Dinner Confidential

[KhreRiovtRex 0]

A joint log by Daise'Erei'Riov Morgana t'Ksa, Daise'Khre'Riov tr'Vatrix and Khre'Riov t'Rexan (t'Vatrix)

 

An awkward silence ensued, with only the sound of the waves crashing against the cliff below, and the call of seabirds swooping on the rising air currents. Suddenly, L’haiy’s face brightened, as she saw Var’lon step from the house onto the back porch, at first facing the other direction, but then turning towards them. She rose to her feet to greet him, “Var’lon, we have a guest who has stopped by.”

 

Kheinsa Maec tr’Aieme stood as well, seeing her rise to greet the master of the house, and bowed his head to the Daise'Khre'Riov, “Rekkhai. A pleasure to see au again.”

 

Var’lon arched a brow just slightly, hearing his wife's announcement and turned to the pair, “Ahhh... very good. tr’Aieme, it has been some time. I hope we find au well?” Before giving tr’Aieme a chance to reply, he turned a worried look toward his wife, “How has today gone for au? “ As he noted she looked a bit tired and knew she probably did not rest as he had suggested she do today while he was out.

 

“I ran some errands, only recently returning and have just received tr'Aieme for his visit,” L’haiy crossed over to pour another cup of the untouched wine for her husband, and handed the cup to him to refresh himself. “The kheinsa, being kind, was concerned about my health and stopped by to inquire.” She did na want to say that she was tired from doing too much, and had planned on taking a nap on the porch listening to the surf, and would have preferred na to have to entertain this evening. It would be na only rude, but would make Var’lon worry as well.

 

Maec tr’Aieme had na intention on intruding into the privacy of the newly bonded couple. He’s primary purpose for the visit was to check on his patient, the elusive Khre’Riov t’Rexan, to see how she was adjusting and if she’d developed any coping techniques for the stress and anger she’d displayed earlier in their visits. With his inquiry concluded, satisfied for the time that the Khre’Riov did appear to be finding some balance, he thought that now would be a good time to depart and leave the bondmates in peace. The Kheinsa turns to tr’Vatrix, “Perhaps I should leave. I do na want to overstay my welcome. I came to check on the Khre'Riov and extend my congratulations to au both on au's bonding.”

 

“Don’t be a veruul Maec, au know au are welcome here,” Var’lon replied to khiensa, while he glanced over to his wife to see if she wants company for dinner before partaking of his glass.

 

L’haiy, saw Var’lon glance over at her looking askance. She’d already learned how to read many of his unsaid visual cues and knew that Maec had been one of his confidants for some time. She turned to Maec to make the offer. "Kheinsa tr'Aieme, we would be honored if au would join us for dinner this evening."

 

Not wishing to be rude by any means, tr'Aieme glanced between the two to determine if the offer was genuine or na, the he nodded. "It would be a pleasure, hann'yyo."

 

A servant took a few steps into the room bowing his head slightly. "Dinner will be ready momentarily if you would like to freshen up a bit first." The aroma from the kitchens was already permeating throughout the house, a tantalizing preview of the meal yet to be served.

 

"If au would excuse me a siuren, I will go inform the hruhfe that we will be having a guest this evening."

 

The servant perked up a moment hearing her response. "Don't worry Llhei, I'll notify the cook for you." He quickly bowed once again and backed out of the room.

 

Well, that would save L’haiy a trip to the kitchens at least, but she still wanted to give direction to the hruhfe Nemeria as well. Nodding to the two men, she left them to speak hrrau private; as she was sure they would do out of their ‘concern’ for her. Hopefully, just not too much about herself. Curious though, as tr’Aieme had other business to attend to earlier, but now was willing to just set it aside for dinner. Perhaps in deference for her husband’s request, or had it actually been due to his na wanting the wine as she was na drinking it as well, and did na trust her?

 

Var’lon turned to Maec, "If you'll follow me, we can wash up for dinner." The two head into the house proper from the rear porch of the home in silence as they make their way to the fresher room.

 

Walking to the foyer, she found Nemeria already waiting. "We will be having a guest join us for dinner this evening for dinner."

 

Nemeria turned to t'Rexan, "Ie llhei, Kheinsa tr'Aieme will be staying then? Shall I make a guest room up as well?”

 

"Na, I do na believe that will be necessary, but if it does, we will deal with that when it comes. That is all for now, hann'yyo.” L’haiy sighed to herself as spotted the two men heading off over the hruhfe's shoulder. So much for the quiet evening she had planned. She had really looked forward to dozing off on the lounger on the back porch, having found the salt air and sound of the waves helped her rest enormously. She had spent little time by the ocean before moving here, having grown up between the plains and the forested areas of ch’Havran, but hna, it had become a warm comforting retreat for her. It had been a long day, not much actually having taken place, but with the travel and all, perhaps she should have used Var'lon's flitter driver after all. She would have to keep that in mind for her next trip so she did na wear herself out so easily. And hna, she just hoped that tr'Aieme didn't grill her too much over dinner. Shaking her head, she headed off towards her room to find something a bit more appropriate for entertaining guest rather than the casual travelling clothes that she had still been wearing on the porch. If they were to entertain, it was her duty to look the part as well, now that she was bonded to the Daise’Khre’Riov.

 

Quickly she began rifling through the assortment of new dresses, something she had na been used to having until these last 6 months. For years, she had only worn uniforms or workout gear, but now, things were different. She wanted to put on the best presentation to represent her bondmate, and also wanting to find just the right one that would accentuate her eyes, and draw away from the fact that some of the garments were starting to get a bit snug around her middrift.

 

Having finally chosen the dress she wanted, but not satisfied with how it fit, she decided there was nothing to do but go with it. She was going to start showing eventually, and there was only so long she was going to be able to hide this. She quickly made her way back to the dining area to be sure she was there to receive her husband and his guest when they returned. The hruhfe had been extremely helpful in helping her with her own presentation, something she had avoided for years, often skipping on formal events. The candles had been lit and chilled wine already awaited upon the table. Quickly appraising the work the servants had done and seeing Nemeria had already made sure that all was in place, she took her place to the side of the door to await the return of the two men. They had been gone for some time, so she could only surmise that she had yet again become a topic of discussion between them.

 

Meanwhile in another section of the home, tr’Aieme followed the Daise'Khre'Riov, respectfully admiring the house and its furnishings. The man had a fine taste for the arts as well as for war is seemed. Some even commented as that also being his reason for bonding with t’Rexan with her rejuvenation and uniqueness. After a moment or two, he decided to break his silence, "I want to thank au again for the invitation. I do na wish to be a bother."

 

"It's no bother. We have not had company in some time and have not had an opportunity to entertain yet since we have returned," Var’lon responded.

 

"How was the trip off world? Pleasant?"

 

"It was nice. We both needed to get away for a bit, especially following what happened before leaving. But it was a chance to relax and unwind. Before that trip, I had not taken any extended time away in over 20 years." He did na mention the side trip to deal with the Lloann’en Galae, he did na need that information. Instead, Var’lon washed his hands and face, relaxing a bit as the cool cloth helped pull away the day's worries. "And au? What brings au out to see us tonight?"

 

Maec leans against the wall after cleaning up himself. "Mostly to see how the Khre'Riov was adjusting, dealing with stress, and what not. I promised her I'd look in on her; however, she's been avoiding me like the plague." Despite himself, tr'Aieme smirked, shaking his head. t’Rexan had a reputation for being stubborn, but this was the first time tr’Aieme had the opportunity to experience it firsthand. He could na help but to comment on it either. "She is stubborn, ie?"

 

"Ie, but it’s part of why I married her, it’s that stubbornness and that fighting spirit that intrigues me,” Var’lon smiled to himself a moment as he thought back to some of her more stubborn days. “However, when I had asked you if au could help her, I did not expect you to make house calls."

 

"I don't, usually." The Kheinsa pushed off from the wall he was lounging against as they prepared to exit the room. "But as she is au's bondmate, and io of my friends considers her a friend, I thought I owed it to the both of au to check on her well-being."

 

"I'm surprised any of her... "Friends" on the Talon seemed to care enough to check on her based on how the crew treated her just before we left. I think she's only received one message the entire time we've been gone."

 

"Ie. She mentioned that." He nodded.

 

Var’lon's eyebrow arched just slightly a moment as he thought he would have brought out a somewhat more elaborate response, as the man had twice indicated that he had insight as to what was happening on that ship. "So what are your thoughts then since speaking to her?"

 

Maec stepped out of the Daise'Khre'Riov's way so that he could follow him back to the dining room. He knew that he had to tread carefully around both the Khre'Riov and Daise'Khre'Riov. He did na want to break his patient's confidence, nor did he want to break t'Ksa's either. Both women would fillet him with a kaleh if he said the wrong thing. Na even being a confidant of the Daise'Khre'Riov would save him from that fate. "This evening? Well, that she seems to have relaxed a fair bit. I can see that she's still upset about the crew on board her ship, and rightly so. But she seems to be very happy in your company."

 

"I've spent considerable time helping her to get past what happened. I'm honestly not certain if I can send her back there again though to be put through it again," tr’Vatrix’s face hardened thinking back to that last day they had been aboard Talon. He should have just done what he had wanted without telling her until afterwards, and solved a myriad of problems in one fell swoop. “And I much prefer her here by my side anyway. I’ve had to send her off into danger before, but hna that she is my wife, it is….different.”

 

"That's a decision that the two of au will need to make together. All I can say is that she seems to be much more comfortable and stable than when I first encountered her. If I had to make a professional assessment, I’d have to say au were good for her," tr’Aieme grinned at tr’Vatrix.

 

“And she for me,” tr’Vatrix rejoined.

 

Var’lon nodded to Maec as they entered the dining room, then he grinned seeing his wife on the other side of the room in her dinner gown, the flickering of the candles picking up the fine metallic thread accents in the fabric, making the dress appear to shimmer.

 

"Aefvahd back. Wine has already been poured for au both,” t’Rexan motioned to the cups upon the table, leaving out that she would just be having some water this evening.

 

tr'Aieme nodded and smiled. "Hann'yyo, Khre’Riov." Though on a first name basis with Var’lon in some situations, he did na feel he was quite at that stage with t’Rexan just yet.

 

Var’lon stood a moment admiring his wife, "You look fantastic....though you certainly did not need to dress up for us."

 

"Hann'yyo, and au as handsome as ever. I wanted to honor au house as it should be when we entertain guests. Remember we spoke about my having to take on new duties if I were to be the wife of the Daise’Khre’Riov?" She smiled brightly at him as she spoke.

 

Var’lon laughed lightly as he approached her side pressing his lips to her cheek. "Au bring more honor to this house than you know." He reached over and pulled her seat out for her.

 

Maec watched the interaction between the two, noting the total change in the woman when she was around tr’Vatrix, from the seething, raging ball of fury he’d encountered in his office. He had na given t’Ksa’s report on how strange the woman had been acting that day in the park much merit as he had never seen it himself, but this turnaround, was almost to the extreme. Elements save the person that ever threatened the man if she were around.

 

Squeezing his hand before sitting, L’haiy smiled up at him, "trAieme here, is to be bonded to my Daise Maenak. I think I mentioned that to au once before my jol.'

 

Waiting until L'haiy sat before taking his own seat, tr’Aieme tried to make himself look busy with a napkin. Maec knew that Morgana had been trying to keep their future arrangement that private for a long period of time. While he didn’t completely understand her reasoning, he respected her enough to do as she wished…for now. "Is that au wish or hers?" Teasing a bit, as Maec knew how pushy L'haiy tended to be about the issue, with both Kheinsa and Maenak, which may have been io of the reasons Morgana had remained so tight lipped.

 

Var’lon nodded slightly as the comment made him think of a few earlier comments and gave him a few other issues to ponder later. Surely there was not any sort of setup going on here between the doctor and counselor. "When are you planning your ceremony?"

 

"In confidence?" He glanced between the two before diving full well into the topic. "If all works out, when the ship returns. t'Ksa has recruited her rinam to serve as her planning surrogate in her absence. That is, if all goes as plans. She can be rather...um...touchy about these things." He frowned a little, knowing that if he's said too much, Morgana will never let him live it down. "She has na made these plans public, only our families are aware of the current arrangements. Or at least so we hope, as io of her rinams tends to very vocal on the topic." Na unlike a certain Khre’Riov, he thought wryly.

 

Off to the side, Nemeria motioned for the servants to begin serving the food, yet stay out of the way of the conversation.

 

Var’lon nodded, "I can understand that. Though personally, if I were au, I would most likely reconsider having the ceremony on the Talon. Find a nice quiet planet where you can have it with family and then head out for your personal time together afterwards."

 

L'haiy looked at the food, and realized that it really did nothing for her appetite, in fact, she was thinking of just drinking her water and directing the conversation so that they didn’t' notice that she wasn’t eating much. She was na sure if it was the food itself, or the reminder of what had happened on the Talon that had just upset her stomach. With a bitter twinge in her voice, "Ie, and I would na invite any of them, na a single io. But do na worry, word of it will na leave this room," She looked at Maec with an almost dangerous fire hrrau her eyes, letting him know she would na press further, and that neither should he.

 

"That's the plan so far. To have it in Mhiessan. As to who is invited on t'Ksa's end, that is her choice. And I truly do na know what she's envisioning." He paused, "I'd be honored if au re would like to attend. If au's schedule's permit, of course." He nodded. "I will na be able to provide much advanced warning until the Talon makes it known that it is returning." He shrugs a little. He did give t'Rexan a sideways glance, half expecting the woman to spill the beans to t'Ksa in the next communiqué to the ship. She'd been pressing so hard for the two of them to go through with the ceremony, how could she be so quiet about it?

 

She looked into her water glass, she was na certain they should go even if invited, na certain that the Daise Maenak would want her there or if she even wanted to go. Though, they might due to that fact that she was held in high regard within Galae. She commented na further upon the matter.

 

"The good thing about my position is that few people can dictate our schedule," Var’lon replied smirking slightly. "It's all just subject to how she's feeling later. We're not completely sure what her condition will be like by then."

 

"Condition?" tr’Aieme raised a brow.

 

Var’lon glanced to L'haiy a moment, suddenly not sure if he should have made his last statement.

 

Still not having much of an appetite, she set down her fork, and pushed the plate back, then sipping from her glass, just drinking her water.

 

"One never knows what duties one will have them doing at a time so far off yet."

 

"Of course," tr'Aieme nodded sagely.

 

"If you both would excuse me a moment, I feel the need for a bit of fresh air, and the need to go freshen up a bit," L’haiy pushed her chair back and stood. “I'll return hrrau a few siuren. Fhaen, continue your meal so it does na get cold. I should be back before desert arrives.” Standing, she walked over to Var’lon, leaned over, placing a hand on his shoulder and kissed his cheek, "My apologies, I find I need a moment, I'll return shortly."

 

Var’lon reached up to take her hand a siuren, "Take your time. There are a few things we can still cover while you're gone. If you need me, au just have to send for me."

 

“Hann’yyo e’lev,” then turning to tr'Aieme, t’Rexan nodded, "If au would excuse me," she turns and leaves the room.

 

Var’lon watched her leave with concern, then turned back to his guest. “I fear I brought up a poor subject when I mentioned that last day rhae the Talon.”