The Suitor's Dinner

Writers: Stasha
Date Posted: 7th March 2008

Characters: Alasha
Description: Alasha is hard pressed as Desamin attempts to dump a suitor into her lap, but finds an alternative instead
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 8, day 17 of Turn 4
Notes: Follows right after "Unexpected Guests"

Desamin seemed to take a lot of joy as he caught up with his old friend Ranillis, and it left most of the table silent as they were forced to endure their accounts of when they were younger "strapping lads." During their conversations about brawls, daring rides, and clever ways of wooing the women, Alasha nibbled at her food, and sipped mindfully at her drink. When she took a moment and passed a glance to Nelaso, he mouthed back subtly "Please take me /between/."
She agreed with him whole heartedly.

"Alasha," Ranillis's son asked as the two continued on. "That's a handsome firelizard you have there."

"Thank you," she replied softly, before she took her glass of juice and brought it to her lips. When she glanced at her siblings she caught a quick black gaze from her sister Edana, before she turned back to her food.

He leaned across the table attempting to catch her gray eyes. "Where did you find him?"

She just wanted to run and hide, but it was discourteous not to answer the man's question. "My father gave him to me."

"Desamin?" Bortalis was surprised that the man's affection was high enough to give his daughter a bronze flit when he had no flit to speak of.

"No," Murasha replied with a curve at her mouth. She set her wine glass down gracefully as she shattered any ideal he might of had for her daughter. "Her father, A'berso, gave her that bronze firelizard,"
she informed the young man, and hopefully abolished any dream he had in wooing her daughter. She knew Desamin too well, and knew very well why he invited the two men to the cot.

Desamin cast his wife a glare, before he waited for the inevitable response from Ranillis's son.

"Your father's a dragonrider?" He turned back to Alasha. He revolted at the idea of marrying any bastard, especially when her father was part of the weyr. He sent a disapproving glare at the girl.

"A rider's daughter? You must be joking." Though Ranillis realized it was closer to the truth than he would have liked.

Murasha only gave the cotholder a satisfied grin before she took a sip of her mind.

"Desamin, you didn't tell us." Ranillis felt betrayed that his old friend would attempt to dump the worthless wherry into his lap.

"Leave me with them," he waved off the rest of his family.

Alasha was more than happy to depart, but Murasha knew better. She watched her husband for a moment before turning to Alasha and motioned the girl and the rest of her children to the doorway. She caught the cold stare that Iriek and Demashin gave her, but Murasha narrowed her eyes on them with a firm glare of her own that sent to the two cowering away.

"What's going on Mama?" Alasha turned to her mother.

"Don't worry love, just go help Soneya in the kitchen," she waved her daughter off. "Edana, Hedona," she turned to her twin girls. "Go help Alasha and Soneya please."

Edana swore under her breath while Hedona was more biddable.

As her children departed, Murasha remained hidden by the doorway, dropping eaves on the conversation in the dining room.

"I know what you're thinking," Ranillis began accusingly, "But you already know my answer."

"Come now, Ranillis. You honestly thought I brought you all this way, only to give Alasha to Bortalis as a wife?" Desamin was hurt, but Ranillis was not pleased.

"Then why did you have us come all this way?" Bortalis cut in. "Did you honestly think that once I saw her I wouldn't care about the truth of her?" It was demeaning that the man would even think to set him up with her. Still, it was a shame, Bortalis thought bitterly. Alasha was a very beautiful young woman. When his eyes settled on her he already found himself longing to feel his skin against her own, and it shamed him even further when he realized he still wanted that, regardless of what she was. Oh, what a fowl temptress she was, Bortalis sneered to himself, one that enjoyed pulling at his eyes and heart strings.

"No," Desamin responded carefully, yet he had a cunning answer that would catch both of the men's ears. "I did expect, however, that the girl would still manage to catch your eye, which obviously she has,"
or else Bortalis would not be so hurt by the situation. "And I did expect you to repulse from what she was, but I also expect you both to be reasonable men to realize that I do not want to sell her to you as a wife," for that was damn near impossible now, because of that sharding wanton wife of his. Besides, Alasha was not worth the status of a wife. "Instead I thought I would strike a bargain. Alasha may not be suitable as a wife, but she would make a lovely servant, or even a mistress if you would allow."

Ranillis wanted to scoff at the idea, but there was something that enticed him about it, and he was not the only one. He was not blind to the look of desire that he caught in his son's eyes. "How does Murasha feel about this idea?"

Murasha wanted to strangle the lot of them, for even contemplating the idea of turning her daughter into a slave. But she remained calm in the shadows as their poisonous words passed on.

"Murasha's opinion does not matter in regards to her daughter." And he would make sure the woman would stay out of it.

How dare he! She clenched her fists at her side, but she held her tongue back.

"What matters, if whether or not we can come to an agreement."

"True, true," Ranillis seconded him. After all she brought this on herself when she slept with another man. She should be thankful that even this much could become of her daughter. "What do you think Bortalis?"

A mistress? Well, Bortalis had to admit that the idea was tempting. "I find it hard to turn down the offer," and after he did finally find a good spouse Alasha could become a servant. No harm in that.

"Good then," it finally looked like he would finally be rid of the girl, once and for all.

"How much do you want for her?" Now it was time to barter. Ranillis was open to suggestions from Desamin. His first bid would tell him what he needed to know of her true worth.

Murasha could scarcely believe what she was witnessing. By the end of the bartering, they came to an agreement, and Alasha would leave with them first thing in the morning. She stepped away from the entrance and quickly made her way to the kitchen where Alasha was finishing with the last of the cleaning with her sisters. "Alasha," she spoke in a tone that sounded more like she was scolding the girl.

"Yes, Mama?" What could she have done wrong? She could see Edana snickering to herself as she watched, while Soneya seemed as perplexed as Alasha herself.

Murasha would not allow for spectators. "Edana, Hedona," she turned to the other two. "Go serve some ale for your father and his guests, Soneya," she turned to their servant. "Go with them."

Soneya could tell that what ever she was going to say it was important and private. She humbly bowed before she left with her other two mistresses.

"What did I do Mama?" Alasha was more worried now. Did she say something wrong?

"Yes, my love," but it was not her fault, she could not help it.
Murasha had bred her to become what she was, and now she was going to be bought because of it. "Do not worry about what you did, but it is important on what you do next."

Alasha was confused, and could not fully understand what her mother was trying to tell her, but reading off the emotions that etched into Murasha's face, Alasha knew it was not good.

"Desamin is going to sell you to Ranillis, and Bortalis by morning, unless I can do something about it." It was hard to tell the girl the truth, but Alasha had to understand how serious the matter was.

"Sell me? As what?"

"A mistress, a servant, a punk, I don't know, but what ever his motive, you will have no part in it-"

"But Mama," Alasha did not want to suffer that fate, but what over her mother? Her memories haunted her of the threat Desamin gave her long ago. If her mother interfered... no, she could not bring herself to think of it "No more, Alasha," Murasha replied sternly. "I want you to go to your room, and lock the door. Do not let anyone in, until I return."

Alasha knew better than to disobey. Would she try and sway her step father? It was their only chance.

"Remember, do not speak to anyone until I return." Murasha had to make that point as clear as possible, less Desamin attempted to let Ranillis and Bortalis depart with her during the dead of night. She gave Alasha a final embrace before she placed a kiss on her forehead.
She held any emotion back that threatened to reveal itself to her daughter. If Alasha saw the lack of hope in her, than she would lack hope herself, and all would be lost. "Go, my love."

Alasha did not hesitate, and left for her room, leaving Murasha behind to fight one last battle with Desamin, or else lose what she held closest to her heart.

Last updated on the March 9th 2008

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The Suitor's Dinner