Children and Redfruit Juice
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Kayte, Vix
Date Posted: 2nd August 2008
Characters: Vanea, Helvalla
Description: Vanea and Helvalla talk in the kitchens.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 10, day 22 of Turn 4
"Valnek." Helvalla called after her youngest son, "Watch where you are going. You're going to hurt someone." The young boy ran through the kitchens and out into the dining hall pretending his toy dragon was flying, making roaring noises and giggling to himself. He never looked up from his small wooden toy and had luckily not run into anything or anyone.
Helvalla shook her head, pausing from the chase to possibly get something to wet her parched throat. Looking around, she spotted Vanea and smiled brightly at the other woman. "I just don't know what I'm to do with him. Six turns old and he's already driving me crazy!"
The Headwoman shook her head with a slight smile. "It only gets worse as they grow older." "If he's anything like his brother.. or his father for that matter, you're quite right." Helvalla replied, laughing lightly. "Any wines you would suggest for a parched throat?" She asked, not an expert in wines, but liking them nonetheless.
Vanea shook her head. "I seldom drink wine. However, I can recommend the redfruit juice. It was freshly squeezed not long ago and placed in the coolers just long enough to chill." "That sounds wonderful." Helvalla replied. "You have two sons, correct?"
Helvalla liked to think she could remember everyone in the Hold, but the truth was she was far from it. She knew her children's friends, their parents, even grandparents, the Holders family, and the Healers, besides those who wander into the infirmary on more than one occasion, she really had a hard time with faces and such.
"Yes," was the other woman's reply, "though only one lives here. His older brother is practicing his craft at Rapid Run Hold." Helvalla smiled. "I find myself very lucky to have my boys apprenticing with the Harpers. Although when the time does come I know it might be much harder to say goodbye. Yet, I like entertaining the idea that they may never leave me." Her smiled grew and her eyes lit up. "My boys would never like the sound of that. How is it though? Having him off on his own?"
"I miss him," Vanea admitted, "but it's probably easier on me because I know exactly where he is and those who are with him. We were all living at Rapid Run, but the younger children and I moved here." "Oh." Helvalla sighed. "Such is life. Children growing up and leaving home." Smiling lightly, Helvalla sipped the redfruit juice offered by the Headwoman. She looked at it in surprise. "This is good! Best I've had in so long."
"It's the berries. We combine from pickings in two or more locations, tart and sweet together, to make a more interesting flavor." "Superb." She replied, taking another sip. "You might have to hide it from me."
Vanea shook her head with a chuckle. "We don't always make this type of juice but when we do you're welcome to it." Helvalla thanked the Headwoman, finishing the juice with a smile. The bustle of the kitchens around them reminded her of her own errands and the list of things she still needed to get done. "What will the Hold be having for dinner?" She asked, not sure whether or not to make her own meal for her family.
"Tonight we're having meat pies," the other woman told her. "Yesterday we roasted several herd beasts and tonight we're using the leftovers. Of course, there will be vegetables and tubers to accompany them." "Sounds wonderful. I think I might skip on making dinner tonight." She grinned. "I must go find where Valnek ran off to. Thank you for the redfruit juice." Helvalla said, getting her glass on the counter in front of her.
"You're welcome anytime," Vanea told her with a quick smile, her attention already on two cooks who were busy gossiping rather than watching the pots on the stove.
Helvalla noticed the Headwoman's attention being diverted and smiled to herself. "I'll leave you to it." She said as she went on her way to find Valnek.
Last updated on the August 3rd 2008