The Table of honour

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 19th May 2011

Characters: Eilomar, Merlish
Description: Eilomar and Merlish go through the feast.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 5
Notes: Follows the other wedding posts.

They were finally and officially married now. The ceremony had gone
smoothly. Eilomar had kept his vows short and traditional, so that he
didn't need the note he had hid inside his belt. It was there mostly as
a boost of confidence. After Almonteo declared them husband and wife, he
gave her a quick peck on a cheek and then surprised everyone by singing
to her. He sang one of the old, traditional wedding ballads. He was
after all a master _singer_ and still the finest bass-voice in southern
Pern. Then there was meeting the congratulators and his daughets. Aileyan's
date had been bit of a surprise. Now it was just the banquet and
entertaiment including dancing. He led his new wife to the table of
honour.

Everything was happening so fast, Merlish was having trouble keeping up!
First there was the fight with Eilomar's ex-wife, followed quickly by
the wedding itself. The ceremony was a blur, though the singing was
quite memorable. Shards, he had an amazing voice! It nearly brought a
tear to her eye. So rich and deep. That was a memory she wanted to
keep clearly in her mind. But then all those people crushing in on
them! Everyone touching her, shaking her hand, hugging her, wishing her
well... People she didn't even know! She wasn't even sure Master Eilomar
knew them all.
She knew he was a very important man, but even _he_ could not know all
of them! Of course, as his new bride, she was expected to make pleasant
conversation with them all. It was enough to make her mind absolutely
numb. And now, hardly knowing it was happening, she ended up at the
edge of table, wondering just what would be expected of her next.

"You alright?" Eilomar asked, she did look bit bewildered. Shards, even
he was feeling bit bewildered and he was used to large Gathers.

"Yes, I think I just need to sit down for a moment and just... breathe."
One nice thing was that she was far too overwhelmed with the present to
worry about what would happen after the party that night!

"Well, now is the chance before the next bit starts," Eilomar said. "For
a while everyone will be too busy to eat and drink."

"Food would be good," she nodded, realizing she'd eaten nothing all day.
**But don't let yourself go,** her mother had warned her. **Everyone
will be watching and you don't want an upset stomach anyway,** she heard
her mother's voice in her head.

"There's the toasts first," Eilomar replied and the serving maid brought
them glasses of sparkling wine.

"But I don't..." She let her words trail off. Merlish had never been
one to drink. She had seen women get drunk at such occasions and they
made themselves look utterly ridiculous! But it was a tradition, and
she would not shame her new husband by refusing. "Thank you."

The toasts and the speechees to go with them lasted what felt like for
ever. By the time they finally get to eat, Eilomar's stomach was
growling.

Merlish had tuned out the long winded speeches to the point that she was
actually a little startled by the sound of clinking glasses. But she
quickly pulled herself together and plastered a smile to her face as she
touched glasses with people she didn't even know.

When that was over, Eilomar didn't speak much. Instead he dug into his
food. The guests started to talk among themselves and a pleasant chatter
filled the air. The official part over, everyone was relaxing and
starting the real celebration.

As she chewed her first bite slowly, finding she was not as hungry as
she first thought, she looked around the crowd. So many couples, she
realized, chatting, laughing, flirting. They all looked so happy in
their Gather finery. And why wouldn't they be? It was a happy
occasion! A new Turn, a wedding, family reuniting after a long
separation and catching up on all the news... Her family, too, were
enjoying the chance to see old friends and relatives, though not as many
as Master Eilomar had invited.

Her eyes sought them out along the table. There they were, talking,
sitting close, looking into each other's eyes and smiling. Merilish
sighed, wondering if she and Master Eilomar would ever share that kind
of intimacy. Maybe that was too much to hope, but she had always been
something of a romantic. **Happiness is what you make it,** she
reminded herself, as her grandfather had often said.

After getting worst of his hunger silenced, Eilomar started to pay
attention to their surroundings and take part of the conversations. He
was delighted to notice that both of his daughters looked happy with
their little families.

Merlish glanced over at her new husband and followed his gaze. She
caught sight of the tall bronzerider and blushed slightly, remembering
how he had smiled at her so charmingly as they danced together. And he
certainly seemed fond of Aileyan and their son. At least, she _thought_
it was their son... "Master Eilomar," she said, getting his attention.
"How old is your little grandson?"

"Ravyan? He's three. And you shouldn't call me master now that we are
married. Eilomar or husband will do just fine," he replied.

"Oh, right, I'm sorry," she said blushing. Calling him just 'Eilomar'
just didn't sound right. Then again, 'husband' also sounded unnatural.
"Is the bronzerider Ravyan's father?" She hadn't noticed any real
similarities between the two, and she knew sometimes riders had children
with different people, though that thought was just contrary to
everything Merlish had been raised to believe in.

"No, I think his father was some brownrider," Eilomar replied. That much
he knew, although Aileyan didn't talk much about her personal life.

"Oh." It sounded almost like it would be a scandalous story, if it had
been outside the Weyr. But she knew things were different for them.
How one of Eilomar's children could stray so far from their upbringing
was a little beyond her. Though, after having seen the mother, she was
sure it was _her_ influence at work. Still, Aileyan had seemed nice.
She wasn't ready to suppose she was one of _those_ greenriders... yet.
"How long has she been connected to the bronzerider, then?"

"I don't know," Eilomar admitted. "She's very private person, she
doesn't talk about her life much."

Who didn't talk about their life with their own family? What else was
family for? "Well, if you have no objections, perhaps we can invite
them over and get to know more about them. It would be good for you to
see you family more often." She blushed, realizing how bossy that
sounded! The last thing she wanted was to offend him on their wedding
day! "At least, that's what I was thinking, but of course, I may be
wrong."

"I think it's a good idea, Merlish," Eilomar replied.

"I'm glad," she smiled, feeling rather pleased with herself. Maybe she
would make a good wife after all. And someday, hopefully soon, she
would have children of her own. And maybe then she wouldn't feel quite
so young and immature compared to the greenrider and her sister.

Last updated on the May 29th 2011

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

The Table of honour