Duties

Writers: Len, Suzee
Date Posted: 6th January 2012

Characters: Arippa, Halah, Yseilda, Selema
Description: Arippa helps the Lady Holder with one of her duties.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 21 of Turn 6

Arippa

Arippa adjusted the basket on her arm and looked back over her
shoulder making sure the drudges followed along with more supplies.
"Don't lag," she called to one in the back. "This will get done faster
if we move as quickly as we can."

She smiled over at Halah. "So what do you think Benani is going
to have? Boys or girls?"

"One of each," the drudge teased back, being in good spirits. Since
her talk with the Headwoman, her work load was considerbly lessened,
now that she spend most of her time helping the older woman. "What do
you think?"

Arippa laughed. "Now wouldn't that be just perfect," she said. "I hope
it's boys though. That would make Uncle Zathris happy." She walked
rather quickly and soon they were nearing the cots. She knew of one
who was a recent widow and knocked on her door.

Halah grinned at her and politely stepped back to let the girl talk to
the woman. All she really hoped for was a safe birth for mother and
children, be them boys or girls. Her eldest sister had just lost her
first in childbirth, and almost her own life as well.

"Hello Lildie," she said to the little girl who answered the door. "Is
your mama here?"

The woman's voice came from inside, her hand and then her face
appeared. She ushered her daughter our of her way. "What can we do for
you today miss," she asked.

"Nothing for me," she said with a sweet smile. "But we've brought you
and the children a few things." She handed over the basket she
carried and motioned for Halah to do the same. Inside were fruits and
dried meats. Even some flour, preserves and nuts. "You please let the
headwoman know if you need anything now," she nodded. Amber Hills took
care of it's people. She began to turn away and then remembered
something.

"Oh Jorgren has been asked by my father to bring by some wood and fix
anything needs fixing." The woodworker had expressed admiration of the
young widow but was too shy to make any overtures on his own.

Halah stood back whilst they talked and watched the wind blow through
the trees overhead. Winter was well on its way and she curled her
fingers in her sleeves as she waited to Arippa.

"You let him know if you need anything else and he'll get word to us."
She nodded to the woman.

"Please let Lady Benani know we're wishing her well with the
birthing," said the widow.

Arippa gave her a brilliant smile. "Of course I will. She's doing very
well so far." She nodded again and started down the path toward the
next small cot.

"It's getting cold." She rubbed her arm with her other hand and looked
up at the lowering sky. "Doesn't look too good, does it?"

"Feels like bad weather is on it's way. It's good for the Weyrs
though, wouldn't you say? At least the dragons won't be in any danger
with cold like this." Halah's face took on a dreamy air, as she
thought about dragons and their riders.

"Yes," agreed Arippa. She pulled her cloak tighter around her and
looked at the sky. They still had several baskets to deliver so she
hurried along the path to the next. This time the young woman who
answered the door couldn't have been older that Arippa herself and was
heavily pregnant. She smiled and reached her hand out for the basket.
"Hello Selema," she smiled. "The healer told me to let you know he
would be by later today to check up on you."

"Thank you, Lady Arippa," the shy girl mumbled as she took the basket.
She smiled nad nodded at Halah standing behind the young lady of the
Hold.

She nodded back. "You send a message up to the House if you need
anything, alright?" From the time of the plague, all babies and their
mothers were very important to Amber Hills and all were cared for to
the very best of their ability.

The girl nodded and smiled. Arippa turned to Halah. "One more and we
can go back into the warm." She marched up the little hill to the last
cot in the row. The door opened before she got there and a pair of
hold brats boiled out of the door with their mother calling after
them. She chuckled as they dodged around her.

Halah jumped back as she was attacked by hold brats. She never liked
children much, and wasn't about to change her tune today. When they
ran by, she gave Arippa a wry look.

Arippa chuckled. and turned to watch them run off. Children _would_
play outside, even on a day as cold as this. "Yseilda," she called
before the door closed. "We've brought you some things." She waved the
last burdened drudge forward to deposit his armful of blankets just
inside the door. She didn't want to keep her too long in the cold. The
woman was just recovering from a rather nasty illness. "Oh and these,"
she handed over a small basket of citrus fruit.

"Oh, these are lovely! Thank you!" The thin mother took the fruit
from her. They were just what she needed.

"You're welcome!" Arippa waved and smiled and they were off crunching
back toward the main hold. "Come on," she laughed and took off running
up the path.

Last updated on the January 18th 2012

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Duties