For The Sake of the Child

Writers: AL, Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 24th July 2013

Characters: Yanley, Zathris, Benani
Description: The Lord Holder expresses his concerns
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 12 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: D'ale, Chupsin

Yanley

Zathris

Benani

"Zathris, Benani," Yanley greeted when she stepped in. She knew the coming
discussion would be serious and possibly difficult one.

"Yanley." Zathris stood, then nodded as his sister in law arrived and
moved into their sitting room. He motioned to a chair, a silent
invitation to sit. Refreshments had been brought, an attempt to,
perhaps, soften the atmosphere, but despite that, there was tension in
the air.

Benani moved silently toward her sister to envelop her in a hug.
"Would you like some tea," she asked softly.

"Yes, please, that would be nice," Yanley replied and pressed her
cheek against Benani's for a moment. It was an affectionate gesture
from her childhood.

Zathris motioned to a chair, "Have a seat, Yanley." The Lord Holder
himself took a chair and eased into it. "We need to have a talk."

Benani squeezed her sister and then sat to pour a cup of tea and hand
it to her with a soft smile. She meant it to be encouraging. Her
husband was acknowledged as one of the more progressive of the Lords
yet even he was bound by the conventions and opinions of his people.
Those opinions, sadly, didn't change overnight.

She poured another for Zathris and fixed it just like he liked before
handing it over to him.

"Yes, I know," Yanley replied to Zathris. "I seem to gotten myself
into a bit of pinch," her smile was half amused, half sad.

That was putting it mildly. Zathris thanked his wife and managed to
get in a sip before he moved back to the point. "Do you understand
what this means for you Yanley?"

"Yes...and no. Intellectually, I know what it means, but
emotionally... I still have hard to believe that_I_ am pregnant,"

Yanley replied.

Benani smiled at her sister. She could empathize but Yanley had to
know the kinds of comments she was going to get and there was only so
much they could do if she decided not to go to the Weyr. Her sister
had gone through so much with her former husband and just to know she
had the chance to be happy but couldn't seem to bring herself to take
that step, made Benani a little sad. "Sweet roll," she asked instead
and offered the plate.

"Thank you," Yanley said and took the sweetroll. She was eating way too
much, even for a pregnant woman.

"I know I've disgraced myself and brought shame to the family, but I just
can't make myself regret it," she continued talking to Zathris.

Zathris' frown deepened. "I don't think you fully grasp the
seriousness of this situation." Yanley might be a member of the
Holding family, but that didn't mean she was above scrutiny from
others. Whispers, rumours, they would fly about her. "And I find it
rather insulting that you have no care for anyone but yourself in this
matter." He was concerned for her, but her pregnancy also affected the
name of his wife, not to mention her other siblings - and Benaroy's.
That was the worst part, the shame she brought to the late Holder's
name, a man Zathris had considered as much, if not more, a father to
him than his own.

"I'm sorry, Zathris. I do care a lot about my family," Yanley said,
"but in this one matter, I'm completely selfish."

There was not thing in Pern to make her giving up this pregnancy. She
just didn't know how to explain it to Zathris. He never suffered 25
Turn's of infertility, to be made feel less than full woman, never
felt the failure to produce a heir. If it made Yanley a horrible
person, so be it.

"You'd better start thinking of others rather than just yourself."
Zathris' tone hardened a little. Selfish was not a word he would have
ever used for her - until now. "You're going to have a child and that
child's well being will have to come first. That child will be marked
thanks to your actions - a bastard because his mother was loose. That
is what people will say, even if it's not true. That child will
suffer taunting, he or she will be mocked, scorned. Did you ever
think of that? Not to mention that _you_ will suffer the same
consequences, even with your family ties." His mouth twisted and his
tone softened. "To be honest, Yanley, I think it might be best if you
left the Hold. You will always have a home here if you want it, I
would never turn you away and I will love that child the same as any
other born in wedlock, but you need to know that there are
consequences for your actions and I want both of you to be safe and
well cared for. The child doesn't deserve to live under the canopy of
scandal. Neither do you."

"I am thinking it, very hard," Yanley replied, her mouth twisting into
a half wry/half bitter smile. Seemed like everything and everyone was
pushing her towards the Weyr. "Should I just pack up then and move to
live with the child's father?"

Benani closed her eyes and bit her lips. She hoped for her sister's
sake that Zathris would be gentle but that was exactly what was best
for her and the child right now. At least there no one would judge her
poorly for her actions. She reached out a hand. "Yanley..." Her face
was full of compassion and love.

"Yanley, I want you to be safe. I want this child to be safe. And
you need to realise that you may not be safe _here_ - maybe physically
safe but not emotionally or socially. I don't want you to leave, but
yes, to be honest, that might be the best thing for the both of you."
Zathris was sure there were rumblings about what was going on already.
It wasn't easy to hide this thing for long. "I will do all in my
power to see that you are well cared for, but I can not control each
and every person and what you two have both done is going to cause
issues. Even more so because he's a dragonrider."

"So you just want me to leave," Yanley said, the bitterness rearing
it's ugly head. The bitterness that D'ale almost had gotten disappear.
Maybe she just should send a word to D'ale. Chupsin would be
disappointed, yet another baby he didn't get to deliver. She blinked
and realized she was near tears.

"No Yanley, I don't. You're not hearing me." Zathris shook his head.
"I, personally, would prefer you to stay. However, I'm worried about
what will happen to you and the child if you do. However much I want
you around, I want even more what's best for you and for your baby."

Benani wanted to yell but softly echoed her husband's "no." Yanley was
more like a mother than a sister to her and her heart was torn in two.
This baby was her hearts desire after so many turns and repudiation by
her undeserving husband. She deserved more. "We want you to be happy
Yanley," she added.

Yanley sighed. "I'll give it some serious thought. Perhaps the baby
would be happier growing up in a Weyr. I can always visit, can't I?"

"Of course Yanley. You are always welcomed by us." Hadn't his open
armed welcome after her divorce proven that? He'd passed no judgement
on her. Zathris just hoped that she _did_ remember that and know that
he just had her and her child's best interests at heart.

"Yes," Benani said fervently and reached out to squeeze her sister's
hand. "Maybe I can come visit you sometime too?"

Last updated on the September 3rd 2013

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For The Sake of the Child