What Will My Future Hold?

Writers: AL, Ames
Date Posted: 21st June 2013

Characters: Caenir, Faldrimme
Description: Caenir keeps Faldrimme company while she reflects on her life after her sister's wedding
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 1, day 3 of Turn 7

Faldrimme

Faldrimme stood, elbows leaning against the railing as she watched the
magnificent beast being handled by one of the beastcrafters. Yet, her
heart and spirit where not into the moment. She_was_ happy for
Arippa. Her sister had found a man to marry and was starting her own life.

Yet, deep inside, Faldrimme was sad, almost angry and jealous.
Arippa's life was moving forward and hers was stagnant. Her dreams seemed
out of her reach. What path would she have to take to see
_herself_ happy?

Forlorn, she stood there alone, wishing for her sister's bright face to
cheer her up. But alas, ever since Arippa had moved to Emerald
Falls, things between them had been different.

**What if my path isn't to walk with my sister? What if I'm to lead a
different journey far away?** The thought nearly broke her heart. It had
been hard enough being away from Arippa these months. To imagine giving up
the life she'd had in the Hold to pursue her dreams of
crafting? Now_that_ was almost too hard to imagine. Yet, in her mind, she
was tempted. She'd told no one of her thoughts since her meeting with her
uncle. Faldrimme hadn't even confided in Arippa. No, Arippa's mind had
been elsewhere, and Faldrimme didn't want to take even a
second of that joy away from her.

Heaving a sigh, she turned her attentions back to the animal in the
corral, but was distracted by a shadow that indicated someone's
approach.

The footsteps stopped and Caenir glanced around. It was that girl again,
the one he'd run into when he had gone to look at a runner that he thought
Reven might like - well, he'd liked and thought would make a good runner
to breed. His lips furled downward. She was alone, and now he was alone
with her. He reached up to scratch the back of his head, then glanced
toward the door and wondered if he could make a hasty retreat without her
noticing him.

She glanced over her shoulder. She recognized the man there. Her heart
gave a slight lurch. The last time she'd seen him, she'd found herself
attracted to him, though she wasn't sure why. She tried to smile, but the
other emotions she felt were weighing her down. It came out more as a
half-hearted, almost sad smile with a nod in his direction and then turned
back to watch the runners being trained. She wasn't sure she was in the
mood to talk to someone, though if he approached, she knew her upbringing
would require her to. For now, though, he was back far enough that she
hoped her slight nod had been enough of a way to acknowledge his presence.

She'd seen him. Now Caenir wasn't sure what to do. It would be rude to
simply just leave and truly he wasn't a naturally rude man. At the same
time, he wasn't particularly used to talking to others -
particularly women. About runners, sure. But just polite
conversation? Not generally with those he didn't really know. "Um."
Yeah, that was a great start. "Hello."

She turned back to him. Her heart skipped again, but she controlled it
still. "Hello. I met you before....in the stables." She said. It
wasn't a great conversation starter either, but she was feeling rather
down at the moment. Besides, Arippa had always been the one to greet
people first, which had allowed Faldrimme the time to_warm up_ to

them a bit. She searched her brain for a name, but didn't recall him
giving it the last time they'd met.

"I'm Faldrimme," there, hopefully that would be enough talk for now. Her
enthusiasm just wasn't there. Faldrimme didn't think she'd ever felt so
sad and alone in all her life. A sound in the corral drew her attention.
She looked back and watched as a smaller runner came up to the one that
had been training there. They sniffed each other and then the larger of
the two turned up its nose and seemed to push the
smaller one away. Faldrimme gasped. It was almost a mirror of how she was
feeling. Arippa hadn't_meant_ to push her aside, but like the

larger horse, Arippa's new life had left Faldrimme feeling that way.

Now she was talking back. And she'd told him her name! So what had he
expected? Maybe that she would leave? Maybe she'd be nervous? After all,
she was a single woman, he a single man and no one else was near the
corral. "Yeeeah. Caenir." He managed, his voice soft.
Then she gasped and he eyed her cautiously. "Are you all right miss?"

Caenir. It was a nice name. She still didn't know anything about him, but
with her attention diverted, she had little time to dwell on it.

"Yes, I'm...I'm fine," she stated too quickly, a feeling of emotion
welling up insider her. **I am_not_ going to cry again,** she told

herself, turning away quickly before he could see the moisture in her eyes.

Caenir's hand made its way to the back of his neck and he rubbed it as he
shifted from foot to foot. Was she crying? Shards. What was wrong with
her? "Um. Okay." So what now? He was no good at this. "Do you...need
some water or something?"

His words amused her. Faldrimme chuckled a bit and reached a hand up to
swipe at the single tear that had escaped her eye.

"No, but thank you," she replied. "'I've just had a rough couple of days.
I came here because watching the runners helps calm me,
normally." She still wasn't looking at him so he wouldn't see the
depth of her sadness.

He could understand that and Caenir nodded. If he was troubled or
worried, he'd go spend time with runners and that always helped him think.
"Me too."

Faldrimme gave him a slight smile at his response then turned her
attention back to the runners in the corral. She wasn't really making

good conversation today as she had so many other things on her mind.

Caenir scratched his head. He wasn't sure what to do. The woman
seemed troubled but he wasn't really good with that sort of thing. He
thought he should say something, but what exactly escaped him. So he said
nothing and simply leaned against the fence to watch the runners while she
did the same, keeping a polite distance away from her.

She didn't mind the company. It actually felt better to_not_ be

alone. Though she hardly knew him and neither spoke, she felt more at east
having him there. He was gentle and quiet, which seemed to calm her.

Finally, after some time, she turned her head and looked to him, ready to
make some simple conversation, "What do you do here Caenir?"

She'd been quiet for so long that Caenir had almost forgotten the girl was
still there. It took him a minute for his mind to switch gears, but he
finally replied, "Not here, ma'am. Green Valley, I'm head of the
Stables."

"Oh?" Faldrimme turned further and looked at him in surprise. "Then you'll
get to know my sister well. She just married the holder of
Green Valley." A flicker of a shadow crossed her features again.
"You'll actually get to see her more than I will."

"I know." He was there at the wedding after all, but Caenir refrained
from saying so. It was still uncanny how much they looked alike,
though as he studied her a little longer, he realised there were some
differences. He couldn't say what. Just tiny things. Perhaps the
expression, the way her mouth curled her nose crinkled. Things that most
people probably wouldn't notice, but Caenir had a habit of
studying others.

Faldrimme gave a slight shrug to her shoulders at his response. She
honestly didn't know what more to say to the man. He definitely wasn't
much of a talker.

Caenir shifted, then tipped his hat. "I'll leave you be ma'am. Nice to
meet you." He hoped she could work out whatever was bothering her. She
didn't need him around to interfere though. "Have a good night." The
runners would help. They always did him.

Faldrimme watched him go, then turned her attentions back to the
animals and her own thoughts of her future.

Last updated on the June 26th 2013

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What Will My Future Hold?