ACH: Empty Cradles (9): Sort Of

Writers: Lexy, Nici
Date Posted: 21st April 2005

Characters: Alajeran, Lindria
Description: Alajeran gives Lindria news of the search, and confesses to punching Enrizial
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 1 of Turn 3

Lindria had refused to let Calrian out of her sight for a moment since her husband had handed him back to her in order to begin the search, and had only succumbed to sleep when she had seen with her own eyes that there were two guards at the door to her bedchamber. Calrian had been even more fretful than usual, as if he sensed her distress, and she had been woken many times from her uneasy slumber to soothe him back to sleep.

Morning found her sitting on a couch with her son and worrying - about her nieces, about Lady Anaia and Lady Enriline. She wanted to go to them, but would not leave Calrian and felt it insensitive to bring him with her where he might remind Anaia of her loss. Undecided, she remained in her rooms and waited for news - good or bad.

Alajeran poked his head in to see if Lindria was there, and sighed in relief to see both she and his infant son there. "Lindria..." His eyes were shadowed.

"Alajeran! Have they been found?" Lindria stood, carefully so as not to jostle their sleeping son.

"Not yet..." He leaned over to kiss her. "Your brother made his usual noisy appearance however..."

"Enrizial is here?" Lindria wasn't sure whether to be glad that her brother was concerned enough to come to Amethyst Cliff, or nervous about what he might say - or had already said.

"Unfortunately," he replied. "Look...before he gives you his side, he _did_ start it--"

Her heart sank. That sounded ominous. "What happened?"

"Well, I sort of gave him a black eye..."

"You did _what_?" Lindria stared at him, astonished. "What do you mean, you 'sort of' gave him a black eye? Did you or didn't you?"

"Well, yes I did..." He sighed. "He deserved it though..."

She looked grim. Though he had a temper, her husband was hardly the sort to get into brawls - especially with a Lord Holder. She loved her brother, but she knew his nature. "What did he do to cause this?"

"Lindria..." He sighed again. "He insulted us, he insulted my father...I'm _tired_ of listening to it, time and again. I'm _not_ apologizing for it..."

Lindria's expression boded no good for her brother. "What did he say?"

"I don't know if I should tell you the _particulars_. Let's just say it was hurtful. My father's worked hard to be a good Lord...and he'd _never_ be dishonorable to anyone!" The accusations regarding his father and Lady Enriline still stung enough to make him want to find Enrizial and give him another black eye!

"If it wasn't for the fact that his daughters are missing, _I'd_ go and give him a piece of my mind. He's an idiot!" Sudden tears filled Lindria's eyes as the fear for her nieces and over the bitter divisions in her family threatened to overwhelm her. What had her brother become, that while Amethyst Cliff guards searched for his missing children he could insult Lord Alalir _again_? "What of Lady Anaia? Has he even spoken to her?"

"Actually..." Alajeran managed a small smile. "After your Mama gave him a piece of her mind, he went off quite docilely with Lady Anaia..."

"Mama?" She stared at him. "You mean Mama spoke out to Enrizial?"

"Yes, she did! And I could tell father was....proud of her. I know I was." He'd always thought of Lady Enriline as reserved and shy--but she'd certainly proved her mettle earlier.

Lindria smiled. "Well, Mama isn't always as timid as she seems." She remembered her mother having ruled the Ladies' Quarters at Emerald Falls with a firm hand, although she had never dared to speak out against a man - and certainly not a Lord. Marriage to Lord Alalir had obviously been good for her. "And if it takes her speaking out to shame my brother into silence, then good for her."

Her smile passed quickly, though. "How goes the search? Have they found any sign of the children at all?"

His look sobered considerably as he reached out to touch Calrian's head gently, marveling at the shock of black hair on his head. They'd created him, he and Lindria and the thought of finding him gone one day...

"Not yet...we'll not give up, Lindria. We can't. We'll find them..."

"Of course we will. With all Amethyst Cliff looking for them, not to mention the dragonriders if Lord Alalir contacts the Weyr, I'm sure they'll be found very soon," she replied, refusing to even contemplate the other possibility. Still, it was disturbing that as yet no trace had been found. With every minute that passed, the babies could be moving further away from the Hold itself and the area to be searched grew larger.

"I know, love. I'm going to wash up and change, then head down again. If Papa won't rest, then neither will I." Although, from the look in Enriline's eyes when she'd left, he was quite sure Targe was going to be summoned...hopefully soon.

Last updated on the July 10th 2006

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ACH: Empty Cradles (9): Sort Of