The Lady and the Mistress

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 30th November 2009

Characters: Zelanka, Nimile
Description: Zelanka meets the former Lady Holder's sister and remembers a moment long ago.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 6, day 5 of Turn 5

The woman may have only been married to a Minor Holder, but she certainly had a style that would have suited a Lady of any grand Hold. "Zelanka," she smiled, holding out her hand to the Headwoman, "it has been far too long!"

"Nimala?" Zelanka sounded incredulous. "What brings you here?" she smiled.

"Oh my husband has some business with the Lord Holder or one of his stewards or..." she waved her hand nonchalantly. "I didn't really pay attention when he explained it to me really. I just had to see Amber Hills again when it wasn't dressed up for a wedding or a funeral."

"Well, we have had too many funerals lately," Zelanka said. She was suddenly remembering Benaroy's funeral but also his wife's funeral and wedding... oh, how hard that had been to her.

"Thank the Egg for that! Though I have to say, I actually miss old Ben," Nimala sighed. "Who would have thought, right?"

"Who would?" she echoed.

"I never thought I'd forgive the old bastard for breeding my poor sister into an early grave like he did his other wives." Well, technically the first had died in the Plague, but she was sure it would have been her eventual fate any way. "Thank Faranth she was his last. I truly hope his sons have learned from his example."

"Well, that's in the past now," Zelanka said, feeling uneasy about someone talking her Lord Holder so disrespectely.

Nimala could tell the Headwoman was a little apprehensive. "I know it's not good to speak ill of the dead," she assured her quietly, "and I will be the first to say he wasn't all bad, not matter how some people felt about him. He certainly got this Hold through a lot of difficult time, no matter how he did it."

"Yes, he did that," Zelanka said. She smiled at Nimala. "Do you want a cup of klah?"

"No, no," the woman said with a polite wave of her hand. "I had better find my husband. I was happy to run into you, though! I will take you up on your offer of klah next time."

"Next time. Do stop by for proper chat before you leave," Zelanka said. Although Nimala's presence stirred up lot of memories. Nimile had been nice enough as a person, but Zelanka had avoided her as much as possible. She had been assitant Headwoman, and it hadn't always been easy. Not to mention that their sons had been born close in age and had ran together in same group of children.

~~FLASHBACK~~

"Zelanka?" the Lady Holder said with a polite knock, though she peeked her head inside before waiting for an answer. "May I speak with you for a moment?"

"Of course, my Lady," Zelanka replied and pushed some runaway curls from her face.

"You know Milroy's first birthday will be next month. We really want to have some kind of party to celebrate, but my husband is worried about me taking on too much in my condition," she said with a soft smile as she patted her stomach which was just barely starting to show the signs of their third child. "He has asked that I speak to you about maybe helping to plan the party."

"I'll gladly help with it. Birthday parties are fun. Do you want a cake?" Zelanka answered.

"If it wouldn't take too much away from our stores." A small cake wouldn't hurt anything, surely, but it did seem to be a bit of an extravagance considering the child wouldn't even remember it. "If you could make a cake, could you make it a redfruit spice cake? The Lord Holder loves those."

"Of course I can," Zelanka replied and took a scrap hide to make a note. Like she didn't already know that!

"Wonderful," Nimile smiled, already looking forward to the treat. They were so rare in Amber Hills. "And my husband asks that you come, and bring Lantriv with you to play with Nimroy. I thought you wouldn't really want to be surrounded by all those children, but he seemed eager to have you both there. He thinks our eldest son might feel jealous if all the attention is payed to our little one and there was no one to distract him."

"If you want us to come, we will be there, My Lady. It's good to have company for the older brother, or he might get restless," Zelanka tried to keep her voice as neutral as possible.

"And I love to see him and Lantriv play together. They get along so well." The Lady Holder hoped that one day Nimroy and Milroy could be as good of friends, even though they were brothers. "Benaroy also seems to enjoy watching them. It's such a fun age."

"Yes, it is," Zelanka nodded. But in truth, the friendship between the boys worried her. Last thing she wanted was to someone take a closer look at them and realize how much a like they were.

"Oh," Nimile cried suddenly, a hand flying to her belly before a small smile spread across her face. "She kicked."

Smile spread to Zelanka's face too. "That's wonderful! She?"

"We're hoping at least," she replied with a hopeful smile. "It's not like Ben really _needs_ more sons at this point."

"Well, he does seem to have them to plenty," Zelanka agreed. If the Lady Holder only knew exactly how many!

"Do you want to feel?" Nimile asked, showing all the enthusiasm of a new mother, even though this was her third.

"No, thank you, " Zelanka said politely. It was like she wanted to befriend her. And Zelanka wanted to keep a distance between them. Ex-mistress and current wife, not a good combination.

"Oh, all right," the Lady Holder said, keeping her smile firmly in place, though she did feel a little rejected. She didn't know what she had done to offend Zelanka, but she always did seem to like to keep her distance from her. "Well, if my husband's tea is ready, I would like to take it to him if you don't mind."

"Of course, My Lady," Zelanka replied and set the cup and pitcher to the tray.

Nimile watched her, wishing there was something she could say, but it seemed the Headwoman had better things to do than just chat. "Thank you. I suppose I can leave the arrangements up to you then?"

"Yes, Ma'am, you can trust on me," Zelanka said and meant it. Faranth forbid her disappointing a small child on his first birthing day!

"Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me," she said as she picked up the tray, "my husband will be wanting his tea."

"Yes, My Lady," Zelanka said.

Last updated on the November 30th 2009

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The Lady and the Mistress