The Wild Daughter
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: Paula, Eimi, April
Date Posted: 20th May 2009
Characters: Corowal, Erilite, Erassa
Description: Erilite remembers being introduced to Erassa and her half-siblings.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 5
Erilite watched her father's wedding with a strange set of mixed feelings. She did not know this woman he had chosen. She wondered how much she should care. She also wondered what the woman would think of her. But, most of all she knew in her heart that her own mother should have been up there. She glanced to her siblings. They still felt shy with her. She then glanced at the woman that had cared for them for a long time. She was pretty and kind. The little ones loved her. She wondered just what she had gotten herself into...
~ ~ ~
"Let me introduce you to rest of my family. You just gained five younger siblings," Corowal said to his new daughter. His easy grin hid an emotional confusion underneath. He guided her towards the playroom. At this time of the day, the older ones should be back from harper classes and doing their homework and the younger ones just up from afternoon nap.
Erilite smiled as she followed him. She was a bit nervous. What if his family didn't like her. She carefully smoothed the dress she wore.
Corowal knocked before entering. "Dad!" He was greeted with delighted cries and few small figures run to his arms. It took a while get the greetings out of the way. "Erassa, children, I need to introduce you to someone."
The fostermother felt a slight chill go up her spine as she looked at Erilite. She was certainly young, but could she be the one he'd chosen to replace her? Surely even Corowal couldn't have taken advantage of a girl her age!
Corowal watched the ring of faces around him. There really was no fine way the say it. Besides, the children were mostly too young to understand the implications. "This is Erilite, your new big sister. She doesn't talk, but she can write what she says on the tablet she always have with her."
Erilite smiled at the children. She showed them her tablet and wrote on it.
"Let me tell you who is who. This is Corofel, the oldest one and my heir." "Hi," the boy grinned. "This is Ofewal, the brains of the bunch." Ofewal just nodded, his expression wary and suspicious. "Corolia and Felcoron. The littlest girl is Wallia." Corowal looked from Wallia to Erilite. "You two are going to have serious problems in communication, since Wallia is blind and you don't talk. The other toddler is Wallia's milk brother Benaran."
"He's _my_ son," Erassa said quickly, picking him up and placing him on her hip. She didn't want him to be mistaken as another one of Corowal's, since obviously they were spread everywhere now.
"And she is Erassa, the children's fostermother," Corowal continued smoothly.
Erilite smiled at each in turn and then erased her slate. She quickly wrote out more words for them. I am happy to meet you all. I hope not to be a bother. I have just found out about my father and look forward to having a family. She smiled at Erassa trying to show her that she was a good person.
"How about mom?" Ofewal muttered quietly. Corowal heard it anyway.
"I knew Erilite's mother long before I met your mother. Unfortunately, Erilite's mother died in birth and no one told me about her," Corowal tried to explain the situation and gave a brief summary of Erilite's story and how she found out who's daughter she was.
Erassa felt a shudder run down her spine and she unconsciously pulled her son closer. If she gave in to that man, let him use her body as he did all those other women, that could be _her_, dying alone without an ounce of pity from the man. Once he gave him what he wanted, she would be disposable - a used up commodity. She could not allow that to happen...
Erilite watched everything. She watched the children's reactions and the reactions of Erassa. She missed nothing. She wondered about the things she would find out about this man that had gone from a nobody to a Lord Holder. Perhaps she should talk to Erassa alone. There was obvious tension in the woman. She turned to look at her father and watch him as he told them her story.
"I know this is a big change to everyone. We all have a lot to learn and getting used to," Corowal said softly.
His fostermother could only wonder what those changes meant for her. With a new wife and an older daughter, would he even want to keep her on if she didn't give him a reason to keep her? Her future seemed even more uncertain now. "Will she be living with you, sir?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. Her rooms would seem the most obvious place they could house her.
"I don't know yet, we haven't gotten that far yet. Erilite? Do you have a preference?" Corowal replied and asked. He had not even thought about it.
Erilite smiled over too him as she wrote. She then turned the slate for all to see. I do not have a preference. I don't want to put anyone out. You have such a full house. I can stay in rooms anywhere in the hold and be happy.
"Well, we should talk with the headwoman about that," Corowal said neutrally.
Erilite merely nodded. She wasn't about to get in the middle of things. She smiled at the little ones. You can come talk to me any time okay. she wrote. My door will always be open. She glanced at Erassa and hoped the woman knew it was open to her too. If she needed it.
~ ~ ~
Erilite jerked suddenly as applause went up. She glanced around to see that the ceremony was through. Well, she had best seek out her father and his new wife to congratulate them. She wondered just what his wife would think of her, and weather he had told her of his wild daughter. She smiled at thoughts of being called the wild daughter. Yes, her life would be rather different.
Last updated on the May 20th 2009