Wedding Dress

Writers: AL, Suzee
Date Posted: 6th April 2011

Characters: Benani, Kaya
Description: Benani lends Kaya a dress and discovers something.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 14 of Turn 6

Benani

Kaya was supposed to have had a wedding dress for her wedding to
Favinar, but the day she was supposed to have been fitted and
something made, in haste due to the quick nature of the contract, it
hadn't been done. The wedding had, of course, been postponed due to
her absence. Then canceled thanks to the way she had set up the scene
with Wirnan, only to be rescheduled again, this time, with a different
husband. And even sooner than planned.

So instead of a wedding dress, Kaya wore simply one of the two Gather
dresses she owned. They were fine, for her father had wanted to show
her off as much as he could. She as pretty. Wouldn't she make a
lovely bride? But the Gather dress was not the wedding colour.
Still, it would have to do.

The girl looked down at herself and ran her hand over her stomach. It
was pretty, dark blue with black overlay and embroidery. It made her
skin look a little lighter and brought out the darkness of her eyes.
It would just have to do. It...wasn't a real wedding anyway.

The drudge scratched at the door of the girl she'd been sent to fetch.
She opened it a crack and called out. "You are summoned by the Lady
Holder miss. I am to lead you to her chambers."

The lady holder? Kaya stiffened, partially in response to the
notification, partly because she was so very sore. She nodded, then
turned, setting about to follow the drudge to the Lady Holder. She
waited for the drudge to knock, announce her presence, then lead her
inside.

Kaya was solemn as she came into sight of the Lady. She lowered into
a stiff curtsy, unable to do it properly, but hopefully the woman
wouldn't take offense. "My Lady, you sent for me."

"I did," said Benani. "Thank you Lersa" she dismissed the other woman.
Benani stood she hadn't missed the awkward way Kaya had made her
curtsy. As Lady Holder she had a duty to perform here and she would
discharge it no matter her own personal feelings in the matter.

"You will be marrying our Steward and from the way recent events have
unfolded I don't believe you have a proper wedding dress at your
disposal."

"No, my lady. I do not." Kaya's brow furrowed and her heart began to
beat quickly. Were they going to cancel the marriage, just because
she didn't have a dress? Would she be forced to marry Favinar anyway?
Surely her father would refuse!

Benani was trying very hard to be gracious but it was difficult. There
was no doubt in her mind that this young woman had entrapped poor
Wirnan into the marriage. She knew Zathris had tried to find another
option but nothing would do to save relations with her father than
that the Steward marry the girl.

"I have several of the proper color which may fit and you may borrow
for the wedding. Please follow me." She turned and walked rather
stiffly into her bedroom where they were laid out upon her bed. She
had refused to put her own wedding dress amongst the ones she offered
the girl.

Kaya didn't get to even speak before the lady was leading her into
another room and so she followed, surprised. "My Lady." She said
finally, eyes moving to the dresses and there was silence as she noted
their beauty and finery. She would look like a lady herself in one of
these! "My lady," She breathed, a bit taken away. "It's...it's very
kind of you, but surely...inconvenient."

Benani didn't quite hrmmmpf though she did feel a bit mollified by the
girls awe. She swept one up that would most likely set off the girls
coloring well. The white under blouse was embroidered where it showed
through the slashed sleeves. The fabric was a bit heavy for autumn
being deep red velvet but the hem and bodice were embroidered and
beaded with tiny jewels. It had been Zathris' gift to her the prior
Turn Over. She wore it mainly in the winter months.

Kaya swallowed. Of the dresses, that was the one she probably would
have picked. Not only because of the beauty, but because it's back was
high and it would hide the bruises from where her father had punished
her. The Lady was obviously not caring about whether or not Kaya
wanted to wear a dress. She was going to wear it. "Y...yes my lady."
She finally acquiesced, then began to work at the ties to the bodice
of her dress.

The Lady Holder had liked this girl instantly when she'd met her and
felt almost betrayed by the obvious game she had played on them all.
She stood stiffly waiting for her to get out of her own dress. Then
she realized she probably shouldn't have dismissed the young woman and
she'd have to help her get fastened into the dress as the closure was
in the back.

Kaya worked off her current gather finery, ready to exchange it for a
much finer finery. She fingered the dress, then took it and began to
step into it. She pulled it up and over her shoulders, then froze.
The ties were in the back. A glance was cast toward the door, but the
woman was long gone by then. Finally Kaya looked to Benani, fingers
twiddling together, and pink slipping over her cheeks. To ask the
Lady for help was too much!

Benani went around to the girls back to begin lacing her up. Her eyes
widened. "Kaya?" she breathed the girl's name. She began to lace her
up but did so carefully there was severe bruising up and down her back
where she'd obviously been beaten. "Who" was all she could bring
herself to ask.

Kaya winced. She knew what Benani meant, and she hadn't really
thought the Lady would care. After all, wasn't the attitude of most
men was that how a woman was supposed to be treated? Most, but not
all. There were a few good ones. Like Ristin. And Wirnan. Kaya's
expression hardened as she turned away from the Lady. No, Wirnan
would not do this to her, that much she could tell, but he had done
something just as bad, and now he was helping her get out of an even
worse situation. "It's nothing." She finally remarked, waiting for
the Lady to finish with the ties.

Benani had never been beaten in her entire life though she knew some
women who were not as lucky in their families had been but this was...
"It's not _nothing_ Kaya!"

Kaya went silent. She could very well say that. It wasn't a life
that she led, wasn't what she heard from others who were in similar
situations. She knew she wasn't the only one. She just knew that she
was doing something about it. Even if it wasn't the way she
originally planned it. "It's a lovely dress." She finally stated,
letting a hand run down the front. "You are very kind to let me
borrow it."

"Kind?" she practically spat the word. "I think you are under a
misapprehension here. You have finagled your way into marrying one of
the kindest men of my acquaintance. What I am doing is for _him_ not
you. You are using him to get what you want. You know it and I know
it. My husband knows it, and Wirnan knows it." she stepped back away
from Kaya. She really tried not to be unkind knowing her own position
in the household. "The dress fits tolerably well, try not to damage
it." she said.

Kaya had managed to relax a little, but Benani's heated words only
made her stiffen up again. Managed another shallow curtsy to the lady
before responding with a reserved, "Yes, my lady."

She covered her eyes with her hands for a moment and took a few deep
breaths. She kicked herself for losing control like that and turned
back to the young woman. "I only hope you can make him the kind of
wife he deserves Kaya. I hope you try."

To that, Kaya gave no answer, letting her silence wax between them.
Her hands came together and she lowered her gaze. What could she tell
the Lady? That she would do so? She would be leaving after the
winter. She wouldn't ever really be his wife. She couldn't be. So
she said nothing instead and waited until she was led from the chamber
and into the halls to make her way down to where the ceremony, quiet
and discreet, would take place. And then? She had a sanctuary. Just
until Spring, til she could get more supplies together and the Winter
was gone - and then she would be free.

Last updated on the April 28th 2011

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Wedding Dress