They Could Be Friends

Writers: Ames, Noli
Date Posted: 29th June 2013

Characters: Wirnan, Lendera
Description: Wirnan enlists help from Lendera
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 13, day 30 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Kaya, Zathris, Zelenka

Wirnan

Last night had been the absolute worst night of his life. Wirnan had
hated every moment of the time he and Kaya had spent together at the
Turn's End celebration. Then he'd gone off and gotten himself drunk at
the tavern and ended up sleeping in his office. He hadn't wanted to
face his life in his loveless marriage any longer.

Now, waking at the start of a new Turn, Wirnan looked out the window
with a mournful gaze. He couldn't live this lonely life for all his
days. He'd tried to make things work with Kaya. He really had tried.
Zathris wouldn't grant him the divorce he wanted, so he was stuck.
Stuck in a marriage without love or even companionship.

All the time he'd thought things might be improving, only to find she
still cared for no one but herself. Frustrated he threw off the
blanket he'd used and got up to stretch. His body ached, but not as
badly as his heart. He wasn't even due to work today, but honestly
work would be better than spending the day home, alone with his wife.
Wife. A word he'd hoped for for so many Turns, only to find all his
dreams dashed.

"Shardit, I'm not going to live like this," he muttered, grabbing his
rumpled jacket and heading out of his office to get some fresh air.

Lendera gazed around the guest room admiringly, satisfied with her
work. The visiting Holder had left it in a state of utter chaos--
doubtless he had consumed too much wine at the festivities last night
and had suffered an uncomfortable night after. He had left evidence of
such in a wastebucket, a washingbin, and even a decorative bowl
sitting on the table. But now all was back in order. Lendera had come
in as soon as the man had stumbled out and had finished in a record
amount of time.

Gathering her supplies, she exited the room and headed down the hall,
whistling a Harper tune that she had heard Veta reciting last sevenday.
Her daughter was a natural performer. Still whistling, Lendera rounded
a corner and pulled up abruptly. She had nearly run into a man still
dressed in his Gather finery. From the looks of it, he had slept in
them.

"Fine night I see, Steward." Her greeting was cheerful. She was
acquainted with Wirnan, though not well. His duties did not often
bring him in direct contact with the lower staff, who reported to
Zelanka. Still, she found the man pleasant enough. She grinned at him
amiably.

Wirnan stopped abruptly as he nearly bowled over the woman in front of
him. Blinking it took him a moment to register her face. He was good
with names and faces.

"Lendera, right?" Yes, even in his own state of disarray his ability
to recall people was as fast as ever. She worked around the Hold.
They'd talked a time or two at various gatherings. A widow if he
recalled.

"I've had better nights, truth be told," he hadn't meant to sound so
grumpy, but it had been a bad night for sure. Now his stomach was
rumbling as well, indicating that he hadn't yet eaten that morn.
**What a way to start a new Turn,** he thought miserably to himself.

Lendera made a sympathetic noise and shifted her weight from one foot
to the other. It was clear that Wirnan was in poor temper this
morning, and she wondered if it was related to the growling she heard
from his stomach. She remembered that Barthur had always been grumpy
when he was hungry.

Unsure of what to say but instinctively desiring to cheer him up, she
said lightly, "Well, it's a new Turn. Perhaps today will be better. I
hear there was much leftover from the feast last night. If you'd like,
I'll have a tray delivered to your chambers, so it will be ready after
you bathe and dress." She tried to remember his spouse's name, but
failed. She just knew the girl was a young thing, much younger than
her own 34 Turns. "Perhaps you and your wife could take a picnic this
evening. It's a pleasant day out." She smiled encouragingly.

"No, no," Wirnan raised a hand and shook his head a bit too vehemently.

"I do not want a tray delivered to my rooms. I have no intention of
going there at all today. I'll find food another way." **And a place
to take a bath, too,** he thought grumpily. He just didn't _want_ to
see Kaya at all. He wasn't sure how'd he'd get fresh clothes, but...an
idea came to him.

"Would you be able to do me a favor?" His eyes took on a more
contemplative look. He didn't know if it would work, but it might.
**No,** he thought glumly, **I can't _send_ her to fetch my clothes
for me. Perhaps there's a way she could get Kaya _out_ of the chambers
for a spell.**

Her smile faltered at his words. She felt a strange ache at the sight
of his obviously dejected attitude, as if it was somehow _wrong_. This
man had a face for smiling. Like Barthur had, once. "What favor? I'll
be happy to help, Wirnan." She locked his hazel-green eyes with her
brown ones, trying to convey her sincerity in her gaze. She wanted to
help this man. She was beginning to suspect that last night's
celebrations were far from the extent of his problems.

**How to go about doing this,** he mused. "Well, hmm, I need to get
some things, but, well," he fumbled for a moment. News would spread
fast that he wasn't staying in his quarters, why not let it start now.
"I don't want to be there when my wife is there." There, he'd said it.
He wanted to avoid her completely. "Oh, shards," he pushed a hand
through his hair in frustration. "I'm a fool," was all he muttered,
feeling rather foolish for having involved her in this mess.

Lendera was silent a moment as she took this information in. She
regretted having suggested a picnic with his wife, now that she knew
that was part of the problem. Briefly, she wondered if she should even
involve herself in this obvious marital dispute; however, she quickly
realized that she could not walk away now.

"You're not a fool." She reached out and touched his arm gently. "I
understand. Perhaps I can help. Perhaps... I can tell her that there
is a package for her in the main hall. Then you can get in and out
without her knowing." She looked him over, once again noting his
rumpled appearance. "You're going to need to clean yourself up. You can use my
quarters, if you'd like. That will give you some privacy."

Wirnan actually brightened for a moment at her suggestion. "Lendera,
you are amazing. If you could do that, it would be most helpful. I
appreciate the offer to use your quarters as well. I assure you I will
not be in your way, and can be in and out as quickly as you need me
to." He planned to grab quite a few pairs of clothes when he entered
his quarters. He had _no_ intention of going back for awhile. **Let
her stew for a bit and see how _she_ feels. I've tried and tried and
tried. I never even _wanted_ this. Yet, she gives me _nothing_ in
return.** His dark thoughts raced through his mind once again.

"If you could deliver the message. I'll wait out of sight. Then once
she's gone, come and get me and I can gather what I need." He knew it
was a bit foolish to be hiding from his wife, but he was so angry and
spent from all the effort he'd tried to put into this farce of a
marriage, that he had no more energy to try again.

Lendera felt a surge of pleasure at his compliment. It was good to see
him out of his foul mood. "Of course. Lead the way."

As they wound through the corridors towards the Steward chambers, she
once again questioned the rationality of involving herself in this
obviously private affair. She had been married once, and she was
well-acquainted with the problems that could arise when outsiders got
involved in marital disputes. But she was drawn to Wirnan, a man she
thought to be fair and just, of good repute and friendly to everyone.
She could not imagine that, if he was unhappy with his marriage, it
was fault of _his_.

When they were near enough so that Wirnan could hear what was going on
but not be seen, she left him and approached the apartment. She took a
deep breath. **Here goes nothing.**

He waited. When he heard footsteps, he tensed. He breathed a sigh of
relief when it was not Kaya. Hearing that all was clear. Wirnan made
his way quickly to his chambers. He felt almost like a thief in the
night. He nodded briefly to Lendera, entered the room, and made quick
work of shoving some of his things into a satchel. Clothes for a few
days. He could have things laundered easily enough. Sooner or later
he'd have to come back anyway and talk to her, but right now he did
_not_ want to do that.

Satisfied, he left the chambers, closed the door and hurried back to
the spot around the corner where he knew Lendera would be waiting for
him.

"Thank you," he told her with a genuine smile. "You have no idea what
this means to me. Now let's go before my wife returns."

~*~

As she swung open the door to her quarters, Lendera felt a curious
thrill run through her. She stepped aside to allow the man to pass
her. She wasn't sure if the flutter in her chest was nervousness or
exhilaration. There was something so _wrong_ about all this, but that
just enhanced the excitement.

She was grateful to see that the apartments were clean and orderly.
Vera was a good little worker, and would make an excellent housewife
someday. **Someday soon** she thought gloomily. Her daughter was nigh
on fifteen Turns now, and would soon be raising a family of her own.

"The bedchambers are straight through the back," she offered
helpfully. "Take your time."

"Thank you," he replied, heading towards the bedchambers. It was
smaller than the chambers he and Kaya shared, but that was to be
expected. When he entered the room he glanced around, expecting a way
wash up, but he'd forgotten her chambers wouldn't have direct access
to the baths.

Opening the door, he poked his head out and asked, "You wouldn't
happen to be able to get some fresh water for this," he held up the
washbasin that she must have kept for quick cleanses. "I can make do
with that for today," **As I'd rather not be seen parading all over
the Hold to get a bath,** he mused.

"Of course. I'll be right back." Lendera knew she should be returning
to work, but she rationalized that helping the Hold Steward had to be
a reasonable excuse for a delay. She made her way to the bathing
rooms, nodding to people she knew but keeping to herself whenever
possible. Once there, she borrowed one of the heavy stone pitchers and
filled it to the brim with steaming water; she had cleansing sand and
washing cloths in her room.

When she returned, the door to the back was closed. Lendera debated
her options. The pitcher required both of her hands. She called out
hesitantly, but heard no answer. Her arms ached from the heavy
container. Finally, she placed her shoulder against the door and gave
it a gentle shove.

He'd taken off his clothes. He'd needed a cleansing, to wash away the
drinking and what had ensued at the tavern. His clothes were rumpled
and also had stains from either food or drink. He didn't know which.
Having undressed, he unpacked the clean clothes but didn't put them
on. The bed was enticing. He hadn't slept well the night before. He
sat down on it, and in no time started to doze. He had no idea that
Lendera had returned. He'd planned to use the changing screen or the
sheet from the bed to cover himself before she entered. The sound of
the door moving jarred him, but his mind was still groggy. He didn't
immediately move as he tried to recall where he was and what was
happening.

Her eyes adjusted quickly to the low lighting. When she saw Wirnan,
she nearly dropped the pitcher. He was on her bed, naked as his
birthingday. She recovered quickly, though. Turning her back to the
man, she busied herself filling the washbasin by the door.

"Sands and cloths are right under here. I'll be just outside, call if
you need anything else." The blush that had warmed her neck would not
be visible from his position. At least, that's what she hoped.

Closing the door firmly behind her, Lendera almost laughed out loud.
Here she was, a woman once wed, blushing like an adolescent over a
naked man. **A naked man in my bed** she reminded herself. That
sobered her up. She hadn't had a naked man in her bedchambers since
Barthur had died, four Turns hence. So long... and yet, she still felt
vaguely guilty. Not because she walked in on the Steward-- that had
been accidental-- but because, on some level, she wished that he
wasn't just there because he was hiding from his wife.

For just a brief moment, Lendera allowed her mind to imagine how the
scene in her bedchamber could have played out differently. She quickly
silenced the voice in her head that whispered for her to find out. But
she couldn't rid herself of the image Wirnan had made on top of her
sleeping furs. Every nerve in her body felt alive. It was as if a
dragon had been sleeping inside of her and had suddenly woken, hungry
and desirous.

Sighing, Lendera told herself firmly that she _would_ control herself.
She did not know what Wirnan planned to do next, but she would help
him out if she could. There was no need to make things awkward,
despite what had just happened. They could be friends. Couldn't they?

Last updated on the June 29th 2013

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They Could Be Friends