Cradle for the babies

Writers: Paula, Eimi
Date Posted: 26th February 2012

Characters: Benaroy, Zelanka, Nimile
Description: Zelanka has a moment of nostalgy.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 7 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Benani, follows "Tentative Peace"

Zelanka watched as the woodcrafter inspected the craddle for twins.
After beeing more than a decade in storage room, Zelanka thought it
better to have a crafter to check it. "Well?" she asked.

"It's a fine piece of craftmanship, made by a master, " the journeyman
run his hand lovingly along the wood. "It just need a little work.
Removing the old coathing, grinding away few worn spots and then giving
it a new coating. It will be like a new."

"How long will it take? Lady Benani needs it for her twins."

"One day to remove the old coating and grinding, two to three days to
new coating to dry," the woodcrafter replied. "Looks like someone tested
her teeth on the edging," he chuckled.

"Ah, yes, babies can do that," Zelanka smiled. Her mind swirled
backwards to another set of babies, another pregnancy...

~*~ Flashback begins~*~

She knocked the door, carrying a tray. The Headwoman had sent her to
take lunch for the Lord Holder. Once, it had been her favourite task,
but now...she rather avoided him.

"Come in!" a young female voice called from inside the room.

Zelanka opened the door catiously. "I'm bringing his Lordship's lunch,"
she explained while stepping. She knew who she was of course. Everyone
did.

"Oh..." The young Lady Holder's eyes darted up at her Lord, hands still
cupped in his, with a bit of uncertainty before looking back at the
woman who had just walked through the door. "Forgive me, I was
expecting Asbrina to be bringing the lunch for my husband." She blushed
slightly as she turned back to her husband once more. There were still
so many new faces.

"Zelanka has just come back from her maternity leave," Benaroy
explained, releasing her hands and turning back towards the window.

"Oh," Nimile said warmly, now that she knew this woman did indeed belong
there. She took a few steps towards the assistant headwoman. "Welcome
back. My husband usually takes his lunch at the desk."

"Thank you, My lady. I know," Zelanka replied. The last one was just a
quiet murmur.

Benaroy didn't have to hear the words. His eyes were on her lips as she
whispered them. It was almost funny how a couple softly spoken words
could twist at his heart. He turned his eyes back to the amber hills in
the distance.

Nimile was oblivious to the discomfort. "May I ask, was it a son or a
daughter you gave birth to?"

"A son, the second one," Zelanka replied. And the last one too,
according to healers. The birth had damaged her insides.

"You and your husband must be so happy," the Lady Holder said with a
soft, secretive smile. "I hope to give my husband a son, too, soon."
She looked over her shoulder at the Lord Holder with a look both hopeful
and determined.

"Oh, we are," she replied. It was one of those half-truths, that weren't
lies but weren't true either. They were happy about the baby, but that
was all. Their marriage was nothing but a show for other people.

Nimile rested her hand over her stomach, turning her eyes back to the
young woman. "Well, welcome back." The Lady Holder turned and walked
over to her husband and stood on tiptoes to whisper softly in his ear.
He gave her a silent nod before giving her cheek a quick and light kiss
of dismissal.

"Please make sure my husband eats his lunch," Nimile asked of Zelanka as
she passed her on her way to the door. "Shall I see you at supper,
husband?"

"I will try," Benaroy promised, not taking his eyes off the horizon.
"Give your family my best regards."

With a quick nod and one more smile in Zelanka's direction, the Lady
slipped out the door.

Zelanka almost hoped she didn't go. What could she say to Benaroy?

The Lord Holder, however, had something he had to say. His eyes were
fixed like stone even as he heard the latch of the door. "Zela, there
is something I must tell you. I don't want you to hear from rumor or
some formal announcement." He owed her more than that. So much more
that he could never give. "The Lady Holder is now gone to write to her
family to give them the news that she is pregnant. It was just
confirmed by the healers today."

"I.. figured that out," she said softly. "Congratulations to both of
you."
She made a quick calculation in her head. Shards, their children would
have less than a Turns difference in age.

Her soft words of acceptance felt like a stab in his heart, though he
knew it was his own shame that caused the pain. He also had done the
math. "Thank you," he whispered. Benaroy stood silent for a long
moment before asking, "How is my son? Is he growing stronger?"

"He's fine, growing up fast," Zelanka replied. "He keeps me awake at
nights and his older siblings just love him."

Hopefully, most of his older siblings would never even know of his
relationship to them. It was a sad thought, really. This whole
business was. "And you, Zela? How are you?"

"Slowly recovering," she replied. What else she could say? He had broken
her heart, now she just concentrated on her family, trying to get her
feet back under.

"Is there anything you need?" There was almost nothing Benaroy would
not do for her, even now.

Zelanka shook her head mutely. What she needed he couldn't give. What
she need was loving husband. Right now, she barely saw Petriv. He had
someone else, she knew it. She knew it from the way he avoided her eyes,
the way he devoted attention to the children and from the fact he didn't
sleep
in his bed at night.

Benaroy saw sadness in her eyes, but then again, he thought it was just
his own reflected back.

~*~

Ah, yes, babies. Nimile had quite a few of them. And she just had her
three. And now Nimile's daugher would be having two at once.

"Well, when you're done with it, let me know and I send some one to pick
it up and deliver it to the Lady Holder," she said.

Last updated on the March 4th 2012

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Cradle for the babies