Reunion

Writers: Miriah, Yvonne
Date Posted: 18th May 2015

Characters: Taril, Humari, Bortem, Jakin
Description: A decision is made
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 12, day 3 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Bryvin, Yriadha

Humari

Bortem

The candle in the corner burned down a little further.

If walking was easier, Taril would have paced. It had been nearly a full candlemark since he'd sent a message to Bortem. Bortem owed him enough marks that Taril hoped that he had some sway over the other man -- enough to incentivize him to act against his mother's wishes. Introducing Bortem to cards had been one of the smartest moves he'd ever made.

But that was only half of it. If Bortem didn't spirit Humari out from whatever hole her mother had hidden her in, then Yriadha's treachery could be dealt with another way. The problem was Humari. Yriadha's insinuations that his wife didn't want anything to do with him had wriggled into his subconscious and grown. Taril wasn't some dashing sea captain -- he was crippled, with one leg and a scarred, hideous face. If she truly didn't want him...

"Well, the hidework seems to be mostly in order." Jakin's voice broke through Taril's circling thoughts. The drunkard of a harper looked up from where he sat, and quickly looked away again when he saw Taril's black expression. "Uhh.. hidework seems above board, but they misstepped when they didn't notify you that they were declaring the marriage void. Between that and breaking a contract based on Yriadha's family's word - when they're the party that benefits... materially, at least... I think that we'll do fine if we bring this to the Lord Holder."

"What about the pre-nuptial contract that Yriadha signed?" Taril asked tersely.

Jakin nodded again. "The clause states that if the marriage does not go ahead for any reason, she'll owe you. I guess there can be some wiggle room there..." the harper ducked his head, ashamed. He'd been the one to draft the contract, after all. "The marriage did happen but was declared void after the fact."

"You'd better make sure that contract is valid. I want her kicked naked from the Hold," the merchant ground out. He looked at the candle again. "Keep working."

The minutes slipped by. What if Bortem didn't bring her? What if Humari decided to stay with Yriadha after all? The Headwoman was her way out of an unhappy marriage. The past few months could have been a lie, the happiness that he'd slowly allowed himself to feel as false as the Headwoman's smile. It could have all been some sort of elaborate joke played on him by Yriadha and her family. Bait the stupid cripple, then snatch his happiness away and laugh at his naivety.

Taril's hand clenched around his crutch until the wood creaked. They'd picked the wrong cripple. He'd destroy them and spit on their ashes.

The door opened slowly without knocking and a rumpled Humari appeared, looking tired, but no worse for wear. Bortem stepped in behind her, one hand on her arm. Her eyes searched quickly, found Taril and filled with visible relief. She made to move forward, but the hand on her arm stopped her just as quickly. She turned to her brother and looked at him with a frown. He murmured something under his breath and her normally soft brown eyes hardened. With a sudden move, she yanked her arm from his grasp and with a quick stunning movement, slapped him hard across the cheek. "Don't you ever touch me again." Before he could react, Humari bolted, her moment of courage gone as she hurried as fast as she could towards Taril, her rounded belly slowing her.

The moment she reached him she ducked behind him, trembling, but pressed herself against his back one hand on his side as if reassuring herself that he was there.

Taril gripped her fingers with his free hand. Relief made him feel a little weak in the knee. "Better listen to the lady," he said mildly to Bortem. "She seems to have a good arm."

Rubbing his cheek and staring at Humari in shock, Bortem looked astounded that she had shown that much spirit. He seemed as though he would speak to her, but glanced at Taril and apparently changed his mind. He cleared his throat. "We're even then?"

Humari clasped Taril's hand and wound her fingers with his. Her head rested lightly on his back, cheek against the plane of his shoulder blade. But she listened, even as she took comfort in her husband's presence.

"Yes. Mostly." The nice thing about exchanging favors for marks was it was he who could place a value on the services. "I may call on you shortly for another favour, depending on how things go. And keep in mind, Bortem-- it may be for your own good. But for now you can go."

Bortem frowned deeply. "Now, you said that we'd be..." He flicked a gaze at Humari, still half hidden by Taril. "Fine." He spun on his feet and stomped out, a dark scowl of displeasure on his face as he muttered about the injustice of it.

Humari waited until he left before she took a deep shuddering sigh and spoke softly. "How much does he owe you, Taril?"

"He owes me enough." He turned to face his wife and scanned her face, looking for signs that Yirahda might have struck her. "Are you all right? Did they hurt you?"

Looking up at him, Humari shook her head. "I'm just tired." It had been a harrowing experience and not one she ever wanted to repeat. "They didn't hurt me, but I didn't eat while I was there. I was afraid they would put fellis in my food." She glanced around, looking for the small green flit and then looked at Taril, her eyes pained. "I think something happened to Sissa. I think they did something to her. She never came to me." She leaned forward to rest her brow on his chest, unable to get really close to Taril due to her expanding abdomen and gave a soft breath. She refused to cry; she'd done enough of that and had quietly resolved to never let her mother bring her to tears again, even with the loss of her firelizard. Instead, she closed her eyes tightly. "I was afraid that I would have to stay there."

"I will always come for you." He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her tight against him. That little niggle of doubt that Yriadha had planted remained, but she seemed so content to be back beside him... Yriadha was lying again. She had to be. "As long as you want me to, I'll come for you."

Humari gave a shuddering breath. "Good." She turned her head and saw Jakin,
then frowned a little, but didn't pull away. "Why is he here?"

Taril glanced at the harper, who was studying the hides in front of him and trying to ignore the reunion taking place. "Your mother... has tried to have our marriage legally annulled," he said tightly. "Jakin is here to help us petition the Lord Holder. That is, if... Jakin, will you wait in the hall?"

The harper looked relieved as he got up from his chair and left the room. "Just knock when you want me back," he said as he closed the door behind himself.

Taril turned back to his wife. His maybe-wife. "I know marrying me wasn't... your idea," he said quietly, then hesitated. The fear he'd felt when he'd realized Humari was missing was nothing compared to having her here, in his arms, and asking her this. If she said no... He took a deep breath and started again. "Arranged marriages can be difficult. This is your chance, if you want it. To find someone else. I-- don't want you to. But if you want a different life for yourself, I'll let you go." They were the hardest words he'd ever said, and Taril wished that he could take them back almost as soon as he said it.

Humari stared at Taril in shock; her brow furrowed and then rose as realization came to her. He was letting her go. He would... She looked away, swallowing hard. She could go to the Weyr like she planned. Or, since Vreena was coming back, they could go together. The Weyr wouldn't condemn her like the Hold would. She could even craft...if she wanted. Her hand fell to her abdomen, heavily swollen with pregnancy and her eyes slid back to Taril's her gaze finding his scarred face. She saw the distress in his expression and recalled how he was with her, how uncertain and awkward he could be, but always gentle.

He had never struck her, always protected her. When she and Vreena had been caught, Vreena had placed all the blame upon her and had never spoken to her again. Taril had come after her. Her eyes softened at the realization. He had never condemned her. Her trembling hand rose to lay lightly on Taril's scarred cheek. "I don't care what my mother says. You are my husband. You are the father of our child." She swallowed hard, a little tear forming in the corner of her eye. "You may not have been my idea, but you are the best thing my mother has ever done for me. The only thing I would ever thank her for." Her chin lifted. "And she's not going to take you away from me. I don't care what Lord Bryvin rules. I'm staying with you."

He bent to kiss her, the fierce joy he felt at her declaration making him light headed. She'd stay-- he had a family, someone to belong to. A wife and a child who chose their place beside him. He hadn't known how awful the prospect of being alone again had been until he'd offered it. Her lips were sweet and he wanted to stay in that room forever.

But. After a moment he stopped and gently rested his forehead against hers. "Then we go rouse Bryvin and put this nonsense to rest once and for all. Will you stand beside me?"

She answered his kiss immediately, hands winding in his shirt at the renewed feeling of a bond between them, more than the child she carried and more than the vows she had given. She wanted to explore that notion further, but he pulled away, leaving her a bit wanting. "Of course." She laid her hand flat against his chest and closed her eyes. "Right now? It's late and I'm very tired and hungry, Taril." She touched his cheek lightly. "And..." She blushed a bit. "And I'd like to lay with my husband."

He kissed her again, hungrily this time. "This can't wait," he told her, brushing her hair from her face. "Otherwise your mother will always be there. But after-- I promise I'll take you home, and take you to bed." And there was nothing on Pern that would stop him.

Last updated on the May 31st 2015

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