Another Hall Spectacle

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 12th December 2005

Characters: Miryene, Jio
Description: After several days of worrying, Miryene decides to confide her fears in Jio, who agrees to a startling solution.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 9, day 3 of Turn 3

Ivy should have been too young to be carrying messages reliably back and forth, but if there was one person in the Hall that the little green flit could find without trouble, it was Jio. Miryene had considered for a long time before sending the note--and not just about whether or not it was appropriate. It wasn't, and she knew it. And considering the fact that she had already been accused of betraying her husband with Jio, it was unwise to ask him to visit her late in the evening in her rooms.

But she was upset. No, she'd passed upset that evening and now she was frantic. She could have spoken to Cinale, but Cinale had known Ivenn before.
Most of the people in the Hall had. Jio, though, had never met her former husband before, and wouldn't waste time trying to convince her that Ivenn had always wanted the best for her. Jio had been sitting alone in his rooms. He had learned who the man who had walked into the room had been. Ivenn, the former husband she had told him about. His hopes for ever having the chance to tell Miryene how he felt her had faded once again. But he didn't even think when the green flit brought the note into his room. She wanted to see him, and Faranth knew how desperately he wanted to see her. He took the stairs two at a time in his rush to reach her room. Jio stood outside her door a moment trying to catch his breath and still his heart. Finally he knocked and peeked his head around the door.

"Miryene," he called. "It's me, Jio."

It was obvious that something was wrong at once. Instead of her usual spot by the fire, Miryene was standing just inside the door, one arm wrapped around her waist and the other clutching the small kettle that she'd refilled from a pitcher on her table. She gave him a nervous look, defensive words coming before he even had a chance to say anything. "I just wanted tea--I needed something to drink..." "It's all right, Miryene. I'll get the tea," he said as he reached for the pot. His other hand slipped around her waist as he began carefully leading back to her chair. "Why don't you sit down and I'll get it for you."

"The kettle needs to go on the fire," she protested, but she let him settle her into the chair. "I was going to put more wood on." "All right, I'll get the wood," he reassured her. After adding a little fuel to the fire, Jio put the kettle on its hook and swung it over the heat, all under Miryene's watchful eyes. "Anything else you need, Miryene?"

Her fingers were twisted together so tightly in her lap that her knuckles were white. "I didn't know who else to talk to, Jio. I'm so scared."

"What?" Worry shown in his eyes as he knelt down in front of her, laying a hand over hers. "Don't be scared, Miryene. No one can hurt you here.
You're safe."

She shook her head. "Don't you see, Jio? Don't you understand? Fielton sent for Ivenn. He's already made up his mind about what he wants me to do... he wants me to marry Ivenn again!" He had realized that much for himself, but he had not counted on her not wanting to marry him again. A spark of determination lit inside Jio as his fingers curled around hers. "No, Miryene. He can't do that. You are still married, and only _you_ can dissolve your marriage. He can't do it for you.
He can't force you."

"No, he can't," she replied quietly, her fingers grasping his tightly. "But he can make me leave, Jio. And I don't want to leave." Leave? No, he _couldn't_. Jio would rather see her married to that man than see her leave. But surely, even Fielton wouldn't kick out a woman with her child just because her husband left her. "No," he shook his head with conviction, "no, Miryene, it won't come to that. I promise you, it won't come to that. How could Fielton make you leave? You are _still_ married.
Your baby is no bastard. He _can't_..."

"I don't know..." And she didn't. That was the worst part of it all. She didn't _think_ Fielton would throw her out... but how unreasonable was it for him to want the people in his Hall to be able to support themselves?
With a small child, she wouldn't be able to. And until the child was born, she was more than useless. "I can't marry him again, Jio. Everyone else thinks it's not that bad... but they don't understand what it did to me!" Jio shook his head emphatically, her fear just fueling his determination to protect her. Shards but he wanted to hold her! "They can't make you marry him again, Miryene," he stated forcefully. "I swear to you, I won't let them hurt you. Not Fielton, not Ivenn, or Jhonnel... No one. I swear it."

A sob ripped free of her, and she pulled her hands back to cover her face.
"I can't _take_ it any more!" Propriety was forgotten, as was the boiling water in the kettle, as Jio wrapped his arms around Miryene. "I'm here, love. I'm here with you, and I won't let anyone hurt you."

She wilted against him as if she'd lost the strength to even sit up. It was awkward with her stomach pressed between them, but her hands were gripping his shoulders so tightly he couldn't move in any case. "I just want to rest, Jio. I don't want to be afraid all the time anymore."

"You have nothing to be scared of. I will protect you," he whispered, wishing he could chase all her fears away. "I will not let them marry you off to anyone who you do not choose for yourself."

"But you can't stop them..." She looked up at him, the idea forming before she could stop it. Oh, it would be terrible... it would be _terrible_. But she couldn't quite push it away.

Jio was fond of her. Shards, rumor said he was more than just _fond_ of her, though he'd always seemed carefully proper to her. It would be wrong to take advantage of that, wrong to ask him to take on such a burden...

But she was fond of Jio. And while she might not feel the same passion for him that she'd felt for Ivenn or Jhonnel... well, he was kind. And marriage for passion had never brought her anything but grief. Perhaps marriage for friendship would be better. "I'll find a way, Miryene," he whispered reassuringly. "There has to be a way."

"There--well, if it comes to it--" She pulled back, suddenly nervous. She couldn't believe she was actually going to say it... "What if the only way is for me to... marry someone else? Even if maybe I'm not quite ready."

He released her slowly and looked at Miryene's face. Jio released her slowly. He had to gather his thoughts. "I need to get take the water off the fire," he murmured as he turned away from her to swing the kettle away from the burning flame. Jio needing to gather his thoughts. This was the perfect opportunity to tell her all the things he had held back for so long.
He had wanted to say so many things to her, but she was married! Now...
Well, she was still married technically, but if anyone was to marry her, he wanted it to be _him_.

Taking a deep breath he turned back to her and reached for both her hands.
"Miryene, there is something I need to tell you. Something I have wanted to say for so long. I know we have known each other for less than a turn, but..." He swallowed hard, nervous and excited to finally admit to her his feelings. "Miryene I love you, and if you were to marry someone else...
please let it be me."

It should have made it easier, but all it did was make her feel guilty. He loved her, and all she wanted to do was avoid marriage to Ivenn. It was a terrible reason to get married, and it wouldn't be fair to Jio. "Jio..." She reached for his face with one hand. "Jio, you should think about what you're saying. Do you really want to marry someone who is about to have a child?
I've been through so much, Jio. Even if I am fond of you, I don't know how long it will be before I can... before I could be a good wife." "I can be patient," he quickly assured her. He had waited this long. If she would have him he could wait as long as it took. Gently, almost hesitantly, he caressed her cheek with his free hand. Shards, but he had waited so long to touch her! "I don't care who the father of your baby is, Miryene. It's _your_ baby, and that's enough for me. I will love it as if it's my own, I promise you." And in time, showering her with love and tenderness, Jio was sure he could make her forget Ivenn and Jhonnel, and see only him. "I will be good to you, and I will stay by you. You will see. You will see that you can trust me, Miryene."

She closed her eyes, trying to think rationally. Was it any wiser to rush into one marriage to avoid another? If it were anyone but Ivenn, she'd say no... but Ivenn...

Miryene opened her eyes. "I'll speak to the Hallmaster tomorrow about dissolving my marriage. Please... please don't say anything to anyone else, Jio. I don't know if I'm ready to be at the center of _another_ Hall spectacle." "Of course," he nodded. He wanted to kiss her, to touch her, to tell the world and celebrate the fact that the woman he thought had slipped between his fingers would now be _his_. But he knew she needed time. Instead Jio wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "I will take care of you, Miryene. You and your baby. Trust me." **Love me...**

Last updated on the December 12th 2005

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