Her Wifely Duty

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 20th May 2011

Characters: Eilomar, Merlish
Description: The dreaded wedding night comes at last...
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 5

Eilomar has to admit he was very nervous of the what came next.
He was 67 Turns old and over weight and it had been longsince the
last time. He could only hope his body remembered what it was
supposed to do. After all, he had been quite a charmer in his
youth and got his share of "adventures", including illegitame son
somewhere. They were led to the sleeping champer. Then he
retreated to bath room to let her time and privacy to get ready.
Not to mention he needed time to prepare himself too.

It had been easy to not focus on the future with the whirl of activity
around them before, during and even after the ceremony. The spinning
world had just stopped, and the focal point had narrowed to just the two
of them. The two of them, and a bed they were to share. Merlish
swallowed hard, trying to remember what everyone had told her to do.
She must prepare herself to become a woman, she knew. There steps that
one should take - take off the jewelry; take all bows, flowers, combs
and braids from her hair and brush it out; change into her nightgown,
but for convenience sake, wear no underthings; get into the bed, and
wait for her husband to return and then turn out the lights.

What followed was uncertain, but it would get easier the more they did
it. That much she knew. But she just had to do it the first time.
**You just have to do it,** she repeated to herself three times before
taking her first cautious step towards the vanity.

Eilomar removed his gather clothes and hung them up neatly so the
wrinkles would air out. He washed himself, taking time. He brushed his
hair.

Onced finished grooming, Merlish stepped into the closet to find her
nightgown hung and ready for her, like she had been told it would be.
Glancing over her shoulder to be sure no one could see her, she began
peeling off the layers of cloth that covered her, fighting the edge of
panic as she stepped out of her dress. She hung it neatly before
starting on her undergarments. Now she almost wanted to cry! She felt
naked and exposed, for that was what she was! Naked in a strange place
with a man, a _man_ just room or two away! She had been trained all her
life _against_ such impropriety!

She slunk into the night gown as quickly as she could, covering herself.
But now, what did one do with their undergarments? She couldn't just
_leave_ them there where Master Eilomar could _see_ them! Was there a
drawer somewhere? A box? Anywhere that he wouldn't find them?
**Think, think...** she told herself, forcing herself to take deep
breaths. **Under the bed! Hurry! He's coming!** Wadding them up in a
tight ball, she tossed her undergarments as far under the heavy folds of
the blanket as she could manage and then scurried under the covers
before he could see what she had done.

Eilomar was wearing a bathrope. He sat on the bed next to her, the
mattress pressing down under his weight. "Are you ready?" he asked. She
looked so young and scared.

A glimmer of hope shone in Merlish's eye for just a brief moment. Did
she really have a _choice_? **No, you don't. Get it over with!** she
scolded herself, though the only answer she could muster was a rather
weak, "Yes?"

Well, that didn't sound very convincing even to Eilomar. "Do you want to
take a drink or turn out the lights?" he asked. Sometimes it was easier
for the woman if she was too drunk to care.

Unfortunately, Merlish had very little experience with alcohol, and
therefore didn't really understand the dulling effect it might afford
her. In fact, she didn't even think of the possibility as she said
softly, "Maybe some water?", thinking that might please him.

"Of course," Eilomar got up again and fetched her a glass of water.
After handing the glass to her he settled down again. "Are you nervous?"
he
asked, starting gently stroke her hair. "You were very lovely today."

She swallowed the sip of water in her mouth with a gulp, not because of
her thirst but because his touch had startled her a little and it was
all she could do not to pull away from it. Only her family had touched
her like before! Thank Faranth he had paid her a compliment so she
didn't have to answer that question truthfully! "Thank you. I'm glad I
pleased you. You looked..." Handsome wasn't quite the word... "Very
fine in your new outfit."

"Thank you, dear," he said and bend to give her a shy kiss on a cheek.

Merlish sat perfectly still, the glass still clutched in her hand, not
sure what to do except murmur, "You're welcome."

Since she didn't actually pull back from him, Eilomar got bolder and
started to explore her body more. His kisses turned more passionate.

She tightened in on herself, pulling the glass protectively against her
chest. Merlish wanted to scream! No man had _ever_ dared to touch her
like that! Seriously, was she ever supposed to get _used_ to being
defiled like this?! **No,** she reminded herself forcefully, **this is
his right. You just have to let him have his way tonight and get it
over with!**

"Relax and it will be easier," Eilomar said and gently pulled the glass
out of her hand and placed it to the night stand. At that rate it would
shatter into her hand.

If there was any way she could make this night go easier, she would
gladly do it! But _relax_? She was about to have a very heavy man
crushing down on her, touching and _doing_ things that no man should do!
**Except your husband,** she reminded herself sternly as she nodded,
trying to do as he said. He, after all, had done this before. Besides,
she was his wife now. If he wanted her relaxed, by Faranth, it was her
duty to try to do just that! Taking a deep breath she willed her hands
to slide down to her lap, though she had clamped them together to stop
the trembling.

Eilomar pulled out his bathrobe, and started to remove the nightgrown
from her.

~*~ fade to black for a moment ~*~

Eilomar was happy to notice that his body still could function as it was
meant to. It was probably over too soon for her, for he couldn't keep it
up long and came too soon. He could only hope he didn't hurt her too
much.
He rolled over, sweating and panting

Though it was mercifully short, in Merlish's point of view it had lasted
an eternity. Every time he touched her, kissed her, moved his body
against hers, she wanted to scream and fight him. The pain and the fear
was overpowered by only one thing - the thought that he was her husband
now, and that it was her _duty_ to endure it all quietly and willingly.
Though why his greenrider daughter would purposefully seek out men to
perform this act with now completely escaped her. Merlish wished on
Faranth's Egg she never had to do that again! But she knew that this
was just the start. Eilomar would do it again, and again, and again,
and she would just have to take it.

Rolling on her side, purposefully putting space between them,pulled the
sheet tight around her, trying desperately to cover her nakedness and
shame, and silently and tearfully fought the sense of loneliness and
dread that filled her. The only glimmer of hope was the Headwoman's
words to her - **It _should_ get better...**

"I hope it didn't hurt too much, Merlish," Eilomar said with gentle
concern. He yawned. He was spent.

"It's fine," she managed to murmur in an almost natural tone, though she
was too heart-sore to really feel the pain.

Since she seemed to be all right, Eilomar just murmured: "good," and
fell asleep.

Last updated on the May 29th 2011

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Her Wifely Duty