ACH: Empty Cradles (7): She Deserves Better

Writers: Estelle, Lexy, Nici
Date Posted: 18th April 2005

Characters: Alajeran, Enrizial, Alalir, Enriline, Anaia
Description: Enriline arrives with Anaia and chastises Enrizial for insulting Alalir and Alajeran, suggesting that he instead comfort his wife.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 1 of Turn 3

"Enriline is Lady of this Hold and my father has treated her with _honor_ you fancy dressed _porcine_ of a man!"

Enrizial was for a moment too dazed and surprised to react, but he soon recovered and staggered to his feet, raising his fists. "Lady Enriline deserves better than an oaf from the fields who goes drinking while her grandchildren are snatched from their cradles!"

"My _wife_ certain deserves better than to have you as a son, that much is certain!" Alalir only sneered at him and moved to desk to recover the fallen maps while his two sons stood in front of Enrizial and _dared_ him to make a move. Jeralir hated fighting--messed up clothing and bruises were so...foolish, but he would if he had to!

"Just what is going on here?" A female voice cut through the shouting and for a moment there was quiet as they turned to gape at Lady Enriline, standing in the doorway. Her eyes widened as she saw her son and the already swelling and darkening bruise around his eye, but she entered the room without hesitation to stand at her husband's side.

"My lady Mother," Enrizial began hotly. "I wonder how you can remain loyal to that man when..." His voice trailed off as he noticed Anaia behind her and he stood as if frozen to ice, staring at her.

"You were not brought up to start brawls in another Lord's Hold, Enrizial. Behave like the man and the Lord you ought to be, not as a child. Lord Alalir and Lord Alajeran are doing their utmost to help find Faraline and Alalia, and it befits you to show them some gratitude and offer your aid." Enriline was too angry and ashamed of her son to balk at speaking so severely to a Lord.

"Mother..." He glanced frantically from her to Anaia.

"You should be offering comfort to your wife, who has been beside herself with terror since she discovered your daughters' empty cradles," Enriline snapped. "My husband and his son know this Hold and the best way to search it. You only hinder them."

Enrizial looked for a moment as if he was about to make an angry retort, but thought better of it when he saw the look on his wife's face. There was some truth in what Lady Enriline said, and he swallowed his resentment against Alalir and his sons. There'd be plenty of time to tell them what he thought of them _after_ his daughters were found.

"My Lady." He approached Anaia. "I came as soon as I heard. Emerald Falls will do everything possible to help in the search for our children."

The Lady eyed her husband with pain shining from her eyes, but her mouth set in anger. Anaia glanced around the room at everyone else and then back at her husband and stifled a sigh. "I know, Enrizial. But Lord Alalir and his guard have things well under control. The instant we knew the children were missing from the nursery, Alajeran instituted a search of the entire Hold and outlying areas."

She reached out and took his hand in her own, hoping that she could soften her next words and he would calm down. Though, at least she knew from her husband's honest reaction that he had nothing to do with the kidnapping of their children. "They know this area, my husband, and are best suited for the search. I think we should let them lead the search."

Enrizial hesitated, torn between his anger and need to avenge his humiliation at the hands of Alalir and his sons, and the wish to protect and comfort his wife. It had been long since he'd seen her and he'd almost forgotten the power she had to influence his actions with only the look in her eyes. She was pale with fear and worry, and he did not think he could bear to see her sorrows increased by his actions, however just.

"Since it is their negligence that led to the kidnapping, I will leave it to them to find the children again, offering what help I may." He turned to face Alalir, still holding her hand. "Though I insist on being fully informed of every aspect of the search."

"How incredibly _kind_ you are to allow me to continue in peace," Alalir replied, his voice laced with enough venom to melt the fine carpet on the floor. "You have two choices--retire with your Lady wife and comfort her or stay and be quiet while we lowly _fieldhands_ conduct our search." He ignored the rest in the room and turned to his wife, his gaze softening as he touched her cheek. "Have you rested at all?"

"I dozed while Lady Anaia slept." That was not strictly true, but Enriline was not overly troubled by her conscience. Her husband had enough to worry about at the moment. "I'm perfectly well, Alalir - please don't concern yourself. I want to help with the search, however I can." She knew her husband too well to suggest that _he_ should be the one resting, though the dark shadows under his eyes concerned her. Perhaps she should quietly send for Targe...

"Perhaps you can talk to Vivvi about arranging refreshments for Lord's Aswic and Enrizial, love." His lip twitched, just a tad, "Or at the very least a cold cloth to place on your son's eye before the swelling gets too bad."

Anaia stifled another sigh. If she could just get her husband to keep his mouth _shut_, they wouldn't be in this situation at all! She looked over at Alalir and tried to smile slightly. "My Lord, everything that you have done to help find our children is appreciated. And just to let you know, I do not blame you for what has happened here as it could have happened anywhere considering there is not usually a guard on the nursery at all hours at any of the Holds I have been to."

"If you will excuse Enrizial and I, I will take him up to my suite and await word from you." She squeezed her husband's hand and pulled slightly, her eyes slightly harder when she met Enrizial's gaze. It was a look that stated if he said anything else, she would turn and leave him, all the work they had managed through letter for naught.

"I'll ask Vivvi to send refreshments and ice and cloths there," Enriline said quickly, forestalling any possible protest from Enrizial. "Please forgive me, my Lords, for not offering you anything sooner. As you can imagine, I've been distracted."

To her relief, Enrizial said nothing more and followed his wife from the office. Enriline left also, to go in search of Vivvi - and then, Targe. She hoped that left to their own devices, her son and his wife would comfort one another and perhaps be reconciled - and feared that Enrizial's notorious temper would make matters even worse.

Last updated on the July 10th 2006

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ACH: Empty Cradles (7): She Deserves Better