To the Hills

Writers: Chelle, Mirren
Date Posted: 18th June 2012

Characters: Alivya, Chupsin
Description: The healer asks his wife a question.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 8, day 24 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Zathris

His father had caught him after dinner the other evening and brought
up a question that had evidently been thought over. Chupsin had been
slightly surprised since it hadn't been something that had occurred to
him but he supposed it couldn't hurt to ask. So when he remembered, he
brought it up to Alivya over breakfast.

"So...father says cousin Simander wants to offer his cothold to us for
a sevenday or so for a honeymoon. Would that be something you'd want
to do?" It would sort of be a belated honeymoon but if they did go,
he'd have to make arrangements for his duties as well as ask Lord
Zathris' permission to
do so anyway.

Alivya looked at him in surprise. It was the last thing she expected
him to suggest. "Really?" she asked, her eyes huge. "Can you get away
though?"

"I don't know. I'll have to ask the Lord Holder and see what he says,
then make arrangements for one of the junior journeymen to handle
things.." He didn't say it was a no, but he was honest. If Zathris
didn't allow him to leave, there was nothing he could do about it,
especially with their
young children now.

Her heart sank. For a moment there she could almost imagine going
somewhere else and seeing new places... Almost, because she'd never
actually been anywhere, so it was hard to imagine what 'somewhere
else' would actually look like. "Oh, all right." she said, looking
disappointed.

"If it's something you want to do, though, I can ask anyway." One
never knew. And besides, it wasn't like he'd be getting married again
anytime soon. Chupsin was also probably due for a vacation.

"Oh it is," she said with a nod. But then there was something else
she'd been wanting to ask. "Chupsin... When can we tell people?"

"In normal terms...If you got pregnant immediately after we married, I
could confirm it within a month or so, give or take a few sevendays,"
he replied, thinking over the situation.

She nodded. "All right. Much longer than that and I think someone
might notice." Which was her biggest fear. What would people say about
her if they did? She didn't want to think about it!

"Aye..I also think you might take your needle and let out some of your
dresses. If they can't see the shape, they won't know you've gained
weight, though you haven't really badly just yet." Still, there
were ways ladies could camouflage these things. There had to be.
Alivya wasn't the first scandalous woman who hadn't gotten caught, he
was sure.

"I can try," she said with a frown. "It's not usually something
mothers teach their daughters. I can't even ask anyone, even if I
_did_ know someone who would know." It just didn't come up.

"Shells, you can read eh? Let's see if we can't find a book on
sewing." Of course books weren't exactly everywhere, but he was sure
in a Hold, sewing would be one of the subjects allowed. It was safe
enough.

"You think there's going to be a book about to make a pregnant woman
look not pregnant?" she asked doubtfully. But then, there must be such
a thing or he wouldn't have suggested it!

"No, I think there's going to be a book that explains how to let out a
dress for women who have babies and gain weight and have to let their
dresses out. We're just...going to let it out a little more. Of course
if we knew a weaver, you could probably ask them. Say you were going
to give some of your clothes to a niece that has broader hips than
you." He had an explanation for most things. Besides, who would really
start to suspect her for wanting to know how to let a dress out? And
if they did, they'd probably just think she was getting ready to be
pregnant, not that she already was!

"Oh, of course," That made perfect sense and she felt silly for not
thinking of it herself. Thank Faranth she'd married someone who was
more knowledgeable about the world than she was!

"Allright, if I do get permission and get things straightened out, how
long would it take you to be packed and ready?" There were a lot of
ifs in this equation-the largest one being whether or not he could
call in on a favor to get a straight ride into the mountains.

"A candlemark, if I pack for us both." she replied, her mind wandering
off again into a daydream about the adventure going away would be.
"Where is this place?"

"In the foothills of the mountains. It's in the woods and there won't
be other people around..." He hoped she understood the indication that
it was remote.

That sounded different and lonely to a young woman who had grown up
amongst a crowd of people. She did like to have some time to herself
though, so maybe it would just be like that. "Oh, that
sounds...quiet," she said simply.

"Quiet and peaceful. Plus it'll give us time to get to know each other
some." Not that he thought there was much to Alivya that he hadn't
figured out already. He, on the other hand, had many many layers.
Besides, he hadn't taken any time off in forever so he was due for
some rest.

She didn't quite understand the need to get to get to know each other.
Why bother? They were married, it was too late to decide if they liked
each other or not. So far, he hadn't hit her, what else was there? "It
sounds...nice," she said simply.

"Allright, I'll ask." He drank down the last bit of juice he had in
his glass and got up. "Better get going or I'll be late for my first
appointment. See you later." As an afterthought, he did actually lean
down and kiss the top of her head before rushing out.

"See you later," she echoed. She watched him leave and got up to do
the dishes and start on cleaning their quarters.

Last updated on the June 18th 2012

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