Fickle Fate

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 15th January 2019

Characters: Benamil, Arion
Description: Benamil's luck changes.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 25 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Nazli

Benamil

Benamil could still hear the words echoing in his brain:

**"And your visits to the Vintner Hall stop, today."

"I... I can't do that. Stop seeing him."**

He remembered with clarity the surprised look in Zathris' eyes when he'd refused to stop seeing Arion. Yet he also hadn't figured out how he was going to sort out the problem either. Zathris was seeing to Saedriel, making sure the woman quit spreading "rumors" about Benamil and it was supposed to be up to Benamil to figure out how to keep seeing Arion without raising suspicion.

It had been nearly a sevenday since he'd spoken to Arion at all, and he was sure that the man was becoming agitated about his complete lack of contact, but Benamil still hadn't figured out the best way to see the vintner without drawing attention to himself.

"Journeyman Benamil, can I have a word with you?"

Benamil froze and spun in the middle of the empty corridor, "Arion!"

Arion's face gave away nothing as he approached, "Can I speak with you? I've go a shipment of wine from the Hall that may be stamped with the wrong date and-" looking both ways, Arion grabbed the front of Benamil's shirt and jerked him into the nearest empty room.

"Arion! What are you doing here?" Benamil hissed.

"Shut up," Arion insisted, using his nearly equal height to pin Benamil to the back of the door they'd quickly slipped behind. "You obviously weren't coming to see me-"

"I can explain," Benamil interrupted, "I've been trying to figure out how-"

Arion silenced him with a kiss. "I said, shut up!"

Benamil was now having to fight off a smile, "Yes sir."

"Zathris came and saw me."

"At the Vintner Hall?" Benamil's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Yes, he told me all about your little problem," Arion's eyes narrowed.

"How was I supposed to know she would ever come back to haunt me?"

"She? You mean the woman you slept with when you were trying to convince yourself that you didn't like me?" Arion's eyes blazed.

Benamil blinked, studying the vintner's face, "Yeah, that about sums it up."

Arion released his hold on Benamil, pushing away from the man slightly, "Well, he told me about what she did. He gave me a choice, stay at the Hall and stop seeing you, or move here, where I could see you... as long as we're careful."

A slow smile began to creep across Benamil's face, "And you chose to come here?"

"Well, obviously." Arion rolled his eyes and lifted his hands. "You're going to be the death of me, Son of Benaroy."

Benamil pulled Arion back to him. In a lot of ways he felt guilty. He wasn't giving up anything. He was married to Nazli, fulfilling the public desires for him to be like the other sons of Benaroy, he was able to stay in the Hold with his family, and now Arion was there too.

"You won't regret it." It felt good to have his arms around Arion again. Their bodies seemed to fit like puzzle pieces.

"That remains to be seen," Arion traced his fingers over the buttons of Benamil's shirt. "My room isn't far from the family quarters. I have a nice, good sized window that is partially obscured by a shrub. I'll leave my window open tonight."

"I do like to take late night strolls to smoke my pipe," Benamil couldn't believe how quickly his luck had been flipped.

"Then I'll see you later." Arion pressed one last quick kiss to Benamil's lips before pushing the beastcrafter away from the door and hurrying down the hall.

A few minutes later, Benamil left as well, a bounce in his step.

Last updated on the January 24th 2019

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Fickle Fate