Long Awaited News

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 25th January 2018

Characters: Elana
Description: Elana gets some long-awaited news
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 2, day 3 of Turn 9

Elana sighed and stared at the bucket at the bottom of the well. Go get water, Elana. Sweep the hallways. Milk the herdbeasts, skim the cream, card the wool, clean out the barn, weed the garden, chop vegetables for dinner, wash the dishes. On and on. It never ended and she was sick of it.

There was only so long she could dawdle at the well before someone would come fetch her and give her a scolding like she was a child instead of a woman grown. Reluctantly she pulled the bucket up and started back into Nadol Cothold. After the water was fetched, she'd probably be asked to help peel tubers or something. If only there was someone to talk to… but there was no one, not anymore. Not after the Weyr stole her twin.

She paused at the threshold to to the cothold to let her eyes adjust. Just beyond Elana could hear her mother talking to someone in the kitchen in hushed tones. To her surprise, it sounded like her father. **He's early back from the fields. I wonder why?** The promise of something juicy made her hurry her steps and she turned the corner into the kitchen with a big smile on her face.

Her father and mother looked up from where they were huddled together at the large, communal work table with identical guilty expressions. Behind them, the other women of the cothold did their best to seem unobtrusive as they trimmed greens and kneaded dough for pies for dinner. Elana paused. "Father! You're not usually here so early in the day. Is everything alright?"

Her parents exchanged a loaded look. "Go… go put the water away and come sit with us. We have something to discuss with you," her father said.

Elana's heart fluttered uncertainly in her chest. **Another marriage proposal?** Who could it be? There weren't many eligible bachelors in the area. Unless-- **Terious made another offer for me.** The old cotholder already had five children and only wanted a nursemaid. Elana had turned him down once already. Or-- **Alina.** Something bad had happened to her twin. Her hands shook as she dropped the bucket in the corner. The water sloshed and wet the hem of her dress. She hurried back and slid onto the bench beside her mother, folding her trembling hands together demurely in her lap.

"I received this today," Palinon said, taking a scrap of hide from his tunic and holding it up. "By firelizard."

Elana glanced at her mother. "Who has a firelizard?" There were lots at the Weyr...

Elibra pursed her lips and shook her head.

"It's from your great aunt Panna." Palinon paused. "At Emerald Falls Hold."

The world seemed to stop. Elana held her breath, her eyes bright with anticipation. "She got your letter--"

"She did. And she's agreed to foster you."

"YES!" Elana clapped her hands together and leaned over to drag her mother into a hug. "She's seen sense! I can leave here!"

"Elana!" Elibra returned the embrace but quickly pushed her daughter away. She was laughing, though. "Contain yourself! I'm certainly not going to send you off to the Hold if you can't act like you were raised indoors instead of a barn!"

"I'm sorry, but--" Elana leaned across the table to hug her father. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Palinon was laughing too, and he hugged his only remaining daughter for a little longer. "Yes, you can go. But there are conditions."

"I can meet them!" Elana sat back down on her hands like a truant child. It was the only way to keep herself from bursting out dancing. This was the best news she'd had in Turns-- or ever! She was going to leave Nadol Cothold! "I promise. I promise!"

"You don't even know what they are!" Elibra chided gently.

"I don't care." Elana grinned at her parents. "I'm going to Emerald Falls Hold!"

"Yes. Well. You'll go when your sister is able to take you." Palinon hesitated. "And as I said, there's conditions. You're to live with your Great Aunt Panna, and you _will_ obey her. Better than than you obey us. She's elderly and has said in her letter that if your presence doesn't agree with her, she won't hesitate to send you back home."

Elderly aunties could be managed. Elana nodded. "That's fine. I'd be happy to assist Great Aunt Panna. She'd probably enjoy some company and help since she's so old."

Elibra raised an eyebrow. It was unlike her daughter to volunteer to help anyone, let alone someone elderly. It was probably just her excitement talking. As soon as she was at the Hold, her mother suspected that Elana's promises would fly right out of her head. "Aunt Panna has said that she will speak to the Headwoman before you arrive, and the Headwoman will find somewhere to place you. Working at a major Holding isn't like here, Elana. Your days will be much more regulated and overseen."

Elana laughed giddily. "Don't worry, mother! My domestic skills are not going to embarrass you. I'm sure that whatever the Headwoman decides will be fine." And if she didn't like her position, there were always ways around that. Besides, she'd likely meet her love match within weeks of arriving and wouldn't be slaving away under the Headwoman for long.

Her mother brushed her hand against her cheek. "Aunt Panna says that she will foster you for a Turn. After that, you're to come back here."

"I'm quite sure that I will find a husband before a Turn is through," she said confidently. She was young and the most beautiful girl at Nadol Cothold. How hard could it be?

"Unless you find a husband." Elibra paused. "Aunt Panna is a smart lady. She will be your chaperone and help to introduce you to… the right people. She will steer you right. But be careful, Elana. Emerald Falls Hold isn't like Nadol Cothold. There are people there who won't have your best interests at heart."

"I'll be fine. You'll see-- I'll catch myself a husband before you know it." Elana caught her mother's hand in her own. Her sister hadn't gotten nearly the same concern before being snatched up by the Weyr, and knowing that her parents cared enough to fuss was endearing-- if annoying. "I know how to take care of myself."

Palinon sighed. "Perhaps. Trust your Great Aunt. And keep out of trouble while you're fostered."

Elana laughed again. "Me, trouble?" She placed a dramatic hand on her chest and fluttered her eyelashes. "I wouldn't dream of it!"

Her father shook his head. "The dreaming's not what I'm worried about. I'll write back to Aunt Panna to let her know that you'll be coming and see if I can get your sister to take you there on her dragon. Start packing. I expect you'll be leaving us within a few sevendays."

So soon! Elana was too excited to be nervous. In a matter of days she'd be shaking the dust from Nadol Cothold off her shoes and starting her new life at Emerald Falls Hold.

Last updated on the March 2nd 2018

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Long Awaited News