Adult Stuff

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 2nd September 2005

Characters: Nyblek, Keles
Description: Nyblek finds his sister after another night of fighting with her husband
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 7, day 22 of Turn 3

"There there now, honey..." Keles soothed to her fussing son. "There now... Hush... There's no need to cry." Gently, she smoothed her fingers into Kelwyn's fuzzy hair, gently caressing, hoping that her touch would soothe him as it usually did. This time was no different, and Keles was relieved. She hadn't meant to wake him...
A shuddering sigh suddenly escaped her as she watched her son's eyes begin to close. He gave one, big yawn before sticking his thumb in his mouth, at last content enough to sleep again.

She wished she could be just as content.

After tucking in the soft blankets around his small body, Keles went over to the bed and perched on the edge of it, her eyes unseeing as she stared at the cradle. One of her hands traveled up her side, and she winced, feeling the bruise. The hand continued to travel up until it reached her neck. There were bruises there as well.

Dawyn hadn't been very gentle last night. But then again, she hadn't been gentle either. They both had gotten into an argument - again -
but this time he hadn't stormed out. She didn't let him. Keles was thankful that their son had been in the other room. She was glad he slept deeply enough through the yelling.

But unfortunately, Kelwyn wasn't as deep a sleeper in the early hours of the morning, and her raising her voice to Dawyn had woken him.

She scrubbed at her face, trying to fight back the tears of frustration that began to well in her eyes.

"Keles? Are you in?" Nyblek called as he walked into her living quarter's main room. "Aunt Joslia sent me with some clothes for Kelwyn.
This box is heavy, where can I put it?"

Keles jumped at the sound of her brother's voice. She hadn't even heard him come in! She rushed out of the bedroom, softly clicking the door shut behind her. "Ssh, Ny... Kelwyn's sleeping..." She gestured to the place beside the couch. "It can go there."

"Sorry." Nyblek tiptoed softly to the couch and set the box down as carefully as possible. "I didn't know baby clothes could be so heavy!"
he whispered.

She grinned a little, pulling her robe tighter around her neck to hide the bruises. "They get heavier when the baby gets heavier." She came closer and sat on the couch, then scooted over to make room for him.

The young apprentice sat in the space she made for him, grateful to be free of the load. "How's my favorite sister today?"

"Tired." The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Before he would be able to comment on that, she asked, "And how's my favorite brother?"

"Worn out," he said pointing to the box he had carried back from the Hold. "Why are you so tired?"

"I didn't sleep well last night." Which was the truth. She hadn't.

Nyblek knew babies sometimes would keep their parents from sleeping. "Was it Kelwyn?" he asked helpfully.

No. "Yes... Partly." Keles couldn't outright lie to her brother. They were too close.

They were too close. Nyblek could tell by her uncertainty what was bothering her. "It's more of your 'adult stuff' again, isn't it."

She hesitated, then nodded. Then she forced a smile for him. "But I think that after some rest, I'll be all right."

"You know, I'm not a kid," her younger brother said with a frown. "I know that adult stuff means you are fighting with Dawyn."

She looked away, tucking her hair behind her ears. "You're a smart boy, Ny."

"Well, I might be your little brother, but I'm not really that _little_
anymore." He frowned slightly. "I might not understand _everything_
about being married, but I sure wouldn't have thought you would have to fight so much."

"I wish we didn't, Ny..." She shrugged, fighting back the burning in her eyes. She blinked quickly. "And I try not to. But the tempers just get the better of us." **Both in and out of bed,** she thought bitterly.

"Are you all right, Kel?" he asked carefully.

No. "I will be." She looked at him and gave him a small smile. "I just need some sleep, that's all. My mind'll be clearer after. Things will make more sense."

"Well, do you need a hug or something?" he asked awkwardly. Nyblek wasn't used to comforting his big sister. It had always been the other way around.

She would _not_ cry. She would not. Feeling a lump spring up in the back of her throat, she nodded silently.

He wasn't sure that he could hug her properly sitting on a couch side by side, so he stood up, pulling her along with him. The young man was a bit surprised as he looked down at his sister. When had he grown so much taller than her? She looked almost small to him now, and yet his vision had always been of her being so much older and bigger than he was. Nyblek suddenly felt very protective of his littler sister. "Come here, Kel," he said as he pulled her close to him.

She rested her cheek against him, fighting the urge to cry. It was silly. She shouldn't cry. Keles was silent for a long moment, just letting him hold her. His brotherly touch was so gentle... It seemed as though she hadn't felt gentleness in a long, long time. Finally, when she thought she had found her voice again, she murmured, "When did you get to be so tall?"

"When you stopped growing, I guess," he said with a little laugh. "Maybe now I can be the big brother and you can be my _little_ sister."

That brought a genuine smile to her lips, however faint. "Okay. I won't argue with that."

Last updated on the September 3rd 2005

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