KH: So We Are Doing This

Posted on Thu Mar 20th, 2025 @ 9:42pm by Sr Journeyman Rena & Sr Journeyman Bensen & Sr Journeyman Sena

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: Kymos Hold
Timeline: M2 D29

Rena had spent a good half a candlemark just watching the apprentice that she had helped to make sure he was confident enough before she decided to start to wander around the grand hall taking in the tapestries that were hung up in the large space. It was to take her mind off who she needed to find really and to ground herself in a little bit of Kymos’ history much like she did at Far Site when she needed to ground herself.

Bensen had been enjoying the music. He has promised to give Rena time and wasn't going to rush her. He had walked over to snag a glass of wine before deciding to take a walk before they were all expected to sit down for dinner. Bensen nearly ran into Rena as he had been taking a drink and not paying attention.

Rena turned as she felt a presence beside her as she stepped back that suddenly stopped. She smiled softly up at him as he looked like he had been caught doing something that he should not have been doing. “Hello.” She greeted him.

He barely managed to keep from drenching himself in wine as the voice registered in his head. A smile touched his lips as he colored in embarrassment. “Hello.”

Rena leaned out and moved his glass with a bigger smile at the colour that was on his face. “Waste of wine if you spill it.” She said gently teasing ever so slightly as she stepped back to give them both a little room. “Did you have a good afternoon?” She wondered.

“And we don't want to waste wine,” he agreed. At least her silly little comment helped him to steady himself again. Bensen nodded. “I did. Lots of mingling with people,” he admitted.

“Especially good wine.” She commented softly. “Well you do like mingling. I had a nap and then came here early. I was helping an apprentice with a harp.” She indicated through to the main area where the stage was.

Bensen was surprised by her answer. “Really? You were helping one of the apprentices?” he hadn't seen her with a harp or any instrument in a long time.

“Your surprise is matched by your mothers expression too. But yes I helped cause I could not see a child upset when they were given a task and instrument too big for them on such an important day. Lord Marcano asked and I just did it.” She shrugged a little, feeling the callouses on her fingers from all the candlemarks playing. “Even got a little dust on my fingers tuning it up.”

“It's just been a while. Did it feel good to have an instrument in your hands again?” He knew she loved to play, but none of them had been themselves.

The woman nodded. “It did. It felt … it felt natural and normal.” Maybe that was what she needed to try and find herself. She needed something normal and something from pre Oseben to bring her back. “But less about me did you talk to anyone interesting?” She did not want things to be all about her.

“Normal is good.” He knew they could all use a bit more of that. Bensen shook his head. “Not really. Spent some of my time down at the stables so got to talk about the runners,” he smiled.

“Well, that is one of your favourite subjects so it sounds like a nice afternoon for both of us.” She decided glancing back at the tapestry for a moment, taking in the scene that was displayed of Kymos being built. It was a beautiful use of thread, the weavers had worked so hard on it. “We need to talk Ben.” She finally decided to confront the issue head-on.

“It is,” he agreed. He loved talking about runners. Bensen studied the tapestry, wondering what Rena was seeing. The young man nodded. “Yeah, we do.” He wasn't sure how this was going to go.

“Can we talk now or is this too quick or not appropriate?” She wondered quietly looking up to him giving him her full attention as he deserved.

“It's fine,” he assured her. He didn't care if it was appropriate or not. they definitely needed to talk. And he had a feeling waiting wouldn't be good.

“I have been thinking all afternoon about your kind and potentially the most generous offer that I have ever received.” She started hoping she was saying the right words that were spilling out of her head before she could filter them. “You have been the only person who has made me feel anything these last couple of months other than your sister and well she is not my type so…” she paused, frowning at her own words as she touched his shoulder. “What I am trying to say somewhere in this is yes I will marry you but I have 3 stipulations.”

Bensen kept quiet as it seemed like she had a lot on her mind. He nodded a bit so she knew he was listening, but had to bite back a laugh when she mentioned his sister. “Stipulations?” He asked.

“Yes, stipulations. We try for one turn and if we do not make each other happy we divorce and you have the runners with no questions asked.” She quietly started to list the three stipulations that she had to make sure he was happy and protected as he was making her.

Bensen didn't like it but he slowly nodded. “Alright. Anything else?” He asked. He had no doubt that could be happy.

“You have to teach me about runners or at least help me help Brenna and this child about them.” She wanted that because if they did make each other happy she was going to have to learn someday about it all seeing it was her children’s legacy.

A smile touched his lips. “That I can do easily,” he assured her. It would be fun. And he had no doubt Brenna would enjoy it and he would do his best to make it interesting for all of them.

“My last one … this baby gets to be named after Oseben in one form or another.” She said quietly. The child would be legally Bensen’s child but his or her birth father would be recognised one way or another.

Bensen was surprised by that request. He wouldn't have wanted it any other way. “Of course. I wouldn't want it any other way,” he assured her. He would make sure the kids remembered Oseben.

“Thank you.” She let out a deep breath. “All my stipulations and requests. Your turn.” She said, hoping he had something that, at the very least, would make her not sound demanding when she wanted everyone to be happy.

Bensen nodded. Those were simple stipulations. “Rena, I just want us to give it a try. There are no hard feelings either way, but I want you to know that you and the kids will always come first, and I will help you keep Oseben's memory alive for them.”

“You do not keep his memory alive by compromising your happiness. He would never want that.” She said gently. She wanted to tell him that she did not feel the same feelings that he felt for her but she was going to give it her all.

“That is not what I meant, but it doesn't mean I won't tell stories of us as kids,” he grinned. He had lots of those. Bensen could see he still didn't truly have her convinced. This might not work but he was going to give it his all.

“I just do not want you living in his shadow Ben. You are too good of a man to have someone broken but your mother has assured me I am not broken just a little ruffled and bruised..” She said quietly smiling a little at the grin on his face. “I want you happy.”

“Mother always did have a way with words. And you are not broken,” he assured her. “Why do you think I will not be happy? I did not have to volunteer for this. It was not expected of me. I care for you Rena, no strings attached.”

“I know that too. Your mother had a conversation with me before you all came down. I know you did not have to volunteer.” She assured closing her eyes. Her words were coming out wrong and she was just explaining herself how she wanted to. “I do not want my best friend resenting me for wherever this goes and being unhappy if I am not enough. What if I let you down?” She said quickly trying to make him understand why she was worrying.

Ah, so his mother had talked to her. He hoped that was good. “Ren, you will be my best friend no matter what.” In his mind that would never change. “How would you let me down?” That didn't make sense to him.

Rena smiled sadly at him and touched her bump feeling the baby kicking. “Not giving you the commitment you deserve? Not able to …” She sighed trying to not think about how she had let Oseben down with the miscarriages or how she had kept a baby alive and growing when she was going through one of the hardest things she felt that she was going through. “You’re an incredible person, and I care for you deeply. It might not be in the same way that you care for me but I want to try.” She said softly.

“Ren, it's okay” he said gently. “No matter what we will always be friends and you could never let me down.” He knew some of the issues she had had with carrying a child but that didn't worry him.

Rena nodded her head, She closed her eyes trying to calm down as she took one of his hands in hers and squeezed it. “Okay. I’ll relax. I am sorry.” She said, opening her eyes to look at him.

“Don’t be sorry. I would rather you talk to me. About anything even if you don't think it's important.” He gave her a gentle smile as she squeezed his hand. He would do this Rena's way and however fast or slow she wanted things to go.

“I am a harper, Ben. One day you might wish me to shut up.” She said trying to tease him and get to somewhere slightly less heavy with tension.

“Never,” he grinned. “Talk, sing, play your guitar. Whatever you want to do I'll be happy to listen,” he answered, glad things had eased up.

The woman nodded, feeling the tension leaving her body as they spoke and he grinned at her. “Okay then. So what happens now?” She wondered still holding his hand.

Bensen thought for a minute. He honestly wasn't sure. “I guess let my parents know,” he said, not sure.

“Let's go then.” She said just as a trumpet sounded through the halls making the woman jump a little. “Or not… it is food time.” She said shaking her head at the suddenness of the noise.

He squeezed her arm to settle her. “Then let's enjoy some good food and then we'll talk with my parents.” He couldn't keep a smile off his face.

The woman smiled at the smile on his face. “Lead the way.” She instructed letting him lead her back into the main hall of the hold. She glanced around for anyone. “I am too short for this. Can you see any of them?” She wondered quietly as people were all around them and Rena was not a short woman. She was slender with a bump that seemed to take over herself at the moment which made manoeuvring in crowds slightly more difficult.

Bensen kept his step in line with Rena's as they walked. He looked around the crowd. “I see them over there,” he answered, leading her through the crowd.

Rena nodded and followed behind using him to block people that were trying to get places as they were. “Ah there you both are.” Lord Oben said before raising an eyebrow at them holding hands. Lady Sena smiled as soon as she saw the pair. Apparently, they had spoken.

“Sorry father. The crowd was horrendous to get through,” Bensen answered.

“It's slightly my fault, too. I am a little slower than normal.” Rena wondered if she should let go of his hand, but as she did, she felt his grip tighten.

Bensen wasn't going to loosen his grip. “We lost track of time while we were talking and then by that time the crowds had started to grow. I didn't want Rena getting hurt.”

Rena glanced down and smiled a little. He was not letting her hide any longer which was nice and terrifying for her. She had kept out of sight and to herself for so long that now in front of everyone she wanted to wither away. “As you should Bensen,” Oben said observing the pair as Senabena bounced through her mother and eldest brother grinning as she saw the pair.

Bensen smiled at his sister. He could see she had figured it out. He then smiled at Rena. “I wouldn't let anything happen to her,” he assured his father.

“Bensen? Rena? Is there something you would like to say?” Sena asked.

“Um…” Rena started. Enabon rolled his eyes.

“They are getting married obviously.” The man said wondering how Bensen had convinced the woman when he had attempted and the woman had firmly shut him down. It had been sweet but no had been firmly said.

Bensen couldn't keep a smile off his face. “She said yes,” he answered.

Sena smiled. “I am so happy for both of you.”

Senabena squealed, rushing forward first to hug Bensen and then Rena who wrapped her free arm around the young woman. Everyone seemed happy for them.

“Congratulations to the pair of you,” Enabon said quickly realising he had not offered his own kind words.

“I am happy for you too son. ” Oben said, nodding. He was impressed but could see his eldest son's confusion despite his muttered words of congratulations.

Bensen laughed and hugged his sister back. “Thank you all.” He smiled at Rena. Even if all they ever were was friends he was okay with that.

“We will have to talk after this is all over,” Sena said.

“Of course,” Rena said quickly, bowing her head a little as the steward came over to start sitting them all. Oben smiled fondly at the pair and patted Bensen’s shoulder as he passed. Rena smiled at Bensen looking relieved and calmer than she had all day.

Bensen gave her hand another light squeeze. “We'll almost through this day,” he whispered to her as they were led to their seats. He couldn't believe how happy he was feeling.

“I know and nothing has gone wrong.” She said, sitting down with a calming breath as Senabena sat next to her. The girl was giddy with excitement but stayed quiet letting them speak together. She could catch up with them properly once they had eaten. “Dance with me later?” Rena wondered knowing he enjoyed that.

“It has not. Things have gone very right today.” He was glad they had managed to talk and sort things out. He winked at his sister before giving Rena his full attention. “I would love to.”

“Good.” Rena let go of his hand as food started to be dished out. Sena and Oben walked to the top table, leaving the younger members alone.

Everyone was soon eating and even Rena found herself eating despite her nerves. The food was good and she thought Far Site’s food daily was better than what she ate back in Harper Hold. Everything was perfect if she thought about it properly.