Very Grateful

Writers: Bree, Estelle
Date Posted: 22nd July 2005

Characters: Gevina, Enriline
Description: Gevina meets Lady Enriline and is welcomed to the Hold.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 10 of Turn 3

Gevina felt far more presentable once she'd gotten a good night's sleep and the chance to wash the accumulated dirt from several sevendays hard travel from her. Lady Enriline had proved the rumors of her polite manners true by not commenting on Gevina's extremely ragged appearance on her arrival, but now that Gevina had recovered from her journey she was anxious to prove to the Lady Holder that she was, in fact, a respectable lady.

To these ends she dressed in one of her nicer gowns, though it was modest and somber enough to be fitting for a woman who had so recently lost her husband. After leaving Nakina in the nursery, she knocked nervously on the door to the Lady Holder's sitting room.

"Come in - ah, Gevina. Please, come inside and sit down. I've been looking forward to meeting you properly!"

Lady Enriline rose gracefully from the chair where she'd been sitting as the young woman entered. Her sitting-room was tastefully furnished - the tapestries and paintings were all clearly the work of Masters, though unostentatious, the furniture was highly polished dark hardwood and the rug beneath their feet was soft and thick. She'd inherited most of it from Lady Jerandra, but was gradually imprinting her own style on the decoration of the Hold.

Gevina gave Enriline a graceful curtsey before settling into the chair indicated. "I'm sorry that you saw me in such a condition... you were all very kind to me after my journey."

"Oh, please don't worry about that. No-one looks at their best after a long and arduous journey such as yours." Enriline sat opposite her and, having asked Gevina whether she'd care for a drink, leaned over the low table that separated them to pour klah. "I'm still amazed by how far you've travelled at this time of year. It must have been very difficult for you."

"It wasn't easy," she admitted, accepting the mug and taking a sip. "I was worried about my daughter mostly... but I thought we would be safer here."

"Well, the Hold has had its share of troubles recently," Enriline admitted, thinking of the poisoned comb that had nearly killed her and the kidnappers who had snatched two babies from the nursery. "But I have never felt anything other than safe under the protection of Lord Alalir. If it would not be too inquisitive of me, however, may I ask whether you felt...less than safe in your former home? I only ask because if that's so, perhaps my husband needs to know about it."

Sitting in the perfectly decorated sitting room, it was hard to recall the fear that had prompted her to pack up her belongings and her child and ride for the Hold. "My Lady, it is not a story that can be told... delicately. I don't believe I was in physical danger, but after my husband's half-brother arrived, I knew that my honor was in danger."

"Oh..." Enriline paled. She had not known that the holder of Black Ridge had had a brother - which suggested that the half-brother was illegitimate. She well knew what it was to be threatened by such a person. It was no surprise to her that they were born with envy of their true-born siblings in their hearts. "Well, you may be quite certain that you will be safe here at Amethyst Cliff. I do not allow anyone to insult the ladies who are under my protection. Have you spoken of this to my husband?"

"Yes, my Lady..." She'd been fairly certain Lord Alalir had understood her diplomatic attempt to express her concerns without going into detail. "He indicated that my husband's brother is the designated heir, and that I was welcome to remain here if I did not feel... secure in my previous home."

"I'll talk to Alalir," Enriline said, tight-lipped. She did not like the idea of a bastard - a dishonourable bastard at that, not that they were known for their honour - in charge of a hold. Who knew how he was treating the holders there? "Of course you are very welcome here. Amethyst Cliff has never hesitated to offer sanctuary to those who require it."

Gevina couldn't help but show the faintest sign of true relief--as willingly as she'd been welcomed, she couldn't help but still feel the slight nervousness that her parents or her brother-in-law would be able to return her to Black Ridge and lock her back up for more long, boring turns. "I'm very grateful, Lady Enriline... both to you and your husband."

"I know what it's like to be afraid to live in a place that was once my home," Enriline said softly, remembering how Emerald Falls, the birthplace of her children, had been turned into her prison. She shook her head as if to rid herself of those dark memories, and spoke briskly. "Now, have you been given suitable quarters to stay in, you and your daughter?"

"Oh yes, they're better than I'd imagined. And I've found my way to the nursery... they've taken good care of Nakina when I can't be there." Her voice was steady and didn't betray any hint of anxiety she might have felt--even in her remote Hold she'd heard of the kidnapping of Lord Enrizial's own children from that very nursery. The fact that the Lord Holder's grandson and granddaughter where there made her confident that whatever had gone wrong the first time would not go wrong again.

"The nursery staff are very good. It's one of the most popular tasks for the ladies, so only those who are best with children are chosen." Enriline smiled. "Between my husband's family and other recent arrivals at the Hold, your daughter will have plenty of playmates should you decide to remain here."

Gevina smiled warmly at that thought. "That would be wonderful. I had worried about the availability of appropriate companions at Black Ridge... it's quite remote and we had few real visitors."

"You should like it here, then. Even in winter, we are still visited regularly by dragonriders," Enriline said. "In fact, just the other day we had some riders here on Search, though usually they bring passengers or messages." Having been introduced to the Weyrleaders of Dragonsfall and found them perfectly human and courteous, she had grown accustomed to their visits, and if she did not entirely approve of their lifestyle, she at least believed they should be treated with respect.

Gevina found the idea of regular visits by dragonriders very exciting. "Then I'm glad I was made so welcome, Lady Enriline. I think I will be very happy here."

Last updated on the September 6th 2005

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Very Grateful