Family Visit 1/2

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 13th July 2012

Characters: Eilomar, Merlish
Description: Eilomar and Merlish go to visit his sister.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 8, day 12 of Turn 6

It had started from a letter few sevendays ago. Eilomar's sister had
written and invited them over. Since she lived in one of the outlying
minor holds, it was not a short visit. They had to travel with riverboat
upriver and then switch for the smaller one, since the larger ones
couldn't manage Black river. Unfortunately, the boat's other passangers
were mostly mine crafters, a rowdy bunch. It was not the most
comfortable journey. But finally it ended, and the boat docked to a
small dock built under a hill over looking the river. On top of the steep,
large hill
stood the hold, grey-walled structure that oversaw the river and the
lands around them. Cots, craft shops and beast hold were built around the
hill.

A man stood on the dock and after spotting the only passangers who
obviously weren't miners, called out: "Uncle Eilomar! Welcome to Black
Rock hold!" He was in late thirties, burly built with dark mahongy hair
and blue eyes.

"Hircael, is that you?" Eilomar asked and turning to Merlish, he
murmured. "He's my nephew."

"Oh," she whispered in reply, a little nervous about meeting yet _more_
family. Her eyes scanned the group that had come off the boat with
them, and she instinctively reached for her husband's arm as a rather
intimidatingly large man brushed past her. Was _everyone_ in this Hold
built like that?

Eilomar helped her to step out from the boat.

"Glad you made it one piece," Hircael grinned and clasped hands with
Eilomar. He turned his attention to Merlish. "You must be Merlish. We
haven't met yet, I'm Hircael. I wasn't able to come your wedding.
Somebody had to stay here and ran the hold," he had a disarming grin and
friendly manners.

"Oh, well, it's nice to finally meet you," she said, dipping her head
politely. Merlish couldn't help but be put a little at ease by his
friendly greeting. She studied his face for a brief moment, trying to
find anything in it that might resemble her husband.

"Shall we get going then? Mother and Father are waiting you in," Hircael
asked and pointed upwards at the hold looming over them. Eilomar
suppressed a groan. He had forgotten how difficult the hold was to
reach. Hircael instructed two men to take care of their luggage.

Merlish's eyes also grew a bit wider as she looked up at the climb they
would have to make to get to the entrance. Was this a Hold or a mine?
No wonder everyone was so bury! These people had to climb up and down
that path every day? Then another thought came to her - would Eilomar
even _make_ it?

Hircael had similar thoughts. Giving his uncle a glance he decided to
take them the "scenic route". It was longer, but easier to legs. It was
built for carts and wagons to deliver cargo to the hold. It twisted past
the cots and circled around the hill until it reached the top. But it wasn't
as steep as the more direct route and it has no stairs.

~*~

By the time they reached the main door, Eilomar was winded and redfaced.
It still had been a long walk.

Merlish tried to hide a limp as her boot had dug into her heel after so
long a walk, but she was relieved to see that her husband had made it
that far. She had been a little afraid of what they could do if he
needed help along the way. But Hircael had been most kind, and it
really wasn't his fault he lived in such an unfortunate Hold, so she was
determined to keep smiling as she carefully walked through the main
door, holding Eilomar's arm in case he should collapse, though what good
it would do she did not know.

They were met by the holder and his wife. She was obviously Eilomar's
sister. The same blond hair, blue eyes and round figure. She wasn't
nearly as overweight as her brother, being more matronly soft and round
than actually fat. She had the eyes of intelligent, strong willed
person. Her husband was as burly as his son, and gotten bit portly side
too with age. His hair was mostly silver with little of the original dark
burgundy showing. His eyes were startling green.

"Eilomar, you made it one piece," Maerly cried and gave him hug and kiss
on a cheek.

"Maerly, you look well, really nice to see you," Eilomar greeted his
baby-sister. "You do remember Merlish?"

"Of course I do, although we met only briefly at your wedding. Welcome
to Black Rock hold, Merlish" she turned her attention to Merlish.
Hircael had obviousy gotten his kind nature from his mother.

"It is a pleasure to see you again," Merlish smiled, holding her hand
out to the woman in greeting, though Faranth help her, she had
absolutely no recollection of this woman at all! So much of their
wedding had been a blur. "Thank you for your invitation."

"I look forward to learn to know you better," Maerly replied and lowered
her voice to conspiratory whisper, "and I can give you tips who to
manipulate him," she nodded towards her brother, who was clasping hands
with Hircine.

Manipulating one's husband did not sound like something a wife should
do. And yet Merlish's curiosity was piqued, and she couldn't help a
shy, though slightly embarrassed smile. "I wouldn't know much about
that."

"You'll learn," Maerly murmured and turned to introduce her husband.
"You probably won't remember Hircine, my husband and holder of Black
Rock." She put her arm around his and Hircine smiled at his wife. They were
obviously a happy couple.

"It's a pleasure to see you again," Merlish said with a polite curtsy.
Maerly was right, of course. She didn't remember him at all, but she
was sure he would be much more memorable after this evening. "You have
a lovely Hold."

"Thank you, Merlish," Hircine bowed to her. "It's bit backwater but it's
cozy and it's home," he said. "Now, let's get inside."

Merlish took her husband's arm once more and let him lead her inside.
She was waiting for him to make polite conversation, as convention
usually held. After all, what had _she_ to say to a Holder! Merlish
was not used to being in such company outside the tiny Hold she grew up
in. And yet Eilomar knew Holders, Lord Holders, Masters, Hallmasters,
Weyrleaders... She was a little lost in just how she was supposed to
serve him as a wife in these situations. Was she just supposed be in
the back ground? Was the burden on her to carry the conversation
forward? She was starting to get a little nervous.

"Tarine is here too. She's staying with us for while, when her father
arranges things," Maerly told them. Realizing that Merlish didn't have a
clue who she was talking about, she explained some more: "She's our
grand-daughter. Her mother...my daughter, died few months ago. She was
greenrider, like Aileyan." She closed her eyes when the pain and sorrow
hit her like a hammer. Hircine squeezed her hand silently. "It's one
reason why I invited you now. I just want to have the family close."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know..." Should she have known? Did Eilomar
know? She looked up at him questioningly.

"Ah, I might have forgotten to mention it," Eilomar looked embarrased.

Maerly snorted. "So just like you, Eilomar. I did write him about it as
soon as we heard the news," she gave her brother a scolding look.

Merlish shifted a little uncomfortably at the look her sister-in-law
gave her husband. She couldn't help but feel a little of the guilt
herself. After all, his glory, and his failure, ultimately reflected on
her, didn't it? "He has been very busy with the Hall move and all," she
said a little quietly, feeling it was her duty to at least _try_ to
defend her husband.

Maerly thought it was compliment for her that she defended her husband.
"I know my brother all too well, I know how absentminded he can be."

Her pressing the issue just made Merlish feel more of a need to stand up
for him. Sister or not, she was his wife. "Yes, well, perhaps in this
case it genuinely slipped his mind."

Maerly didn't reply, just smiled.
"Come on, there's dinner waiting for us and rest of the family to
introduce."

Last updated on the August 3rd 2012

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Family Visit 1/2