Friend ... or Foe?

Writers: Clancey, Eimi
Date Posted: 10th November 2009

Characters: Erassa, Felyna
Description: Felyna surprises Erassa with, of all things, a birthingday gift, leaving all sorts of thoughts in both women's heads. But in this case, great minds do NOT think alike.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 5, day 15 of Turn 5

Felyna

There. She put the final touch on the wrapped package, appreciating her work. She had decided to show Erassa that it was not _her_ she blamed for the party that had gone on in her absence. So, she would give Erassa a belated birthingday gift. She had searched her jewelry box and found a pretty wood comb with bright decorations that she had bought some time back for just such situations - presents.

Presents,as she knew from the well-received gifts she had brought to the kitchen girls, went a long way toward making you popular, especially when combined with her genuine good nature. Manipulative, pragmatic, and cunning, certainly, but she was also _nice_.

She didn't think, though, that Erassa would react like the kitchen girls. But... it still might show the woman that she didn't truly mean her harm. Perhaps.

She went then, and knocked on the door to Erassa's room. The children were busy with their father, getting ready for dinner, and so she expected to find Erassa and her son in their own room readying for dinner.

The fostermother had just managed to get one shoe on her squirming son's foot when the knock came. "Come in!" she called as she retrieved the shoe from the floor where Beleran had through it a fourth time.

"Erassa?" She called, smiling as she saw her wrestling her young son. "I know its late... but I... I have a birthingday gift for you." She added when the fostermother turned to look at her most likely unexpected visitor.

"Oh. I..." Erassa quickly slipped the shoe onto her squirming son's foot and she let him down off her lap to toddle off. Rising she gave the Lady Holder an uncomfortable smile. "Thank you, m'Lady. Your family has been most generous to me."

Felyna perceived that Erassa was uncomfortable, perhaps, but she tried to put her at ease. "Well.. its not so much family as my husband's family, but they are nice and I'd be proud to call them mine. All of them, even you and your son, Erassa." She smiled, openly, at the fostermother. She _did_ like her, no matter what Erassa may think. And in fact, if Erassa knew Felyna's real thoughts, she might be relieved of some of her stress. Well.. all except the part about how much she would like her to have her own quarters!

"Since I was ahhh..." she laughed a little, "..was unable to attend your party, which I heard was very nice, I am bringing your gift a bit late. Please take it." She extended the small package to the fostermother, curious to see her reaction.

"Thank you, ma'am," Erassa said softly as she took the present, genuinely surprised. And a little unnerved. What did this mean? Why was the Lady Holder giving her gifts? On one hand it made the foster mother want to hope that she had finally been accepted as a part of her family. But her instincts told her to be wary. "Shall I open it now? Or should I wait until later?" "You're very welcome Erassa. I am sorry I missed your lovely party. I know the children adore you, and I'm sure they were happy to celebrate with you. You may open it now or later. " Her lips curved into a warm smile. "I can never wait to open gifts, myself." The Lady Holder was giving gifts because she enjoyed it, and it seemed appropriate. The young woman and her son did seem to fit into this family, perhaps better than Felyna herself did. It stung a bit. But then, that wasn't Erassa's fault, was it?

Erassa wasn't sure if that was a hint that she should open the present. It seemed they were in no rush, and it would give her something to do with her hands while her mind turned over the possible reasons why the Lady Holder might be giving her a gift. She barely knew her...

Turning over the package, she pulled on the ribbon holding it together and gently set it on the bed next to her. The paper was treated with equal care since it was quite an expensive touch. She carefully removed the lid of the small box and looked down at the beautiful comb that lay inside. "It's... beautiful," she murmured softly, caressing it with the tip of her finger. Erassa had not expected anything so fine would be inside.

Pleased, Felyna nodded. "I am glad you like it. I never apprenticed to a Craft, of course, but my sisters have often said that my shopping skills are Craft-like." She chuckled, to make it sound like less of a compliment to herself. "Perhaps we can take the children shopping together, soon."

Shopping? Even with the children, it almost sounded like a very friendly thing to do. Erassa wasn't sure how to take that invitation. "I'm sure the children would enjoy the chance to get out."

Well, it wasn't necessarily a friendship offering. It was more in the way that she would like to strengthen the bond between the children and herself, and Erassa would help with that. She did like her. But she also had a strong need to stay married, and that meant pleasing her husband. She knew he would be pleased if he saw her extending a "hand" so to speak, to Erassa. She wasn't sure if they could become friends. Does one become friends with the woman your husband wants to take to his bed?

Perhaps....perhaps that _was_ a good idea.

"Good, then. " She smiled. "I will leave you to finish readying for dinner." A faint smile toward Beleran. Erassa stood to her feet, box still cradled in her hand, and gave the Lady Holder a polite curtsy. "Thank you, ma'am."

"You are very welcome, Erassa. See you at dinner. " Felyna responded with a smile and a nod, and stepped back out of Erassa's room.

Last updated on the November 16th 2009

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Friend ... or Foe?