The Lord's first morning

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 11th May 2007

Characters: Corowal, Erassa
Description: Corowal's first day as a Lord Holder doesn't start too well.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 3, day 8 of Turn 4

Corowal had spent the last night celebrating. As a result, he now had a hangover. Not too bad one, he had certainly had worse, but the slightly bounding headache was irritating. The baby's cry didn't make it better, it jarred to his nerves.

"Erassa! Can't you get that baby shut up!" he snapped.

The fostermother turned, her gaze hard as she bounced little Wallia in her arms. Shards, he sounded just like B'lion, and if she wouldn't put up with such treatment from a man she loved, she sure as shells crack wasn't about to take it from any one else! "If you speak to me like that just one more time I'll leave _you_ to deal with her. I don't care
if you are Lord Holder now, she's _your_ daughter anyway!"

Corowal was taken by surprise. Ofelia never had talked like that to him, she had always been obediant and submissivly worshipfull. For a moment, Corowal didn't know how to react. Shards, she almost sounded like his mother.

His silence was unnerving, especially as he _was_ Lord Holder now. He could kick her out of his Hold on a whim! She was sure he wouldn't, but he could. At least, she was pretty sure he wouldn't... Still, she was Wallia's wetnurse as well as fostermother. She had _some_ clout, didn't
she? "Your breakfast is on the table. If you want something warm, I'll make it after I get her calmed down," she muttered, turning to walk back into the baby's room and out of sight of him.

"Eerh, thank's," Corowal said. "Is there klah or shall I ask drudge to fecth some from kitchen?" he asked. He needed klah, several mugs, to clear his head.

She stopped and turned to look at him over her shoulder, speaking loud enough that he could hear her over Wallia's colicy wails. "The klah is also cold. If you want to wait for me to come back I can heat some up, otherwise, do as you see fit." Her boldness even took her by surprise as hurried on her way into the baby's room. She might have been in her
rights to demand he speak to her with a bit more respect, but just where did she get off telling him what to do in his own Hold!

Corowal stared after her. Well, now, that was certainly very
interresting. He shrugged and went to call a drudge. He wanted his klah hot.

Erassa could feel her cheeks burning as she gently bounced the baby up and down. What did he think of her? "Shhhhhh, Wallia, it's all right... It's all right..." Shards, she hoped things would be all right. Was he angry? Did she ruin his opinion of her? "Please baby, calm down now... Mama has to think..." **And now I'm calling myself
_mama_?** She was just so flustered!

Corowal got his klah and also got bunch of letters. The first one was written by his mother and he read it first while sipping his drink. He groaned when he was finished it.
"Erassa? Do you have a moment? " this time his tone was more polite.

"Just a moment," she called back. "Please," she added, almost as an after thought, hoping he wasn't angry! "All right, Wallia, please just don't wake up," Erassa whispered as she lay the baby in her crib. For a
moment she just stood there, trying to calm her nerves. Finally she straightened up and threw her head back. She had her pride after all!
But maybe she should show a little less pride...

"You need something, sir?" she asked, standing in the doorway of the baby's room, her hand reaching out to grasp the doorframe unconsciously.

"I'm just letting you to know that my mother will be visiting us. She shall arrive with the next riverboat. Oh, yes, and we need to move to the Lord holder's quarters," Corowal told her almost absently. He was
making mental notes like: reserve the best quest suite to mom.

"Oh." Well, she supposed that made sense. "What do you need me to do? I'd like to help however I can."

"Just look after the children. The older ones can pack their own things. I'll have some men assigned to carry things over to new quarters."

"I'm sure there will be much more space there," she said with a tentative smile.

"Probably yes, I haven't even seen the guarters yet," Corowal chuckled.

"Well, that will be good for the children." They could use the extra room to play.

"Yes, there will be room for you and your baby too," Corowal said.

So they were back to that, where they? "You still want us to move in with your family?"

"It would be easier for everyone. Wallia would be closer to her siblings and you near your charges. Besides, if I remember correctly the Lord Holder's quarters include separate appartment of two rooms that are connected to the main room by door but they also have separate entrance
to the main hallway."

Well, that might stem off _some_ of the rumors. At least it would not technically be the same rooms... "Well, I think that could suit our needs..."

"Yes, it would. I wouldn't want Wallia to grow up apart from her family. Oh, and Erassa, don't expect to get away with the tone of voice you used with me earlier _too_ many times," Corowal said and added almost off-handedly. There was something very chilling in the way he said it.

An eyebrow raised slightly. If he wanted her to live in the same rooms as her, he was going to have to learn that she would not be treated as a submissive wife or servant. "Then I can assume you will not use the tone you used with me too many times either?"

"You're correct," Corowal replied with a wide smile. "I don't usually have hangovers either."

"All right then." Hopefully he was right, otherwise a seperate room might not be enough...

Last updated on the May 14th 2007

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The Lord's first morning