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Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 4th September 2006

Characters: Corowal, Erassa, Corofel (NPC), Ofewal (NPC), Corolia (NPC)
Description: Corowal tells his children the news about their mother and asks Erassa to be the baby's milk mother
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 13, day 24 of Turn 3
Notes: Follows: "The Dark Tide"

"No, I don't think the baby has come yet, Ofewal, so why don't you just sit down again so I can finish the story," Erassa said gently as she picked up her book again, giving him an approving nod when he did as he was told. "All right, so Polani and Boos had been wandering down the

beach and they saw eggs in the sand, right?"

She turned the page and adjusted Corolia on her lap. Thankfully Felcoron had already fallen asleep. Erassa had just opened her mouth to continuing with the story when she heard the creaking of the door.

Corowal stopped at the doorstep, a haunted look in his eyes. How could he told this to them?

Erassa looked up into the stewards face. Something was wrong. "All right kids, lets get into bed and then I will come and finish the story for you. I have to get your father something to eat, he's been having a long day. Come on now."

"No. Let them hear this now," Corowal interrupted her. "Come here, children," he called. He picked up Corolia and pressed his cheek against her head. Tears where brimming in his eyes.

"What it is dad?" Corofel asked.

Their fostermother felt very much out of place. Whatever the news was, it was bad. That much was certain.

"You have a new baby sister. She was born two candlemarks ago. Unfortunately...", The stewards voice grew more silent. "You lost your mother. She didn't survive the birth."

**Shards...** She unconsciously reached out to put an around the boys on either side of her. Her reached out the them, and to their father, to the little boy asleep in his bed who probably would never remember his mother, and new baby who would never know her mother, but would always know she was involved in her death.

The children were silent when the news sank in. Ofewal's lip started to tremble and he pulled away from the others.

"Ofewal," Erassa said gently, reaching out to put her hand on the boy's shoulder. Shards, but she didn't know what to say to him.

Neither did Corowal. Corolia suddenly started to weep. "I want mama!"

"Sir, let me take her," she said, standing up. Corolia was too young to fully understand yet what it all meant, but the boys could easily grasp the concept that their mother was dead and gone. "Your sons need you, Corowal," she said quietly, reaching out for the little girl.

"Yes, come on boys, let's take a walk outside," Corowal agreed and handed Corolia to her. "Erassa, we need to talk later," he said seriously.

"Of course," she nodded as she took the young one into her arms. "Come with me. It will be all right, baby girl."

~ * ~ few candlemarks later ~*~

"They are all finally asleep," Corowal said when came from the children's bedroom. "I told them it was all right to cry and the cried themselves to sleep." He sat down heavily. The day had been a nightmare.

He just wished he could cry too.

She sat down carefully in the chair across from him. Thank Faranth Beleran didn't _need_ to be breast fed anymore. Still, this whole experience made her ache inside to hold her own son. But that had to wait. There were apparently things needing to be discussed. Erassa's eyes flickered up to his face, etched with fatigue and grief. "Sir, I

am so very sorry," she said softly.

"Thank you," Corowal grunted, massaging his temples. "Now, we need to talk some business. I hired you to care for my children temporarily. The situation is now changed. Would you be willing to continue, on more permanent base? I need someone to tend the children. I have too much work to do it myself. Besides, I need to find a milk-mother for the

baby." The Steward went straight into the matter.

Ah, that was true. He would need a woman who would be able and willing to nurse the child. And she was still nursing her own son. Now that he was starting to eat solid foods, Beleran didn't need quite so much milk anyway. She _could_ feed the babe... But she thought she had finished

with feedings at three in the morning, with getting so little sleep.
Now, to do it all again... And she had thought this was just going to be a temporary position anyhow. She already felt like she had practically missed an entire month of her son's life. If she did this, she would have to have him with her a bit more than just at feeding times. But could she handle three children under the age of three all at once? "I... I don't know, sir..."

"Please, think about it. The children already know and like you. Right now, they need familiar faces around them. If you're worried about your son, why don't you bring you him here. You could take the spare bedroom.

I even install a lock on its door if it makes you feel better." The steward could be very persuasive when he wanted to. And he rather wanted Erassa, who he already knew that some stranger.

Oh yes, wouldn't the Hold just love that. Their wayward Weyr-girl moving into the Steward's spare bedroom. Tongues would wag for sure.

But how could she just abandon this family? She had grown fond of the children, and she wasn't immune to the loss of Ofelia. They had several conversations about many things... Shards... "Well... maybe... maybe

until the baby is old enough to sleep through the night?"

Corowal nodded. "You don't have decide right now. So far the baby's staying at the infirmary and they can feed her there."

"Its not that I'm reluctant to take care of the children, sir. Or even of being a wetnurse," she said, trying to explain her fears. "Its just... Well, its best for _both_ of us if I sleep in my family's rooms.

I could take the baby with me there. Just to sleep. Just until she's old enough to sleep through the night..."

"As long as the baby get her care, I don't really care how it's arranged," Corowal shrugged.

"Thank you, sir," she said quietly looking down at her hands. Shards, Erassa hated making stipulations of a man who had just lost his wife.

And yet... she _knew_ it was for the best.

Corowal was in a state, where he really didn't care much about anything.
His children came now first, rest could go /between/. He closed his eyes. Shards, he needed a drink!

Last updated on the September 5th 2006

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