Reverie

Writers: Eimi, Suzee
Date Posted: 11th April 2011

Characters: Benani, Benaroy
Description: Benani takes a stroll down memory lane
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 16 of Turn 6

Benani

Benani was finding that in the early afternoon after lunch she was
more and more inclined to become drowsy. The healers told her it was
natural and if she felt like taking a nap... go ahead. She didn't have
any appointments for the next couple of hours and she was finding it
rather liberating. She lifted her cup of tea and walked toward the
arched window of their sitting room.

The Lord and Lady's suite they occupied was the same that her own
father and mother had used. It was richly appointed and though she had
refurnished the room she hadn't been able to part with her fathers
desk. Granted it hadn't been his office desk. This was the one he'd
had in his quarters. It was heavy dark wood and ornately carved. She
thought she had a faint memory of a commission from the Woodcarvers
Hall when he'd been negotiating or more like luring them to Amber
Hills.

She smiled as a shaft of sunlight flooded across the carpet and motes
floated in it. She used to play in a similar shaft of light.

~~~Begin Flashback~~~

Benani sat under daddy's desk giggling as his toes lifted her up and
then thumped back to the ground. It was a game that never failed to
cause a storm of little girl giggles and squeals. She would run in
and crawl under the desk to sit on his feet. "Again daddy, again!" she
called.

Benaroy only grunted his understanding as he was still composing his
letter to the Holder of one of his minor Holds. They were having a
dispute with their neighboring minor hold. It was like trying to
mediate two stubborn teenagers more than two capable adults and he found
it incredibly frustrating. As if he didn't have enough to worry about.
Despite his deep annoyance, the sound of her laugh made him smile and he
did as she asked.

As little girls do she soon tired of the game and ran around the room
through shafts of sunlight that spilled across the floor. Her arms
were spread wide pretending flying like the dragons who sometimes came
to give daddy a ride. As she was running her attention was caught by
the carving on the side of the desk. Something in the way the sun hit
it right then had her drop to her knees and rub her fingers across the
ornate carving. She poked the part that looked different and a piece
of the desk popped out.

"Oh oh," her father said, putting his pen back into the inkwell.
"Benani, don't touch that." Benaroy had images of his daughter trying
to swing from the little hidden drawer and break the whole thing off!
That certainly wouldn't do. Moving to her side of the desk, he gently
pulled her back against himself and away from the drawer so he could
push it back in. "You know the rules, little one. We don't play with
Daddy's desk or anything on or in it, right?"

She gave a wail of protest when he pulled her away from the
interesting thing she'd found. He controlled her but she still reached
for it twisting and turning her body in protest. Finally she was
fully in his lap she pouted "Yes papa."

"This is your Daddy's secret place," he went on to explain, reaching
into his pocket and pulling out a key. Obviously he had been lax in his
security. Thank Faranth it was only his little daughter and not someone
looking for confidential information! "I don't mind you playing while
I'm working, but you have to follow the rules, right?"

She nodded more unhappy that daddy might not like her than wanting to
play with whatever that was. She practiced her 'lady manners' like
Neepa told her to do. "I'm sorry daddy," she said and leaned her head
into his chest.

Benaroy had never been the most affectionate father. He was usually
just too busy and stressed to indulge. But Benani had a way of melting
his heart faster than any of them. Even though he should finish that
letter so he could get on with the long list of things he had yet to get
done that day, he allowed himself the rare indulgence of wrapping his
arms around the little one and cradling her to him. "It's all right,
Benani. No harm done. Just remember for next time, hmmm?"

She nodded and reached for the key so she could feel it and look at
it. "I don't play with daddy's secret place." She smiled a big smile
up at him. "Sir" she added. "Neepa says I have to say Sir to you
daddy," she giggled at the obvious silliness of her nurse.

"Well, I'm not just a father. I'm a Lord Holder, too. Everyone calls
me 'sir'." Though Benaroy had never really thought that his children
had done it out of a rule taught to them. He thought they had either
just picked it up, or had said it out of a sense of respect for him. So
much for that illusion! He reached out to flip a hidden latch on the
drawer's front and swung a piece of carving up to reveal a key hole just
the right size for the key in the little girl's hand.

She smiled and latched on to the words Lord Holder. She remembered
what that meant. The key slapped on the desk and was immediately
forgotten by the little girl in her eagerness to show off. She jumped
off his lap. "Daddy watch." She stood a little ways away from him and
crouched into and rather wobbly curtsy. "My Lord," she said in her
little girl voice and spread her little skirt.

Her father smiled proudly and dipped his head in return. "My Lady."

~~End Flashback~~

"My Lady?"

The voice brought her back out of her reverie as the young woman held
her dress out. "You wanted to change before dinner this evening My
Lady."

Benani looked down at her cup with it's now cold beverage. "Yes, yes I
did. Thank you." She turned and walked toward her bedchamber casting
one last look at the desk with a soft smile. "Is every thing else
ready?"

"Yes My Lady."

Last updated on the April 27th 2011

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Reverie