A Memory from Long Ago

Writers: Heather
Date Posted: 13th July 2014

Characters: Chaysea, Dothran
Description: Chaysea thinks back to her wedding day with Dothran
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 24 of Turn 7

Chaysea sat in her office idly drawing circles and squiggles on her
clipboard. Ever since that day at the beach with L'pin all the virgin
Headwoman could think about was _losing_ her virginity. If it was
anything as good as kissing L'pin had been then she had something to
anticipate indeed. Of course, she hadn't lived thirty-two Turns and
been married once (and maintained her virginity through all of that)
just to throw it away to the first dragonrider who showed her some
kindness. Especially when her first husband had used the idea of sex
as a threat.

She thought back to her wedding day. She had been twenty-five, a
spinster by most Hold standards, but to her it had felt like the
closing jaws of death. All Chaysea had ever dreamed of was joining the
healercraft. Yet with the Southern Holds' antiquated views on females
and their position in life, Chaysea had never even had a chance.
Running away to the Weyr simply had not been an option back then.

~*Flashback*~

Her shoes felt slippery from sweat. Was it normal for peoples' feet to
sweat on the day of their wedding? Was that why they called it 'cold
feet'? Chaysea licked her lips as she stood, prepared to enter the
room and forever join herself to Dothran. She nervously adjusted the
silky red hem of her dress.

If nothing else this marriage had pleased her parents. At twenty-five
they had nearly given up hope of ever marrying off their dutiful
daughter, and when they had managed to secure such a relationship
between her and a Master Vintner? It had been nothing but smiles ever
since. Well, on their behalf anyway.

Chaysea had no wish to marry a seventy-two Turn old man, she shuddered
at the thought, but she did want to make her parents happy and she
knew that she was a burden on them when they were at the age to be
worrying for only themselves. She sucked in a deep, steadying breath
as the doors were opened, and she caught the first sight of her groom
standing at the end of the aisle.

It was even worse than she had previously imagined. Chaysea had
resigned herself to his advanced age months ago, but his physical
appearance had been something she had tried to avoid. Tall, shards but
Dothran was tall, towering awkwardly above Chaysea, who was even tall
for a woman. The height would have been amenable were it not for the
fact that the man was sickly thin with stooped shoulders, and a long
hooked nose that poked out between two watery, ice blue eyes.

His grey hair was thick, at least, if there was one saving grace, and
it was neatly combed back. Although Chaysea wished that it were combed
_forward_, maybe then it would cover more of his unreasonably tall
forehead. The expression on his face was sour, and his top lip was
curled a bit with disdain, as if he found this entire process utterly
ridiculous.

That made two of them at least. Chaysea steeled herself against the
sudden urge to run, and strode down the aisle and placed her hands
into her betrothed's wizened claws. She glanced up into his beady
eyes, and sighed. This was to be her happily ever after.

-*-

The celebration afterwards was very short, and Chaysea could thank
that on her new husband's age and the fact that he "needed his rest."
The only concern in the back of Chaysea's mind was her husband's ideas
of "rest." Surely a seventy-two Turn old man wasn't thinking about
consummating his marriage to his new, young wife, was he? She was not
his first wife, his other had died a Turn prior, and Chaysea could not
fathom why he wanted to join to another after all this time. Dothran
even had children older than Chaysea.

As they retired to Dothran's quarters, Chaysea surveyed the area with
interest. It was nice at least. The man had acquired many things over
his years as a Master, and it showed in the quality of the tapestries,
rugs, and other trinkets that he had.
A cough rattled the old man's chest as he gingerly lowered himself
into a chair by the fireplace.

"Is there anything I can get for you, husband?"

"Klah," Dothran barked, irritated by everything around him. The room
was cold, and his finery wasn't exactly the warmest material. He
wanted a hot bath and warm bedfurs. At least his new wife was here to
make the house work more efficiently.

"It's sharding cold in here. Don't those drudges know how to do
anything?" he said, in the tone of someone repeating the same old
claim.

Chaysea spotted the klah warmer across the room and made her way over
to pour her new husband a cup. She didn't see any sugar so she assumed
that he must drink it without. He didn't seem like the type of man who
liked anything sweet. Carrying the cup over, she handed it to him,
"Would you like me to stoke the fire?"

"Yes," he said. At least she was compliant quickly, as obedient as her
parents had said. He cupped the drink between his hands to warm them, then
took a sip, his hands shaking the whole time.

Still looking resplendent in her red wedding gown, Chaysea took the
poker by the fire place and jabbed at the logs until the flame blazes
brighter, causing a glow of sweat on her brow. Turning back to Dothran
she swallowed past a nervous lump in her throat, "Is there anything
else you require of me?"

His eyes trailed over her with appreciation - she was truly a lovely
bride. Why had her parents waited so long to have her married off? He
wanted himself to respond to her in the way a man did to a woman. His
first wife had been much closer to his age, and much sicker near the end.
It would be so nice to feel female company in that way.

But a cough wracked him and he felt his body not responding, even though
she was young and lovely and well-dressed. Well, perhaps tomorrow.

"We'll get undressed and go to bed," was what he told her.

-*End Flashback*-

Dothran had not forced himself on her that night, nor did he ever
doing their marriage, although he did often use it as a loaded threat
for when he wanted her to obey him.

Chaysea was shaken from her reverie when a knock came at her door, "Come in!"

A drudge poked her head inside, "Ma'am, you are needed in the kitchens."

"I'll be right down" Chaysea bawled up her page of doodles and tossed
them in the trash on her way out, leaving herself to reminisce about
the rest of her marriage on another day.

Last updated on the July 15th 2014

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A Memory from Long Ago