Family Updates

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 6th October 2021
Series: The Hallmaster's Ladies

Characters: Thayde
Description: Aydrissa comes to visit her son.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 10, day 3 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Enamra, Jalodwyn, H'riv

Thayde

----

Aydrissa poked her head through the open door of Thayde's office, then
seeing him unoccupied, stepped in. "Don't you look busy." She offered
her son a smile full of warmth. "Surprise."

Thayde looked up in surprise and smiled immediately. “Mother!” He came
around his desk and enveloped her in a hug. “A lovely surprise.”

"Well, since I hadn't heard anything and you haven't visited me, I
thought I'd ask H'riv to bring me to see you." She squeezed him back
in a warm embrace.

“Ah, H’riv. Is he still sporting that awful beard?” Thayde asked.

"It's not that bad, Thayde, " She scolded with a smile. "It suits
him. So, what about you? How is Enamra doing at the Weyr?"

“Oh, about that,” Thayde scratched at the stubble in his jawline.
“She’s not there any more, she came back home.”

"She came back and you didn't tell me?" Aydrissa's hands went to her
hips. "When did she come back? After the Hatching I suppose?" She
tilted her head. "Well, the Weyr isn't for everyone, obviously, and
I'm pleased that she's back with you."

“Enamra liked the Weyr,” he assured his mother, “but during her final
physical exam there, the healer determined she was pregnant.” There
was a sneaky glint in his eyes as he waited for his mother’s reaction.

His mother's eyes popped open and an excited squeak was uttered from
her lips as her eyes gleamed. "Pregnant? She's pregnant?" The grin
faded only slightly as realization struck. "Uhm...she was at the Weyr,
so....am I getting excited for nothing?"

“Moommm,” he rolled his eyes. “Come on, you’re not so hallbred that
you think a woman going to the Weyr automatically means she slept
around. You’re the one who became a Master Crafter and encouraged all
of your daughters to pursue whatever path they wanted.”

"Well, that's true, but you understand why I ask. Obviously, since
you're so happy, you know that the babe is yours." She suddenly smiled
brightly. "Another grandchild! Oh, Thayde, I'm so very happy for you
both!" She hugged him tightly before pulling back. "And I hope she's
happy as well."

Thayde tried to smother the prickle of annoyance that his mother’s
question had brought and instead enjoy the moment. “She is. We haven’t
really been telling many people yet. It’s not something we decided
_not_ to do, I think we’re both just being cautious after last time.”

"Completely understandable." Aydrissa nodded in agreement. "Do you
have everything you need? Your sisters and brothers will be excited
too, so I'm sure they'll visit as soon as they know. You don't mind if
I tell them, do you? I don't know that I'll be able to keep that
quiet. And I must see Enamra and tell her how happy I am for you
both."

“You can tell them. I’m surprised H’riv didn’t blab it to you, he’s
known for a few days,” Thayde said.

"He did?" She paused to purse her lips. "Well, I think he's learned
his lesson after that last time." She then frowned, "speaking of my
other granddaughter... when can I see her? You've not said anything
more about her since I talked to you last. "

“As far as Jalodwyn is concerned, you don’t have another granddaughter
by me. I’m not allowed to see Jalotha, and certainly never tell her
that she’s mine. Nothing has changed on that front.” In fact, Thayde
thought, things might have gotten worse after he and Enamra kept
Jalotha.

Aydrissa's lips thinned. "I have to go talk to her. This is absolutely
ridiculous." Her hands went to her hips. "She'll see reason."

“Be careful, mother,” Thayde said, feeling slightly hypocritical. “She
warned me before that if I ever tried to make a serious claim to
Jalotha that she would take her and disappear.”

His mother's mouth parted in shock and dismay. "Surely she wouldn't do
that. She could only come up north and we're all up there." Her brow
knitted. "I don't understand why she would ever do such a thing or
even threaten to. You're a good man and you were one of her closest
friends." She stood, looking utterly flabbergasted. "I know things
turned out poorly, but it can't have gotten _that_ bad."

“She can’t seem to let go of the part where I initially wanted nothing
to do with the pregnancy… Oh, and that little part where I sent her to
Jade Harbor,” he said dryly.

Grimacing, Aydrissa winced at the reminder. "That is a bit of a thing
to overcome," she held up her thumb and forefinger, holding them
apart. She exhaled. "But you brought her back. That should mean
something, shouldn't it? Enamra is handling it well, isn't she?"

“It should mean something, but it doesn’t. It’s just one more thing I
made her do.” He raked his fingers through his hair, mouth softening
at the mention of Enamra. “She has been handling it great ever since
she came back from the Weyr.”

With a nose wrinkle, Aydrissa tilted her head. "Well, if you think
about it Thayde, since when in your entire time of knowing her, has
Jalodwyn ever liked being made to do something? I remember her being
good natured, but the moment anyone tried to force her to do something
her temper did rear its head. Did you forget that?" Her eyes softened
as well. "I thought the Weyr would do her some good. Going to the Weyr
and staying for a while helps open some people's eyes."

The Hallmaster sighed, reminiscent of Teenage Thayde. “No, Mother, I
didn’t forget, but I also can’t go back in time and change it. Her
presence upset Enamra and I had to do what was necessary to make
things peaceful in my marriage. If you haven’t noticed, all the women
in my life have me by the balls.” He lifted his shoulders in a half
shrug. “I’m just along for the ride at this point.”

Brows shot up at his phrasing. "Well, that's a succinct way to put
it." She paused and then eyed Thayde for a moment. "Speaking of the
Weyr...do they not have dolphineers stationed there? I thought that
they did."

“There were some but most live here since the distance isn’t that
great. There used to be a married pair, she was a dolphineer and he
impressed so they lived at the Weyr.” Thayde said, having not really
thought much about it.

Aydrissa looked at him expectantly, but when he said nothing, she gave
him a nudge. "Why don't you ask her to move there if they've cots for
dolphineers? She'd still be close enough for her duties here, but the
Weyrfolk wouldn't judge her for having a child like they did before at
Jade Harbor. And she'd have access to their creche as a crafter, plus
there'd be some distance between her and Enamra. Unless..." her voice
trailed off. "Or do you want Jalotha close to you here?"

Thayde made a face. "Of course I want her close to me. If I can see
her, then I know she's being well taken care of, even if I can only
see her from a distance."

Sighing, Aydrissa gave Thayde a gentle hug. "I really wish I could
help in some way with this. Make it better for all of you. It's such a
difficult situation. I'd love to get to know my granddaughter."

Thayde returned her hug. "Just ask Jal, you never know, she might make
an exception for you."

"I'll try." Aydrissa decided, but inwardly didn't hold out much hope.
"Now, would it be too much trouble to host me for dinner tonight? I
can always eat in the Dining Hall if it's too much for Enamra."

“Enamra wouldn’t dream of you eating in the Dining Hall. Come by for
dinner,” he assured her.

"Thank you. I do like your wife, Thayde. You chose very well."

Thayde wished he had been that smart, fortunately for him, fate had
chosen for him.

Last updated on the February 6th 2022

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