Shall We?

Writers: Anwen, Eimi
Date Posted: 6th December 2006

Characters: Shadux, Jielta
Description: Shadux asks Jielta to dance.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 3

Shadux noticed the daughter of the Vintner Hallmaster standing off to the side alone. She seemed to just be begging for someone to ask her to dance, and Shadux felt it was his duty to make their new neighbors welcome at their Hold. "Excuse me, Jielta, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is," the girl said with a smile. At least _someone_ knew her name. Having only just moved back, she felt awkward and lonely at this celebration. "I'm Shadux. One of the assistant stewards of Amber Hills." He didn't expect that she should know who he was, being new to the Hold. "I was just wondering if you might favor me with a dance."

Jielta's smile brightened. "I'd love to dance with you! I've been wanting to dance, but it seemed a bit too forward for me to ask someone."

"Well, you shouldn't have to ask for a dance. That's what I'm here for." He smiled as he offered her his arm. "Shall we?"

She took his arm, and headed off with him, a bounce in her step. "In any case, I'm very glad you asked,"
Jielta gushed. The young woman had yet to learn to curb her youthful exuberance. She had picked her gather clothing specifically because she thought it made her look mature. The deep auburn brown dress had skinny straps and fell just bellow her knees, hugging her curves in all the right places. It looked good on her, and she knew it. Turn's end was an important celebration- she fully intended to use it to her advantage to attract some male attention.

"It's my pleasure." He lead her onto the dance floor and took her hand. "So tell me how you like our Hold. Are you settling in all right?"

Jielta fell easily into step with him, one hand resting on his shoulder. "Its certainly nice to be back in a Hold again. And I'm settling in well enough, I guess. I just feel somewhat lonely here sometimes."
She also had not yet learned not to be entirely open and honest with _everyone_ she met.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Oh dear. Shadux hoped she wasn't the kind of girl who just talked about herself all night. Or fishing for a man to sneak off behind the vintner tent to make out with...

"It's a celebration though, isn't it? So maybe we should focus on happier things. How long have you lived here?" she inquired.

"All my life. My father was the Steward of Amber Hills until the earthquake." "Oh," Jielta said quietly. The earthquake was not a subject she liked to discuss. "Did you study anywhere else? Or have you always been here?"

"Well, I've left the Hold on business, and done short stays in other Holds but nothing official. I was training to be a Steward under my father." He twirled her under his arm in time with the music. She didn't seem to miss a beat. Obviously she had been practicing! "Were you ever fostered?"

"No, I was never fostered," the young woman explained.
"But I lived in River Bluff Weyr with my mother and sister for a while. I very much prefer hold life!" She followed him into another turn, very impressed by his dancing skills.

"A Weyr? Very interesting. I would not have thought your father would approve." Master Fielton had a reputation as a very strict man. Weyr life would have been rather free for his daughters wouldn't it?

"He didn't exactly approve," Jielta said mildly. Her mother had dragged them off without her father's knowledge or consent. "I'm sure he's relieved to have you back." **In 'proper' society,** whatever that meant. Shadux had to admit he'd always been curious about Weyr life, but it certainly wasn't appropriet to ask the Hallmaster's daughter about the differences.

Jielta simply smiled at that. "You're a very good dancer," she commented. "I'm very impressed."

"I had an older sister who thought I was her living plaything," he shrugged. "She made sure I was taught right. You have a sister too, don't you?"

"Yes, my older sister Fieayz. We're only a turn apart in age, so we're very close. She's fostered at the Smith Hall, though."

"Do you miss her?"

"Very much," Jielta said with a sigh. "But she's happy there, and I'm happy here."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that. I've been happy here all my life," Shadux smiled. He liked hearing that the refugees were making themselves at home.

"Is it strange suddenly having so many people move here?" the young woman asked. "Yes," he admitted. "But it's also a relief. I mean, things are a little harder, but, its good to have our rooms filled. I've never seen that before, but I always dreamed of it."

That made Jielta smile. "I thought having such a huge influx of people to your home would be an annoyance.
I'm glad to know that at least some people are happy to have us."

Shadux decided not to tell her that there were some that did strike that feeling of annoyance in him. "We are happy to have you all, Jielta. You have brought a new hope to our Hold."

"Hope is a very good thing. After all that happened, so many people lost hope for such a long time." "Well, this is a Hold were hope is actually the only thing we've never lost."

"When such bad things happen, it can be a very hard thing to cling to," Jielta said quietly. When had their conversation suddenly turned so serious?

Shadux gave her a small polite smile. "I don't know, really. Hope is the only thing we've ever had."

"Let's switch to a more up-beat topic, okay?" Jielta all but pleaded. If she kept with the present topic she was dragging herself into rather dark territory, and she did not intend to spend the rest of the celebration off in her rooms crying. "All right." Shadux realized he was being a very poor host and dance partner. "Why don't we talk about how beautiful you look this evening. That dress certainly becomes you."

"Do you like it?" she asked innocently. "My father doesn't like it, because he thinks it makes me look too mature. But then, he dislikes anything that reminds him that I am no longer a child."

"Well, I don't think any man would doubt your femininity," he assured her. She was a bit childish, but she certainly looked like the daughter of a powerful man.

She smiled brightly at that. "Its very nice of you to say so, thank you." The song ended then, and the harpers announced a break before the next set. Jielta glanced around, uncertain about what to do now.

Shadux offered her his arm. "Shall I escort you to the tables for a glass of wine?"

"That would be lovely." In truth, she was hungry too, but was too shy to ask it he would like to eat with her.

He gently tucked her hand close to his body as he lead her off the dance floor. "Shall we?"

Jielta followed him willing. It was nice to spend her evening, or at least a portion of it, with someone so genuinely kind. "How long have you been assistant steward, Shadux?"

"I can't really say. I guess you could say I was born an assistant steward." Especially after his older brother had died. As long as he could remember, he was the one slated to replace his father. Until Cyrek came along. "My family has been Stewards here at Amber Hills for generations. As soon as I was finished with Harper classes I started on the path officially."

"It must be sort of nice in a way," Jielta commented.
"Knowing exactly what you are going to do for a living and exactly where you are going to live."

"I suppose. I guess I never thought about." There had never been any question before that this was his destiny. Even as a child when he dreamed of riding a great dragon, Amber Hills was his imaginary Weyr. "I suppose thats my point- you'd never have to think about it, never have to worry." the young woman said, as she took a seat at one of the tables. "There's never been any question that I'll marry and become a mother. But there's a lot I don't know- like who I'll marry, what my title will be, where I'll live." "Does that worry you?" Shadux asked as he slipped into the seat across from her.

"A bit," she confessed. "I mean, what if my husband lives very far from here and I never see my father or my siblings again?"

"They're your family, Jielta. You'll see them again,"
he assured her. No matter who she married or how far away she traveled, nothing would change that.

Jielta gave him a somewhat wan smile, showing obviously that she didn't believe him. "Your father's a powerful man. He could find you anywhere on Pern you go. Do you really think he'd allow someone to take you somewhere he can't find you?"

"I suppose not," Jielta agreed. "I suppose just my ideal would be to find a husband close to home, so it would never be an issue."

Shadux gave her an understanding smile. "Well, good luck in your search. I'm sure you will have no trouble."

"I certainly hope not. I actually think this biggest challenge is going to be getting daddy to let go of his little girl..."

Last updated on the December 7th 2006

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