You've got to think of them first.

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

Characters: Zathris, Benani
Description: Benani wants to go to the gather
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 2, day 21 of Turn 6

Zathris

Benani

~*~
She held up the invitation as he came through the door. "Look," she
said holding it out to him. "Emerald Falls is hosting a large gather
with a conclave." Benani was happy and excited. She loved gathers,
especially when they were at another hold. So many people to see and
she didn't have to work. Not only that but she'd be able to reconnect
with Felyna. She was enjoying their correspondence.

"Ah, with a conclave?" Which meant he would be required to attend.
Zathris reached for the invitation and looked over and nodded. "I
guess I'll go then." He murmured half to himself. His gaze lifted to
fall upon his wife and he frowned.

"What's wrong?" she asked when she saw the frown.

"You want to go, don't you?" Zathris knew she would and he knew, also,
she wasn't going to like what he had to say about the matter either.

"Yes," she smiled at him. "I'd love to go. Felyna and I are really
building a friendship and the rest of the Ladies will be there. It's a
great opportunity..." her voice trailed off looking at his face.
"What?"

"I'm not comfortable with you traveling right now." Zathris shook his
head. He didn't like to disappoint his wife, but he felt it was more
important that she and the children be safe.

"You mean _at all_?" Her eyes popped open. "I'm not riding or doing
anything else dangerous, and I've started getting the help you wanted
me to get." She put her hands on her hips and gave him a tiny frown.
"Zathris you can't wrap me up in wool and keep us in a drawer until the
children are born." For one thing she appreciated his concern but she
was strong as her mother and father both were. "The healers has
assured me that I am built for having babies like my mother before
me."

Zathris winced - that's exactly what they had told Maisla. He was
going to have to have a talk with the healers. "No one can say for
certain until the babies are born how things are going to go. If you
were carrying one, that would be concern enough, but there are _two_
children that you're carrying and that makes problems more likely. I
don't want to invite trouble. I want you to stay here."

She understood why, really she did but she wasn't Maisla and he kept
treating her with kid gloves like he almost expected her to come to
the same end. She nailed him with a very serious look. "I _really_
want to go. These kinds of Gathers don't happen very often and it's as
important for my connection with the other Ladies as it is for you
with the Lords."

"These kinds of Gathers don't happen often, but neither do children and
I don't want to put you or them in any danger." Zathris wasn't going
to let her go, no matter how much she didn't like it. "I don't want
you to attend. It's too much."

"Too much? Too much what?" She shook her head. She recognized the
gleam in his eye and knew he was digging his heels in and she was
pretty certain he'd already made up his mind. There was little she
could do to change it when he was like these. Not even wheedling by
sitting on his lap and teasing him would change this one, it was too
much of a knee jerk reaction. He was being unreasonable and she was
getting very frustrated with his overprotective nonsense.

"It's too much for you to do while you're pregnant. You're not going,
Benani. I'm not going to put you or the babies at risk just because
you want to go to a gather. There will be other gathers you can attend
after the children are born and are older. If you really want to visit
with Felyna, send her an invitation to come here." Zathris couldn't
understand why _she_ didn't understand. Didn't she get it? It was a
delicate situation even with one child, much less two!

She stood there a moment longer still troubled and shaking her head.
Then she deflated and just sat down in the nearest chair. Suddenly she
felt like a petulant child with the way she'd reacted. She still
wasn't happy about it. "Why do you always have to be right," she
complained.

"Do you really think I _want_ you to stay here? That I would prefer
that you stay here than do something you enjoy?" Zathris couldn't
understand why she was taking it this way. The woman was pregnant and
she was supposed to be taking care of herself, not gallivanting around
at other holds, riding on dragonback or dealing with rocky seas.
"Shards, Benani, _think_. You're _pregnant_. With _twins. You've got
to think of them and yourself first, and unfortunately, sacrifices have
to be made."

"I know..." and she did know. Deep down inside where she didn't want
to admit it. Two hearts beat beneath her own and one of them was most
likely Zathris' heir. She really had no right to jeopardize the babies
just for a bit of fun. "Ok, but I want a new dress. Oh and some baby
things. Felyna will know what I need." She still pouted but she was
coming around to accept that she wouldn't be able to go to the gather.

Zathris relaxed visibly when his wife began to back down. He didn't
like arguing with her, and they'd had far too many for his taste as of
late. Her mood was affected quite a bit by the pregnancy. "I'm sure a
new dress will not be a problem. What sort of baby things? We have
clothing, a cradle is being made to accommodate both. What more do we
need?"

"Oh Zathris," she sighed. He was so literal some times. "Just give
Felyna some marks and let her go shopping for me. If I can't go at
least I can get presents right? I promise you she will know what kinds
of things I want. Pretty things, treasures for your babies. They
really can only be found at a gather."

"All right, all right, I'll do it." Zathris would indulge her - after
all, it was a shame she couldn't go. He'd consider even staying behind
with her except for the conclave. "Though I can't understand why you
won't trust _me_ to get you presents."

She grinned at him "Oh I _do_ trust you to get me presents. And I
trust Felyna to get me the things I would have bought myself!" Her
hands turned up "You see? Win, win."

"Bah. You just don't trust me." Zathris drew her into his embrace and
gave her a kiss upon her forehead. "But I will speak with her. I am
sorry you can't go. I wish you could." He would not, however,
endanger her or his children. "I'll see if I can get a dragonrider to
humour me and bring me back here at night." They weren't only for
ferrying, far more important than that, but that sort of travel was
convenient and Zathris would feel better if they were willing.

She smiled and nestled against him with her arms around his waist. "If
only you could. It would be wonderful if you came home but I know it
might not be possible with the Conclave."

"It might not." It most likely would not, but Zathris would be willing
to do it if he was able. "Come now, why don't you write a letter to
Felyna and I can deliver it when I go."

She brightened even more. "I will, but first more cuddle,"

Last updated on the July 22nd 2011

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