Dinner and Dessert

Writers: Ames, Chelle
Date Posted: 9th November 2010

Characters: Sarban, Lisadi, Trewlin, Dareera
Description: Sarban joins Lisadi and the children for a meal after their fishing expedition.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 11, day 15 of Turn 5
Notes: Note: Follows "Fishers of Fish?"

"You said he was coming!" The whining voice of the eight turn old filled the room.

"Trewlin," Lisadi's voice was sharp, but her eyes were lighter, indicating she was not angry with the boy. "You
are not to use that tone with me or with any of the adults. You know that." She watched him give a little sigh
and slink back to the carpeted area where Dareera played.

"I just want him to get here already," the boy mumbled, kicking his foot against the ground a bit in frustration.

Lisadi tried to hide the smile on her face at his reaction. Ever since Trewlin's little escapade last month, he'd
been fascinated with Sarban and Zandan, eyes always agog when they were around. Lisadi didn't mind as
Trewlin's behavior had begun to change after his frightening experience. Life was much easier for them all. He
still got angry and upset, but he accepted her help now. The worst times were when he awoke crying with the
nightmares, reliving the night he lost his family. Dareera, too, was struggling with nightmares, but with her being
so young, things were less clear. She still didn't talk much. It was her way of dealing with the trauma she'd endured.

Moving over to the warming dish she'd borrowed from the kitchens, Lisadi checked the fish. It looked spectacular.
She'd mixed her own spices, a recipe she'd learned from her mother when she was very young. She hoped Sarban
would make it. He'd left the fish for her, hers, along with his catch as well, so clearly that meant he intended to join
them. She knew he was busy though, so perhaps he wouldn't be able to come after all. Trewlin would be very upset,
but they would handle it, just as they were learning to handle things together. Filling her glass with her drink, she settled
onto the couch and sipped it, watching and waiting.

After he had done his final round and made sure things were ready for the morrow, Sarban changed clothes into something
more comfortable. Walking through the Hold, he took the shortest route to Lisadi's quarters. With a skin of juice under
his arm, he knocked on the door.

"He's here!" Trewlin called out, getting up and racing to the door before Lisadi had even managed to get off the cushioned seat. She
soon was heading towards the door, but not before Trewlin had yanked it open.

"We thought you were never going to get here," Trewlin blurted out as he looked up at Sarban with a mixture of awe and anger.

"Trewlin!" Lisadi scolded, hurrying up behind him. "That is not how you will speak with Sarban. Apologize to him immediately."
She raised her eyes to him and gave him a look that said she was sorry for her foster-son's behavior.

"Sorry," Trewlin mumbled, looking down to his boots which were scuffing the floor.

"We are glad you were able to come," Lisadi told him, placing a hand on Trewlin's shoulder in support and to guide him to
make room for Sarban to enter. "Do come in. Dinner is warming for us and is ready whenever we are."

Trying not to smile at the boy's behavior, Sarban nodded. "Thanks for having me." He entered the room and looked around.
Of course he'd been in Lisadi's quarters before but had never had a reason to really look around.

Even little Dareera, who'd hardly came near any of the other adults, had stopped her play and was watching the Steward.
She was clearly uncertain of him, which showed on her face.

Trewlin, on the other hand, was jabbering away, "I've not gotten into any trouble since last month. I swear it Steward Sarban.
I've been working hard and even helping Lisadi." He looked to his foster-mother, anxious for her approval but also for that of Sarban.

"Trewlin, why don't you give our guest some time to settle before you bombard him with comments? Go wash up. We'll eat in
a few minutes." She shoved him off, and watched as he hurried, grabbed Dareera and helping her as she limped, made their
way to the wash basin.

Lisadi looked back at Sarban, a smile lighting up her face all the way to her eyes. "I'm not sure what it is, but ever since that
day he ran off, he's been obsessed with you and our Captain Zandan." She glanced back over to where he was helping Dareera

wash up. "He's changed somehow. I think he wants to be like you or Zandan." She hoped Sarban would take it as a compliment,
for it surely was.

"Would you care for a drink before we eat?" She asked, "I see you've brought us something."

"Aye here's some juice for the little ones." He offered up the skin, thinking about the boy. "And I'm glad that he's settling down.
Sometimes the young ones can bounce back better than the older ones can." Not knowing what else to do, he glanced around,
hoping they had provided her adequate quarters to her needs.

"That was very kind of you, Sarban. Thank you." Lisadi took the skin and used it to fill some cups for the children, who at that
moment came hurtling back towards the table.

"Can we eat now?" Trewlin whined. "I'm so hungry I could eat a whole herdbeast!" He beamed a smile towards Sarban as if he
expected that this was how all men acted.

Lisadi chuckled. "If our guest is ready, we can start." She indicated the table and chairs and then turned to get the dishes she'd
had warming for them. Placing them on the table, she looked around at the others and suddenly felt as though someone had
tugged on her heart. She had to blink and let out her breath. It felt almost like what she'd dreamed of Turns ago when she'd
married Burned. A family.

Lisadi clutched the back of the chair and did her best to hide her reaction. This was _not_ her family. Sarban was nothing more
than a guest in her quarters, and Trewlin and Dareera were hardly her own children, but yet, something in the air made her almost
wish for what wasn't.

Clearing her throat, she smiled though it was a bit forced. "Shall we then?"

"We can't let the boy starve." Taking the fork, he began serving, placing a fish on everyone's plate. Once that was done, he poured
himself a drink and started to heap vegetables on his plate. "So, did you learn anything in harper lessons today, children?"

Trewlin, who'd already dug into his plate of food, looked up at the Steward, mouth full. His first attempts at talk, led to garbled nothing.
Lisadi's look in his direction, had the young boy swallowing and looking a bit sheepish.

"We learned the Ballads of Yore today. We're expected to memorize one of them in the future. I'm not sure I can memorize a _whole_
ballad!" Trewlin said with a look on his face, even as he dove back into his food.

Dareera didn't say much. She picked up bits of food off her plate and munched quietly. For whatever reason, even as she stared down at

her plate, she mumbled, "learned song."

Lisadi was actually overjoyed that Dareera had even spoken at all. The child hardly talked to anyone, let alone those she didn't know well.

"I was never the greatest at the ballads, though I have plenty of sailor songs in my head." Most of those were probably not fit for the boy's
ears, so Sarban left it at that. "Some of them are good, though, like Moreta's Ride. They tell great stories."

Trewlin seemed mesmerized by Sarban. "I'm going to study that one then," he declared as though Sarban's interest in Moreta's Ride was all
Trewlin needed to make his decision. "I don't think Harper Hensa would like it if I learned a sailor song." Trewlin made a pouty face and
stuck his fork into his fish, spearing it with gusto before eating it.

Lisadi chuckled under her breath and smiled a bright smile Sarban's way. Trewlin had really taken a liking to the Steward, and truth be told,
so had she. He was kind and friendly to everyone.

"Moreta's Ride is a great ballad. There are so many wonderful ballads to learn. I always did enjoy them, myself when I was a girl," Lisadi
said, eating her fish much more daintily. Dareera was trying to pick up her fish and eat it, but the poor girl was struggling to get the food to
her mouth.

"So, any interesting news of late for the Hold?" She asked Sarban, as she reached over and cut up Dareera's fish without pausing. She handed
the child a spoon to use with her fork and soon Dareera was happily shoveling the delicious fish into her mouth with as much gusto as her foster brother.

There was the gather, but he couldn't tell anyone about that. "Not really. We're still working on the harper hall. The structure's finished. They
just have to do the interior work and then put in all the furniture and things." He put a bite of fish into his mouth, then chewed slowly.

"Oh, that's right, the Hall. When is it due to officially open?" Lisadi asked as she continued her meal. She glanced at Trewlin and Dareera with
a smile on her face, before she turned back to Sarban. "Dareera's uncle is helping to build the Hall, but I don't know much more about it than
that. It will be nice to have the Harper Hall so close. Imagine all the wonderful things we might see and here because of it!"

"Next turn, third month." Sarban flashed back to the original reason why the Hall had been moved. Frowning, he hoped it didn't happen again.
Corowal was determined.

"I'm sure that will be a joyous day full of celebration for everyone involved." Lisadi finished off her meal and noting that the others were nearly
finished as well, she rose and moved to the counter. Turning, she brought back a tray of sweet cake and cookies.

"A bit of dessert to satisfy our sweet tooth," she said lightly as she sat the tray on the table. "One at a time," she said more sternly as she looked
at Trewlin and Dareera. Glancing back to Sarban she added, "They'd eat the whole tray themselves if they could."

"I would have too when I was their turns. Older now and wiser and I realize it'd mean a stomachache." He smiled briefly then took two cookies for
himself.

Trewlin, who'd been watching Sarban with interest, reached for two cookies as well. Lisadi shot him a look and he quickly put one back though

he pouted all the while. "You can have a second after you finish the one you have, but take your time," she reminded both children. Dareera also
took a cookie and began nibbling on it.

Taking one for herself, Lisadi took a bite and savored the sweet taste. She had quite a sweet tooth and couldn't resist a good treat now and again.
"I know what you mean," she replied to Sarban, "I have a bit of a sweet tooth and often have to remind myself _not_ to over-indulge lest I make myself sick."

"Sometimes it helps to eat fruit instead. It's sweet still but healthy." The South had fruit everywhere so it was easy for Sarban to get the vitamins he
needed in his diet.

"I'll make sure to keep plenty of sweet fruits on hand in the future then," she said with a lighthearted tone. "I'd hate to forage the kitchens for them.

Perhaps you'd be willing to join us on a fruit picking adventure when you're free?" She glanced to Sarban and the children. She could tell by Trewlin's
face that he was eager to spend more time with the Steward. **He needs some male companionship. A good role model,** she thought to herself as
she reached for a second cookie to satisfy her cravings for the delicious treats.

"Maybe on my restday." He could think of a few places off the top of his head that would be good for such an expedition. "Just can't go too far from the
Hold. Scary beasties out there." He waved his hand, knowing Trewlin had learned that lesson.

"That would be wonderful Sarban," Lisadi stated, smiling happily. Trewlin had swallowed his bite of cookie a bit forcefully at those last words. He didn't
really want to go wandering on his own far from the Hold for a good long while. He'd had quite enough of a scare the last time.

Last updated on the November 20th 2010

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Dinner and Dessert