The Gown

Writers: AL, Suzee
Date Posted: 19th December 2015

Characters: Zathris, Benani
Description: Healing in a marriage.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 3, day 19 of Turn 8

Zathris

Benani

Benani had found true joy again with the birth of her daughter. There
was no doubt in her mind that little Nimilee was her husbands. With
that realization something inside her lightened and she felt free in a
way she hadn't for almost an entire turn.

But there was one thing she needed, or was it one thing she wanted?
She wasn't quite sure.

Zathris still treated her with kid gloves and she'd needed that for a
while. She had thought about how patient he had been and that
translated in her mind to the true love she felt for him from the
bottom of her soul. So, she'd worked with Zelanka to give them a night
alone without obligations, without children. Just the two of them.

She'd bathed, perfumed her skin, and dressed carefully in a beautiful
gown she knew he loved and he'd particularly liked to remove in the
past. She didn't quite know how many other ways to hint to him what
she wanted and needed from him.

So she lit the candles on the table and sat to wait with a glass of
wine in her hand.

Unfortunately, life didn't always allow things to go_exactly_ as
planned. With several 'fires', Zathris had to work rather late. The
sun had already been well set for several hours before he finally
arrived at their quarters. With a sigh of relief, he stepped inside
and closed the door behind him. "Man, what a day. I sometimes wonder
if some of the holders are crazy. If I...why's it so dim?"

It took a moment, but the man finally realized not only where Benani
was in the room but how she was dressed. He froze in his tracks,
glanced about, then stared at the woman who was dressed in a fashion
he had not seen in a very, very long time.

"Welcome home my lord husband," her eyes twinkled at him. The extended
time had meant a couple of additional glasses of wine and she was very
relaxed as her head tilted.

"Benani?" Zathris' gaze flicked from table, to woman, to table, then
back to woman. Although he could be quite dense, he was pretty sure
he knew what was on her mind. As much as he wanted to simply grab her
and toss her on the bed, however, his mind was still in control enough
to refrain. "What...are you doing?"

Her head tilted even further and she looked up at him from under her
lashes. "Well I'd never have though you'd forget what this gown
means," she licked her lips.

"Oh no, I haven't forgotten." Zathris took a careful step forward,
his eyes studying every inch of her face. "Benani...are you sure?"
The last thing he wanted to do was move forward if she wasn't quite
ready. "If this is just for my benefit...I mean, shards, I don't want
you to do something you're not quite ready to do unless you're
absolutely sure."

"I'm very sure," a smile trembled behind her eyes. "I want you
Zathris, as I've always wanted and needed you." She stood and
opened her arms.

The Lord Holder wasn't going to ask twice. Instead, he quickly closed
the gap between the and gathered his wife into his arms, mouth seeking
out hers. A breath later, he carried her into the other room where
the bed sat, waiting for both of them.

~~Fade to black~~

Benani lay in her husbands arms and felt wonderful in a way she
couldn't even begin to describe. The sound of his breath near her ear
and his arm over her made her world right like it hadn't been in too
long.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too." Zathris tightened his hold upon his wife and placed
a kiss upon her forehead. "I've missed you."

"Oh," she giggled. How long had it been since she'd giggled? She
turned slightly to see the glint of his eyes in the dark. "I thought
you were asleep. I've missed you too."

"Let me know when you're ready to go again. I'll be glad to oblige."
Zathris' face cracked into a smile and a mischievousness twinkled in
his gaze. How long had it been since they'd been so intimate? Since
they had been able to relax like that together? Far, far too long.

"Would now be alright," she turned in his arms and tilted her head to
nibble his neck.

"All right?" Zathris turned and smothered her mouth in a kiss before
answering. "It would be more than all right."

Last updated on the December 21st 2015

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The Gown