" He asked, inclining his head towards the note he'd
received. Honestly, he didn't _need_ any more time off. It wasn't like the
pair of them were getting anywhere.

"Just something I need to take care of." Wirnan needed time to deal with
what had happened and Zathris didn't want the man worry about other things.
"And won't wait. I will let you know if it becomes more than that." He
inclined his head. "Be well, both of you." There was a lingering look upon
Kaya, who lowered her gaze and murmured a polite response. Then the Lord
turned and hurried out.

Kaya couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as well now that her father
and the Lord was making his way out. She stood, staring down at the ground,
hands clasped tightly together. A real man...people changed. Had he
changed? Would he make good on his threat? Her back pulsated as if a
reminder of what her father had done and what Wirnan had threatened to do.

He was indeed curious, but knew that Zathris would tell him if he truly
needed assistance. For now, he turned to Kaya. His eyes were clouded over
with such a mixture of emotions each time he looked at her anymore. They
_really_ needed to talk. Otherwise their lives would become nothing more
than misery.

"Let's go before your _father_," he spat that word out, "turns back and
we're forced to bear his presence once more." He put his arm around her more
gently this time planning to steer her back to their private quarters.

Even that gentle touch brought about a hint of pain, though nothing like it
would have a couple of days prior. Kaya did at least heal pretty quickly.
Already her bruises were changing colours, which was indicative of healing.
It was still enough t make her stiffen, though she relaxed a little as his
hold upon her wasn't rough. She remained silent the entire way to their
quarters. Theirs. For a while at least. She slipped inside without
protest, glancing back at her husband. Every time they entered, she
wondered if he would change his mind about her _other_ wifely duties.

He sank down into his favorite chair as he looked over to her. "Kaya," he
began, then paused, heaving a sigh. He looked over to her, his eyes still
masked in sadness. "We have to come to some kind of understanding here. I
can't live like this any longer." There were questions burning inside of him
and he was sure she had a slew of her own.

She stiffened again. He was going to talk to her about _that_. Kaya
couldn't. She just couldn't. It was too intimate a thing to do with
someone she didn't love. To do with someone that didn't even _like_ her
though that was her own fault. She nodded, acquiescing her willingness to
the conversation but adding nothing more. Rather, she looked away and
stared at the area rug that helped cut off the cold of the stone floor.

When she didn't say anything, he sighed again. Why did this have to be so
difficult? Rising, he moved to the side table and poured himself a cup of
klah. He'd sworn off the other stuff until he got his life under control for
he feared otherwise he might drown all his troubles in the drink.

"We've hardly spoken since the ceremony. Are we to live in silence the rest
of our days?" He asked her wearily.

Kaya let her tongue roll over her lips as she tried to figure out the words
she could speak. What could she say? She wasn't sure, for so much had
happened in such a short time. There were times she ached at the hurt she
had caused Wirnan. Other times she trembled at the thought of what she
would have had to endure had she not and her guilt eased. "I...guess not."

At least she spoke. Wirnan downed the klah and wanted to grab the other
liquid that sat on the side table. He'd used up most of what normally lasted
him a month or more in the matter of a few days. Pushing the cup away from
him he looked back at her.

"Why did you do this? All of this, why?" He wanted her to tell him. He
needed to hear it from _her_. What had motivated her to place them both is
this predicament. "I liked you, Kaya, from the moment I met you. Yet, to
find you in here," he had to pause and look away, swallowing with more
difficulty than he would have cared to admit, "on that fateful day. I don't
understand why you did it."

"I had to." Kaya looked up, finally meeting his gaze. "There was no other
way. You..." All those supplies. All that time and effort. The girl's
hands clasped tightly together and her anger began to return. "You ruined
it. I could have been gone, but you ruined it!"

"_I_ ruined it?" His voice rose. "And you think that you haven't ruined
everything with your childish ploys?" Wirnan had been trying not to get
angry, but that anger had been simmering beneath the surface for days.
"You're selfish and uncaring about those around you. Here, when I met you I
thought you were an intelligent woman whom I could possibly find myself
attracted to, and now I find out you are nothing but a selfish child!"

"You have no idea what you did. No idea...you..." Kaya suddenly stopped.
Once again, she found herself staring. Finally, more words escaped,
stumbling from her mouth when she finally realised what he had said but
surely she had heard wrong. "What...what did you say?"

"I said you were childish," he replied, his tone a bit less harsh than it
had been.

"No...before that." One hand came to rest against her stomach, as if Kaya
was trying to steel herself. "Shardit..." She cursed, tears welling up in
her eyes. "You didn't understand. You still don't. There was no other way.
If there would have been, don't you think I would have chosen it than to
cause you all this misery?"

"What part before?" He asked her, "about when I met you or how much this
ploy of yours has ruined things?" He was honestly confused by her reactions
as much as he was by his own.

"Why did you run away in the first place? Was it because of your father?" He
moved and took a seat closer to her, wanting to reach out to her, but not
letting himself. "You could have come to me. Maybe I could have helped you."

"You couldn't have." Kaya shook her head and began to walk toward the
bedroom. "It was the only way." She stopped to look back at him, her
expression a mixture of emotions that whirled so fast it was almost
impossible to read them. "Except in this way." Then she disappeared into the
bedroom.

He glared at the space where she had been standing just moments before.
Turning he shoved the mug that he'd been drinking from off the table. As it
clattered to the floor, he growled. Then turning, he stormed out of the
chamber, finding that he needed to walk off some of the frustration he felt
before he took it out on her.

Last updated on the April 27th 2011

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A Lack Of Understanding