Telgar-Igen Wedding (all are welcome)

((Heh. The intent was probably the same, although I have never seen the film.))



“Ooooh!” Tlina cried. She drew in a blatantly false ragged breath. “You fly in proclaiming yourself to be the valiant dragon knight but, woe, you turn a stone heart upon the poor captive maid leaving her grip of the vile beast!”

Tlina pushed herself from N’kyr. She flowed with the momentum, twirling once, twice, and dropping in to a nearby empty seat. Her head flopped back, honey hair falling heavily to nearly touch the stone floor. Tlina draped her right arm across her head. Her nose nestled comfortably in the crook of her elbow giving her voice a slight shift in pitch. “When shall my hero of yore swoop in to rescue poor little me?”

Galaeanyss rolled her roll her eyes at her handmaid’s behavior. Was it asking too much for the woman to act appropriately to her situation? Some people had no sense of where they were.

When Lady Naryssa spoke, Galaeanyss’s eyes drifted from the carved wall of the Hold that stood before her to her mother. “Of course.” Nyssa twisted in her seat. She drew her left leg up on to the chair. She hooked her ankle behind the knee of her other leg. “Tlina,” the Junior Lady said. “My mother requires assistance using the privy. Aid her.”

Tlina uncovered her face, a sour expression replacing the jovial one that she had been wearing. “Um: No,” the handmaiden answered. “She asked for you.”

“And ~I~,” Nyssa countered. “Delegated the task to you. So do it.”

“Nuh-uh,” Tlina responded equally as indignant. “She asked for you and our beloved Lady outranks you. SO ~you~ do it. Besides, I doubt that that the problem that she is having is one that I can fix.”

Galaeanyss glared at the girl. Tlina did have a point about rank. “Very well,” Nyssa growled. She could argue all day but once Tlina found a loophole that allowed her to get out of having to work, it was unlikely that she would be persuaded otherwise. The little Lady would fine some other way to punish her later.

Nyssa rose from her chair. She ran her hands down what little skirt that she had to smooth out any unsightly wrinkles. “But do make it quick, Mother. I have yet to get to speak to our gracious hostess. Etiquette and all.”

The dance with Rihan was perfect, beautiful and exhilarating at the same time. They had found out before they were bother very skilled dancers and she rather enjoyed the fact that the other ladies were looking on in envy. Where his body touched her body, she felt on fire. She had never desired anyone so much in her life and perhaps that made this marriage all the more wonderful. She wanted to be with Rihan above all other men and it just so happened that he was now hers and she didn’t have to concern herself with whether he would marry someone else. That would have been awful almost cruel. She felt very lucky to have these feelings going in to her marriage.

Her cheeks were flushed from exertion already when Rihan whispered to her, causing her blush to be redder than ever before. Eolyn was a maid. She had no knowledge of men but she had been well informed by her mother… more than once. And she had eyes, she could see the way men and women who were intimate acted together. Obviously she even understood innuendo which made her a little better prepared than most ladies.

Being mentally prepared for what would happen was not enough. She didn’t really know what she should do, or how to please him and it made her nervous. The young woman figured not thinking about it too much was for the best. It was a physical thing and perhaps, much like with dancing she would have to follow his lead and do what felt right.

To answer her very naughty husband, “We must get out of here if you are to find out.” She was going to let him toy with the idea that she might or might not be ready. Either way it would give him something to think about. While everyone seemed to be on the now crowded dance floor, she took Rihan’s hand and led him out from the throng of dancers. She arranged for a drudge to tell Courisse that she should take the night off and that Eolyn had retired early, she was tired.

“We better hurry before someone stops us…” She said with a sly grin. Eolyn was not tired. Anyone who looked upon her could see she was anything but tired. Once they were out of sight of most of the gathered guests, she allowed Rihan to lead her to the wing where his rooms were. She found herself excited, almost giddy. When they entered the room, she took in the lavishness of the place. The hearth had been going to keep the room comfortable and to make it more romantic. She could see how much thought her husband had put into this and was pleased.
“Oh Rihan, you are so thoughtful.” She said, turning to face him and hugging him in appreciation.


Ariadne appreciated Jungi’s help figuring out how to hold the bow. She anticipated her body being turned on by his touch but it never happened. She felt awful for that too. He was an attractive, strong, kind and upbeat person, someone she would have been glad to have some feeling for even a small desire for but she felt nothing. Ariadne didn’t understand it herself. She wanted to like him.

She didn’t let her thoughts on the matter distract her from the game. Ariadne lifted the bow as shown, “No pressure!” She laughed, and pulled the bow string back until it was tight, releasing the arrow and missing.
The bow was a piece of crap! She thought as she tried again. Once more missing her mark. “I think we’re going to have to rely on you to win Jungi.” She said with another light hearted laugh. She tried a third time and noticed she was improving but she still wasn’t making the target.

Stopping she took a deep breath, this time when she drew the string tight and let go, she thought maybe playing was just as fun without winning. Who was she kidding? Of course playing was more fun when you won something! And of course she missed a fourth time.

For her final shot, she was much closer but still, she failed. “See, now you are going to have to save the day…”

“We better hurry before someone stops us…” She said with a sly grin.

Matching her own sly grin, Rihan thought he might enjoy discovering this more daring side of Eolyn, clasping her hand tightly to take her away in a rush, as if they had to be so quick and secretive about it. Surely, none could blame them for going off to be alone.

Not easily disappearing into the throngs gathered for the wedding, being that Eolyn was the only maid at the gathering in a long brilliant white gown of glitter, Rihan was able to guide them through less frequently used entrances, hastily peering around each corner as they went, to make sure that they hadn't been caught! Of course most everyone was outside enjoying the festivities, and he'd strictly instructed that no one was to invade the privacy of his personal wing of the Hold the entire evening; not until nearly afternoon the next day.


Making sure the bedroom door was closed well behind them, Rihan found Eolyn's giddiness a whit infectious as she turned to embrace him. He couldn't help but smile softly down at her, at first allowing both of his arms wrap loosely about her shoulders.

After a moment's time loosely holding her there, his hands came up to remove the adornment of the veil upon her head, setting it carefully aside. The young Lord's pulse was beginning to quicken, being alone with Eolyn at last. Setting his wife back from him just a bit, smouldering, smoky grey eyes fixed upon her, taking time to appreciate and memorize each part of her that he gazed upon. They followed where his fingertips strolled, stroking tentatively from her hair along the side of her neck, so lightly that the touch probably almost tickled.

Swallowing to suppress the eagerness that shown clearly through those eyes, he was decided on taking things slow. Rihan didn't want to scare Eolyn being that she was probably nervous enough, and they'd waited this long, so they should both be able to enjoy themselves; rushing things would only diminish their pleasure in each other. Of course, he wasn't going to sit around and put off the most anticipated part of their wedding day. Hopefully though, Eolyn wouldn't see that as rushing.


Slowly, Rihan stepped around his new bride, letting his hands handle the lacing up the back of her dress. As the gown was loosened enough that he he could remove it, he began by sliding the lace sleeves from her shoulders, exposing her delicate skin.
While his left hand sat on her hip, his right came up, tracing gently along the contour of that shoulder until his fingers reached the fabric of her sleeves about half way up her bicep.

Rihan's urge only growing stronger, his lips came to plant tender kisses all the way up her shoulder to her neck where he leaned in to her ear to whisper, "How about answering my question from earlier. Are you ready receive me yet?" Referring to his earlier query with an fluctuation in his tone, purely mischievous intentions were suggested.



==============================================================================


Jungi laughed when Ariadne laughed and he expressed rotten disappointment each time one of her arrows missed. "No good! No good!" Laughing again, he had to admit, but in a teasing manner, "I was depending on you to save me from having to embarrass myself by you having to witness my terrible bow skills."

Trading places with Ariadne to align himself with the same red and white target she'd shot at, he raised the shoddy blue and purple painted bow, shooting a bemused grin over his shoulder at her before he took aim. "If we don't walk away with a stuffed animal after this, you owe me for making me have to embarrass myself."

He was still grinning as he knocked an arrow and aligned his aim. Drawing the bow string back, his first arrow flew just wide of the target. The following three arrows hit, but only on the white, outside edges.

Taking his time then, his manner shifted as his focus sharpened, releasing a gradual breath as he aligned his sights on the target with the final arrow in his possession. Letting the arrow fly, it struck the target...and though it hit the target much closer to the center, it struck barely outside the bright red edge of the target's heart-shaped center mark.

"Ah! Shards!"

Setting his bow on the counter for the vendor to collect, he nodded his thanks to the man before glancing back at Ariadne.

"If you want to play again we can. Either way, you still owe me. So what'll it be? How are you going to repay me for having to witness my failure?" Ever teasing in his tone, the trader was eager to hear just what Ariadne would come up with in response.

((So sad for you, Marc. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a must-see! Unless you don't 'get' the British humor like a friend of mine...))

N'kyr was clearly unmoved by Tlina's display. The young bronzerider truthfully wanted to leave, but had yet to come up with a graceful way to exit the current situation. His mother would expect him to remain with his family in the absence of those she would consider his friends, especially when he had been his parents' ride to the wedding in the first place. Plus, he hadn't greeted their hosts, either. So, for now, he was stuck.

Hopefully his siblings would find amusement elsewhere soon.

----------

Naryssa fought the urge to reach out and tug her daughter's skirt lower-- it wasn't proper to show so much leg! But surely her doing so would draw even more attention to Galaeanyss' attire. And that wouldn't do, either.

The reminder that she and her husband had not had the chance to greet their hosts either wasn't lost on Crom's Lady, though. As Nyssa had said, etiquette required that they join the line of those waiting to congratulate the newly wedded couple. And so she was completely torn-- take the time to speak with her daughter, or move to greet Rihan and Eolyn as a united family, before her sons got distracted and wandered off...

Biting her lip-- and almost immediately catching herself at it and composing her features as best she could-- Naryssa shook her head and reached out to resettle her daughter's cloak more firmly about Galaeanyss' shoulders, as if that would hide more of the skin she was showing. "No, I... nevermind, love. It will have to wait a little longer. You are right-- we need to congratulate our hosts first. It was such a lovely ceremony, and it would be remiss of us to wander off as if we were not coming back." For appearances' sake. Even if she wondered just what their hosts would think of her daughter's dress.

Eolyn’s eyes were on him as he took the veil from her head and moved her back a little from him. She wasn’t used to being looked at the way he was looking at her. Her cheeks flushed pink again. If she weren’t so completely disarmed by him she might have said something but as it was, she had nothing to say. His touch was so light that it felt as if he were stroking her with a feather. Eolyn wondered for a moment, a very brief and fleeting moment, how many women Rihan had looked at in this way. Whoever they were, they were lucky and she was luckiest of all for he was hers to keep.

She didn’t think about what was happening much because she knew it was normal and she knew that he would want to do this before they did anything else and also because she wanted to do this as well. She might be a maid but she had no intention of remaining one past tonight. She didn’t have some old, fat ugly man trying to bed her either. Rihan was attractive, young and fit. Eolyn could have done a lot worse for herself.
As he stepped behind her , her head turned just slightly to see what he might be up to, she moved her hair to the front of her body, using her left shoulder to keep it from falling back. His touch was as before when they were dancing and she felt herself wanting him to touch her more places and the more he touched her the more she wanted him to continue. When he leaned in to whisper to her, she did not blush so much as she had before.

A little breathless, “You are a rogue.” She admonished him with a giggle then she spun around slowly to face him. Words would not come out right not in this moment so she answered him with something infinitely more pleasing to her. She tilted her head so that her lips could meet his in a long and passionate kiss. She did not know if she had ever kissed like that before though surely she had practiced…but never on a man and certainly not on man she wanted to bed.

When the kiss broke, she caught her breath and hoped she had done the right thing. Being too forward could perhaps put a man off but maybe he understood that she had only done it in the moment and she had not ever kissed anyone else like that before. Her mother had told her to let him do all the leading but she could not allow him to do all the pleasing and surprising. She wanted him to be happy as much as he wanted the same for her.


“I take it you are not an archer then.” Ariadne said, watching him. “We both had our fair share of embarrassment. Although I have to say, the bow suited you just fine. These vendors should owe us. The games are designed to trick you into spending your marks with the very intention of having as few winners as possible. Every once in a while someone has to win though otherwise they can be called cheats.”

Of course they both lost miserably. These games were set up for failure of the participants. So Ariadne was not surprised not one bit. She hadn’t expected Jungi to want pay back and had brought very few marks with her but she wondered a moment exactly what he had in mind. Ariadne was laughing. “Oh and I suppose and I. O. U. won’t cut it.” She thought about what she might give him but then decided to let the imp have whatever he wanted.

“Two questions. If you could have anything in the world what would it be? And two, what would you like as payback because you and I both know my marks are quite limited…”

((I don’t do so well with British Humour. I hear them and I know that what they said was supposed to be a joke but to my ears it is just a sentence.))


“Of course I am.” Galaeanyss’s face once again took on its expression of amusement intermixed with arrogance. It had not taken much to get her out of the mother-daughter moment that Lady Naryssa had been intending for them to share. Those could be so dull. They were generally pointless as well. Or perhaps they did have a point but Nyssa just blanked out before her mother ever reached it. Regardless, she was not going to have to deal with it now and that was a boon unto itself. “Forgetting your proper courtesies like that. Mother you shame us all.”

With the little Lady distracted, Tlina’s attention returned to N’kyr. Clearly he was unphased by her melodrama. And in such a public setting no less. “Cold,” she told N’kyr as if he were not already aware of it. “You truly are your sister’s brother.”

Galaeanyss shifted her stance to put the majority of her weight on her left leg. Her right leg extended out to a more restful position off to the side. She placed a hand on her left hip; her now bowed arm caused her blue see-through cloak to billow out on that side while clinging more tightly to the other. She took in the crowd, spending much of her focus on the dance floor. She had lost track of the newly wed couple. She spotted some people that knew, but none were the pair that she was looking for. “Now where did they get off to?”

((Heh that's okay. A lot of crude humor strikes me that way, too lol))

Taking a deep breath so she'd be able to outwardly ignore Galaeanyss' words-- she hadn't forgotten at all, she'd just been more concerned with her daughter's behavior than their current situation--, Naryssa straightened her posture and took her husband's offered arm. She glanced around as well, trying to spot their host and hostess in the throng of people. Surely the bride and groom would be easy to spot, given their attire?

N'kyr's gray eyes narrowed down at Tlina. He most certainly did not appreciate the comparison to his sister. In his own mind, he wasn't anything like her (even if others could easily see the similarities.) "I will not be manipulated to serve your purpose," the young bronzerider murmured low enough for the handmaiden alone to hear. He knew her interest in him and the Weyr wasn't genuine. She was only paying attention to him so she could use him to get back at Galaeanyss. Perhaps also to show off her association with a bronzerider. But nothing else-- girls like her were all the same, and could not be trusted.

((I stick to more sophisticated humor. Um, if such a thing exists.))


Galaeanyss took her mother’s silence as a sign of personal victory. How could she not? Clearly her logic had been infallible. Plus, she had gotten what she wanted which was literally nothing, as the case happened to be. “We shan’t hold it against you,” she assured her mother. “At your age, these things must expected.”

Tlina lounged back in her borrowed seat. She stretched her legs out, sliding them beneath the chair in front of her. She offered N’kyr a bland grin. “And here I thought that you needed all of the volunteers that you could get, what with the understaffed Weyrs and all.” The handmaiden folded her arms behind her head, cupping the back and sides of her with crisscrossed hands. “How many of them sit vacant these days?”

The trader was smiling then, in regards to her insightful observation. He was never a braggart about his abilities. In fact, Jungi was rather genuinely humble, regardless of any rumours that might suggest otherwise.

“Oh and I suppose and I. O. U. won’t cut it.” She thought about what she might give him but then decided to let the imp have whatever he wanted. “Two questions. If you could have anything in the world what would it be? And two, what would you like as payback because you and I both know my marks are quite limited…”

As the two of them meandered off into the crowds of festive-wedding-goers, Jungi shoved both hands into their pockets, walking at an easier pace than earlier. He'd been shaking his head at her comment about I.O.U.'s and been about to say something when she piped up again with her two questions. The first one caught him a bit off guard, because right off the top of his head, he wasn't sure what he would answer to it; the second however, might turn out a little easier to figure out. So, he started there.

"Well, quite limited marks are quite unnecessary, lucky for you," An ever charming, rogueish smile caught his lips up at their corners again. And after quietly considering it for a moment, replied easily, "Do you think you could be my date against sometime? Captain Toshiro and I were going to meet for a drink over dinner in a few days, but food always tastes better with good company. Maybe you have a friend who you could ask to come with, and we could make it a double date?"

Pausing in his speech long enough to consider an answer to the first question, when Jungi looked back over at her, his expression had altered, though the traces of that smile remained somewhat. Somehow he seemed a bit more serious. "Do you think it would be too presumptuous to ask for the World itself? The longer I live in it, the more I feel as though I'd like to experience everything it has to offer." He went on to ask, "What about Ari? Is there something in this world you desire above all else?"



(lol sorry Kate. The opportunity was too perfect >D you have to ask Lyria now to go with them ..if she says yes. And Ari and Shiro are stuck again, having to be separated. hahaha. poor things > )

Ariadne saw the look on his face and wondered what he might ask for? Suddenly thinking maybe she should have been more specific. However his answer relieved her a little, he wanted her company again. And he wanted her company in the presence of Captain Toshiro. Oh dear. They had no parted well the other day but perhaps she could bring someone with her who was rather chatty and liked the Captain so that he wouldn’t have time to be too upset on seeing her. She doubted he would care over-much if she came with Jungi in the first place.

Smiling, she answered, “Oh that would be nice. I do know someone in the infirmary. She is very amiable, youthful and pretty.” Actually not too different from Ariadne herself if a bit less sensitive to other people’s emotions. Still the other girl was like a sister to her in the short time they had known eachother and she actually liked Toshiro which would surely distract him from mentioning anything about their fight. She really didn’t want Jungi to know that Toshiro was the reason she had been crying.

“The world huh?” She laughed, “I suppose being a Trader and having connections with a Lord, it might be possible for you to see the world but I don’t know that the entire planet is up for grabs.” She thought about how she would answer, losing some of the smile that had crept into her eyes. In fact her face grew quite somber as she thought about how to word what she wanted to say.

She could easily have said she wanted Evander back but seeing as that was an impossible request she settled for what not having him around had made her into. She didn’t want to feel broken anymore. “I want to be whole again.” And while he had meant this to be a fun question, for his answer was in fact fun and amusing, she found herself making the mood much too somber.

"Look at me, making things so serious." She smiled again. "We're here to have fun." She paused then got an idea of what they shoudl do next, "Do you like to dance Jungi?"

Jungi

Upon hearing Ariadne's answer, Jungi began to feel even more an attraction to her. Ariadne was such a sweet spirit and yet she'd been made to suffer so much in her life due to the loss of her husband.

So, he decided to take it onto himself to help her heal, just as he'd wanted her to be able to cheer up when she was sat the other day.

"Look at me, making things so serious." She smiled again. "We're here to have fun." She paused then got an idea of what they shoudl do next, "Do you like to dance Jungi?"

He couldn't help but smile for her, understanding it took some effort for her own smile to return. Somehow, he wanted that he could always be there for her to help her find her courage and good cheer. Or at least be a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen. More than that...he was beginning to feel as though he wanted to be the one that could make her smile again, but with real happiness.

"I do like to dance. Is that an invitation?" HOping so, they headed back in the direction of the dance square.

((Hah I think there is, but it depends who you're asking just what it means! lol))

"Are you implying you genuinely wish to go to the Weyr?" N'kyr didn't believe it for a minute. Sick of his sister Tlina may be, but it was unlikely she'd want to cast off the advantages of being handmaiden to the daughter of a Lord Holder in favor of becoming a drudge. Or possibly a candidate if she was actually Searched.

The bronzerider didn't bother to answer her question-- she knew full well just how many Weyrs were currently empty, and was simply trying to bait him. She'd done it often enough as they were growing up, so there was no reason to stop now.

>>>>>>>

Elsewhere, the Lord and Lady of Fort were also enjoying the festivities, wandering amid the crowd with their only son. Kier knew all of the pomp and circumstance would one day be expected of him, but was thankful that day was still off in the future. He had no desire to rush into the marriage that had already been laid out for him-- he and his fiancee were young enough yet that there was no need to do so. His parents, though they had no other children, were also in good health, and there was no reason to believe that would change any time soon. So why should he worry?

He'd much rather be playing a game of strategy against his father or their steward, anyway.

(( It doesn't take much to impress me; I am easily amused. ^_~ ))


Tlina dipped her back allowing it to rest atop the curve of the seat. The clouds in the sky above were few in number. The ones that were there were bulbous, appearing fat and puffy, almost happy in their meanderings. She watched one as it drifted lazily overhead. It had an appearance not unlike a small animal with one over-exaggerated ear a single hide leg to match.

She did not know why it would be so hard to believe that she may desire to run away to a Weyr. N’kyr had done it, after all. He ought to understand the urge to get away from a select few people.

Tlina’s head rolled to the side so that she may once against look to the Bronzerider. “Soar through the clouds or do your sister’s chores? What a choice. Oh, how ever could I ever leave all of this luxury behind? Why I would not have the slightest clue as to how to occupy my time were I not waiting on someone through ever waking moment of my life.”

Galaeanyss barked a laugh that more scoff than actual laughter. “Then rejoice for you shall never need to make that choice.” She turned her back to the handmaiden. She flicked a hand dismissively over her shoulder as if to say that she were done with that conversation. “Now, if you shall excuse me, I see people that are actually worthy of my attention.”

Nyssa did not wait to see if she were actually to be excused or not. She simply sauntered off. She walked slowly between the rows of chairs as her dress could be temperamental. She needed to stay on its good side, lest she cause more of a scandal than she had been intending to. “Lady Yuranni, Lady Seirura! How marvelous it to see you again!” She greeted as she joined a cluster of her peers near the snack table.


(( And there you, two more charries named. You may now add them to the list of known royals. ))

N'kyr couldn't fault the logic there, even though it was layered with sarcasm. When he'd been Searched, the thought of escaping the cruelty of his siblings had been at the forefront of his mind. However, the thought of leaving his mother had held him back. She'd relied on him to manage the inventories and logistics-- before he'd started helping her, things had been a mess. His efforts made things much more efficient and helped the kitchens run more smoothly. Or so he told himself.

In the end, the thought of remaining close to those, like Nyssa, who had dubbed him their personal source of amusement, and the knowledge that his father would never see him as the capable son of a Lord Holder that he was, drove him to accept the Searchrider's offer and leave Crom behind. Naryssa insisted he would surely Impress a bronze, and he'd believed her words up until the day of the Hatching. When her prediction proved true, he'd known that here was his calling-- he would show his father and his siblings just what he was capable of. He didn't need to be Lord Holder-- he could be Weyrleader.

So, of course, he understood where Tlina was trying to say she was coming from. Even if he'd not been a servant to begin with.

But, given their past, he still couldn't be sure it wasn't all a ploy. "You would leave the chance for this--" and he waved a hand to indicate the opportunity to marry into some level of holdership herself-- "for the small possibility of Impressing a dragon. When there is no guarantee one would choose you, and you have not been Searched."

Tlina watched Galaeanyss as she consorted with a pair of other Junior Ladies. There were bright smiles and giggles galore. She knew them to be false, probably for all parties involved. It was a game they played. They would all laugh and play nice while undermining those peers that were not present. It was the way that politics worked. There were only so many Major Holds available. It was a number that shrank with each of these unions like the one that were at today. In truth, all of the little Ladies were political rivals. Any edge that they could get one another was just one more point in their favor. They could not come outright and say so, of course. They had to keep up appearances as who would win at the end of the day was anybody’s guess. A misstep now could cost them dearly later. And so they danced their little dance, ever mindful of the shrouded future.

At the question of whether or not she would actually give all of this up, Tlina bounced a silent laugh filled her chest. “Would you?” she asked. It was a rhetorical question; N’kyr had answered that one Turns ago, when she was still just a child. He had run off to the Weyr. He had been in a much better position then than she was today.

“Do you really think I could have any of this?” she asked, suddenly serious. “Lady Galaeanyss will never allow me to be anything more than I am now. We both know that.”

The handmaiden wasn't quite the type to let his sister walk all over her if she could help it. So it didn't make any sense that she would defer to Galaeanyss in terms of running her own life.

Then again, he knew well the hell his sister could make of each day if she was crossed or displeased. Or just bored.

There were other options, though, besides the Weyr. If Tlina found some male that would offer for her, especially if Nyssa was already betrothed. Surely that wouldn't be that far off-- especially given his sister's attire for the day. She'd likely turn up pregnant and be betrothed to the father. (Which could very well be her plan, depending on who she was intending to snare.)

Or Tlina could talk to his mother. Naryssa would surely listen if the handmaiden truly wanted to make something else of herself. She wasn't selfish and controlling like his sister, and would try to help find a place for Tlina if she asked, wouldn't she?

Or... there was... Just why was he even contemplating this? Tlina's relationship with his sister wasn't his problem. Nor was the handmaiden, herself. It didn't matter to him that she was stuck in the position she was in. Right?

"If you truly wish to be free, you could just leave," the young bronzerider finally shrugged, folding his arms across his chest. "She is not physically chaining you to her side."

Tlina leaned forward in her seat. Her hand raised to near her shoulder’s height. Her fingers twitch at the empty air. “Chains word and vice forever bind me to the monster of lore. Oh freedom, how you taunt me so! Ever just beyond my fingertips, fluttering upon effervescence wings.” A heavy sigh poured from her lips. Tlina slumped back against the chair. Her shoulders bobbed in a lazy shrug. “Or something along those lines.”

Tlina thought better of her lounging and practically hopped to her feet. She reached out to snatch N’kyr’s hand. “Come on; let’s go exploring.” She had not yet had a chance to nose around the Hold. There was bound to be some form of mischief that she get in to. And what better time than when everyone was otherwise distracted?


********


Galaeanyss excused herself from the pair of Junior Ladies that had been holding her attention. She had to make the rounds. It would be a waste to spend the entire day with those of little to no consequence. She was here for the boys, after all. And speaking of, there was one now. Nyssa took a moment to wad her hair up in to a bun. She stabbed her ruby spike through the center to keep it held in place. She once again smoothed out the encroaching wrinkles on her gown. Holding her head up high, Galaeanyss sauntered over to the Lordling.

“Good day, Lord Kier.” Nyssa greeted in her ‘I am meek and friendly’ voice. She made a partial curtsy. It was the best that she could manage in her much-too-short skirt. “It was a lovely ceremony, would you not agree?”


((I waited to give others an opportunity to reply that section, but no one did. So I decided that I shan’t leave you hanging.))

A frown crossed the young bronzerider's features at Tlina's words. Such poetry went right along with the previous melodrama, though it was at least preferable to the faux swoon. N'kyr was still searching for some response when she jumped up from the chair she'd dropped into.

Like the child he still was inside at times, the bronzerider would have snatched his hand away were they not in public. As it was, his fingers were rather stiff in her grasp.

He did have to consider that he had not yet greeted their host and hostess, and his mother would surely disapprove. "I haven't yet congratulated the bride and groom. It would only be proper to speak with them first before we head off." And in doing so, surely he could politely break away from the handmaiden before she managed to drag him off to 'explore.'

>>>>>>>>>>>

The young heir of Fort bowed politely to Galaeanyss, taking in her appearance with mild interest. "Good day, my lady. It was, indeed, quite pleasant." As far as weddings went, anyway. "The weather was favorable, and the event itself seemed to go smoothly. I'm certain the new bride and groom are happy with the way it turned out." He hadn't put much thought into it-- weddings were nice, though he had yet to have any real interest in them. He was introduced to many young women, but so far, his books still held his attention better than they did. "Do you know either of them well?"

((Haha, thanks, assuming Kate doesn't mind that he hasn't been officially written yet He's supposed to be there, though, so I just tossed in that little blurb!))

Tlina could feel the rigid hand in her grip. Boys got older but did they ever truly grow-up? Somehow she doubted the answer would grant her piece of mind in any form. She suppressed the exasperation that threatened to slip breathily from her lips. Instead, she turned a mischievous smile upon that young man. “Then it is our solemn duty to seek them out wherever they may have hidden themselves away,” she announced. “Come! I bet they went thissa way!” Tlina tugged encouragingly on N’kyr’s hand. She had not seen the newlywed couple make their escape. There were only so many directions that they could have gone. By her reckoning she had a twenty-five percent chance of picking the right one.


**************************


“It was lovely,” the Junior Lady of Crom agreed with the boy. She altered her stance, adding more of a curve to her body. She hoped that it worked with her gown to accentuate girlish figure. Girlish. That annoyed her. At her age it ought to be womanish. It was her mother’s fault. Somehow. Naryssa should have given her more to work with. If she had been Nykyr, their mother would have probably been all too willing to give up the goods. But her? She had hardly changed at all in the last four Turns. How was she supposed to keep up with the other Ladies? It wasn’t fair. “It went by so quickly. I hardly had time to take note of it at all.” Where ~had~ the wedding gone? Come to think of it, she could barely remember it having even taken place. Hm.

“Indeed I do know them. Tumbleweed, anyway,” Galaeanyss confirmed. “We junior Ladies are small in number. It makes for a close-knit peer group.” Perhaps ‘close-knit’ was not exactly on the mark. They all did know each other though most were quite willing to stab the others in the back if it meant a step toward personal ascension. On that note...

“Why I was just speaking with Lady Seirura,” Nyssa waved toward the Bendon girl who stood across the way gossiping amongst her friends. Her voice drop to a conspiratory whisper. “She told me that her sister, Jeinuran, had to have another pregnancy terminated. Apparently, this time it was with one of the assistant chefs. Can you believe that?”


((She might not have noticed if you hadn't said anything. Also: one more Junior Lady named.))

Much to his disappointment, N'kyr could come up with no real excuse to refuse Tlina's lead-- although he was of the belief she would have just dragged him off if he'd truly tried. Or she might have a made a huge dramatic scene, which would have likely drawn his mother's (and sister's) attention. And that he'd truly prefer to avoid.

Why the handmaiden wanted him to come with her in the first place, he had no idea. Was she just lonely? Or bored? Or wanting to find some new reason to make fun of him? Or possibly some combination of the three?

Likely the latter, if he was any judge.

The thought didn't exactly cast her in more favorable light. But going with her would at least get him away from his siblings for the time being, which was actually a plus. It gave him the option of one potential source of ridicule versus many, and he much preferred the former if those were his only choices.

With a mental sigh, the young bronzerider managed to free his fingers from her grasp. But he didn't move away. Instead, he stepped forward and offered her his arm like the gentleman he'd been raised to be.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Keir blinked at Galaeanyss, fairly nonplussed by the gossip she'd just imparted. "I hope she is in good health after such an event," he responded politely, not bothering to keep the volume of his voice as low as the young woman did.

Of course, he heard a fair amount of gossip about the other Holders from the drudges and kitchen staff, but usually paid it no mind. What the other Holders did in their personal lives was really no business of his. If politics or new methods for producing or distributing goods were involved, he'd be far more interested in the information.

Tlina looked at N’kyr’s offered arm with a tinge of surprise. That had not been what she had expected. If anything, she had thought to be on the receiving end of another beratement. This was much better. It was almost encouraging. She would take it as either a compliment or a submission, whichever happened to be more suitable to the situation. She had yet to decide which, choosing to reserve that right until more information presented itself.

Tlina interlocked her own with N’kyr’s. She offered him a wide, closed-mouth grin and a single nod. “To the kitchens, my dear Bronzerider.”


******************


“Oh, I am sure that is just fine,” Nyssa said by way of dismissal. Lady Jeinuran’s health had not been the point that she had been trying to convey. In fact, she did not care one iota whether the girl was doing well or not. Were she to die that would only serve to improve Nyssa’s chances of landing an heir. Not by much, of course. One would need to be on the less intelligent side to accept the rival Junior Lady in to such a public position of power. That or perhaps be blackmailed for some such failing or another. “She has them regularly enough. Some people simply have thirsts that they can not quite quench. I tell you: should Bendon choose to export pillowcrafters we would all be impoverished.”

The kitchens? Just what business would they have there? This wasn't their home hold-- or Weyr-- and there was food in gather stalls and on buffet tables spread out for the guests. "We are looking for the bride and groom, aren't we?" N'kyr asked, wondering if the handmaiden had somehow already forgotten. "If you're hungry, there is plenty of food here. We don't need to disturb those working in the kitchens." They'd have enough to do without guests poking their noses around where they hadn't necessarily been invited.

>>>>>>>>>

"Not necessarily so," Kier disagreed. "Purely from an economic standpoint, if there are truly that many ladies who prefer many lovers in Benden, they would eventually run out because all women of eligible age would have left the Hold, or the other Holds would become so saturated that they would not need any more such Benden women. Humans cannot be produced as quickly as food or wine or other goods, after all. And what is to say that other Holds would not follow suit and begin competing with Benden?" With a shrug, the young heir of Fort added, "Of course, this is all assuming anyone would purchase such exports in the first place."

The grin that Tlina turned upon N’kyr was both subtly amused and more than a tad mischievous. “Why the answer is quite simple, my dear Nyky’,” she told him in slow, measured tones. She nudged N’kyr around to face the food tables. There were a few people collecting snacks. Most of the people there were huddled in their own little groups, chatting amongst themselves about who knew what. “It was has been a big day. The new couple is sure to be exhausted. There will undoubtedly be much eating going on. As you can see,” she made a show of curling her free arm to the point where her fingertips brushed her shoulder and then unraveling her arm in an extravagant wave toward the food-stuffs. “They are not over at the refreshment stands. Therefore,” and this time Tlina turned them back around toward the neared Hold entrance. “They must be indoors.”


*************************


Galaeanyss stammered a series of nonsensical sounds. She had been taken aback by Kier’s reply. That had not at all been what she had been expecting. It was not even close. She had been intending to covertly badmouth a Hold’s worth of potential mates when the end goal of removing them from play. This whole new direction that the conversation was turning was completely out of bounds with her intentions.

“Well, that may be,” Nyssa agreed. Her now clear words came slowly to give her a bit more time to draw up with a functional reply. “Wine can take decades to mature.” She had to make a conscious effort not to have to eyes droop at her own stupidity. No, that was not the proper answer. While it was true it did not help to shift her motives in to position. Why did Kier have to make this so complicated?

Irritated that Tlina would feel she was familiar enough to come up with a shortened version of his name, and dare to use it, N'kyr held his ground when the handmaiden made to move towards the Hold. "There are other places besides the food tables where they could be, such as out visiting with their guests, or wandering somewhere amid the gather stalls." Or their hosts could be on the dance floor. But he wasn't going to speak of that one-- he was almost afraid of what sort of suggestion she would take it as if he mentioned it. "And even were they inside, I doubt the kitchens is where they would be. Were they as exhausted as you say, I assume they would head to their quarters." To freshen up, or to rest, among other things. The kitchens just made no sense.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Kier nodded, not in the least bit perturbed by Nyssa's reaction. "It can. Are you suggesting the supply and demand would be held in check by allowing for the women to age properly, and only 'exporting' those who had properly 'matured'?" Whatever that could mean-- he wasn't analyzing the term at this point, merely the economics of the whole endeavor.

Tlina tilted her head away from N’kyr. Her left eye fell half closed. She watched him in such a pose for several seconds as she gave his words a once-over. Upon completion of her inspection, the handmaiden Rocked on the balls on her feet, a cheerful expression returning her face. “A valid point,” she conceded without malice. Tlina turned back toward the Hold. “To their quarters!”


****************************


Nyssa blinked rapidly at Kier’s words, or rather at their underlining suggestion. She knew that she ought not to be surprised by such a statement; she had heard enough rumors in her lifetime that she was generally unperturbed by them. As it turned out, one could always be surprised regardless of how jaded they had become. This was a revelation, though the less hearty of the pair that had just come to light.

“I should think so,” Nyssa said, not quite fully regained of her senses. “I would not expect there to be much market for four and five Turn old pillowcrafters.”

Galaeanyss stepped closer to Kier. Perhaps her girlish figure would not be such a drawback after all, at least not when dealing with this particular lordling. “We all have our quirks,” she said in a near-whisper. She ran her fingertips gingerly down his arm. “I shan’t hold your unique desires against you.”