Having a Walk

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 3rd December 2009

Characters: Eilomar, Merlish, Tantral
Description: Eilomar and Merlish have a second meeting.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 14 of Turn 5

Merlish tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She was quite pleased by the fact that in the sunlight it almost had a reddish look to it. Her hair, in her opinion, was her best feature. Long and straight, but tastefully put up into a nice braid. She had purposefully left a few strands loose to frame her face, though. Though she was not heavy really, but her face was rounder than she liked. As was her nose. Anything she could do to flatter her features, she was willing to try! She knew she would not have a lot to offer Master Eilomar when it came to looks, but then again, she had to admit - to herself only - that he wasn't all that appealing to look at either. He was old and much too heavy to be healthy. But he had been generous and surprisingly interesting to listen to. Maybe it wasn't really the words he said, but the timbre of his voice that she liked. It was his best feature. She held onto that thought as she fidgeted with the hem of her long, flowing skirt. **I choose to be happy. I choose to be happy, for Papa's sake...**

"Here he comes," Tantral said with a smile and a wave to his friend. "Eilomar, thank you for the invitation. I had been so busy, I hadn't yet had time to give my niece a tour of the Weyr."

"Tantral and Merlish," Eilomar greeted. "It's pleasure. Healers have pushing me to take more walks anyway."

"Good afternoon, Master Eilomar," Merlish said with a polite curtsy.

"Why don't you two walk ahead," Tanral said, pointing with his cane. "I'll toddle along behind. I'm not as young as you are, you know."

"We try not to loose you," Eilomar promised. Although, if fact, he wasn't very fast walker himself either.

Merlish felt a little nervous about the idea of making conversation with the Master Harper all on her own. But, she supposed it was something she would have to get used to if he did decide he wanted to marry her. "I hope we are not pulling you away from anything important, Master Eilomar."

"No, you're not. It's quiet this time of the Turn," Eilomar replied. "Do you know much about Weyr?" he asked.

"Just rumors, really. And that the dragons are the saviors of Pern and deserve our gratitude," she replied, feeling rather ignorant.

"I actually have dragonrider's in my family. My younger brother and my younger daughter," Eilomar told her. Well, Aileyan wasn't exactly his, but no one knew that and he was not going to spread it around.

"Oh?" The ride over on the dragon had terrified her. She never wanted to ride one again! But, it had made her appreciate those who dared all the more. "Here?"

"No, not in this weyr," Eilomar said and shaded his eyes. "Look, there's one of the golds, sunning herself!" he pointed with his chubby finger.

"Faranth's Egg," Merlish breathed as she looked along where his finger pointed. "She looks like she's made out of pure gold! It looks like something out of a dream."

"She is a beauty," Eilomar agreed.

"Have you ever seen the Weyrwoman?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. "She must be something special to be chosen to ride a gold like that."

"I have, in various occasions, where harper's perform," Eilomar replied.

"She must be so glamorous," Merlish sighed, wishing that she could see the lady for herself. "You must have met many important people in your life."

"Well, quite a few, yes. Lords and their Ladies," Eilomar replied.

She must seem rather dull to him, Merlish thought as they walked on a couple paces in silence. His life seemed to have been full of glamorous people, far off places... All she had ever known, had ever _wanted_ to know, was her family's own little corner of Pern. They would probably seem rather simple and poor to him.

"And they are people just like us," he continued.

Merlish shook her head thoughtfully. "I doubt I'm much like them. I'm nobody important, really."

"You could be..." Eilomar hinted. And why not? He rather liked her. She was modest, humble and seemed genuinely interested in his doings. She wasn't pretty, but in his age, that was secondary. "How many children do you have?" she asked to change the subject.

"Only two," Eilomar replied. Well, Aileyan wasn't his but he did have illegitimate son in certain mountain hold. He felt a stab of quilt when he realized that he had not written them for a long time.

"Are you close to them?" It was strange to think that she might marry a man with grown children. Maybe even children older than her! Would they really call _her_ 'mother'?

"I am afraid not," Eilomar said with sad sigh. "Life tossed us to different directions and to different places."

She bit her lip as she considered her next question careful. Faranth, she hardly knew this man, but, if she was going to marry him... "So... do you want to have more children? Someday?"

Eilomar looked startled. More children? Him? "I haven't thought about it," he said after the initial surprise at the question had worn off.

"Oh," she replied softly. Merlish had thought about children all her life. She had practically raised some of her younger siblings, and had always dreamed of the day she would have one of her own. But if he had no intention of having more children... Could they be married and _not_ have any? That sounded like a very lonely future indeed.

Last updated on the December 10th 2009

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Having a Walk