Sisterly Advice

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 9th December 2017

Characters: Arion, Akidra
Description: Arion enlists his sister's help in his trouble with Benamil.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 2, day 3 of Turn 9
Notes: Arion enlists his sister's help in his trouble with Benamil.

Akidra tapped her chin as she stared at her baby brother, "Something's wrong. Spill it. Who is he and what happened?" The greenrider had a glass of wine in her hand and her feet tucked underneath her on Arion's couch.

"For the millionth time, Akidra, nothing is wrong." Arion said as he brought over the snacks he'd pilfered from the kitchens earlier.

"Hey, this is your sister you're talking to, remember? I know everything about you and when you're like this, it's because of a man." She said matter-of-factly while snatching a snack from the tray.

Arion couldn't really argue with her point. His sister, a greenrider from Dragonsfall, was one of the few people he could be completely transparent with, since she didn't find his attraction to men repulsive. Living at the Weyr had granted his sister an open-mind that his parents didn't share.

"His name is Benamil he's -"

"A son of Benaroy!" Akidra gasped, eyes widening. "A son of Benaroy is gay?" She tossed back her head and laughed. The Blood families liked to act as if they were perfect and that being gay was a bad thing, and now one of their very own was gay? It was too good to be true.

Arion rolled his eyes at her dramatics, "Yes, he is, but you can't say anything, to _anyone_, understand?"

Akidra made the gesture of locking her lips and throwing away the key. "Benamil, huh? Is he the quiet younger one?"

"Early thirties, a little older than me," Arion clarified. "He's the beastcrafter."

"Oh right, you've been friends with him for a long time, haven't you?"

"Basically ever since the Vintner Hall moved back here to Amber Hills." Arion said, they'd met when Arion had been bringing some vintages up to the Hold, and they'd been fast friends, even though Benamil hadn't shown an inkling of interest in men back then.

Akidra's eyes lit, "So? Is he good in bed? How long have you to been..." She gestured with her hand.

"Yes, he is, he'd never been with a man before me but... He learned quickly." There was a hint of a smile when Arion said that. "We haven't been together long, even though we've been friends forever and now..."

"Now? Trouble in paradise already?"

"The Captain of the Guard caught us outside of the Hold and... Well, now he knows about us." Arion made a face.

"What will you do?"

Arion rolled his eyes, "Benamil's sister, Lady Benani, has come up with this horrible plan to have Benamil marry one of her maids to cover everything up so no one suspects us."

Akidra reached out and touched Arion's hand sympathetically, "And you don't want him to?"

"No, I don't, Akidra, and he doesn't understand. He thinks I'm being.. emotional, but... "

"What doesn't he understand, Arion?" Akidra pried gently.

"That I'm afraid he'll realize it's easier being with his new 'wife' than it is to sneak around to try and be with me. He was with women for all those Turns, maybe he's just confused, maybe I'm just...."

"An early midlife crisis?" she added.

"Yeah," Arion sighed.

Akidra hated the hurt she saw in her brother's slumped shoulders. She had tried on multiple occasions to convince him to come to the Weyr, but he refused.

"You've told him this?" Akidra asked.

"Basically, but you know how I get when I get hurt..."

"Ah, you frosted over, didn't you?"

Arion dropped his head onto his sister's shoulder, "Yes, and then I think I told him that we were over. I haven't seen him in a couple of days. Not a word." Shells, what if Benamil had believed him? Or worse, what if he was relieved in thinking that their relationship was over?

"Flaming dragons, Arion." Akidra wrapped an arm around her brother's shoulders. "And I don't suppose there's a good way to get a message to him."

"No, I don't want to cause anyone to talk if I go to him and -" Arion sat up straight and looked at Akidra. "You're a dragonrider."

"Well, duh."

"No," Arion shook his head, "you can act like you're here delivering a message, or something, and pass him a letter from me. Would you do that?"

"Of course I will, get it written, and I'll go up and deliver it now." Akidra stood and collected her riding jacket with the Dragonsfall insignia.

Arion scrambled off the couch and snatched up a piece of parchment that he quickly scribbled on and then folded and handed to Akidra, "There."

"That had to have been the shortest letter in the world. What did you write?" she asked, tucking the letter into her pocket.

"It just said, 'Come see me'... Should I have said more?" Arion wrung his hands together.

Akidra shook her head, "You need help in the romance department, little brother."

"Just deliver the letter please," he sighed.

"Alright, alright, but I want you to write me a letter.... A _real_ one, and let me know how it goes." Akidra lifted her eyebrows before slipping out of the room to run her errand.

**If it goes at all,** Arion thought.

Last updated on the December 10th 2017

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