Surprise and Pain

Writers: Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 25th September 2015

Characters: Rethisa, Demir
Description: The Wedding Night
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 13, day 30 of Turn 7

Demir

Rethisa thought she might actually be sick. The moment of truth had
finally come. Her sister-in-law had been kind enough to find her and
Demir a very private set of rooms for their honeymoon night, although
in many ways, Rethisa wished that Benani hadn't.

**No more putting it off. Tonight he'll know... He'll know that I've
lied to him.** Would he see reason? Would he see that she was scared
and had no other choice? Demir had been good and sweet and kind to her
all during their courtship, but Rethisa didn't know a man on Pern that
would be so understanding of such deception. **Except maybe Zathris,
and he's one of a kind.**

She ran her trembling hands down the white lacy nightgown that Allera
had painstakingly tailored to fit her expanding midsection. Rethisa
was fairly certain there was no point in her being in the gown at all,
because she was certain once Demir found out there would be no need
for sexy lingerie.

Leaving the small dressing room, Rethisa was at least a little
relieved to see that Demir hadn't come into the room yet.

His heart swelled as he paused by the door before entering. How had he
possibly gotten lucky enough to find another love in one lifetime.
Demir wasn't a dreamer by any stretch of the imagination. He hadn't
expected his first wife and he hadn't expected to be overcome with
love a second time. But she was lovely and sweet and everything to be
cherished. He turned the nob and walked in.

He wore a dressing gown knowing he'd be in the hall when he went to
her. But as he came through the door he couldn't help the smile that
lit is face and his eyes. "You look beautiful," he said warmly.

Rethisa's heart pounded in her ears, and the gaping fear that
blossomed in the midst of her chest threatened to consume her. **He
hasn't noticed yet but he will and then...** She licked her lips and
clasped her hands together in front of her abdomen.

"Thank you." she said, trying to return his smile.

He started toward her holding out his hands to take her into his arms
but as he did his brows twitched together. "Rethisa?" He stopped with
a puzzled look on his face and his breath stopped in his throat.

He couldn't speak and his eyes grew dark and troubled. He swore and
turned away from her to get himself under control. "You're pregnant,"
he said as he walked toward a large bottle of wine on the sideboard.

"Yes." she said. There was no denying what Demir could clearly see.
"But it's not what you think." Not exactly anyway.

He poured himself a rather large glass and turned on her. "It is
exactly what I think it is," he said in a deadly quiet voice. "This,"
he waived a hand over his head. "All of it, was a lie." He tossed off
the glass of wine and turned back to pour another glass and toss it
down right after.

Guilt stabbed through her as she watched him drink his wine. She'd
seen Verlow consume more than one bottle before turning on her. "It
wasn't all a lie."

His entire world had gone from a world full of possibilities to total
blackness in a single moment of realization. Not only that but he was
well and neatly trapped. Not only was she blood, she was his Lord's
sister. He had zero chance in this to come out anything but a loser.
But what he couldn't figure out was why Zathris would have allowed
this to happen.

"Stop talking," he spat at her.

Rethisa flinched as though he had physically slapped her. It was an
old habit, one she'd learned from her Turns with Verlow. She didn't
press Demir, but pressed her lips firmly together. **Now what?** When
she'd conceived this plan of hiding her pregnancy and tricking Demir
into marrying her anyway, she hadn't really thought to what she would
do once he knew and was inevitably angry with her.

Demir paced as his mind churned through the problem and the effects of
the two quick glasses of wine began to kick in. One thing was certain
though, nothing would be resolved tonight and no matter which way his
mind turned he was stuck with Zathris' sister to wife. Finally he
turned on her with eyes of steel. "Go to bed Rethisa," he said. "I
will arrange for us to travel to Hidden Meadows tomorrow. Until then
do not speak of this to anyone. Am I clear?"

He hadn't planned on leaving for a few days but now there was no
reason in his mind to be tender with her sensibilities. Her deception
had cost him any chance at the happiness he'd thought to find in this
room tonight or any time in the near future. "Lock your door," he said
as he turned the handle.

"I'm going to go get drunk." He knew that would cause rumors and
speculation and likely a lot of talk amongst the Amber Hold folk, but
at this point he didn't care about his reputation or hers for that
matter. He walked out of the room and closed the door firmly behind
him.

Hot tears scalded Rethisa's eyes as the door clicked shut. Turning
around she sank into the bed and sobbed into her hands. **You are
getting exactly what you deserve.** Her mental voice sounded
suspiciously like Verlow's.

Last updated on the September 27th 2015

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Surprise and Pain