Bells Will Ring

Writers: Chelle, Eimi
Date Posted: 14th July 2010

Characters: Parale, Ioven
Description: Parale tells Ioven her answer to his proposal.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 10, day 1 of Turn 5

After talking to her mother and Alie, as well as thinking about a lot of
things, Parale had finally made her decision. It was hard since she
didn't have much time, but she supposed it would all come right in
the end. She was putting her faith in the smith, and if he let her down,
she didn't have many options.

Expecting him to arrive at any moment, she looked around her quarters.
They had been her home for so long. She was leaving everything she knew
behind. Forcing herself to breathe slowly, she wondered what she could
take and what she couldn't.

Ioven wiped his hands on his trousers. He was pretty certain that
Parale had asked to talk to him to tell him her final decision. Word
had come down that he only had a couple sevendays left before he and his
children were to head back to Sun Stone Seahold. The question was,
would there be three people in the party, or four?

He gave the door a light tap before opening it a crack. "Parale? May I
come in?"

"Of course." She was standing there in the middle of the room, wringing
her hands. She gave him a small smile.

"Thank you." He thought perhaps he should leave the door open a little
for appearances sake, but considering what they were about to talk
about, he decided to close it so they could have complete privacy.
Without waiting for an invitation, he sat down on the sofa beside her.
"You wanted to talk to me?"

"Aye.." Parale thought about how best to say it, then decided she should
just be straight forward. She was too old to be playing games. "I've
been thinking and I know that time is getting short. After considering
everything, I've decided that I'll accept your suit."

Ioven hadn't even realized he had been holding his breath until it all
came out in a rush. He was filled with a mix of emotions, relief, and a
twinge of sadness as well. His life was moving forward, whether he felt
ready or not. Narys was gone. A new woman, a stranger really, would be
taking her place at his table, in his home, in his bed. His daughters
would come to know Parale as a mother, one they would remember much
clearer than the one who had born them. But she was what they needed,
and he was glad that he would be able to keep his promise and start
again.

"I know this hasn't been an easy decision," he said when finally he
found his voice, "but I'm truly glad that you'll be part of our family,
Parale."

She was quiet for a bit, allowing that to sink in. "So, now I have to
get ready.. what can I bring?" Parale was thankful the tasks would take
her mind off of what she was about to do, at least for a little while.

"Well, for starts, you don't need most of your clothes. The climate is
very different there." Of course she'd need some warmer things for the
journey, but most of it could stay behind. "Of course, I will provide
you with anything you need when we arrive."

She didn't mind leaving behind most of her tools and the like, but what
would she do with her beautiful clothing? She'd worked so hard to dye
the cloth. There was also a chest of personal items she would take. "Oh
bother.."

Ioven was a little confused by her reaction. He would have thought it
would have made packing so much simpler! "What's wrong?"

"It's just.." She frowned, not wanting to seem a simpleton. "I realize I
won't need the winter clothes and the like but..it was so much time
gathering the things and then making the dye and..it seems a waste."

He did think it was a rather silly thing to worry about, but since she
had just agreed to leave her home and move to a completely new place
just to raise his children, he was not about to say one word to the
effect! "Well, if you leave them for friends or for those who will put
them to good use, I'm sure they won't think it a waste."

"Not many of the women wear the colors I do.." She was thinking.
Parale might be able to give them to a friend, though the other woman
would have to cut them down for her daughters. The heavy cloth
could be reused at least. "Anyway I'll figure it out, but my trunk
needs to go."

"I know you're allowed one trunk on the boat free of charge per person,
but the extra must be paid for." Thankfully he had been very good at
saving marks over the last few turns, and could afford to pay for her
ticket and a little extra. "I would ask you pack as lightly as
possible, but if you won't leave with out it, we'll find a way to get it
there."

The trunk held the most important things-most of them making up her
trousseau that she'd never had use for. "I'll figure something." It
still hadn't hit her yet really. "Are the girls packing?"

"Yes, we're getting ready. The girls will be so happy to hear that
you'll be coming with us." He hadn't told them it was even a
possibility yet. "Have you reconsidered having the ceremony before we
leave here? I leave that completely up to you."

"Oh?" Her mind raced with the possibilities. "I don't think I could
make the arrangements that fast, though it would be nice for mother
to be there..." Frowning, she was almost furious at herself for not
having enough time. She'd have to speak to Penryn and then get a harper
and...

"Well, we could find a way to bring her with us." If they were unwed
when they left, a chaperone would be a wise idea.

"How would we get her back? Cause Mother won't go unless she can
come back." Alie would never forgive her if she thought she was being
tricked. "And she can't travel alone."

"All right..." He scratched his head thoughtfully. "Is there...
another relative that could come with her?"

Parale didn't have anyone else really...Apeline had kids. "None that I
can think of."

"Well, I suppose it's up to you then. We can rush through a ceremony
here, or we can wait until we're back in Sun Stone Seahold, though it
would be a small quiet ceremony." He had no family there but his
children, and no one in particular he felt compelled to invite. "The
choice is completely yours."

"It would be easier to do it there. That way all we have to think about
now is packing and travel." Parale thought that sounded sensible.

"Then that is what we will do," Ioven agreed. "I guess all that is left
for us to discuss for now is how we will tell the girls. Would you like
to tell them?" He knew they were going to be thrilled that Parale would
be joining their family.

"Mmmmm...I'll come over tonight after supper. I think I'll be mostly
organized by then. And I have to see Apeline to spill the beans and
tell Penryn I'm moving and he needs to find another foster mother.."
She started ticking things off in her head.

"All right. I will help as much as I can of course." He also had a lot
of little things to wrap up before they left. Though thankfully, not an
entire life. He had done that move once already.

Last updated on the July 17th 2010

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Bells Will Ring