The Replacement

Writers: Paula, Eimi
Date Posted: 3rd May 2011

Characters: Merlish, Ailewyn
Description: Merlish is confronted with a ghost from Eilomar's past...
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 5

No one had sent her invitation to the wedding, but since she now lived
and worked at the Weyr, the news had reached her too. And it had made
her bitter and angry. Never mind that she now had the freedom of
sleeping with anyone she wanted and anytime she wanted, but she had to
work for her living and he had the gall of being happy! Getting
remarried! She just had to see who this woman was, who thought she could
replace her in Eilomar's life. Eilomar had been hers! True, she never
loved him and had cheated on him several times, but the mere thought
that he would be happy made her see bloodred. She had born him two
daughtes (all right,
one and one bastard), she had the right to see him wallowing in misery.

Getting in was too easy. Dressed in gather finery, she just walked in
with other wedding guests. No questions, no one checking her identity.
They had left the bride alone for a moment, so she could take a breath
and gather her nerves before the ceremony. She just pulled the door open
and stared the young girl, eyes full of hate. "You!"

Merlish had been trying to calm herself. She had seen the throng of
people who had shown, met the daughters and was sure they were less then
impressed, and next could come the ceremony and then... Oh Faranth, she
was going to be sick. She was quite sure she was going to faint.
Merlish turned towards the sound, eyes wide and uncomprehending that the
woman was there to confront her rather than help her. "Is there a
bucket or something? I think I'm going to be sick..."

Ailewyn eyed her up and down, filled with contept. "I hope you spew on
that pretty dress of yours. Did he pay it? Who are you to think you can
steal my husband?" she snarled.

"What?" the young woman asked, not really comprehending what the woman
was talking about.

"Are you stupid besides being ugly?" Ailewyn asked.

Merlish was too shocked to feel sick anymore. Her face turned even
brighter red, but this time it wasn't her nerves, but embarrassment.
She knew she wasn't the most beautiful bride ever, but _ugly_ was
uncalled for! "Who _are_ you?" she demanded, finding a little shred of
nerve to cover her wounded pride.

"I'm Ailewyn, I was Eilomar's wife," the older woman replied and walked
around her, very much like predator stalking it's prey.

The young woman's eyes grew wide. _She_ wasn't supposed to be on the
guest list! "What are you doing here? You are not welcome here!"

"I just had to see who is replacing me," Ailewyn said.

"No one is _replacing_ you," Merlish insisted. "I am nothing like you,
madam and I have no intention of being so."

"You're nothing like me, that's for sure. You're nothing," she nearly
spat the words out.

"I will be a wife," Merlish said, standing a little straighter. "You
can no longer say that." She would _not_ be bullied by a woman who had
failed in her own marriage on her wedding day! There were enough other
things she had to worry about!

Ailewyn was bit taken a back by it. She stopped to regard her. "Do you
believe he'll make you happy?" she asked.

The younger woman's chin lifted slightly. The woman could attack her,
but she would not stand there and allow this woman to scorn her husband
to her face. What kind of wife would she be? "Master Eilomar has been
nothing but gentle, kind, and generous to me, and to my family. He is
an honorable man, and I don't know what more I could ask for in a
husband."

"He's old and fat," the older woman snorted. Deep down she had to admit
she did remember time when he had been kind and caring. Especially when
she had been expecting. But she had driven him away, by becoming bitter,
nagging bitch.

"As I may be one day," Merlish said with an aire of dignity, determined
not to show this woman that she was all too aware of her husband's age
and considerable girth. Deep down, she had always dreamed of wedding a
kind, handsome, rich young man. At least he was two of the four.

She snorted again, but trutfully, she was running out steam. This wasn't
as fun as she had expected.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm getting married." Merlish quickly
brushed past the woman, steeling her resolve. She'd be damned /between/
before she let that woman ruin her wedding day!

Ailewyn was left standing there, fuming all by herself.

As Merlish left her company she paused, still fuming, but smiling. She
was feeling a little proud of herself! It was so rare that she would
stand up to someone like that. But that woman had purposefully insulted
not only her, but her soon-to-be husband. She might have taken an
emotional beating for herself, but _no_one attacked her family! And,
ideal or not, Master Eilomar was her family now. Taking a deep breath,
she rejoined her mother and attendants and with a nod proclaimed, "I'm
ready now."

Last updated on the May 2nd 2012

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The Replacement