This Unsought Life
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Vix
Date Posted: 30th September 2008
Characters: Vanea
Description: Vanea considers her life and the people closest to her.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 12, day 3 of Turn 4
The Headwoman squinted at the sky, speculating on the clouds that obscured the sun's early rays. They did not have the heaviness of rainclouds, but already the air felt heavy with heat and humidity. The bedding scheduled to be laundered today would take until evening to dry, and perhaps not be ready even then. Still, it needed to be done on this day since tomorrow brought Threadfall and nothing could be hung outdoors then.
She turned and nodded to the women who were awaiting her verdict, with that action giving them the go-ahead to start filling the vats of water and adding the sheets to them. She heard more than one sigh from those assigned to the task, including one from her younger daughter. She did not favor them with a word for that reaction, reminding herself that if the day had not been suitable for that task, those same workers would have been disappointed with whatever alternate chore she had assigned.
As she strode back to the kitchen, she thought on that daughter, wondering what else Binea might like to do. Though only twelve turns of age, she had been helping in the laundry for a few months now, still attending harper classes for a portion of each day but contributing to the work of the Hold – as well she should. The girl had not expressed an interest in any other tasks, though she seldom seemed to smile while working. Vanea made a note to talk to the girl later in the evening.
On the other hand, there was her older daughter. . . Neata had no lack of words to describe the life she wanted for herself. Of course, her choice was not one that was suitable to Vanea. Yes, the girl was bright – as were all of the Headwoman's children – but harpering was not a female occupation, at least not any longer. Neata needed to accept that and to find a proper way to utilize her energies.
Energies that were too often spent in looking after her grandmother, Vanea's mother. Neana had not become visibly worse in her dementia, but she was still not the woman that Vanea remembered as her mother, and was now more the over-sized and over-aged child that she had never requested. Watching over her had taken its toll on the entire family, something that was often on Vanea's mind, though she was unable to see any alternate solution to that family care.
And then there was Neabin. He had grumbled just as much as his companion over the chores he had been required to do to atone for the window broken in his first and last stickball game. However, Vanea could not help but wonder if the boy did not secretly enjoy that he was serving the sentence with the slightly older son of the Lord Holder.
The woman sighed as she entered her office and sank into the chair, ignoring the various slips of paper that had been added to the surface of her desk since she had last sat here – undoubtedly requests, most of which would have to be tactfully declined. Whether in her job or at home, she seemed to be facing those who were dissatisfied or disappointed.
She propped her elbow on the desk and rested her chin on the palm of her hand, staring at the papers on her desk without really seeing them. For what seemed like the thousandth time or more, she wished that her husband had not died, thrusting her into this unsought life.
Last updated on the October 1st 2008