Paintings on the Wall

Writers: Clancey, Paula
Date Posted: 1st December 2008

Characters: Corowal, Felyna
Description: Corowal and Felyna study the paintings of the past Lords and he has a surprise for her.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 13, day 3 of Turn 4

Felyna

Corowal had asked Felyna for a walk, but the weather outside was so dreadful that he took her to walk in the Great Hallway instead. The hallway started from the main doors and run through whole building. Decorative columns, tapestries and the paintings of the previous Lords and Ladies lined the walls of the hallway. Corowal led her to a certain picture.

"Have you ever stopped here to really look at the paintings and wonder what their stories are? Most people, I've noticed, just hurry along the hallway without sparing a glance at the paintings."

Felyna, pleased beyond belief that Corowal still desired her company, and also certain her chances for becoming Lady Holder were still very good, had her arm tucked delicately through his as they strolled the hall. She had been looking forward to going outside with him, alone, and perhaps adding a bit of incentive to his decision; but the weather had not permitted it at all.

Still, time with him was time with him, and she had asked for walks.

She turned her lovely eyes to the painting he'd brought them to and peered at it for a moment before answering. "I like looking at their eyes." Her free hand pointed toward a portrait two steps behind them, obviously brothers. "That one is one of my favorites. The older brother has bright, sparkling eyes that seem curious about the view. His younger sibling has the same eyes, but they seem different ... colder, more calculating. I would wager the younger one had his eldest brother poisoned so he could take over the Hold from him." She smiled slightly at him, then turned her attention back to the painting in front of which they were standing.

"So, yes, my Lord, I do wonder sometimes." was her softer answer as she studied this one, wondering what it was he wanted her to see.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he did," Corowal chucked and glanced the painting she meant. "This is my favourite, Lady Zacorrea. She become Lady holder at the age of 25. Her husband...", he gestured a painting next a beautiful young woman. It showed a portly man surrounded with pack of hunting canine. "...was far more interested in hunting and breeding canines, so she was de facto ruler of the hold. She became the Lord at age of 42 when her husband died, and ruled to the age of 85 when she finally gave the Lordship over to her grandson. A very remarkable woman."

Felyna looked for a long time at the picture of the young woman. Her head tilted sideways as she considered, her eyes narrowing in thought. "They let Lady's hold by themselves at one time? How very interesting! And she is your favorite, Corowal?" Now she turned to look at him, that same light in her eyes. Did he like women like that, strong and independent?

"They did at then. Not very often though. She lived three hundred Turns ago," Corowal replied.

Felyna gazed in wonder at the Lady anew. "300 turns ago..." She whispered softly, then her voice raised a bit to question Corowal. "And you, my handsome Lord, would you like a Lady who could Hold that way?"

"Not if she pushes me aside!" Corowal laughed. "But it would be nice to have someone to share the burden with."

Felyna narrowed her eyes speculatively at him. "Is that so, my Lord? I find that very ... interesting." Her smile curved warmly, the eyes turning promising.

Corowal gave her a boyish grin. "Come on, there's another picture to show you." He guided her along to the newer paintings. He stopped in front of a family picture: a Lord, his lady and their three sons. "That's my father," Corowal said, pointing the youngest of the sons. The boy in the painting seemed to be around 10 turns of age and a had mischievous expression in his face. He bore a remarkable resemblance to Corowel's son Corofel, expect for the hair colour.

Pleased at his reaction, she grinned along with him. And if her hand on his arm was warmer, tighter, well, who would notice?

As she glanced at this newer painting, she focused closely on the boy he indicated. "A lovely family, Corowal. Corofel looks much like his grandfather." She turned to look at him, and then back to the younger boy. "Your father looked positively wicked at that young age, my Lord. Did you inherit those tendencies?" She laughed, teasing him.

"Yes, I did. Want to see?" Corowal replied with a mischievous expression and then bent to kiss her, right there, in front of anybody who happened to be passing the hallway.

Felyna was too practised to let herself be surprised for long, but she did allow her mouth to open in feigned shock, then melt against his with just the right amount of body leaning toward him. In her mind, she crowed. Success! If this wasn't the sign of a proposal in the future, nothing was!

Both were too proper, at least in public, to hold the kiss for _very_ long, but when he did let her go, she didn't step too far back, but blushed quite warmly. "Corowal, wicked indeed.. right in the Hall..." But the sparkle in her eyes showed she hadn't minded, at all.

The lord holder grinned at her. "I thought you might enjoy it." It really wasn't a hard decision. She was perfect for the spot: young, presentable and well educated. She also had a personality he liked. She wasn't pliable like Ofelia had been, nor easily manipulated. She was ambitious and more suitable as Lady Holder than poor, shy Ofelia.

"Tell me, Felyna, would you like to have your painting on this wall, as the next Lady of the Emerald Falls hold?"

Even her turns of wooing Lord Holders did not prepare her for that, not right then at that moment, after only their first kiss. She must have done better than she thought over the last several months, convincing him no one else would do for his Lady Holder.

Both hands flew to her mouth and her cheeks blushed with bright pleasure. The light in her eyes sparkled like stars on a particularly clear night, before Thread returned. Inside, though, her mind tripled in happiness. A kiss had been something. A marriage proposal.. that was something _else_. Triumph! Her mother would be _so_ proud.

And she would make Corowal so happy to have her as his wife, he would never even _look_ at a drudge. Ever.

All of this happened very quickly. Felyna judged what she knew of the man before her - more than she'd known so long ago - and decided there was only one way to answer.

She took two steps back into his arms, and leaned a pliant, willing body to his, kissing him for the second time in as many minutes. Lasting, and sweet, but with enough heat - as she'd been taught - to interest him.

"That would make me the happiest woman on Pern, my Lord." She finally said, her voice husky with pleasure. "Corowal." This time, when she said his name, she allowed all the emotion she was feeling to overflow into that one word, turning it into a promise that would make him rush to be married. As fast as was barely proper.

"My dear, beautiful Felyna," Corowal said. "I'm so happy to have you on my side."

"You will always be, Corowal. I promise you." She tucked herself against him and smiled. And she found, too, that she was as happy as he, or so it seemed for that moment.

Last updated on the December 1st 2008

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Paintings on the Wall