Would You Like to Go?

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 13th December 2017

Characters: Eilomar, Merlish
Description: Eilomar and Merlish make plans to attend the Amber Hills Gather
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 2, day 4 of Turn 9

Eilomar wiped his shoes carefully before stepping in. "Hello, Merlish!
I'm home! I'm sorry being late. The Hallmaster pulled me aside for a
talk."

He walked further in. He was fairly excited of what the Hallmaster had
told him and couldn't wait to tell the news to his wife.

"That's all right, my dear." She wiped her hands on the towel she had
slung over her shoulder before standing on tiptoe to give him a
welcoming kiss on the cheek. "Dinner is not yet ready. Would you
like a cup of tea?"

"Yes, please," Eilomar replied before telling his news. "The Amber
Hills Hold in hosting a Gather later this month and I've been asked to
give performance."

"Oh, how exciting! Is that why the Hallmaster wished to speak with
you?" she asked as she took his arm and walked him back towards the
kitchen.

"Yes, asked me if I was willing to go," Eilomar replied. "So, what do
you think? Would you like to go to Amber Hills with me? It's a lovely
place, especially this time of the Turn. We could meet my older
daughter and her children," Eilomar couldn't quite remember if Eilowyn
had two or three by now. She seemed to pop out a new baby on regular
interval. With Aileyan being dragonrider and free to travel, he saw
his younger daughter much more often.

Her initial excitement was tempered somewhat by the mention of his
daughter. She longed to travel with her husband. He was invited so
many interesting places. Places she would never have had a chance to
go to on her own! But the thought of meeting his daughter made her
nervous. Merlish still struggled at times with Aileyan, and they had
met fairly often. She just didn't know what they thought of her being
married to their father. She was at least older than the greenrider!
She was younger than Eilowyn.

But she put on her best smile as she pulled out a chair for Eilomar to
sit in. "I would love to go with you! You know I always love to see
you perform."

"The Gather will be fun," Eilomar promised. "Which reminds me, I need
to practise a lot before it. There will be new songs," he continued.

"Of course! I will make sure to keep a pot of tea hot for you to
sooth that beautiful voice of yours." Which reminded her. His tea.
She hurried over to the stove to reheat the kettle that had gone a bit
cold when he did not come home as expected.

"You took such a good care of me," Eilomar complimented.

Merlish smiled at him over her shoulder as she reached for a cup.
"Thank you, husband. You are good to me, as well." She pulled out
the tea canister and poured a few leaves into the strainer. "So do
you know which songs you'll be singing?"

"Some new ones, some old favourites, I'm sure I'll get the list soon
enough," Eilomar replied.

"Will we see the runner races?" It really was the most famous part of
the Gather afterall. Oh, wouldn't her friends back home be envious if
they heard that she actually saw the runner of Amber Hills race with
her own eyes!

"I'm sure we can see them," Eilomar replied. They probably had to stay
overnight anyway.

Merlish imaged the sound all those pounding hooves must make as they ran down the track as she poured the water. "Do you know much about runner racing? Were you good at picking a winner?"

"Not much, I'm afraid," Eilomar admitted. "Never had much interest in
those beasts. I don't even like to ride them."

"Ah." She was a little disappointed about that, but she tried to hide
it as she set his tea down in front of him. "I've always enjoyed
runner races, but the ones around my Hold were small and the runners
weren't of such high quality. I thought it was exciting, though."
And she always wanted to put down a wager on a runner race, though
perhaps that wasn't a very ladylike hope.

"I don't mind watching them race," Eilomar said, although he never
cared enough to bet for the winner.

"I would really like that," she said, remembering suddenly that she
needed to stir the pot on the stove. "There of course will be other
Harpers going, won't there?"

"Of course there will be. At least one soprano. Not the whole choir
though," Eilomar replied with rather absentmindedly.

"Any musicians?" She took a sip of the soup and decided it needed a
pinch more of salt.

"No, I don't think so. Amber Hills should have their own. All major holds does."

"But there will be dancing," she said hopefully. Of course, her husband had barely been tempted by the slowest of songs, but perhaps he wouldn't mind her stepping out with a respectable partner for a dance or two. If anyone asked, of course.

"It wouldn't be a Gather without it," Eilomar was sipping his tea.

"And might my husband ask me for dance?" she ask sweetly as she looked at him over her shoulder with a hopeful smile.

Eilomar looked bit startled at that. "I suppose he might, when he's not performing," he promised.

Merlish smiled to herself as she pulled out a cutting board to start slicing their bread. Who would have thought, the Amber Hills Gather!

Last updated on the December 23rd 2017

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