A New Fosterling

Writers: Eimi, Estelle, Paula
Date Posted: 5th September 2019

Characters: R'fal, Ailda, Erassa, Lirena, Telany, Corolia
Description: New fosterling Telany arrives at Emerald Falls
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 12, day 8 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Corowal

***

Marlath bugled a greeting to the watchdragon as he appeared over the
Hold. Emerald Falls had become a familiar sight for the young brown pair
over the past months, but for the young girl who sat in front of R'fal
it was all completely new. Far from being unnerved by the jump
/between/, she squealed in delight to see the towering stone buildings
and the sparkling spray of the waterfall that gave the Hold its name
laid out below them.

Clinging on behind, Lirena smiled to herself to hear the joy in her
daughter's voice. She didn't think she'd ever quite get used to flying
on a dragon, but her youngest girl was clearly a natural.

By the time they'd landed and R'fal had helped them down from Marlath's
back, Telany had quietened down and stared up in awe at the Hold
building in front of her. She moved unconsciously closer to her mother
while her brother unloaded the small bag they'd packed together the
night before and lifted it with the easy strength he'd gained during his
training.

"Well, here we are." The young brownrider gave her an encouraging smile.
"Let's go and find someone to tell you where to go."

Ailda had been tasked to go and meet them. Since she had no set duties
at the Hold (besides being Lady of Blood and looking pretty), she had
volunteered to help with the new fosterling. Spotting them wasn't
hard, not many people arrived by dragon.

"Hello, are you Lirena?" she greeted the woman first "My duty to you
and your dragon, brownrider," she did offer courteous curtsy to R'fal.

"Yes, my lady." Lirena gently nudged her son. She wasn't sure whether he
was surprised that someone would curtsy to him or tongue-tied in the
presence of an attractive young woman, but he ought to remember his
manners. R'fal hastily returned the gesture with a bow. "This is my son,
R'fal, rider of Marlath, and my daughter Telany. She has come to be
fostered at the Hold."

"Well met, my name is Ailda. Telany, I'll be one of the ladies
teaching you how to act like lady," Ailda gave the girl a friendly
smile. "Come this way," she gestured them to follow her.

They followed Ailda into the Hold. R'fal and Lirena had both been there
several times before, but Telany had never lived anywhere but their
small farm and was awed by the sheer size and grandeur of the interior.
She clutched her mother's hand tightly and wished herself safely back in
her own room at the cothold. Her brother had gone to the Weyr, she
reminded herself. She had to be as brave as him.

"Are you one of the Lord Holder's family, Lady Ailda?" R'fal asked,
curious. He'd never met any of the ladies, at least not to speak to.

"Yes, his children are my cousins, well not all of them, just the ones
he had with Lady Ofelia, his first wife," Ailda replied. "So that
gives me the right to call him uncle."

She led them to second floor and to the Lord Holder's quarters. A
large, airy room with large windows had been converted to a children's
play and dayroom. It was filled with toys a cotholder's child
couldn't even imagine and furniture that was child sized. There was
play pen where a baby girl was testing her teeth on a toy and you
could heard baby's wailing from the next room, which was used for naps
and diaper changes. The older children in the room instantly stopped
what they had been doing and flocked to see them.

"Erassa!" Ailda called.
There was no response nor did she see the fostermother.
"She must be busy or stepped outside," she shrugged. "Erassa is the
fostermother for Lord Corowal's children."

An older woman in the plain dress of a drudge stepped forward. "She's
gone to take one of the children to the healer, my lady. Can I help you
with anything?" She looked curiously at the dragonrider and the young
girl at her mother's side.

"The new fosterling has arrived," Ailda said and the children in the
room dropped whatever they were doing and gathered around them.

"Hello," Corolia gave the new girl a welcoming smile. "What's your
name? I'm Corolia."

"Telany," the girl replied shyly. At a nudge from her mother, she added
"my lady" and made an attempt at a curtsey.

"I'm pleased to meet you," Corolia replied, offering her hand for a shake.

Telany glanced at Lirena, who nodded encouragement, then reached out to
take the other girl's hand. She seemed so ladylike, and Telany wondered
what a lady would say in this situation. "Um...I'm pleased to meet you,
too. My lady." She looked at her family for inspiration. "This is my Ma
and my brother R'fal. He's a dragonrider."

"Hey, I have dragonrider brother too. Well, half-brother. That's still
a brother. Come on, I introduce you to the gang," Corolia took
Telany's arm and just dragged her along. She was obviously excited to
get a new friend.

Ailda made a amused sound. "Don't worry, Lirena, these children are
going to get along just fine."

"Sorry, sorry..." Erassa said as she hurried through the door,
holding a sniffling Beleran in her arms. "We had to see the healer
about a kernel of corn stuck up this one's nose." She gave Ailda an
apologetic look.

"That's alright, Erassa," Ailda replied. "You probably want to meet
Lirena, the mother of the newest fosterling."

"Yes, of course," the fostermother said, turning to greet their guests
with a slightly nervous smile. She never quite knew where she stood
with new people.

"Erassa, meet Lirena. Lirena meet fostermother Erassa. She'll be
taking care of all the everyday stuff: feed them, make sure they wear
weather appropriate clothes, do they homework, tend their scrapes and
break their fights."

"I'm pleased to meet you, Erassa." Lirena was also more than a little
anxious. Before, when her children had been fostered, it had always been
with her own relatives, people she knew well. "I hope my daughter won't
fight anyone..." She sounded uncertain, knowing how strong-willed Telany
could be. What if she got into a tussle with one of the Lord Holder's
children? She'd have to have a word with the girl before she left.

The fostermother found that statement a little odd, but she didn't
allow her smile to falter. "It wouldn't be the first fight I've had
to break up, for sure. But I hope Telany will be very happy with us."

Ailda suppressed a sigh. It wasn't first time when her sense of humour
left everyone else confused or giving her odd looks.

Last updated on the September 11th 2019

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A New Fosterling