Eggtravagant Gift

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 3rd June 2019

Characters: Corowal, Erassa
Description: Corowal gives Erassa a gold egg for a gift.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 11, day 11 of Turn 9
Notes: Title pun is all Paula's fault.

Corowal didn't often ask Erassa to see him in his office but this time
he had sent a drudge to fetch her. Having returned to Pine Creek Hold
earlier today, he had loads of catching up to do and couldn't just go
off to look for her. Two jars sat at his fireplace, the fire lit to
keep them warm. Faranth knew the weather outside didn't call for fire.
He couldn't help but grin when he tought what was inside there.
According to Sharnal, they should hatch within a sevenday.

"You wished to see me, my Lord?" she asked formally for the benefit of
the young man still holding the door. They could be informal in his
own rooms, but in front of others, she knew her place.

"Yes, I did. Take a seat, please. How were the children while I was
away?" Corowal replied. He glanced the young man at the door. "You can
close it after you."

"They've been well, sir," she said, taking the seat. Erassa glanced
over her shoulder as she heard the click of the door latch. "They
missed you of course."

"And I missed them, although I wasn't away that long, just few days,"
Corowal said. Getting up, he walked over to the fireplaze and jars. "I
brought some souvenirs," he picked up one jar and opened the lid long
enough to check it was the right egg. "Pair of firelizard eggs."

Erassa's brow wrinkled in confusion. It was an odd choice for a
souvenir. "For Corofel and Ofewal?" She certainly didn't hope he was
suggesting Corolia was old enough for such a responsibility!

"No, one for me and this is for you," Corowal brought the jar over and
offered it to her. "Consider it a bonus for all the time, dedication
and love you're shown to my children. Might even make keeping track of
them easier," Corowal said.

Her eyes grew large as she took the offered present warily. "Corowal,
you... shouldn't have," she said, her tone wavering between surprise
and seriousness. Lifting off the lid, she gasped. "Oh no, you
_really_ shouldn't have! Corowal, this is... This is a gold egg!"

"Yes it is," Corowal confirmed and waved off her objections. He
couldn't resist a smug grin at her reaction.

Some kind of unintelligible grunt escaped as as she searched for
words. She was completely gobsmacked! And utterly confused as to
what she should do. She _should_ refuse. It was extravagant, it was
way above her station, it was the most amazing thing she had ever held in
her hands apart from her newborn son. It was too much to accept. It
was too good to refuse. Erassa just looked between the Egg and the
Lord helplessly.

Corowal just chuckled, gave his own egg-jar a fond pat and returned
behind his desk. "I'm not sure when they supposed to hatch," he warned her.

It was every girls dream to have a gold dragon, and a golden flit was
the next best thing. Erassa had given up those dreams long ago, and
yet here was a golden egg all for her. She had never even seen a gold
flit up close. And now she could have one of her own? "Are you sure
this one is for me?" Part of her couldn't help but wonder if he had
intended the gold flit for himself and then handed her the wrong jar.

"Yes," Corowal replied. "I have enough demanding little ladies in my
life to add a demanding gold firelizard into it."

Oh weren't the gossips in the Hold just going to love this. There was
no hiding a gold flit, and they were not just gifted to the Lord
Holder's staff on a whim. The Headwoman had no gold flit. Shards,
not even the Lady had one! Just more evidence that she was the Lord
Holder's mistress. There was nothing she could do to change their
minds about that.

**No, there really is _nothing_ I can do to change their minds.**
Even when Erassa was completely innocent, before they shared that kiss
on the dance floor for all to see, they already believed the worst of
her. He could gift her with a ribbon and they'd see it as proof that
she was spreading her legs. So why in Faranth's name should she so
concerned if their tongues wag faster and louder.

**They don't _want_ to think the best of me, so why should I care what
they think? I have a gold flit egg! They can all go enjoy a sunny
day /between/ for all I care!** she thought as she pulled the jar
close. "Thank you, Corowal," Erassa said, her mind finally resolved.
"It's an amazing gift."

"You're welcome," Corowal replied. He was enjoying this, he just loved
being able to give people extragavant gifts. He never considered how
outsiders would view them.

She stood to place the pot back next to the other. "What color will yours be?"

"Probably brown or bronze, although there's no guarantee," Corowal
replied. His egg was brownish in colour but that didn't mean that the
hatchling's colour would match.

"Well, whatever color, I'm sure he'll be a handsome little fellow."
**And mine will be a beauty...** she thought fondly as she touched the
pot one more time with longing. **Don't make us wait long to meet
you, little ones!**

"I'm sure they both are," Corowal agreed. He was quite eager to see
his egg hatch too.

Last updated on the June 24th 2019

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Eggtravagant Gift