Arriving at Emerald Falls

Writers: Ames, Chelle
Date Posted: 14th August 2010

Characters: Sarban, Lisadi
Description: Sarban and Lisadi meet each other after she arrives.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 10, day 5 of Turn 5
Notes: Mentioned: Felyna

Lisadi stood surveying her new quarters. Her trunk stood at the end of
the bed, still packed with all that was of import to her. With a sigh,
she sat down on the bed and rested her head in her hands. Had she made
the right choice? It had been nearly two turns since Burned's passing.
She could have remained at the small cothold they had built together,
had even tried for these past Turns, but the looks of pity that were
still sent her way and all the memories had made it nearly unbearable.

Yet, here, she sat, in her room at Emerald Falls Hold, feeling out of
place and alone. The caravan she'd arrived with had already packed up
and moved on. She knew no one and her first impressions of her welcome
left her wondering. The women here seemed almost submissive, quiet,
shadows of the women Lisadi had known in her life. It was true she'd
only met a few who had been hard at work cleaning and carrying
supplies. Perhaps she would find others who didn't seem to scurry out
of the way at the slightest sound.

**No use sitting here wondering what if,** she chided herself. She
knew that she was actually already expected, and truth be told, she
had no intentions of going back to her old life. She'd be working in
the nursery, fostering some children, and helping around the Hold with
other tasks as they needed her. She was good with a needle. Perhaps
she could offer her services to the seamstresses.

**Get a move on, Lisadi,** she told herself, pushing off the bed.
She'd unpack later. Now, she wanted to spend some time exploring her
new home.

She soon found herself wandering among the corridors of the Hold, with
no real purpose or destination in mind.

After finishing up with the most pressing matters, Sarban was making his
rounds. The Hold was rather quiet since it was cloudy outside and a little
bit on the colder end. Many people were staying in, working on things they
had put off.

**You're lost, and you know it,** Lisadi thought as she turned a corner
and found herself back where she'd been not too long ago. This was
going to take some getting used to. Having spent most of her life
living in cotholds, she'd never had to navigate her way through
corridors to find what she was looking for.

Seeing a figure just up ahead, Lisadi moved forward, her brown hair
pooling around her shoulders. Why hadn't she tied it up before leaving
her rooms, she wondered. As she got closer to the man, whose back was
to her, she asked, "Excuse me," she said, "Could you tell me exactly
where I am? I can't seem to navigate all the corridors without getting
myself lost."

Sarban turned around and stepped back, all in one motion. One of his
legacies left after days spent in rigging was an ease of movement, though
on land he was nowhere near as graceful as he'd be on the water. "Ah well..
where is it you were trying to go?" He was quite sure he hadn't seen this
woman before. It was impossible to know all of his holders, but he knew
the look of Emerald Fall folk and she wasn't it.

Lisadi smiled at the blonde-haired man. "I didn't really have a
destination in mind, but it would be nice to find the nursery, as I'll
be helping there. Maybe the kitchens and seamstress rooms as well, as
I'd like to offer my services there. I'm Lisadi, by the way."

"Ah you're the new arrival." Sarban remembered something passing
across his desk about that. "This way..." Turning, he walked slowly, wanting
to give her a chance to get her bearings. "I'm Sarban, the Hold steward."

"Nice to meet you Sarban," Lisadi replied. "Thank you for your
kindness. What can you tell me about Emerald Falls Hold?" Lisadi
wanted to learn more about her new home and figured the steward would
be a great person to ask.

"Well..we're situated on the river, beholden to Dolphin Cove Weyr. We
have several minor Holds throughout the territory and cotholds. They're
building a new Hall for the harpers which should open in a few months."
Sarban thought about what else was important. "We have electricity."

"Oh, yes," Lisadi actually looked up at the electricity with a look of
almost sheer delight. "That is quite a nice thing to have. I must say
it makes living so much easier. _That_ will be an easy change for me
to adjust to," she turned and smiled at him, flashing her not quite so
perfect white teeth. "The cotholds I'm used to could not afford such
luxuries."

Lisadi was so caught up in marveling at the things around them, that
she actually brushed her arm against his. "I'm so sorry," she said
when she realized she'd bumped him. "I seem to be so taken with the
wonders of this place that I can't walk straight," she laughed.

"Don't worry about it.." It was refreshing to see someone so happy.
Sarban almost couldn't help feeding off of it. "Well ah, of course
you will be reporting to the Lady Holder since she handles all of the
fostering and making sure the children are taken care of. Lady Felyna
can usually be found at midday meal easily."

"Oh, wonderful. I will make sure to talk to her soon, as I would very
much like to start working with some of the children. I've always
loved children," Lisadi added, feeling a slight twinge of
disappointment at not having had any of her own.

"I am sure there will be so many things for me to learn and experience
here. I've never lived in a large Hold like this before." She added as
they walked, still marveling at the many things that caught her eye.

"Oh? Where did you come from again?" He'd never lived in one either
before coming, but living on a ship was a far different thing.

"I've lived the last ten turns at Burnfeld Cothold, on the far reaches
of the Emerald Falls land. It was very small, but quaint." Lisadi
looked away for a moment, drawing in a breath and releasing it as she
thought of all her time there with Burned. A pang of sorrow tried to
sweep through her, but she quickly quelled it. Now was not the time
for such things.

"Have you lived here all your life?" She asked instead as she turned
to look back at him, hoping she had hidden the wash of emotions she
had just felt.

"Ah no.. I used to be a seacrafter. Travelled the world and all that. Then
cousin offered me a job here and I ended up staying." He missed the
nomadic lifestyle of a sailor at times.

"Oh," Lisadi turned and looked at him. "I've never traveled the seas.
That would be a new experience for me."

At just that moment, two young children seemed to come barreling
around the corner as they chased one another. Lisadi had to step
aside, a bit closer to Sarban to let the children pass in their
excitement. She watched them with a bit of a wistful look on her face.
Well, soon, she would at least help to care for some of the children.
That would fill the void she often felt in her heart over never having
any of her own.

He caught her reflexively, frowning at the children. "Slow it down,
Bartus." That earned him a look from the boy in the lead, but he did
start walking. "That's all we need-for someone to get hurt. Heads and
stone floors and walls don't go well together, you know."

"Thank you," Lisadi said with a smile as she turned to look at Sarban.
"I sure would not have wanted to be the one to get hurt. Though I
can't fault the children. They are so young and full of life.
Everything is almost magical to them. There are days I wish for that
youthful innocence again." Realizing she was being a bit wistful in
her words, while standing rather close to Sarban, Lisadi blinked and
stepped back a pace.

"Aye well there are days when I wish I was back on a boat again.
Still, one day they will grow up as have we all." He smiled, though,
revealing that he did have a soft heart for the hold's brats.

Lisadi looked at the steward. Something in his words and his actions
made her think that he actually liked the children. "Do you have
children of your own Steward Sarban?"

"Ah no. I haven't managed to get married yet despite Lady Felyna's
best efforts." He chuckled at that, thinking perhaps she had finally
given up on him.

"So, you enjoy the single life, then?" Lisadi asked, choosing not to
share much of her own personal life with Sarban at this time. It still
hurt to think of Burned. She knew they could have had a good life
together, but sadly that life was cut short. Lisadi wanted to make a
new start for herself here, and for now, she did not want the others'
pity for her loss, so she chose to keep it close to her own heart
instead.

"More like I haven't met the right lady yet." Turning a corner, he came
to a stop. "This would be where all the children are running from."

Lisadi found herself intrigued by the steward. In a way she was sorry
to see that they had reached their destination, as she had thoroughly
enjoyed the conversation. Looking towards the nursery area which
seemed to be overflowing with children at play, Lisadi smiled. They
all looked so happy.

Turning back to Sarban, she inclined her head, "Thank you, Sarban. It
has been a pleasure to get to know you. I hope to see you again in the
future."

Last updated on the September 6th 2010

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Arriving at Emerald Falls