Morning Has Broken
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: AL
Date Posted: 26th September 2024
Characters: Claranel, Aniric, Nelani
Description: Claranel prepares for the day to help her mother.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 1, day 20 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Riclar (not by name)
Before the first rays of sun peeked over the horizon, Claranel had awoken, and soon the scent of freshly baked bread filled the cot. As she worked, the men in other cots awoke, broke their fasts, then set out toward the forest where their day’s labour awaited them. By the time their feet trudged the well worn path through the forest to the tree chosen for felling. Since they had chosen a tree the previous night, another week or more was necessary to bring down the giant selected, delimb it, and buck it. It was grueling, but necessary work.
When fullness of the light finally shot across the sky, setting the world below ablaze with gold and turning the black into brilliant cerulean, promising a glorious day, the loaves had been taken out of the oven and set to cool while Claranel went about cutting strips of dried meat coupled with the largest pieces of redfruit she could find. Into a basket they went, all carefully placed so the bread would not get broken, the meat squished, or the fruit bruised. Outside, the low murmur of voices and heavy stepfalls upon the ground had receded long ago, and now the laughter of children echoed through the air as they played their games, mingling with the annoyed grumblings of those doing their chores or attending to their lessons.
“I’m sorry, I overslept!” Another woman’s voice echoed from the short hallway that led from her parents’ bedroom and into the kitchen. Hands upon her head, she fumbled with a clasp to tame her hair into some semblance of neatness, and when her eyes fell upon the basket already packed alongside extra loaves set out, already cooled, surprise flickered over her face. From behind the table, a small hand reached up and stretched toward one of the leftover redfruits, but immediately, Claranel intercepted and lightly smacked the fingers.
“Hey!” A brown, mop headed boy popped up from the other side of the table, his lips curled into an exaggerated pout.
“You’ll get your share at lunch. Aren’t you supposed to be in lessons?” In defiance, Aniric stuck out his tongue, but nonetheless scurried out of the cot. Shaking her head, Claranel turned back to her mother. “Papa have another bad night?”
Quickly setting her hair aright, Nelani fixed a smile upon her expression, but the light of it refused to reach her eyes. “Yes, but he’s better this morning.” Better was a relative term as of late. It usually meant her father had finally fallen asleep, his body so exhausted that even the coughing didn’t keep him awake. While rest was restorative, the weeks had seen little to no improvement, but she put on a brave face and clung to hope.
Carefully, Claranel studied her mother’s face. Despite the attempt to reassure her, she couldn’t help but notice the lines in the corners of her mouth and the shadows upon her eyes. Her father was quite ill, and nothing had helped. Wistfully, she wished her grandpa was still alive, not only because she had dearly loved him, but because his wisdom and skill as a healer would have been immeasurably helpful. Alas, his own time had come to an end, and now it seemed her father was on the edge of the same precipice. The last Journeyman Healer that came through had done what he could, but improvement had been minimal. Meanwhile, her mother tried to shield her children from her own sorrow, but even shields wore out over time. Taking a deep breath, Claranel mimicked her mother and set herself into a smile.
“Right. I can take the lunch to the men.” Although they were a cothold of their own, all the women took turns making lunch for the men who spent the entire day out in the forest, cutting and chopping and preparing the wood for the log drive the following week.
“No. I’ll do it.” Quick to protest, Claranel popped into the room she shared with her brothers to grab a satchel, then hurried out to seize the basket before her mother had the opportunity to do so.
“You did the preparation, I can at least deliver it.” For a minute, Nelani hesitated. She knew how much Claranel enjoyed being in the forest, and after all that she had done to assist that morning, she had little reason to deny her daughter the opportunity. It would also leave her free to remain at the cot to watch over her husband. She wrestled with whether or not to fight, but eventually, her shoulders slumped ever so slightly in defeat. “If you’re sure…”
“It’s fine!” Claranel insisted, grinning as she dragged the heavy basket and hurried out the door.
Watching her go, Nelani sighed softly, then, taking her apron from the hook, she slipped it over her head, then began to pull the ties into a bow. Casting one last glance in the direction of the room she shared with her husband, then sighed. There was still so much to do.
Last updated on the October 6th 2024