Think About It

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 12th November 2009

Characters: Eilomar, Tantral
Description: Eilomar has a proposition from an old harper in the Hall.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 5, day 20 of Turn 5

"Ah, Eilomar. I was looking for you." The Harper waived the head of his cane to beckon the Choir Master over. "Come sit with me a while. There's something I want to talk to you about."

"Hello Tantral. I'll just fetch a cup of klah first," Eilomar replied with an agreeable nod. He went to get his klah, and few sweet pastries too to go along with it.

"Ah, that's very kind of you," the old man smiled as he reached for cup. "You really should get yourself one too."

"Your welcome," Eilomar said, while his face fell. He had intended it for himself.

"Or better yet," Tantral ginned, patting the seat next to him. "Find yourself a woman to do that for you."

"Oh? I bet you have someone in your mind?" Eilomar asked. This was hardly the first time. He was respected master of his craft after all.

"I do. A very good girl. One brought up to know her place." Which he knew Eilomar could appreciate. "My grand-niece, Merlish."

"Why don't you tell me more of her?" Eilomar asked. Well, it didn't do any harm to listen. Privately he thought that he could do quite well without wife, thank you. He ate in the hall's dining room, drudges picked up and brought back his laundry and cleaned his rooms. His only concern was to remember to put his dirty clothes into the laundry bag. He could come and go as he pleased, no one nagged him or demanded attention he was no longer capable of giving.

"She's a sweet girl. Very traditional. And I dare say, she isn't bad on the eyes either." Not the prettiest, to be sure. Her nose was a might big, but certainly not disfiguring in any way. "She has been taught all the traditional arts of a woman - cleaning, cooking, sewing. She likes reading and knows her numbers, but she never had any ambition to be like these girls around here, trying to pretend they're one of the boys. No, not her, she's very feminine. And she's not one of those gossipy types, either. Quiet and reserved, she is."

"And how old would she be? Younger than my daughters?" Eilomar asked with rather sarcastic tone.

The older man looked that the choir master incredulously. "Do you really think I would try to bring you a spinster? Yes, she's twenty-one turns. But," and Tantral raised a finger to make this point clear, "she has never known a man. She has not remained unmarried through any fault of her own. She has been sheltered and protected by her father, just waiting for the right man and the right offer to come. I could think of no one more deserving such a woman trained to make a man happy than my good friend, Eilomar."

She sounded like a trouble to him, a cosseted little girl. Last thing he need, to act as father figure to someone.

Tantral's brow creased as he looked at him. "Why so quiet?"

"Well, frankly, I'm not overly interested in remarrying," Eilomar replied and stole one of his pastries back.

His companions eyes followed the pastry up to his lips mournfully. He didn't mind sharing, but did he have to take the _good_ one? "Well, who could blame you the way that woman treated you. But I must say, Eilomar, that it is not good to be alone with no one to take care of you in your old age. I regret not remarrying, and now I'm too old to even enjoy a pretty young wife if I _did_ marry again. I would hate to see you repeat my mistake. Get one while you're still young enough to train her right and she can satisfy _all_ your needs."

Well, one of the problems between him and Ailowyn had been that he no longer had needs or it was very weak. He was approaching his 70th birthing day and he was fat. He hasn't seen his ...toes... for turns. "I'm telling you, Eilomar," Tantral said with a sad shake of his head, "you don't want to realize when you're pushing one hundred that you're going to be spending the sunset of your turns fetching your own water bottle to heat your aching joints."

"I can think about it," Eilomar said, hoping that the vague promised would be enough for Tantral to drop the subject.

"Please think about it," Tantral said, laying a hand on the younger harper's knee. "The world is changing. Look around you. Young people don't hold to traditional values any more, and my grand-niece won't be available long. She'd make any man happy. I came to you first because I know you are a man who sees the world like do. You're the kind of man I would want for her - the kind that can appreciate what she has to offer. Think about that."

"I'll think," Eilomar said. ** Sharding old coot.**

Last updated on the November 16th 2009

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