Rebuilding Trust (1)
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: Paula, Eimi
Date Posted: 16th January 2009
Characters: Almonteo, Corowal
Description: Almonteo and Corowal finally have a man to man talk.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 13, day 17 of Turn 4
The offer had been intriguing, so much so that the Hallmaster decided it required an immediate and personal reply. It would be Almonteo's second visit to the Hold since their Hall had been burned down. His first meeting with Corowal had been a success. He hoped this second unofficial, and unannounced, meeting would be equally productive.
He reached out a hand in greeting as the Lord Holder met him at the dragon. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Lord Corowal. I hope you didn't have to reschedule anything important on my account."
"There isn't anything more import that a visit from a hallmaster," Corowal replied, smiling warmly.
"Well, this isn't exactly a formal occasion. Not yet at least," the Harper smiled. "Let me offer my congratulations, sir, on your upcoming marriage."
"Thank you, master Almonteo," Corowal replied with a bow of his head.
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting your intended. Do you know her well?" the Hallmaster asked curiously as the turned to walk towards the Hold entrance. He couldn't help but spare a glance in the direction of their former Harper Hall and wonder if the ruins still stood or if they had torn them down in the hopes to forget the tragedy.
"I've know her since I moved here, over a turn ago," Corowal answered. "We have grown close after my wife passed away," he continued sombrely.
"Ah, I see." And they had waited a respectable amount of time before becoming engaged. It was by no means a fast turn over. Corowal did have several children, as Almonteo recalled, and would need a mother for them. Not to mention the fact that he was still a young man. He could father many more in the coming turns. "It will be a comfort to your children to have a mother again, I'm sure."
"Yes, it will be," Corowal said.
"Your Hold could use a Lady's touch as well. Not to say that it isn't looking magnificent as always, but a Lady Holder just brings that... special warmth. I'm not quite sure how they do that, but they do."
"Yes, I know what you mean. They bring graciousness we poor men just can't manage," Corowal smiled.
"I know I would have been lost without my wife all these turns," the Hallmaster chuckled. She certainly made life interesting, and his home warm. When he wasn't relegated to the sofa, that was. "Is it a large guest list?"
"Quite, it's a Lord Holder's wedding after all," Corowal said. "We have decided to hold the wedding during month two, so it doesn't clash with the turn over celebrations and Lord Ishek's wedding."
"That will give me plenty of time to have something prepared for you." Of course it would have to be an original piece. It was only fitting for a Lord Holder's wedding and he already had finished the one for Lord Ishek's wedding. How he was going to write _another_ on top of Turns End no one could say, but at least he would have a few sevendays after his trip to Garnet Valley.
"Not to mention giving my staff change to catch they breath, before arranging yet another feast," Corowal said humorously.
"Yes, I think you had the right idea there," the Hallmaster grinned. "Though next Turns End you will have your wife's help, which will ease the burden considerably I'm sure."
"Yes, I'm sure of that too," Corowal said.
Almonteo considered carefully how exactly to broach the subject on his mind - the reason why he decided to bring the Lord Holder his reply in person before all the wedding matters would take precedence. "I got a good view of your Hold from the sky as we spiralled down," he said nonchalantly, as if he were just making general small talk. "I looked for the old Hall, though I have to confess, since I had only been there a short time, I couldn't remember where exactly it would be located in relation to the Hold."
"I can show the area for you. But I warn you, it has changed drastically. People have moved into empty harper cot's, started to farm land or rise herdbeasts there. What was left of the main hall building - well, most of it has been torn down to building materials for new cots."
"Some of it's former residents will be sorry to hear that. Time moves on, but some of them still hold onto the dream that someday they may come back to their old home."
"They might get disappointed, yes," Corowal sighed.
Almonteo could not read what the Lord Holder might be thinking at that moment. Did he not want to talk about it? Was he implying that it would never happen? "Well, at least you're getting some use out of the property."
"Can't let a good land to lay fallow. And it's a good piece of land," he gestured towards the area that once was Harper Hall. Now it looked like small village of cots, sprung a bit distance away from the main hold.
Last updated on the January 19th 2009