Parent trap

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 4th July 2018

Characters: Corowal, Erassa, Corolia, Wallia
Description: Corowal's children conspire against him and Erassa, which leads to some serious issues being addressed...
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 4, day 2 of Turn 9

"What is it? Where are you taking me? I have work to do, you know,"
Corowal asked from his daughter who was leading by hand across the
Hold and up the stairs.

"The work can wait, this is more important," Corolia replied, barely
containing an excited giggle.
"It's a surprise, it would be ruined if I told you now," she
continued. She led him to a room in one of the Hold's towers.

Corowal's eye brows shot up when he saw the table, set with white
table cloth, dishes and silverware for two, food covered and lit
candle in the middle. There was even bottle of wine.

"Corolia?"

"Wait here," she just told him with bustling tone. "Wals, make sure he
stays here," she ordered her little sister, who had been waiting
there.
Then she was out of the door.

"Daddy, tell me a story!" Wallia was tugging his sleeve.

"Can you tell me what's going on?" Corowal asked her.

"A-ah, nope," Wallia smiled sweetly.

Bemused, Corowal sat down at the table and Wallia climbed up to his lap.

Corolia hurried down the stairs. The boys were supposed to led Erassa
in with similar way, but she didn't quite trust their abilities.

It wasn't long before the foster mother's voice came echoing up the
stairs. "Alright, you children are really starting to worry me.
Where's Wallia? Who's watching her?"

"Wallia is fine," Corolia assured her, meeting them half way. She
winked at Felcoron and Beleran.

Finally, the more responsible one! "Corolia, what's going on?" Erassa
asked as she continued up the stairs.

"It's a surprise," Corolia replied cheerfully. This was really
exciting. They had had help from the staff and Headwoman to set it all
up.

Erassa reached the top of the stairs and rounded the corner. Relief
immediately washed over her. "Wallia! There you are," she smiled.
Then her eyes traveled to the man holding her. Her look suddenly
became slightly guarded. "And Corowal? What's all this?"

"You ask _them_,"Corowal replied and eyed his children accusingly.
"The little conspirators."

The children were just giggling and grinning.

Erassa looked at the faces of all the children. They were definitely
up to something. "Alright, children, what's this all about?" she
asked, her lips curving into a cautiously curious smile.

"Come, Wallia," Corolia said and Wallia slid off from her father's
lap. She gave Corolia her hand.
Then, as quickly as only children can, they were out of the door and
banging the door closed behind them.

"Wait! Did they just...lock us in?" Corowal shot to his feet when he
heard the door bolt slid in to it's place. Then he just stood there
perplexed and amused at the same time.

Erassa's heart jumped into her throat at the sound of the bolt. She
was locked into a room. With the Lord Holder. They would have to
call someone, and then they would know she was alone with him and
then... **Calm down... They will say nothing they haven't already
been saying,** she reminded herself. But she did look at Corowal
helplessly. "Well... What do we do now?"

"Don't worry, we let you out, in a candlemark or two," Corolia shouted
thru the door, her voice was followed by chorus of children's giggles
and then the sound of retreating steps.

"Those rascals, where do they get these ideas?" Corowal said, half
exasperated. half admiring. These were his children, alright.

"Do we have any other option that to enjoy the meal? They've put a
quite an effort for this," Corowal replied to Erassa and gestured
towards the table. Too bad neither of them had a firelizard.

"Right," she said, still feeling her heart racing in her chest at
having been locked in a room. **Calm down,** she reminded herself
again. It wasn't that she didn't trust Corowal to be a gentleman. He
would never force himself on her and she knew it. But she also knew
that the Hold was always watching them together and wondering what was
going on. And now the children seemed to be adding to the rumors.
Shaking her head as she grabbed the back of a chair to sit down, she
wondered aloud, "What got into them all of a sudden?"

Corowal thought about it careful. "I think it was the Amber Hill
Gather. They enjoyed the time we spent together. Might have given them
ideas." He opened one of the pots. It did smell good and he had not
eaten since breakfast.

"When we were like a family..." she said quietly, giving voice to the
thought in her head. That had been a special time. But surely the
children knew better. "We need to have a talk with them, Corowal. We
need to explain that it's not that simple."

"Yes," Corowal agreed. "They want a family. They don't care about Hold
politics or social standards," he shrugged a bit. "Their lives been
upset few times, they want us together because that means safety and
stability. You were there for them when Ofelia died, you were here
when Felyna died," Corowal gave her a serious look. "I'm sure they
sensed Felyna's resentment towards you. They are afraid that the next
Lady I marry sends you away. With child's logic it's simple: if two of
us are together, you won't go away."

**The next Lady I marry...** There would be another. There had to
be. Corowal was still young, and he needed a partner in running the
Hold. The thought made her sad, and surprisingly not only because it
meant she might be sent away. For a brief moment, she had enjoyed the
image of having a family, too. "I would never leave them by choice.
Surely they must know that."

"I'm certain they know it," Corowal said. "But fear is irrational.
Tubers?" he continued and opened another pot, offering her the lardle
and first pick.

He could seem nonchalant about all of this. **Of course he can. He
has nothing to lose...** But despite the gloomy thoughts, his calm
brought her peace and assurance, and this time with a genuine, though
small smile, she took the offered ladle. "Shall I dish you up some as
well?"

"Yes, please," Corowal held up his plate.

Erassa served him before herself. She knew how much he would want
after Turns of cooking for him and his family. "I think I smell our
favorite roast under here," she said with a deeper smile, reaching for
the cover of another plate. The children really did know what they
liked.

"They had to had help from the Headwoman and or kitchen staff,"
Corowal said, admiring his devious little offsprings.

She hadn't even thought of that. "Shards," she whispered, wishing the
ground might open up and swallow her. "What they must think of me.
Of _us_."

"They already think of the worse," Corowal reminded her gently.

That was true. Strangely, there was some comfort in that. They
already thought the worst, and here she was, still standing. But it
wasn't her she worried about. "Just please, Corowal, promise me
whatever happens, you'll protect my son."

"I will. As a Wallia's milkbrother, he's part of the family," Corowal
promised solemly. He got an idea which he mulled around in his head
before asking. "What if I took him as official fosterling?" Being a
Lord Holder's fosterling meant he would have equal standing to a
member of the Blood. It was basically be best protection he could
offer for the boy.

Erassa's eyes grew wide. Take Beleran on as a fosterling? That was
more of an opportunity than she had ever dared hope for her son! How
could she refuse? And yet, wouldn't that give the raising of Beleran
over to Corowal? What if his next wife demanded she be removed from
their household? She would have no protection. She would have to
leave. But could she really leave her son behind? "That is more than
generous, Corowal," she said softly, lowering her eyes to her plate,
her eyes filling with tears at the thought that he would even offer.
It touched her as much as it left her feeling conflicted. "May I
think on it?"

"Of course," Corowal replied. "I don't expect you to rush with major
decision like that."
He had sprung the offer without any forethought after all.

Lifting her napkin to her eyes, Erassa, dabbed away her tears.
Looking up at him again, she wore a genuine smile. "Why don't we just
enjoy this beautiful meal the children arranged for us, and we'll
leave everything else for another day."

"That's an good idea," Corowal agreed and poured them drinks.

Last updated on the August 21st 2018

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Parent trap