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Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 16th February 2018

Characters: Corowal, Erassa
Description: Erassa is surprised by Corowal in more ways than one as they prepare for the Amber Hills Gather
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 3, day 2 of Turn 9

Now that the younger children were in bed, it was only Erassa and
Coria awake, and while the little one was content to play on the
floor, the fostermother took the opportunity to pick up her needle and
sew on that button that had popped off Ofewal's favorite shirt. She
was just admiring her handiwork when she heard the door open.

Corowal stepped in. "Hi Erassa, you have a monent?" he asked.

"Of course," she said as she set aside her mending, taking a quick
glance at the baby to make sure she wasn't in danger of getting into
trouble. "What is it?"

"I got message back from Amber Hills Hold saying it's okay for me to
bring my children along," Corowal replied. It was something he had
been planning to do but not had told his children about, so not to get
their hopes up or get them overexcited. "Their Headwoman basically
just says as long as she knows how many people are coming, so she can
have accomodotation to them all."

"Oh. I see." She had no idea he had even thought about taking his
family with him. "All of the children?" Erassa asked with a little
hint of hope. Maybe if he took his whole family with him, she would
have to go too in order to mind the little ones. She could see
Corofel! He had probably grown so much since last she had seen him.
She missed him terribly!

"Not all of them, just the older ones. Babies with me would require
their wetnurse tagging along too. And I don't like to take Wallia out
of familiar surroundings. The older ones need to start learn how to
represent their Hold. Not to mention get to see their big brother,"
Corowal replied and sat down next to her.

"Yes, that makes sense." And that meant she was not needed. The
older children needed only minor supervision that any of his entourage
could see to. She tried not to let her disappointment show, but she
felt it keenly.

Corowal did notice her disappointment and realized that he really did
know her that well.
"I'll ask Harper Hall if they allow Ofewal to come too," he continued
his chat like he hadn't noticed it. "Of course, I'll be doing some
official stuff and meeting other Lord Holders, so someone has to watch
over them while I'm busy. Do you want to come? "

Her head snapped up in surprise, her eyes widening as she looked into
his. She could hardly believe her ears! "You want me to come?"

"Why not? You deserve a little break now and then, don't you? Besides,
I want someone I trust to tend the children while I do all the Lord
Holdery-stuff," Corowal replied.

"I very much want to go," she said, almost bouncing with her
excitement. "I have missed Corofel so much."

"I know you do," Corowal smiled. "And he misses you, his letter to you
are much longer than mine."

She had to admit, she did secretly enjoy that fact. It meant that she
had been accepted into their little family as more than just Wallia's
milkmother or their foster mother. "I just can't wait until it's time
for him to come home." But, Erassa smiled, going to him was the next
best thing. "I will have to bake him a few treats before we leave."

"So, you, me, Corolia, Felcoron, Beleran, possibly Ofewal," Corowal
counted the names with his fingers.

"Perhaps Beleran should stay with Wallia," she suggested. As much as
she appreciated that he had counted her son as one of the party, he
was the same age as his milk sister and she didn't want any resentment
that he was allowed to go when she was not. Besides, secretly she was
nervous that some might ask why the Lord Holder was traveling with the
bastard son of his foster mother, and she didn't want to draw that
kind of attention to him.

"You're right, Wallia may resent if her milkbrother gets to go when
she can't. Five is still pretty young too."

She could trust him to be well cared for if he was left in the same hands
as the Lord Holder's youngest children and granddaughter. "Thank you,
though, for thinking of including him. That really does mean a lot to
me."

"He's become part of the family," Corowal shrugged a bit. "You're a
part of the family."

"Yes," she said, looking down at her hands. "And that is what I'm
grateful for." Of course, she hadn't been so eagerly included when
his wife was alive, but she chose to ignore that little detail for
now. He was including them for the moment, and she would take what
she could get, but never grow to comfortable lest his next wife decide
to object. "No matter what happened between you and I, you have
always been good to Beleran, and I will never forget that kindness."

"He's a good kid and easy to like. My children have pretty much
adopted him, so how could I object?" Corowal replied and rather
tentatively took her hand. He could never be sure how she reacted to
gestures like it.

She stiffened slightly at his touch. It was an instinctive reaction. No
one other than the children showed her any sort of affection after
B'lion. Except for Corowal in the past when she had needed comfort.
But that had been turns ago, and so the touch both surprised her and
caused her heart and breath to quicken slightly, though she hoped he
would not notice and read too much into the fact. It felt nice to be
touched, and without thinking, her hand slowly turned over to
interlace her fingers with his. She would undoubtedly kick herself
later, but for now it seemed the right thing to do. "Is there
anything I should prepare for you and the children?" she asked, her
voice suddenly breathy and quiet.

"Pack overnight bags for them, for night or two. Corolia probably
wants her best gatherdress," Corowal replied. Mentally he was holding
his breath so not to spook her. "I can take care of my own bags. Oh,
and don't let her take too many jewelries with her."

"And if she asks for her mother's necklace, can she wear it for the
Gather?" It was a prized treasure as well as a memento of someone she had lost.

"Sure, but she better not lose it," Corowal said.

"I know she will guard it very closely." Her eyes locked on to their
clasped hands. She knew she shouldn't allow him to do it. She knew
where those hands had been. This was just begging for trouble.
**Nothing good can come of this...** Even something as innocent as
holding his hand. And yet, she couldn't move her hand away. Not just
yet. "Is there anything I should pack for Corofel?"

"There's a pile of gifts for him," Corowal replied. "I'll send a
drudge to bring them to you."

"Thank you." Coria had managed to get herself stuck in a corner and
gave a little cry of distress. "You're all right, sweetheart," Erassa
called reassuringly as she released Corowal's hand with a mix of
annoyance and relief and stood up to rescue the little tot. She
picked the little girl up and cradled her soothingly. "Whoever
watches you while we're gone will have to have eyes on the back of
their head, now won't they."

"I'll write a reply for Amber Hills Hold. See you later," Corowal got
up. He still had plenty of work to do.

"I'll have a pot of klah sent to your office," she replied, resisting
the urge to watch him leave over her shoulder. Things had been
confusing enough for one evening.

"Thank you," Corowal waved her at his way out. Plenty of things to
arrange before the actual Gather.

Last updated on the March 2nd 2018

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