Like Part Of The Hold

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 2nd May 2008

Characters: Eliste, Reitha
Description: Reitha insists that Eliste take a bath in a nicer place.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 9, day 25 of Turn 4

The Holder's wife knocked on the door of the guest room. "Ellina?" she called. "It's just me."

"Come in, please." Eliste's soft voice was barely audible through the closed door. She smiled at Reitha as the woman entered, setting down her handwork to focus upon her visitor. "Hello, Reitha."

"Do you think," the older woman said, looking back at the door as she walked through it, "that we should prop the door open and put a screen across the opening? So that people can't just glance in here but you might feel like you're more involved with things?"

Eliste pondered the idea for a moment. It had merit. She wouldn't feel so enclosed. Yet, there was another factor to take into consideration. After a moment, she shook her head. "It's a nice thought, thank you, but...I don't know. People being able to just look in whenever they want...well...it just doesn't sit well with me."

"All right then. It's your room, so whatever suits you. But remember, any time you want to spend time anywhere else you only have to ask and we'll make up a bed there for the day."

"I will remember that, thank you." It was unlikely, however, that Eliste would ask such a thing. It seemed to be something that would be a lot of trouble and she didn't want to put them to more trouble than they had already gone.

"Now," Reitha settled herself in the chair beside the bed, "What can we do for you so that you're ready for all these visitors you're bound to get this evening?"

"Th...this evening?" Eliste's brow wrinkled in confusion. "Is there something happening this evening?"

"The Sungazer will be docking just before dusk, if there's nothing to delay them."

"Oh! I didn't realise." Eliste's smile returned. It would be nice if some of those she had met would come see her. She hadn't been with them for very long, but she had enjoyed her time on the riverboat and had come to like the people there. "I hope I will get some visitors, then."

"I'm sure you will. The young men seemed rather taken with you, and you did well to make friends with the womenfolk too."

Pink crept over Eliste's cheek and she let her gaze fall. "I...I don't think the menfolk..." She trailed off, not sure what to say. "They...
they were all very kind to me."

"I should hope so. Of course, you have a lot in common with the women - being a quilter. Now, do you want to bathe or wash your hair or something before they arrive?"

"A bath would be nice." Eliste hadn't thought of it until Reitha had mentioned it. She certainly didn't want to offend anyone with bad odor.

"Good. Now, the best bathing room on this floor is down in the rooms that Demerand's aunty occupies. Perhaps we can borrow her wheeled chair and take you down there? It's a lovely room, very spacious and nice easy steps down into the bath. Good for old aunties and people who have to be careful."

"I could just use the bathing room here." Eliste suggested. Reitha was being kind, but she knew that she was already a burden upon them. There was no need to increase that burden. "I don't want you to go to any trouble."

"But this one is little. Tiny! You deserve a good wallow because you've been a very good guest and a pleasure to have here."

"You are too kind, Reitha," Eliste shook her head slowly. She wasn't a paying guest, and she felt rather guilty for not having done anything to pay her way. That would come, however. First, she wanted to finish the items for those who had been so kind to her on the riverboat. Then she would focus on making a quilt for Reitha and her husband as well as to sell and make some marks. "But it fulfils the need. I don't want to cause any more trouble."

"_You_ are no trouble. You're a very easy guest to have. Come on. Tell me what you want from this bathing room and I'll organise moving it to the big one for you. It'll do you good to get out of here, even just for bathing."

"I don't know Reitha. It just seems so unnecessary." Eliste glanced back at the door that led to the bathing room. "I suppose I could."
She really didn't see the point, but Reitha seemed so insistent.
"You're very kind."

"We want you to feel like part of the Hold, Ellina."

Like part of the hold. Eliste's gaze met Reitha's, her mouth opening, then closing. She hadn't known where she would go when she had run away from Helvar, she just knew she needed to get away from him. To be honest, she had thought about going far, far away, as far away as she could put distance between him and her.

The problem was, she had met people that had helped her, cared for her, and she had started caring for them. She realised that she didn't want to go any farther. Her time on the riverboat, once she had relaxed after leaving the dock, had been pleasant. She had made friends. The people at the hold had helped her even when she had been a complete stranger. Could she be a part of them? A part of something other than just an abusive man's wife, slave to his every whim and victim to his every displeasure?

She had already said thank you. She had said it often, her gratitude sincere. She felt like she couldn't say it enough. The people at the riverboat, then the people at the hold had made her feel something that she hadn't felt since she had left her home and her mother - she felt wanted. "All right, Reitha. And...and thank you...again."

"You're welcome." Reitha patted the young woman's hand. "I'll go and organise everything."

Last updated on the May 5th 2008

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Like Part Of The Hold