Forever And A Day
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: AL
Date Posted: 27th August 2014
Characters: Zathris
Description: Zathris makes a choice.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 8, day 21 of Turn 7
She looked so peaceful when she slept, unlike the tortured soul that
reflected within the depths of her eyes when she was awake. Between the
nightmares, when it was peaceful and she wasn't crying out in the
darkness, all the tension was gone and for a few moments, he could
pretend it was all as it had been once before, that she was whole, not
some shattered porcelain doll that was carefully being patched backed
together.
He watched in the rocking chair that had been nestled in a corner when
the babies were born. He did not allow it to sway with its natural
motion, but remained still for fear of waking her. Although she was
peaceful, he was not. Within his chest, Zathris' heart was twisting and
his stomach roiled in harmony with it. The evening had found him
without appetite, and out of his bed and her chambers, as silent as a
whisper so he would not awaken her.
Their conversation earlier in the day had not gone unheeded. If
anything, Zathris had been running that in his thoughts all day and the
guilt that had plucked constantly at him, that he had tried so
constantly to push to the back and ignore was released. It stabbed at
him and needled at his heart. Through it all, he had never stopped
loving her, and never would - but he could not deny that he had fallen
in love with another woman in addition to his wife. And therein was the
problem - Barenziah. He hadn't expected her, hadn't realised what she
would come to mean to him. He wanted her, there was no doubt.
His eyes shut, then reopened, the sleeping vision remained unchanged.
He wanted her, yes, but more than anything, he wanted Benani, whole,
healthy. He wanted to see her smile, to be able to touch her hand, put
his arms around her, feel his body pressed against his own.
**And how is that going to happen if she finds out about Barenziah?**
He cringed at the tought. What would happen? Most likely she'd retreat
further, and the damage that had been undone, would it simply be
renewed? Teeth ground together. What would this do to his marriage? To
his wife?
They were questions he'd been avoiding, questions that had plucked and
picked and nagged at him in the furthest recess of his mind, locked away
behind a stubborness that refused to pay attention, refused to hear.
There, in the stillness of the night, with reality facing him ,the wall
was torn down and he could no longer ignore their cries.
**What are you doing?** They asked. **You made a promise. You've gone
against your own beliefs, turned into someone you didn't want to be.
What is your word worth now?**
The knife twisted again, slicing down through his heart and another into
his gut. He shouldn't have fallen into the temptation. He should have
walked away - from the very beginning, he should have avoided her. But
now...but now it had all spiraled down too far. Now what was there to do?
Slowly, Zathris pushed himself up and crossed to the bed, his bare feet
silent against the floor. His eyes remained locked upon her prone form,
watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest. There was only one thing
to do, and though it would be painful, the pain that would result should
things continue would be far, far worse. A hand started to reach toward
her, then faltered and fell back to his side, fingers clenched into a fist.
"Forever and a day." The words were hushed, a bare whisper that drifted
from his lips, words that he had spoken those short turns ago when he
had taken vows with the woman who lay before him. For a length of
moments, he remained there, unmoving, watching the silent slumber, then
whirled upon his heel to cross to the door that separated their
quarters. Carefully he turned the knob to open it, but paused upon the
threshhold. His hazel eyes settled upon her once more, a lingering look
before returning to his own quarters and what promised to be a fitful
sleep, but the words he spoke a second time rippled with a certainty as
he slipped back into the dimness of his room.
"Forever." He promised anew. "Forever...and a day."
Last updated on the September 17th 2014