Gardens, Flowers, and Berries

Writers: Avery, Yvonne
Date Posted: 30th April 2006

Characters: Thalia, Ishek
Description: Thalia asks Ishek for a garden
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 11, day 9 of Turn 3

Thalia waited until after lunch, when Ishek had a full belly and his
mind on other things, before knocking on his office door. She
smoothed down her hair, twitched imaginary wrinkles out of her
sensible-yet-feminine skirt, and fixed a bright smile on her face
when he pulled the door open. "I hope that I'm not interrupting, but
might I have a moment?"

Ishek looked at Thalia and smiled warmly. "Of course you may, my
lady." he replied. "Nothing but hidework over here." he added. "Your
company is much welcomed. Can I get you klah, water, anything while
you're here?"

"No, thank you. If I had anything more after the lunch I ate, I'm
afraid I might burst!" Thalia smiled and sat down, crossing her legs
at the ankle. "I do have one small request of you, though..."

"Very well then." Ishek replied easily, slipping into a slightly more
professional demeanor. "What can I do for you?" he inquired.

The Lady hesitated. "Might... might I have a bit of earth? For a
garden?"

"Of course." Ishek replied immediately. "You like to garden, then?"
he asked.

"Yes, I do." She was quiet a moment. "My mother has the most fabulous
garden at Eastern Point Hold. With roses, and climbing vines and
redfruit trees. She even had a small maze - pathetically easy, but
great fun as a child. And a bench made of iron..." Her eyes held the
far-away look of a person remembering happier times.

"It sounds lovely." Ishek remarked. "The Hold could certainly use a
garden. From the little I know, I know it takes time to grow
one...but I see no reason why you shouldn't have as large a plot of
earth as you need."

"Really?" Thalia asked hopefully.

"I don't make promises I can't keep." Ishek replied with a smile. "Do
you know what you intend to grow there yet?" he asked curiously. "Or
is it more of a desire then a plan?"

"Roses," she said with a sigh, "and flowers. Lots and lots of
flowers. Perhaps... perhaps if you could spare one, a fruit tree or
two? Or a flowering bush? I know it's frivolous, but now that the
spring is opening up the mountain passes, perhaps we could make room
on a caravan from Eastern Point for cuttings and seedlings?" Her
mother wouldn't mind. Her mother would be delighted.

"Of course!" Ishek answered. "A few bushes and fruit trees would be
nothing but an addition. In fact..." He paused for a moment- the
mention of fruit trees had sparked an idea. "Do you think fruit trees
would flourish here?" he asked. "A small orchard might improve the
place. Not that I'm making any suggestions as to what _you_ do with
your garden... I'm merely thinking aloud. An orchard or two..." His
mind wondered at the possibilities.

Thalia shook her head. "No. Not unless you wish to grow sour
redfruit. Some types of redfruit trees will grow here but they don't
do well enough consistently enough to bother with. Citrus fruits and
soft things like peaches don't survive well at all, and if they do
their fruit is sparse and small. But we do grow berries well here...
raspberries especially, although there's already a small raspberry
patch near the Hold. And blackberries."

"Berries? I love berries. Especially raspberries. How often do we get
berries from there? I had a pie once." Ishek said quietly, looking
off into space. "Raspberries and blackberries mixed, resting cupped
inside a pie shell- no top crust or anything, just the filling in the
pastry cup. The berries were glazed and sweet, and it was best when
piping hot. It was one of the sweetest and most delicious things I
ever tasted, and Shama used to make it." He sighed. "It was a long
time ago."

Shaking his head to clear the fog, he addressed Thalia again. "It's a
shame fruits don't do well, some orchards would have been nice. As
for the berries, well...perhaps we could grow more of them? More
agriculture might be a better opportunity for the Hold
economically..." Then he sighed apologetically. "I don't want to give
you more duties, since you came here for a personal request.
And...forgive the memories I drifted into."

Thalia hid a smile. "It's quite all right. But you'd be better off
discussing agriculture with Penryn, not I." She decided to change
desserts for the Weyrleader's meeting again - there were still berry
preserves in the storerooms. Kiomo was going to hate her.

"I shall then." Ishek said. "Now, as for the matter of caravan
space...I see no reason why some shouldn't be freed up. Make a list
of what you need and ask for it, and if anyone gives you trouble,
send them to me." He smiled at her. "I'll authorize it."

"Thank you!" Thalia couldn't quite hide her delight. She stood, and
then on impulse leaned over to give Ishek a kiss on the cheek.
"You've made me a very happy woman!"

"It was no trouble." Ishek said with a broader smile. "If there's
anything else you need from me, anything at all, feel free to ask."

"Luckily for you, I can't think of a thing!" The Lady smiled,
twitched her skirts, and headed for the door. "I'll leave you be.
Perhaps I will see you at dinner tonight?"

"Perhaps you shall." Ishek answered, making a mental note to actually

go to dinner tonight. "And if not, I hope you have a good rest of the

day." He smiled back at her, feeling glad that he'd managed to do
something that showed an effect by making someone happy.

Last updated on the May 3rd 2006

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Gardens, Flowers, and Berries