Red Flags
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: Heather
Date Posted: 11th February 2022
Series: This is How a Heart Breaks
Characters: Gyllie, Dysmin
Description: Gyllie thinks back on the first red flag in her marriage to Dysmin
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 9, day 25 of Turn 10
Notes: Follows "BLW: Keeping Promises"
The tension in the room could be sliced with a knife, but Gyllie and Dysmin barely noticed. It was always that way when they were around each other. She wished that Dysmin was like other Hold men, who were content to have mistresses apart from their wife. Then, maybe, he would leave her alone to her own devices.
On paper Dysmin was an impeccable husband, he brought in a handsome enough sum of marks to keep them both well clothed and with enough extra to buy some of their wants, rather than just their needs. He never forgot her birthday, their wedding anniversary, or special occasions.
There was one glaring mark against him, however, that Gyllie had never been able to overlook. He was still in love with her sister.
That was how all of this animosity between them had started....
**Flashback**
Dysmin tenderly tucked a strand of Gyllie's fiery red hair behind her ear. "And you're sure about this? I don't want you to feel obligated because of the promise you made your sister. She would understand."
The hint of a blush bloomed on Gyllie's cheeks at his touch. It was the first time in their short courtship that he had done something so intimate.
"I'm sure," she said. After all, her sister had been so insanely happy with this man, surely she would as well? This would make her parents happy, and it would honor the promise she'd made to Eyllian.
"I'll see you down the aisle then," Dysmin pressed a kiss to the top of her head, gave her arm a gentle squeeze and then departed.
Adjusting her traditional red wedding dress, that was in a dark enough color not to clash with her hair, Gyllie exhaled her nerves and offered her father a tremulous smile as he came to take her arm....
"I Gyllian," she repeated after the harper with a smile, "take you Dysmin, to be my husband."
The corner's of Dysmin's slate blue eyes crinkled with a smile. "I Dysmin, take you Ellyian -" a collective gasp rippled through the small gathering of family that sat behind them. Gyllie's smile dimmed a little, and she saw panic flash across Dysmin's eyes. "Gyllian," he said her name slowly and firmly, as if having to convince himself of her identity, that she was not her twin sister. "To be my wife."
**End Flashback**
She had forgiven him that slip, after all, she and her sister _were_ identical twins, and their parents had done the annoying thing of giving them rhyming names.
But unfortunately, that first slip had not been the last and now they had devolved to the point of barely being able to speak two civil words to one another.
"I'll be traveling to Amber Hills the day after tomorrow. It will probably be a fortnight before I'll be back. Is there anything you'd like for me to bring back for you?" Dysmin's voice broke the silence.
Gyllie's nimble fingers worked on detangling a snare in her embroidery.
"A bottle of wine from the Hall would be lovely," she replied. It was the same thing she said every time he traveled to Amber Hills.
"I'll bring you back a bottle of the light pink, then, I know that's your favorite."
**Actually, that was Eyllian's favorite,** she thought automatically.
"Thank you," she replied.
"Of course," he replied, and then they slipped back into silence.
Last updated on the January 9th 2024
[Prev: Keeping Promises] Series: This is How a Heart Breaks [Next: Saying Goodbye]