Visiting Family

Writers: Ames, AL
Date Posted: 19th April 2011

Characters: Kaya, Wirnan, Dwidara, Wrice, Caenifer
Description: Wirnan and Kaya visit Wirnan's sister and her family.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 1 of Turn 6

Wirnan

Kaya glanced over at Wirnan as they walked together. Her arm was linked in his, to make it look as if they were more like what they should be - husband and wife. It was part of their agreement. She was doing her best to stick to it. Over the last day, she found herself letting her gaze linger a little longer than she should on him. Why? She couldn't say. And then, on the occasion that they touched, a brush here, a hand on an arm as he passed there, something flickered, though she didn't want to think about it. Best not to think about it. It was just a temptation of the flesh, there was nothing behind it but that. She was a woman, a woman who once had a man whom she loved and with whom she felt true passion. She'd gotten a taste from him. Granted, it had never been fully realized, but it had been enough and the coals and burned low and dormant since his death. Now the only reason they were sparking was because this was the closest physically she'd been to a man since then. That was all. Sometimes the flesh reacted even when one didn't want it to.

She quickly set her gaze in front of her before Wirnan could catch her
looking at him. She had to admit she was a bit nervous. It would be her
first encounter with his sister beyond the hello and goodbye of the wedding.
But why should she be nervous? It didn't matter. He visited them a lot but
it would look odd if she never did, especially after the wedding, but that
didn't mean she had to visit them as often. And there was no reason she
should be nervous because she would be leaving when it got warmer, and then
they would both be free. This was all temporary. So why be nervous?

He lead the way down the corridors. He knew neither woman was truly keen on
this, but he was sick and tired of feeling like his so called family was
separated in two very different places. Dwidara had been a beacon of support
for him during this, once he'd convinced her that he had not, in fact harmed
Kaya in anyway. That, however, did not speak well for her opinion of his
wife. When Dwidara had finally agreed to meet with her, Wirnan had felt
relief and then a twinge of worry. This could go well or very, very badly.

Knocking on his sister's door, he waited until she opened it. "Wirnan,"
Dwidara smiled happily at her brother. She turned her gaze to the woman on
his arm. Her eyes quickly changing from bright and airy to narrow and cold.
"Kaya," her tone was clipped and unfriendly. "Come in." Then turning back to
her brother she added, "Wrice and Caenifer are already eager to see you."

"Hello...Dwidara." Kaya's own tone was soft, but she didn't exactly back
down. She was just cautious. Obviously the woman didn't like her but Kaya
held her gaze for as long as Dwidara let it linger. She gave another glance
to Wirnan, then let her hand drop from his arm and allowed her own hands to
come together and rest before her. It was going to be very, very awkward.

"Uncle Wirnan!" Came the sound of a child's happy cry. In a matter of
moments a young lad of just seven turns had bounded into the room and all but
threw himself into Wirnan's arms. With a happy chuckle, the steward picked
the boy up easily and spun him around.

"How have you been Wrice?" He asked, "Behaving in your harper classes, I
hope." The little boy was looking over Wirnan's shoulder eagerly at Kaya.
With a thump to his uncle's shoulder he got Wirnan to put him down. "Is this
her?" He asked Wirnan in an attempt at a whisper.

"Yes," Wirnan chuckled, looking over to Kaya with a twinkle in his eye.
"This is Kaya, my wife."

Kaya's gaze softened at the arrival of the child and she watched the
absolute joy that lit up Wirnan's face when they embraced. She almost
laughed at the hushed way Wrice asked about her, but managed to hold it back
and instead held out her hand to him. " Hello Wrice. I'm Kaya." She then
leaned down to whisper loudly in his ear, a playful note in her eyes, "Yes,
I'm her."

Wrice looked up at her with shocked eyes as though he hadn't expected that
she'd heard him. Then grabbing her hand he dragged her into the second room.
"Come meet Caenifer!" The little girl was sitting up on the floor reaching
for the baby toys that had been placed before her and sticking them in her
mouth. She glanced up when the new arrivals entered and her tiny face lit up
in a smile as she recognized the face of Wirnan.

Bending down he tickled her chin, "I swear you grow bigger and bigger each
time I see you, sweet thing."

Kaya was more than happy to let Wrice catch hold of her and drag her onward.
Her smile brightened when she saw the baby and without even thinking, she
plopped down on the ground nearby. "She's precious. Is this Caenifer?
She's your little sister?" Kaya didn't bother talking to Wirnan or Dwidara
about the child. No, she wanted to hear from Wrice himself.

"Yup," Wrice nodded, then leaned in an whispered loudly. "She's annoying
sometimes." Wirnan chuckled at that. Dwidara had heard it too, "Wrice! You
know not to call your sister annoying." She shook her head though she was
smiling none-the-less. "Dinner will be ready shortly."

Kaya leaned over and whispered back, just as loudly, "Yes siblings are
annoying sometimes, but they can be fun sometimes too." She straightened up
and grinned, but then that smile faded a little, becoming more reserved at
the appearance of Dwidara. She nodded, and then leaned over again,
whispering so that only Wrice could hear. "But you should always take care
of her, even when she's annoying. She needs someone to watch out for her."

"I'm a good big brother!" Wrice told her proudly. "Do you take care of Uncle
Wirnan like that? That's what mommy and daddy do, they take care of each
other and watch out for each other, just like I can do for Caenifer."

Wirnan had to bite his lip to keep from laughing at the whole exchange. He
wondered how Kaya would answer his nephew's question.

Kaya was stuck for a response, she pulled back surprised at the question
voiced. She glanced over at Wirnan, then looked downward. "He's better at
that than I am. But I will try to be better about it." She finally
answered.

"Yeah," Wrice replied, his smile dimming, "he's good at taking care of
people. When Essalor and Leinifer died," Wrice swallowed and reached a hand
up to swipe at his eyes. "Uncle Wirnan was the one who came. He made sure I
was alright even when mommy and daddy were too upset."

Wirnan had drawn in a shaky breath when the young boy had mentioned his two
siblings that had perished during the earthquake. He had to turn away from
the scene in order to regain his composure. It was _still_ hard for the rest
of them to talk about the loss, but Wrice spoke of it with such childhood
innocence. Wirnan knew Kaya was probably curious about the boy's remark as
he had never told her anything about his sister's family beyond the very
basics.

Curious indeed. Her dark gaze flicked up to Wirnan briefly, then back down
to the boy. She reached down to squeeze his shoulder. "That was very sweet
of him. You be sure to be there for her just like that." And she hoped he
would never have to bear such sorrow. "Do you play with her a lot? What
sort of games does she like? What do you like?"

The change in topics was a great tactic as Wrice easily brightened and began
telling her all about his normal day and what Caenifer did and what he liked
to do. The little lad could talk anyone's ear off. Shaking his head with a
snort, Wirnan watched him proudly, but his gaze continued to flicker over to
Kaya. She was so good with him. He knew then she would be good with her own
children. His stomach clenched a bit at that thought. Would she ever be
willing to give him children? They'd made an agreement, _he'd_ made the
agreement right after the marriage, but now he was beginning to regret it.

Dwidara had entered from the other room and had watched the proceedings
quietly, having noted first the way the young bride had treated her own
children and secondly the way her brother gazed upon his wife. There was
something there after all. Maybe this whole scandal would lead to something
good after all. That gave her something to think about.

"Dinner is ready. Would you bring the baby when you come?" She asked the
pair of them.

"Of course." Kaya reached out but she didn't pick up the baby right away.
She was not familiar to the child and didn't want to scare her. So instead
she offered her arms to the baby, to show her intent before actually doing
so. "Wow Wrice, you sound like you're really good at taking care of her and
helping your mommy." When the baby reached out for her in return, Kaya felt
better about actually picking her up, then standing and letting her rest
easily on her hip. "Show me where to go, please Wrice?"

The young boy grinned up at her and led the way. Wirnan fell into step
behind them. The table was set and he nodded his approval towards his sister
before turning and greeting his brother-in-law with a hearty handshake. In a
matter of moments everyone seemed to settle into spots around the table,
leaving just a pair of seats for Wirnan to sit with his bride at his side.
Leave it to his sister. She hadn't particularly shown an interest or liking
towards Kaya since she'd connived her way into Wirnan's life, but he knew
she wanted him to be happy. Since he couldn't change his marriage, perhaps
she hoped he could find a way to make peace with it.

Last updated on the April 29th 2011

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