Pleased All Around

Writers: Anika, Clancey
Date Posted: 12th April 2015

Characters: Felyna, Delynn
Description: Felyna discusses her expectations with Delynn.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 12, day 1 of Turn 7

Felyna

Delynn

Delynn smoothed her gown and patted her hair, before exiting her new
room at Emerald Falls Hold. After an early morning walk and a light
breakfast she had returned to freshen up before her appointment with
Lady Felyna. This marked her first day as Headwoman of the Hold and
she was excited for the challenge. The minor Hold she'd been managing
had been pleasant but rather simple in comparison to her work at the
Healer Hall, even though she had been only an assistant there.
Emerald Falls Hold, however, would undoubtedly prove far more
demanding and stimulating and she knew she would have to be at the top
of her game. Arriving at the Lady Holder's apartments, she knocked
firmly upon the door as she knew that she was expected.

Pleased to have finally found a Headwoman she liked instead of the
shifty woman that had been here when she wed Corowal, Felyna had
set her reception room with the records she kept meticulously and had
also had a drudge bring refreshments. She sat behind the small
table she used as a desk in the reception room she used for her own
meetings, but also used when Corowal had visitors to their rooms
instead of his office.

Felyna was clad immaculately, as per usual, and her blond hair was
swept up off her neck in a lovely updo and pins colored in Emerald
Falls colors, to match her dress. Her simple gown was made of fine
cloth, but not embroidered fancily. She used it as her 'work' wear,
and was often found in simple gowns such as this one unless they were
expecting guests. Setting down her quill, she raised her eyes to the door
and smiled. Prompt, good.

"Come in please Delynn." The Lady rose to her feet to greet her new
Headwoman and was standing when she entered.

Upon entering, Delynn was immediately struck by many things.
Everything was pleasant and orderly and Lady Felyna was prepared and
awaiting her which was a nice change from her previous placement where
the Holder's wife couldn't seem to get up and dressed in the morning
without a big to-do and several hovering attendants. Secondly, the
Lady was absolutely lovely without a hair out of place, but in no way
ostentatious. It was just as she had thought in the interview, the
two of them would work well together and the Hold would prosper.

"Good Morning, My Lady," she greeted. "I hope you slept well."

"Good morning to you, our new Headwoman Delynn. I did sleep well,
thank you for asking. You were comfortable, I trust? First off
please call me Felyna in private at least. While I am quite proud of
my title, I do not need to hear it so often. I am pleased to see you
again and to formally welcome you to Emerald Falls Hold. " She
smiled at her then went on. "I keep very good records and will be
glad to discuss with you what of the duties I currently do that you
would like to take over. But first, tell me what you expect from
our relationship. You tell me, ,and I will tell you, and then we
can go and descend on the kitchen and have some fun." She smiled
like the young girl she was not _too far_ from being.

Delynn laughed at Felyna's words, tickled by the Lady's demeanor and
quite certain they were going to work well together. "Ah, well kept
records are truly a dragonsend and I'll spend some time going over
them and come to you with any questions. Honestly, I think you've hit
the nail on the head with your phrasing because if I tell you and you
tell me then we'll generally be working on the same hide so to speak.
I truly do think that communication is the key component. I'll
appreciate your candor tremendously because having to guess at things
often just doesn't work out so well. I'm not overly thin skinned, so
if something isn't to your liking, please let me know so that the
issue can be resolved before it becomes an actual problem. And you,
Felyna, what would you like from me?"

Felyna considered her answer carefully. She had not had the choosing
of the last Headwoman and the Hold had suffered a bit for it, not to
mention her family, as she had been forced to spend far more time
overseeing the staff than she would prefer. She had spent more time
acting as Headwoman than Lady Holder, at times.

"I require only honesty, trust, and a willingness to compromise. I
do not require unquestioned obedience ... I expect you to have a mind
and opinions, and I expect to leave you to do your job without undue
interference from me. I require laughter and a bright attitude when
possible and beyond that, we will figure it out as we go. I enjoy
playing matchmaker and my husband requires my opinions and brain, in
addition to my pretty face, and so, while I can oversee the kitchens
and the staff quite well, I expect you to do that going forward.
That will give me more time to be his Lady, and frankly, to do the
things I enjoy more about being a Lady Holder. Simple, I hope!"
She smiled at Delynn and then gave a bold wink.

Honestly! Delynn wondered what exactly her predecessor had done as it
seemed Felyna had been doing all the work. "Simple indeed," she
agreed. "I oversee the internal needs of the Hold and report the more
important and or concerning details to you so that you can focus on
supporting your husband in governing the Hold and all of the politics
involved in that. In addition to stepping in to manage the kitchens
and housekeeping staff, I expect to see that we have the necessary
supplies, and make sure they go where they are needed, but I promise
to keep up meticulously with record keeping as you yourself have done
and report regularly," she explained in hopes of reassuring Felyna
that she no longer had to fill both roles. Delynn had every intention
of relieving much of the weight from Felyna's shoulders so that the
Lady Holder could focus elsewhere.

"That all sounds just fabulous to me, Delynn. We have not had a
Headwoman for a time, and the one we did have was incompetent when she
was here, so it is a relief to find someone as capable and as excited
as you about managing the Hold for my husband and I. We can meet a
few times a week at first, then weekly, and if we find we need to meet
less often, we can adjust. I hope too, we can be friends. " She
smiled, liking the matter of fact way Delynn spoke, and her obvious
enjoyment in taking her new position. She also noticed she was
quite pretty, and sent a silent wish that her husband would stay
_away_ from the new Headwoman.

A decidedly mischievious twinkle entered her green eyes after that
realization and she said with a grin, "I also noticed that you are a
widow. As you may or may not know, I excel at making matches.
Shall I find you a husband, Delynn? Or would you rather not be
bothered with the work entailed once you get one?" Her laugh was a
soft, delighted sound and one that reflected her own 'bother' of a
handsome husband.

Delynn's laugh was neither soft nor delicate, but quite hearty. "If
you had made that offer but a few turns ago, I might have been on my
knees begging." She sighed, a comfortable smile settling on her face.
"I wanted a family, of course. I had my sights set on my own little
brood, but things didn't work out that way," she said, only just
keeping her voice from filling with regret before her tone lightened.
"As for now, I wouldn't be opposed to the company of a good man, but
I will enjoy focusing on this position and see what comes to be.
Though, should you happen to note someone of interest I would hardly
be opposed to an introduction," Delynn gave Felyna a knowing wink.
"Tis the turn-old duty of a friend, you know, to keep her eye out for
good prospects."

Felyna smiled in agreement .. and understanding. "I never had a choice,
to be honest. Mother set me on Corowal after his wife died like a feline
on a herd beast. And expected me to be just that successful too." She
shook her head in memory. "If he had not chosen me, I've no doubt
Mother would have sent me packing to some sort of someone, a Master crafter
or Minor Holder. " A clear look of sadness flitted then disappeared
behind her normally good attitude. "I'm sorry about your family. I too
wanted a family... " She didn't elaborate, at least not yet. She had
not conceived again despite Corowal more than sharing her bed.

"I understand wanting the company, though. And Promise the Friend's
promise to keep an eye out, but I will not worry you with it much." her
mind wandered to their Steward briefly and she took a moment to ponder the
two before letting the matchmaking dreams go in return for having a fully
capable and working Headwoman. "I think we will get along just fine my
Headwoman. Just fine." She smiled again, well pleased all around.

Last updated on the April 29th 2015

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Pleased All Around