FSH:

Posted on Thu Jul 17th, 2025 @ 1:31pm by Sr Journeyman Rena & Sr Journeyman Bensen

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: Far Site Hold
Timeline: M3 D12

Rena sighed a little as she looked at her guitar and finally decided to just do it as her class had been requesting for over 2 sevendays since the Gather. “Okay okay…” She laughed as she looked at the time that they had left before the evening meal.

“Duty song Harper Rena.” An older girl who was still trying to work out her craft asked and the 13 other children agreed with her. The Harper smiled as she picked up the instrument and started to sing the familiar harper song. It was not her favourite as she preferred the Golden Egg of Faranth song when she had students who were trying to decide their craft.

“Weaver and farmer and miner and smith, Tanner and herdsman, all lord holders with, Our harpers attuned to the lessons we learn, Remember our duty to those who save Pern.” She sang the words and smiled a little as several people joined in and the door opened at the back of the room.

Bensen had been glad to see Rena get back to her Harper lessons. He knew she loved playing and helping the children seemed to always make her smile.

He had spent the morning in the stables checking on Star and her filly while helping with chores as well. He had than decided on a quick bath before going to see if he could find Rena. Bensen soon found himself following the children's voices and one he was loving more by the day. He quietly pushed the door open and watched Rena.

Rena looked up and smiled as her husband slipped into the room and stayed there just watching her singing. She finished the last cord just in time for the grand bell to ring in the distance that signified the end of lessons. The children all gathered up their items and said goodbye quickly making their exits to find their parents. “Hello.” She greeted the man finally as they were alone in the room. She set the instrument back in her desk.

He chuckled as he watched the children rush back to their parents. They were a joy to watch. And seeing Rena smiling again was the best part. “Hello beautiful,” he smiled, walking into the room. “They're cute. And you looked happy.”

“He calls me beautiful now Cadence. Did you hear that?” Rena said, teasing him, looking at the green fire lizard as she dozed on her desk. Cadence looked up and chirped but soon dozed off again. “It been nice getting back to normal and doing normal things this last sevenday.”

“Well you are beautiful,” Bensen assured her. He never lied and wasn't about to start now. “I'm sure. I almost missed doing hidework,” he chuckled. “But yes, normal has been good.”

She smiled a little at being called beautiful and blushed. “It has been nice and moving has been nice too.” They were still unpacking and organising but it felt calmer now. She moved through the lines of desks to him and sat on the edge of one of them awkwardly. “How has your day been?” She wondered.

Bensen was glad that Nabon hadn't minded changing rooms. “It has been. Feels like a fresh start,” he agreed. He smiled as she joined him. “It was good. It's been nice to get back into the stables again. Star's filly is doing well. We'll have to name her soon.”

“Well you all don’t you have a theme for runners born in certain turns?” She wondered about Oseben having lists of names for runners born that turn. “You look happier.” She mused smiling at him as she took in how chilled out he looked compared to the last couple of sevendays. No one had reacted badly to their marriage so that was a plus and everything seemed to be settling down.

“We do but I want hers to be special. She could be the beginning of something great.” or at least he hoped. He and Oseben had been had spent countless candlemarks working through everything. “As do you. It is nice to settle down again and get life back on track.”

“I do not feel the guilt in the pit of my stomach quite as much.” She admitted knowing she had spoken to him about how she felt guilty. “But what about Hope? Dawn?” She offered thoughtful of names that signified new starts or chances trying to stay positive as the filly was beautiful and she had cemented Brenna adoring Bensen even more if possible.

“I am glad to hear that,” he said. He had been happy when she had been willing to let him inside and know how she was feeling. Bensen considered her options. “Hope,” he answered. “Hope has kept us going and will continue to.”

“There we go. Problem solved and Storm’s little one has a beautiful name.” She smiled a little more and stood up awkwardly thinking she had a few things to do before she picked Brenna up from the creach and went on their nightly wander to the stable to look at the new foals.

“Thank you so much for the help. Hope fits that little filly perfectly. Oseben would be proud.” He was happy that Rena had wanted to join in. He helped her to her feet. “So what else do you need to do today?”

Rena accepted the help reluctantly but smiled at how happy he sounded. She stayed where she was with his hands on her back and arm. “Tidy up this room, pick up Bre from creche, our usual walk to the stable, food, work on some harper stuff then bed. You?”

Bensen chuckled. “That is a lot,” he commented. “I have some hidework to look at with father and of course our walk to the stable. Should be food in there and then make sure nothing else has come up before I can join my lovely wife.”

“Busy woman. You better get to your hide work if you do not want to miss our walk.” She pointed out smiling as she touched his shoulder. “First proper night in our new rooms. It's a bit strange if you are not there.” She grinned.

“I wouldn't miss our walk for anything,” he assured her. Even if he had to leave a couple things undone he would be there for the walk. A warm smile touched his lips. “I will definitely be there. I don't want to be anywhere else.”

Rena smiled more as he smiled. She touched his hand and nodded. “I will meet you then in a candlemark at the Creche unless there was something else you needed?”

Bensen shook his head. “Just wanted to say hi and see how you were doing today,” he admitted, kissing her forehead. “So a candlemark at the crèche. I'll be there.”

That was sweet of him and not something she had expected from him at all. It struck her that it was just him and something she should expect from him as he was a sweet guy. “That was sweet of you.” She finally said as she squeezed his hands moving to make a start on tidying up today's lessons on Pern history.

He smiled and stepped back after she squeezed his hands. They were getting there. Day by day. “Are you okay or do you need a hand?” He offered. Hide work could wait.

she turned back around at his offer and smiled more. Truly how had she gotten so lucky with her second chance. “I am okay. I should not be long. My children are not messy and they started to tidy up.” She promised picking up a random piece of paper to prove her point. “Nothing is on the floor.” She added grinning more.

Bensen chuckled a bit. “I see that. You do have very tidy children.” That surprised him a bit but he was glad. “Then I shall see you in a candlemark,” he smiled, turning to leave.

Rena smiled to herself watching him leave. Why did her heart skip a beat at the thought of seeing him again so soon.