A Pact

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 5th December 2018

Characters: Corowal, Erassa
Description: Corowal and Erassa weather a storm
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 8, day 16 of Turn 9

Erassa hummed and stroked Wallia's hair, gently rocking her back and
forth. Every time she thought she almost got the little one to sleep,
another clap of thunder would startle her awake again with a whimper.
She had lost track of the time, but she was sure it was late.
Silently she begged the storm to give them just enough of a respite to
allow the little girl to fall asleep so Erassa could finally get to
those last few dishes.

Corowal entered, having spent candlemarks consulting his staff about
damage control. With the storm raging outside, Corowal was worried
what it might do to his Hold. Inside the main bulding, they were safe
and snug. The sturdy stone walls and metal Threadfall shutters were
keeping weather as well as Thread outside. But not every building was
this secure and there
was beastholds and the crops to worry about. He had expected everyone be
asleep at this time, but apparently, the storm was keeping at least
some awake.
"Hey," he greeted softly, so not to startle them.

Was he back early or was this really taking that long she wondered as
she gave him a small, guilty smile. "I'm sorry. I'll make you a cup
of tea as soon as she's out. It shouldn't be long now."

"Is storm keeping her up?" Corowal asked with low, quiet voice. He
could only imagine how scary the sound of thunder and wind was to a
blind person.

Erassa nodded, patting the girl's back in a soothingly rhythmic
pattern. "She might be asleep, but I need to wait another minute or
two to be sure."

"Once she's out, I can carry her to bed," Corowal offered.

"Did you eat? Do you need me to warm something for you?" she asked, a
little more confident that the little girl was indeed asleep.

"We had a quick one with the steward's staff. Mostly sandwiches and
meatrolls," Corowal replied.

"Are you still hungry?" she asked softly as she carefully stood her
her feet, cradling the girl's head as she shifted her to her shoulder.

"Not really," Corowal replied. "And I can get myself food if I need
it," he flashed Erassa a grin. The way she looked after him was endearing.
And reminded him why he was attracted to her in a first place.

"Well, if you can take her without waking her, I can at least get you
a cup of tea," she offered, feeling bad that she hadn't something hot
waiting for him.

"I think I can manage it," Corowal replied. Like all children, once
she was out, she was out for good. Not very easy to wake up until she
had slept enough.

He took the little girl from her and carried her to her bed. Then he
tugged her in and checked the rest. Felcoron stirred to wake but went
right back to sleep after Corowal murmured reassurances and good
nights to him.

Erassa stood in the doorway with a hot cup of herbal tea meant to help
the Lord Holder get the restful sleep he so needed. She smiled softly
as she watched him with the children. He really was such a good
father. That he counted her son among his children filled her with
immense pride. Not many Lords would so willingly open his home, as
well as his heart, to the bastard son of a shamed woman. And yet
Corowal had accepted him as one of his own, and his children, heirs to
the Hold, titles, and privileges, treated him as their equal because
of his example. Sometimes, like now, the gratitude was enough to bring
tears to her eye.

"All safely asleep," Corowal murmured. "How about you? Ready to turn in too?"

Her eyes widened slightly. For some reason for a moment it sounded
like an invitation for her. Erassa's heart skipped a beat, though she
wasn't sure if it was with excitement or shock. She hoped it was the
latter. But then she understood it was just a polite inquiry and her
heart slowed. Her face, however, turned a noticeable shade of pink.
"Sorry," she said with a slightly nervous laugh, "I misunderstood you
there at first. No," turning, she hide her blush by leading the way
back into the living area. "I'm fine."

Corowal grinned. "I like the way your mind works;" he said.
Then he became serious again. "If you're not sleepy, we can talk a
bit. I know I'm not going to be able to sleep yet."
The storm raging outside was causing enough worry to keep him from
sleeping. Like underlinging his words, lightning and thunder struck
again, making the lights of the Hold flicker.
"Better get those glow baskets out and have them nearby. There's a
risk of blackout."

"They are all checked and ready in all the usual places," she said,
and turned with a rather smug smile on her face. "You may have to
worry about the rest of the Hold, Corowal, but not here at home.
That's my job."

"You're such a treasure for a woman," Corowal said. "Why can't I just
marry you?" he was using light, joking tone to hide his true
feelings. When he did say it, he did realize that it was what he
wanted, to marry her. Her to be his, officially. One of the reasons
why he never was able to truly love Felyna was his feelings for
Erassa. He had done his best to suppress them while Felyna lived. Yet,
here they were again, resurfacing.

His words were taken as a jest, but a dangerous one. "Because Lord
Holders don't marry shamed ex-lovers of dragonriders with no family
but her bastard son," she reminded him gently as she held out a cup of
tea to him.

"Yes, those pesky social standards, even Lord Holder can't escape
them," Corowal replied and took the cup.
"Speaking of your son, have you been thinking of my offer?" he asked
with more serious tone and gestured them to take a seat.

"Think?" she asked with a small, breathless chuckle as she took the
seat. "When do I have time to think?" Though in truth his offer to
foster her son had been ever in the back of her mind.

"Yes, there's that," Corowal's grin was infectious. "You got time now.
The children are asleep, the milkmother will tend the babies, and
either us is not going to be able sleep with that storm outside."

"And you would like me to use this time to plan out my son's future?"
she asked with a dubious smile in reply.

"Well, if there are other options..." he left his sentance hang in to
the air with allusive tone.

"Corowal, I think we just established that even Lord Holders don't
have 'other options' when it comes to pesky social standards," she
with the gentle but firm tone she would take with one of the children
who knew they were being naughty. "Despite what people may think of
me, I can still act like a respectable woman." Though even she had to
privately admit to herself that it would be so easy if she didn't.

"Oddly enough, those social standards find it acceptable for a Lord
Holder to have a mistress. Or few. Talk about hypocrite. You can only
marry a woman of certain status but you can bed anyone and have a
hoard of Half-Bloods and it's considered a virtue. A sign of Lord
Holder ensuring the future of his Blood line." He snorted with
self-irony. Siring half-Bloods or sleeping with women wasn't problem
to him. "Also, being a Lord Holder's mistress is considered
respectable. Well, almost."

"Well, let us ask your next wife's opinion of how respectable she
might find your mistresses. I'm sure she'd have an opinion." Though
whether he'd find a woman with enough backbone to share it with him
was another matter.

"Oh, please, don't remind me," Corowal groaned. "I have two feet high
pile of ´proposals´ on my desk." The Hold needed a Lady Holder, he
knew that.

Of that Erassa was all too well aware. "Then let's make a pact.
Let's promise each other that when it is storming outside, we not
bring the storms home with us. Let's talk of only pleasant things as
if it were a beautiful day, and defy the weather."

"That's a pact I can agree to," Corowal replied.

Last updated on the January 21st 2019

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A Pact