Hiring help

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 18th July 2006

Characters: Corowal, Erassa
Description: Corowal meets with the foster mother who will be helping his wife before the baby comes...
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 12, day 26 of Turn 3

A young woman, not yet out of her teens, peeked her blonde head through the door at Corowal's summons. "Excuse me, Steward, but the Headwoman sent me. I believe she told you to expect me. It's about a fostermother for your children?"

"Yes, yes, please get in," Corowal gestured her in. "I was told that you need someone to help your wife with the children until she gives birth?" she asked as she walked towards the steward's desk.

"Yes, my wife does need help. You see, we have four children and the pregnancy is being tiring, she's been ordered to a bedrest," Corowal explained and admired the way her hips swung. He gestured her to take a seat. "So, what's your name?" "Erassa, sir," she answered respectfully, she bit the inside of her lip nervously. His look didn't totally escape her notice.

"Tell me your story, Erassa. What would make you the right person to look after my children?" Corowal asked. "I have experience with children. I worked with children in the nursery before, and I have my own small child," she answered calmly.

"How old is your child?" "Beleran is four months old now," she answered simply.

"Four months. Can you handle a baby of that young and four older children? One of them is chronicaly ill," Corowal asked. Erassa nodded. "My mother will watch Beleran while I am working. This is, after all, a temporary arrangement, is it not?"

"Yes it is. Just until she gives birth and gets back to her feet again," Corowal confirmed. "Where's your husband?" he asked. She knew this question would be coming... "I am not married. I was weyrmated for a short time, but... it was not an agreeable arrangement and I brought my son home."

"Weyrmated? You were in the weyr?" Corowal repeated and asked. Well, that was certainly interresting. "Briefly," she nodded. Erassa knew all too well what kind of reputation ladies who spent time in the Weyr had and she worried the inside of her lip hoping that it neither hurt, nor _helped_ her cause...

Corowal wondered if she had been there long enough to lose her holdbred inhibitions. Most of the Emerald Fall's women were boringly proper.
Nothing cheered up the day than little bit flirting. "You may want to keep that detail from my wife, she's bit...sheltered when it comes to certain aspects of life." "Well, I certainly won't be the first to mention it, sir, but I cannot promise that she will not eventually hear." She had caused quite a stir returning unwed and with a dragonrider's baby. Erassa knew she could scream to the Red Star she had believed herself as good as wed and behaved accordingly. She was tainted now just by mere association. In proper ladies eyes, she was every bit the prody green as every other woman at the Weyr, whether it was true or not. And in every man's eyes too...

"Well, we cross that bridge when we come to it, don't we, " Corowal smiled. "Yes, sir. So... Shall I report to her then?" Elassa asked, a note of hopefulness almost could be heard in her tone. Shards, but she needed to make herself useful to the Hold. She could be seen as a burden to anyone. For her own sake, and her son's future, she needed to establish herself as making a valid contribution, or she would be seen as nothing but a parasite. Afterall, there was no guarentee that any man would want her now. Least, no man that she could hold her head up while marrying.

"Yes, as soon as possible. You seem like a woman who can handle herself in a tight spot," Corowal said. He had liked the way she didn't act shamed or remorseful. She hid her relief as she stood to her feet to face him. "Hopefully there won't be too many of those. Shall I drop by your rooms now to speak with your wife?"

"Yes. She's a shy one and uncomfortable around strangers, so don't take it as hostility if she doesn't talk much to you," Corowal warned her. "I will bare that in mind," Erassa nodded. It wasn't as if she wasn't growing accustomed to ladies who acted rather uncomfortable when she came around.

"The children aren't shy however, and few tales about dragons should make them your friends." "I will keep that in mind," the young woman smiled, though inwardly she wondered how that would be recieved once the adults around them heard who had been telling them such stories, and how she knew so much...

Last updated on the July 19th 2006

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