Healing the Rift 1/2

Writers: Kaysea, Vix
Date Posted: 29th November 2007

Characters: Hartam, Tayette
Description: Hartam and Tayette meet and begin to heal the rift between them
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 6, day 5 of Turn 4

She pulled the scarf tightly over her head, blocking out the worst of the wind and rain, as she made her way across the yard with a message from the Headcook of the Hall to the Tavern cook.

It had been a good two sevendays since she and Hartam had had their massive argument, and though the sickness she'd been dealing with had almost gone, waves of nausea still assailed her at the most inconvenient times. Binda said it was a sign of stress, but she hadn't been convinced until this morning. As soon as she had been assigned to take the message to the tavern, sweeping waves of nausea had assailed her -
again.

The driving wind and rain was almost blinding, and she had to use her full weight against it. Her eyes were slits against the elements as she fought her way across the courtyard.

In the Tavern, Hartam sat at a table, staring at the stage - or at least with face turned in that direction. In truth, he was seeing nothing within the room, his thoughts far away, contemplating another time, something that could have been had he not been such a wherry brain. His fingers idly strummed the tune of one of his newer songs - newer but not from within the past two weeks, a singularly unproductive time for him.

However, as his thoughts wandered, the tune modulated slightly, until unbeknownst to the harper, he picked out the melody of a lullaby remembered from his youth.

Finally reaching the sanctuary of the tavern doorway, Tayette was able to open her eyes and stop to catch her breath. Once more the feeling of nausea assailed her as memories of the last time she had been inside, returned. With a shudder, a combination of nerves and relief to be protected from the elements, she pushed open the doorway and made her way inside.

Hartam was only vaguely aware of the wind and cold that entered the room as the door opened, though he glanced idly in that direction. The appearance of the woman simply blended into his thoughts - though the scarf bundled around her had not been there a moment before . . .

The realization came to him that this was real, not a fantasy. He half-rose from his seat, his eyes still on her. "Tayette?"

She felt her pulse quicken and the sick feeling in her stomach rose at the sound of his voice; where she had barely lifted her eyes to the room, for fear of seeing him. "Oh...Hartam. I'm not...I didn't ..."
she looked at him from lowered lids, one hand protectively covering her lower belly while the other ineffectually waved the small note she carried for the cook.

He crossed the room quickly, an arm going around her protectively.
"You're shivering. Sit and I'll get you something warm to drink."

"I'm...I'm fine. It's just - so cold out there." she knew she wasn't making much sense, but allowed herself to be propelled forward into one of the chairs. "Th..thank you." She held out the note, "For cook, er,"
she wracked her brains trying to remember the woman's name, though all coherent thought had been pushed from her mind at the sight of Hartam.
"Er, Bar..Barthella." she managed finally.

He plucked it from her fingers, trying to shove aside his disappointment that the woman had not come to the Tavern to see him. "I'll give it to her and get you something to warm you." He strode quickly into the kitchen, leaving her at the table.

She sat in the chair, shivering, her whole body trembling from the tip of her toes to the top of her head, not an inch of her body was still between the cold and her nerves from being in close proximity of Hartam again. How much she dearly wanted to be held in his arms again, even if just as friends. She could feel the tears welling in her eyes, as the longing caused a lump to form in her throat. She mentally took a hold of herself as he reappeared from the kitchens and feigned interest in her surroundings.

Though uncertain of himself and her reaction to him, he moved quickly, balancing a tray laden with cups and bread. He placed them on the table and immediately reached toward the stage, plucking his jacket from where he had left it and moving to drape it around her shoulders. He dropped into the chair next to her and pulled the tray closer. "The stew isn't quite ready but I asked for some broth for you. That should help to warm you."

As he neared, she had dropped her gaze from her surroundings, and focused on quieting her body, eyes riveted to where her hand lay clasped tightly in her lap. His gentleness in laying his jacket around her shoulders brought her near again to losing her tightly reigned in composure. "Th..thank you." she stammered, not all due to the coldness that enveloped her.

He lingered next to her, uncertain, at a loss for words, yet knowing that he needed to say something. "How. . . How have you been feeling?"

"I'm... I've been okay." she replied, still shivering, "I, the morning sickness isn't as bad now."

"That's good," he replied, though this made him feel even worse that he had not been beside her throughout her illness. "Have you. . . how often do you see a healer?"

"I don't have to see anyone for another month, it's early days yet." she replied, still only glancing up at him occasionally. She took a mouthful of the broth, appreciating the feel of its warmth radiating through her as she swallowed. "Um... I'm.. I'm not showing yet so there's not many that know."

He nodded, a pained expression on his face. "And hopefully none of those reacted as badly as I did when I heard the news." He swallowed, reaching for her hand, but stopping short of touching her. "I want. . . I'd like to talk to you about how I responded and why - if you'd let me."

"Only the Headwoman - until she learnt of the green flight." Tayette shook her head, trying to reassure him. "You don't need to explain Hartam," she said, shaking her head. "I - I won't hold you to anything." her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Not hold me to anything?" His voice rose with those words, but he quickly quieted, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Tayette, I want to be a part of this baby's life - of _our_ baby's life. And I want to be a part of your life as well."

Last updated on the December 2nd 2007

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Healing the Rift 1/2