Naming Names

Writers: AL, Suzee
Date Posted: 11th November 2011

Characters: Zathris, Benani
Description: They discuss names and sexes.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 4, day 23 of Turn 6

Zathris

Benani

Benani had been resting most of the morning and risen only to move to
her table to eat her lunch. The drudges had brought it in on a tray
then disappeared only to reappear a short time later. She always heard
them about in her rooms though they remained out of sight for the most
part. But, oh how she longed for a real visitor. She began to realize
that she was never really alone, probably something that her husband
had arranged to make sure there was always someone within shouting
distance.

Her belly got bigger and bigger and she whiled away her time reading
or trying other things to occupy her mind. Yanley usually worked
nearby and came to discuss some issue or that to keep her in the loop
but today had been especially slow. Right now she didn't want to
climb back into bed so she went to her desk and picked up the list of
names she'd been playing with. Her filmy robe draped over her great
belly and her hands moved over the children restlessly as she walked.

"Tricana, can you get me some hot tea," she asked the young woman
doing some dusting. She sat and the desk and picked up the hide.
"Benaris, Benathris, Benthris, Enanris, Nithri, Nithris" she tried
them out under her breath. But those were all boy kinds of names and
what if they had girls? Her finger moved to the other side of the list
and traced a few. "Benza, Bethri, Risani, Risena, Zanani" Hmm, it was
hard to pick.

"What are you doing up?" As time drew nearer and nearer for Benani to
give birth, Zathris couldn't help but get more and more antsy. He did
a pretty good job of hiding it from the rest of the world, but he could
not help but worry. He'd lost his first wife - he didn't think he could
stand to lose another. This time was even worse, with the added
complication of a twin pregnancy. "Shouldn't you be resting?" He drew
over and placed is hands gently upon her shoulders. "What's this?"

She smiled and patted one of the hands on her shoulder. "Just trying
out some names. And I have been resting. Most of the day in fact, but
these names are running around in my head and I had to write them
down."

"I suppose we should decide on names. Two boys and two girls, since we
don't know the gender." Zathris pulled up another chair to sit down
beside his wife. "Are those the ones that you like the best? The ones
I heard you say?"

She squeezed his knee as he sat down next to her. "I like them but
it's hard to pick. I was just trying them out. Are there any that you
like?" She pushed the list closer to him.

"Bethri is nice for a girl." Zathris leaned back in his chair and
considered all the names that were upon the list. "And Zanani for a
girl. For a boy, I like Benaris and Rinan."

She leaned back "Oh yes, those _are_ nice." She tasted the girls
names. "Bethri and Zanani," she nodded. "Benaris and Rinan." She
looked at her husband knowing his trevails with some of the holders
were not completely resolved. "Benaris is a good name, it will help
placate some people and give them a little continuity should we honor
both you and my father like that."

"I am not opposed to honouring your father." While Zathris didn't
agree with the way the man went about with women, he still respected
his late Father in Law - he'd been a good Lord Holder. "Do you have
any you're particularly drawn to?"

She smiled and leaned against his shoulder relishing the closeness.
She looked again at the lists and some markings she'd made in the
margins. "I like Nithri for a boy and Nanza for a girl. They kind of
bring my mother Nimile's name into it as well. What about your
parents?"

"To be honest, I prefer Nimile." Zathris pointed out, then shook his
head. "There's not that much difference between my father's name and
mine. Rediza's not bad."

She nodded in agreement. "Are you hungry?" She seemed suddenly
famished even though she'd taken a small meal recently.

"I could eat." Zathris could usually at least nibble on something. He
was up and moving around enough that he burned anything he ate off
pretty quickly. "But it seems we still haven't come up with definite
names."

She smiled again, "I'm not really sure. I think I'll need to meet them
before I can tell you what I think their names are."

She hugged his arm and leaned her head against his shoulder. "I
couldn't imagine you with any other name but Zathris."

"Good, because I can't imagine me with any other name either." Zathris
chuckled and twisted his neck to place a kiss on her forehead. "And I
don't think we really got anywhere with names, did we?"

She giggled, "No." She hugged his arm harder.

Last updated on the December 5th 2011

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Naming Names