Speculations and awkwardness

Writers: Ames, Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 6th May 2011

Characters: Aileyan, Merlish, Eilomar, Eilowyn
Description: Aileyan and her sister go to greet their father and Merlish.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 5
Notes: This should have preceded "Typical Wedding" and "The Replacement",
sorry about the confusion, this just got lost in the box.

They was changing clothes after the dragon rider from Amber Hills hold
to Dolphin Cove Weyr. Aileyan brushed her hair and tried to keep an eye
on her son. Ravyan looked really cute in his gather clothes in
Dragonfalls's colours. He was currently playing with his cousin, who was
only few months older than he was. Well, as long as he wasn't dirtying his
clothes or fighting with his cousin.

"You think your husband can watch the kids if we slip to meet father
before the ceremony?" Aileyan asked her sister and dropped the brush
back to her bag.

Eilowyn looked over to Aileyan. "Yes, I'm sure he would. He knew we
would want to spend time with father and expected he'd be watching the
children for much of the time." Eilowyn paused and looked at the
children playing together. "They're growing up so fast, aren't they?"

"Yes, they are," Aileyan said wistfully. She was also happy that she and
Eilowyn were getting along well now than they had grown up. Faranth knew
they had had their share of sibling rivalry! But there had been good
moments too.

"Shall we?" Eilowyn asked her sister, thinking it would be nice to see
father again and meet Merlish.

Aileyan nodded. "Obey your uncle, Ravyan," she admonished her son once
again.

Once everything was in order, Eilowyn turned and gave her husband a gentle
kiss on the cheek before turning to leave with Aileyan. "What do
you think this woman is like?" She asked her sister.

"I have no idea," Aileyan replied while they walked. "My guess is older
widow who's snared him."

"I guess we'll find out soon enough," Eilowyn replied as they made their
way to their father's quarters. She gestured for Aileyan to take the
lead.

Merlish had been waiting in Eilomar's quarters, knowing that his
children would soon come through the door. What would they think of
her? Could she really call them "step daughters" when they were her age
or older? Would they like her? Would they hate her for replacing their
way-ward mother? It was all just so nerve-wracking, and the ceremony
hadn't even started yet! Merlish didn't know how she was going to get
through this meeting, let alone the rest of the day. And the night...
Oh shards, the night! She gripped the Choir Master's arm even harder,
wishing she could just hide behind him like a child.

Aileyan knocked the door and Eilomar bade them to enter. He patted
Merlish's hand encouragningly.

Aileyan step in first. "Father," she said and was left to stare the
young woman. Shards, she couldn't be much older that she was.

"Aileyan, you been well, I take it?" Eilomar greeted and asked.

"Yes, just fine," she replied on automatic, her eyes on Merlish.

Eilowyn followed Aileyan into the room and stopped almost mid-stride.
The face she saw sitting beside Merlish was not at all what she had
expected.

"Father," Eilowyn said by way of greeting. Then she did her best to
smile towards his new bride. "Tis good to see you again and you," she
looked to the girl who was clearly not much older than they were, "must
be Merlish." Aside from that, Eilowyn had no idea what more to say as they
stood there a bit awkwardly, gawking at the young bride.

"Yes, this is Merlish. Merlish, meet my daughters, Aileyan and Eilowyn,"
Eilomar handled the introduction, not noticing anything was amiss.
"Aileyan is a dragonrider and Eilowyn is married to Amber Hill's
holder."

"Nice to meet you," Aileyan managed to say.

Merlish could see the shock on their faces and now more than ever she
wanted to shrink into the floor. Gripping his arm even tighter before
she turned and fled from the scrutiny she gave them a little nod. "It's
nice to meet you both."

Aileyan just nodded, unable to figure out anything to say. The whole
situation felt surreal to her.

Eilowyn had regained some of her senses. She was vastly curious about
how things between her father and his _very_ young bride had occurred.
Taking a seat, she tried her best to smile. "So, tell us, father,
Merlish, how
did you two meet? I mean, I haven't really heard the whole story,
especially
not in person." Eilowyn was desperately curious to know what Merlish's
thoughts were and why the young girl had decided this was what she
wanted for her
life. Eilowyn herself could not imagine being married to someone her
father's age. It was unsettling to say the least.

"Yes, I want to hear that too," Aileyan said and sat down next to her
sister.

"Well, Merlish's grand uncle Tantral is friend of mine and this is
actually his doing. He buggered me long time until I agreed to meet
her," Eilomar
told them.

Merlish only smiled and nodded her agreement to the statement, realizing
that his daughters had been given _no_ information about her whatsoever.
She obviously was not what they had expected. Not for the first time
that day, she wished the ground would just open her up and swallow her
right there.

Eilowyn sat quietly, but when no one else seemed to offer up any other
conversation, she tried to break the awkward silence. "Is there anything
you need us to do for you before the ceremony?"

Eilomar looked his wife-to-be rather uncertainly.

Aileyan noticed it. **Good grief, what a pair!**

Merlish now had all their eyes fixed on her. Taking a deep breath and
trying to keep the tremor from her voice she answered, "No, thank you.
I think all is ready now."

"Well, then," Aileyan said uncertainly. "Perhaps we should go to get the
children and find a good seat at the great hall."

Eilowyn nodded her agreement to her sisters's statement.

"Perhaps," Even Eilomar was starting to catch up how awkward the
situation was. "We can talk more after the seremony."

"It was nice meeting you both," Merlish said with a polite nod of her
head, but secretly she was thanking Faranth the meeting was over!

Last updated on the May 10th 2011

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Speculations and awkwardness