Betrayal

Writers: Clancey, Estelle
Date Posted: 11th September 2005

Characters: Felyna, Enrizial
Description: Felyna tells Enrizial of Lady Anaia's "interest" in Reilina
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 8, day 4 of Turn 3

Felyna

Still smarting from the humiliation of his failure to retrieve Reilina from the harpers and exhausted from working late into the night without a Steward to assist him, Enrizial had been ill-tempered all day. The guard at his door was well aware of this and reluctant to allow any unannounced visitors in, but the Lord Holder had ordered that Lady Felyna was to be permitted entry whenever she wished.

"All right, my Lady," he said reluctantly, "but you might want to come back later. He's...not in a good mood at the moment."

Prepared with a cup of steaming klah, the delicate Lady smiled lightly at the guard. "He'll thank you for letting me in, sir Guard." She offered with a fairly charming wink, as if assuring him she would cure Lord Enrizial of his bad mood right quickly.

"My Lord?" She was saying quietly. She'd heard only rumors, being in the women's chambers all day, but she could tell he was incredibly aggravated.
In addition, the rumors she'd heard had given her a very fine idea. "My Lord, please sit for a moment. I've brought you freshly-made klah."

"I thought I..." Enrizial began angrily, turning from the window, and cut himself off as he recognised Felyna. "Oh - my apologies, my Lady." He managed the strained courtesy of a smile as he sank into the chair behind his desk. "I thought you were another holder or steward come to bother me.
Today has been rather...difficult."

"My goodness, my Lord. I've been in the woman's quarters most of today, and only heard rumors of things, and I would not want to be involved in such upheaval, regardless." She paused, looking every inch the proper Pern Lady.
"But you do look a bit ..stretched, shall I say politely?" Her smile was understanding as she brought over the cup of klah with a little nod. "Take a moment to yourself, my Lord, and sip. Perhaps I can help you?"

"I doubt it. Some fool of a girl has run away with the harpers, and the useless holder I ordered to fetch her back has failed me. Those harpers are disobeying me - laughing at me in my own territory." Enrizial realised that he was clenching his fists and forced himself to relax and sip his klah.
"Forgive me, Lady Felyna. These Hold matters cannot possibly interest you. It's only that..." He managed a half-smile. "I find you easy to talk to, you know."

Her cheeks colored prettily at that compliment, and she bowed her head to hide it. "I am only doing my duty, my Lord, and listening with a kind and understanding ear." She paused as something he said clicked. "You're right, my Lord. I am just a woman and not interested in such things, but being a woman has given me the chance to hear something like what you say.."

"This foolish child that ran away, I think I might know of it. We were talking just the other day in the women's hall, of one of the young fosterlings.." She paused to remember her name. "Reilina, I think? That lass has never fit in with the others in the Hold very well. Your Lady wife seemed most interested in helping Reilina, somehow, though at the time I of course assumed she meant to fit in with the rest of us better."

"My Lady..." Enrizial breathed. How clear it all became - the interest Anaia had taken in the young girl, her past attempts to help women escape from Emerald Falls...the reason, perhaps, that she had returned to him from Amethyst Cliff. Not because of her love for him, but to send another innocent child to the Weyr.

His dark eyes met Felyna's. "This is important, Lady Felyna. I need you to tell me what Lady Anaia said about helping Reilina."

Startled, Felyna looked back at him with her eyes widening just a touch from the intensity she saw there. Had she hit a nerve unknowingly? She had merely wanted to give a little doubt. But Anaia had often said how she wanted to help those who were not happy here, and had even spoken a time or two in the women's hall of various 'incidents' where she'd done just that, though obviously not often as many of the other women were properly mortified by such things.

"Why.. My Lord.. I thought it was nothing, at the time. Just women's chatter, you know? Not very meaningful. Your Lady is a very generous woman, always wanting to help those in need." She brought back the conversation to her mind.

"Lady Anaia said she felt so sad for Reilina, being unhappy here and wanting to be around the animals more than people. She said that she really wanted to do something for her, help her find her proper place." Felyna sighed at that, her lovely lips pulling down into a frown. "She never said exactly what she wished to help her with, and I .. I just thought it was a kind thing, to take such an interest in a sad fosterling."

"I see." Enrizial struggled to keep his composure, the strain obvious in his clipped tone as he spoke. "Somehow I think that Lady Anaia's idea of the girl's 'proper place' differs greatly from my own. You were right to bring this to my attention."

Abashed, though only outwardly, Felyna said quietly, "I am sorry, my Lord.
I hope I haven't distressed you. My only intent is to ease the weight of your duties." Inwardly, she could have shouted for glee. She _had_ struck a nerve. Maybe that woman would be gone for good now, or at least she could worm her way a little further into the Lord Holder's good graces.

"No need to apologise." He forced a smile and set down his mug. He'd confront Lady Anaia with this later, and he would not be swayed by pleading or promises. She would admit her crime, and then he would make her give her word never to do such a thing again - and, no matter what she said, he would order her guarded. "Thank you for the klah, Lady Felyna. You're very considerate to bring it to me."

Felyna smiled sweetly at him, and curtsied. "It is more than my pleasure, my Lord. Would you like anything else of me? Or shall I leave you to your very important work?"

"I would appreciate a little time alone, my Lady." Enrizial said quietly.
The shock of betrayal was as bad - if not worse than it had been the last time. He had believed that he and his wife had come to understand each other...that she had grown to love and obey him. Clearly that was not so.

Felyna curtsied once more, and very boldy, touched his shoulder gently before taking her leave of him. "Please send for me if you wish, any time, my Lord." Her chin tipped, and the swish of skirts around ankles echoed in the silence as she left him to his brooding. It was all she could do not to skip out the door, knowing as she did by the set of his shoulders, that she had struck a nerve. 'Ahh.. Enrizial.. you will be mine.. ' was her very warming thought as she returned to the women's quarters.

Last updated on the September 12th 2005

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Betrayal