Gather, part 2/2

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 14th May 2013

Characters: Corowal, Erassa
Description: Corowal's and Erassa's relationship reaches a turning point.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 13, day 30 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Felyna, L'cor

Erassa stood in the shadows, tapping her toes to the rhythm of the Harpers. She reached up to lightly finger the new silver and malachite earrings she wore. Just the feel of the weight of them as they dangled made her smile with secret delight. They were conservative enough not to draw too much attention to them, but fine none the less. Too fine for just a foster mother, she was sure. But who would notice on Turns End? Everyone was at their gaudiest! Who was to say they weren't some treasured family heirloom brought out to celebrate the new Turn? She gave it another tap and smiled softly as she felt it swing back and forth.

The hold had put out their best food and best drinks for the feast. After all the eating was done, Corowal started the dancing with his wife. Then he took several holder's wife to the floor. Only after that he was free to find who ever he wanted as dance partner. He searched for Erassa. "May I have this dance?" he asked and bowed when he located her.

"I learned last Turn that refusing you doesn't make much difference," she said with a half smile. Erassa knew the Hold all thought she was sleeping with the Lord Holder. While it offered her protection, it also meant her reputation would never recover, no matter what the truth was. Still, it bothered her to have the Hold look at her with disdain. "I don't suppose you would wait until the last dance." Fewer eyes to watch them.

"One dance now and maybe then the last dance too. I still have lot of ladies to dance with," Corowal replied with a twinkle in his eyes.

She snorted softly. Of course he would have to remind her of that fact. "And would those ladies be happy to see you dancing with _me_ before them?"

"They all too busy right now to notice, either dancing or getting tipsy," Corowal grinned bit wickedly.

"You think all eyes aren't on you when you take to the dance floor?" she asked, eyebrow quirking suspiciously. "I thought you delighted in being the center of attention."

"There's attention and then there's attention," Corowal said rather philosophically and shrugged eloquently.

Erassa wasn't sure that even negative attention wasn't positive reinforcement for the Lord Holder. "And which kind of attention are you hoping to attract by leading me out on the dance floor?"

"Perhaps I want them to know you mean more to me than just a hireling," Corowal replied, giving her a steady gaze.

That she was sure they already suspected. "How much more, Corowal?"

"That depens entire of you, my dear Erassa," Corowal replied softly.

"How much are you willing to show? Would you show the whole Hold how you feel about me?" She had told him many times before, she could never be his dirty secret that could be flung aside whenever it became inconvenient.

Corowal cocked his eyebrow and gave a sort of -oh-what-the-heck - shrug. Impulsive outbursts of emotion seemed to be trend in his life lately, like with L'cor. He reached out, pulled her close and kissed her right there in front of everyone who happened to be looking their way.

Erassa stiffened against him, shock registering before anything else. When finally she regained a little composure, she lifted her hands to his chest, meaning to push him away, but her fingers curled into his shirt just a bit as she remembered just how good it felt to be kissed like that. Still, the knowledge that people were looking finally made her put pressure behind the gesture and pull away.

"I suppose I dared you into that," she said, looking flushed down at the ground. Why? Why did she have to goad him on in _public_?!

"You wanted a public show of how I feel about you. Can't get any more public than that," Corowal answered. He admitted enjoying kiss her a lot...way too much.

"Not really," she agreed, crossing her arms over her chest. Shards. Now what was the Lady Holder going to say? Had he even thought about what trouble a rash action like that could bring? And her own family? How could they feel if they heard she was seen kissing a married man? A married man whose household she lived in?! But they already assumed. The whole Hold did. Only they had known the truth. "What do we do now?"

"Dance, like nothing happened," Corowal suggested.

She shook her head slowly. "We can't. Add fuel to the gossip's fire by just walking out onto the dance floor, hand in hand like nothing just happened? Like we've done it _before_?"

Corowal sighed with frustration. "You are a stuborn one."

She lowered her voice so hopefully only would hear her words. "I was talking about arrangements and promises, not throwing caution to the wind. How will your wife treat me now?" How would _anyone_ treat her, now that all their suspicions have been justified? She was under no protection of a title or an agreement.

"She will treat you with respect," Corowal answered with steel in his eyes. "And I will tell her the truth." Felyna deserved to know if he did indeed take Erassa as a lover.

"And if I bore you a child, would you tell the truth then? Would you acknowledge them as you have your other children?" Now that he admitted to fathering that new dragonrider at the Weyr, could he justifying hiding others that might follow? That was Erassa's greatest fear. To be cast aside along with her son and another child to make their own way in the world, unprotected and friendless.

"Yes, I would," Corowal replied. "I never denied L'cor, just didn't talk about him." He took her hands into his. "Back then, I was different man in different position."

She didn't pull away, but she was very aware that for appearances sake, she should. But what did it matter now? Everyone would know what had happened between them a moment ago. What more damage could be done this night? "You said you would not acknowledge any illegitimate children. You said you promised your wife you would not."

"Did I?" Corowal evem managed to look innocent while saying it. He could be totally unscrupulous when he wanted to. "Look, at this rate, there's no risk of illegitimate children from you. So this is just all speculations, a what ifs."

"These are not 'what ifs', Corowal. These are promises. These are commitments. A woman in my position can't afford 'what ifs' anymore." She had let feelings cloud her judgment before. She could not do so again. She had a son to think about. "My family has deserted me and left me alone in this world save for my little boy. If you ever want to kiss me again, I have to know that you will not do the same."

"I would never desert you. And my children already consider your son as their brother."

Erassa's mind was whirling like the dancers in the circle. She had not expected this. Why now? Why all of sudden were things coming to a head? What should she do? What did she want? What was best for her son? What was best for her?

Taking his hand, she pulled him towards the dance floor, stopping in the middle as the harper's song came to an end. "You have two choices, Corowal," she said, leaning close so she could speak soft enough that hopefully only he would hear. "When the next song starts, you can either take my hand and dance one dance and then I will go back to my room. Or, when the music starts, you can kiss me here, in front of everyone, and hold nothing back. And when the dance ends, we can go back together. It's your choice."

Last updated on the June 1st 2013

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Gather, part 2/2