An Unexpected Request

Writers: AL
Date Posted: 28th September 2024

Characters: Nelani, Takradon
Description: Takradon has something to discuss with Nelani.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 1, day 21 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Riclar

The cot was quiet. With Aniric outside playing with his friends, and Clara off in the woods, the low creaking of the trees and hushed whispers of the leaves calling to her while the flashes of colour that dotted the underbrush delighted the eyes and inspired her to investigate and learn more, Nelani was left to her own devices. With Riclar bedridden, she found some days almost unbearable. On others, when the light in his face showed ever so dimly, when his eyes were clear, and his smile bore a hint of strength, she felt she could move mountains.

Claranel had stepped up and helped quite a bit since the illness had struck a month prior. With the loss of her father in law, she found herself uncertain in how to care for him, but having taken to hear the teachings of the old man who had doted upon his grandchildren, and who had found a kindred spirit in that of his granddaughter, the girl had proven more than capable and supportive. No, not girl. Woman. If the last turn had taught Nelani anything, it was that her daughter had grown up.

A rap at the door interrupted the tranquility of the room, even though her thoughts already intruded. Sighing, she pushed herself to her feet, the chair rocking back and forth as she left it and shuffled to the door. Even on a rest day, she could feel nothing but weary. With her hand clasping the handle, she tugged the door open and found herself face to face with a cotholder whose land butted up against theirs on the north side. Surprise coloured her features, but she quickly gathered herself. “Takradon. What brings you here?”

He smiled and removed the hand that cast shadows across his face. He was about her age, perhaps a couple of years younger, though the turns had worn on him. In his hair, silver had claimed residence of most of his head, and began to thin at the forehead. From what she knew, he was a rather reticent individual, a good man by her husband’s account, a hard worker, simply introverted. While he would socialise with the men on occasion, especially when they took breaks from the long, arduous hours of work, it was rare to see him doing so anywhere else. “Pardon me ma’am. Just thought I’d drop by.”

His eyes didn’t quite meet hers, and his hands clutched his hat and twisted the fabric as he stood there. Smiling a little, Nelani nodded slightly, still unable to fathom what had brought him to her doorstep. “You’re always welcome. Is there something I can do for you?”

“Well now….” One hand that had been maiming the poor, defenseless hat released it to rub at the back of his head. A hint of colour rushed to his cheeks and his eyes sought to fall upon anything other than the woman herself. “I was wonderin’ about Riclar, seein’ as how he’s been poorly.

“He’s about the same, unfortunately. The healer is expected in a few days and hopefully he’ll be able to help.” Even as she said it, Nelani lacked confidence. She hoped beyond hope that the Journeyman would have good news for her, but she couldn’t help but wonder if it might be too late.

“Yes’m. I’m glad to hear that. I hope he’ll get better.” Once again, the hands resumed their twisting, and the man hovered just past the threshold.

As she watched his pitiful display, Nelani couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.Obviously this was not something he did with any grace, but she appreciated his sincerity. “Thank you.” After another brief pause, she gently nudged. “Is there something else I can do for you?”

“Yes’m. I was wonderin’ if I could talk to you for a spell.”

The pink of his cheeks deepened and why, Nelani could not fathom. Rather than force the man to stay where he was, she stepped outside and quietly closed the door behind her before she motioned to two of the rocking chairs that sat upon the porch. There, she and Riclar had spent many days, watching the children play on rest days, chatting, reminiscing, and simply enjoying each other’s company. Taking a seat, she indicated he should do likewise, and the man hesitated, but finally complied. The less formal position did little to embolden Takradon, and it was after some minutes that she finally spoke again. “What did you wish to speak about?”

“Yes, well. I was wonderin’...” Trailing off, he twisted his hat again. Offering a gentle smile, Nelani didn’t press, but waited until he found his words. “I was thinkin’...my wife, she passed on a while back.”

Yes, Nelani knew that. Like Takradon, Jerandra had been a very introverted person and not inclined to socialise with the women. Both had kept to themselves, though never was there a time when someone was sick that the woman didn’t bring over a meal. While she wasn’t the sort to include herself, she did not shy away from helping others. Because of that, other women drew her out from time to time, but while Nelani had not ignored her, the two had just never seemed to click and were merely acquaintances at best. A few years prior, she’d died trying to bear the couple a baby, the first that had ever made it to term, but neither survived. For an entire half turn after, the families in the cluster of cotholders had taken turns making meals to send to him, and Clara had also gone over on occasion to deliver the occasional bun or meat roll longer than that.

“Well, I was wonderin’...and thinkin’...about taking a new wife.”

Once again, the man surprised her, but that time, she kept it out of her face. Suspicion dawned and she began to see where his line of conversation was going. “I see.”

“And I was thinking…” Takradon paused again, his words stilted, though not because he wasn’t sincere, simply because this discussion was difficult for him. “Claranel is a good woman.”

Hearing that word ‘woman’ in relation to her daughter jolted her. While she had certainly referred to Clara as such, it had always been in association with the word ‘young’, which indicated someone who wasn’t quite fully grown. Now, however, his description slapped her in the cheek, and for the first time, she had to come face to face with reality. Claranel was no longer a child. Young she may be, but yes, she was indeed a woman.

“I see. In other words, you wish to have her to wife?” Nelani watched the man’s expression relax a bit, probably because he didn’t have to spell it out for her, then nodded.

It gave her pause and she sat there, staring at him a moment, her mind reeling. This was the first time someone had asked for Clara in any capacity, and she needed a chance to gather herself together. Thankfully, Takradon was a patient man, and since he was not so inclined as to force an answer, he waited in silence. Nelani, however, desperately tried to formulate an answer that wouldn’t offend him - though she had a feeling even if he was, he was not the sort to resent anyone over it.

“I appreciate your interest in my daughter. She is of marrying age. However, there are several paths that are laid before her and I can’t not at this time give you assurance that yours is the one that will be taken.” In other words, it wasn’t a yes, but it wasn’t a no either. From his nod and expression, Nelani could tell he understood and held a cautious hope. She hadn’t outright rejected him, but that was not something she could decide on by herself.

“Yes ma’am.” Once again, his hat endured another severe bout of twisting, and as if Takradon had used up all the available space for socialising for the day, he rose and inclined his head to her. “I’ll be goin’ now.”

In other words, he would patiently wait for their decision. Nelani rose as well and offered a pleasant smile, not bright enough to make any promises, but friendly in hue. “Thank you for coming by, Takradon. I’ll be in touch.”

A bow followed and with that, the man turned to take his leave. Watching him go, Nelani pondered the idea in his head. Yes, he was almost twenty years her senior, but had she not married an older man herself? From what she had heard, Takradon was kind, and gentle, and had genuinely mourned his wife, waiting a good half dozen years before even thinking about settling down with another. Yet, she could not help but hesitate, for while many in the South sent their daughters off in marriage with hardly a thought, she and Riclar were not so inclined. Sighing, she turned and stepped inside the cot. When he was in a good place, she would bring it up. It seemed the time had come to consider what Claranel’s future held.

Last updated on the October 6th 2024

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An Unexpected Request