Major Promises on Minor Thought

Writers: Chelle, Jelena, Leigh M-F., Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 9th June 2014

Characters: Herlis, Mawul, Geriot, Stallis, Zumre
Description: Herlis marries the stowaway Stallis to one of his men.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 5, day 26 of Turn 7

Having left Stallis to prepare herself for her wedding, Herlis walked
back on deck to find his men waiting for him outside. "Alright guys,
the lady's choice seems to have fallen on Geriot. Geriot, do you agree
to this marriage?"

His mind went through the paces. "Well sir, I'll have to admit that I
could probably do better." Indeed he could and he needed a woman who
could be a help to him as he made his way. This woman was weak,
running away from her problems. Still, Herlis was his Captain and if
he wanted it so, there was nothing he could do.

"If you say that to her face at any point, I fear I may have to hurt
you," Zumre said in a deadpan tone to cover his mild disappointment.
But then, even if this were a more ideal matchmaking situation, it
would have turned out the same, so he would shrug it off soon. There
was work to be done still.

Mawul had agreed to act as the girl's male escort, a
father-replacement. He knocked the cabin door. "How ready you are,
Stallis?" he asked. His wife had taught him not to ask if you're
ready.

"Almost," she called. She really didn't have much she could do other
than try and groom herself with a sliver of mirror and a comb. She
knew better than to expect any sort of flowers aboard a ship. iThis
wasn't exactly what she'd envisioned as her wedding day but all of
that had been stolen from her and there was no reason to cry over it.
When she walked out the door she would be married and her uncle could
no longer have any power or claim on her.

"Look, I'm not going to force you to marry this girl, but I think you might be
surprised at what she has to offer. She's a bright girl from what I can see
and I think she will clean up to be quite a looker." Herlis paused and glanced
at Zumre. "If you don't want her though, I think there are others here who
would." He would go back to Stallis and talk with her some more about the
other lads, if he needed, because neither of them would be happy if this was
forced on them.

Geriot almost laughed at Zumre's response. He didn't even know this girl and
he was already so protective of her? **What a wherry** "She didn't want them,
sir, though did she?" Maybe she wasn't stupid after all.

"You had her preference, but given her circumstance, I'm sure she'd be just as
thrilled to marry any of my lads." Herlis shrugged. He wanted to do
right by as much
people as possible here, but in the end you could never please everyone.

That was as much of an admission from Herlis as any. Yes, the girl was at his mercy and theirs. Perhaps that would lead to a more manageable wife. She had no other prospects. Geriot began to calculate-as he always did. "Very well, let it be done."

"Mawul, are you ready?" Herlis called out as the small gathering on
deck took to their places.

"Waiting for the bride!" Mawul called back. It wasn't his fault women
took so long to get ready.

Stallis took a deep breath and opened the door. This fate had to be better than what had been behind her leaving the Hold. No matter what else she'd been trained by her mother how to be a good wife. She could do it. So she fixed a smile on her face and walked toward the Captain and her future husband.

"You look beautiful," Mawul told her and took her side.

Geriot waited there by the Captain and when they came forward, he didn't move. His face was calm, but there was no smile. Instead, he took her hand from Mawul and then turned toward Herlis.

"Now's the last possible moment to call it off," Mawul whispered to her ear before stepping aside and moving to stand next to his captain.

She smiled a real smile at Mawul and squeezed his hand with a tiny
shake of her head before he stepped back. The alternative was far
worse than a taciturn husband could ever be. He'd promised the Captain
never to hit her and that was enough. She took a deep breath and
turned to the Captain for the ceremony.

Herlis looked at the pair seriously, observing their expressions before speaking.
It wasn't ideal, but they would make do. As he spoke to them of the bond they
were entering and had them say their vows, he couldn't help but remember his
own marriage and melancholy spread over him rapidly. Finally, though, the necessary
words had been said and Herlis was glad it was over.

"You may now kiss your bride," he announced with a vague smile.

Geriot bent down and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. He didn't know the
woman really to do anything more. Once they were in port, though, he had many
chores to complete-like finding a place for her to live.

"Time for wine and presents, I believe," Zumre said dryly. Stallis might not be with them long, but an oiled cloak for her would not go amiss.

She accepted the kiss and smiled hesitantly this time then turned to the rest of the crew and nodded. "Thank you sir," she said to the Captain and then reached for Gariot's hand to do just that, wine and presents.

Last updated on the June 15th 2014

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Major Promises on Minor Thought