Offer still stands

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 5th May 2010

Characters: Corowal, Erassa
Description: Corowal tells Erassa about Sarban's warning.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 8, day 20 of Turn 5
Notes: Mentioned: Sarban, Felyna

Corowal handed Wallia to Erassa be changed to dry clothes. The children
had been playing outside. "Here's one wet mud-crawler," he said.

"Felcoron, don't put that trundlebug into your sister's hair. Go and
free it outside," he turned to order the older children.

"My, you are quite the wild-child, aren't you little one," Erassa
grinned at the toddler before kissing her muddy cheek fondly. "I'm not
sure just changing her will do. She might be in need of a bath."

"Two baths," Corowal suggested.

"Two baths? Oh, you'd love that, wouldn't you," the foster mother
laughed, giving her a little tickle on her tummy. She knew how much the
little girl loved the feeling of water. "What about the rest of you? I
suppose you all need baths, don't you."

"Certainly looks like it," Corowal smiled.

"Well, we can send the boys in first. I can bathe Wallia in the sink."
She was luckily still small enough for that. "Could you take her for
just a moment while I get the bath ready?"

"All right. Come to daddy, little flit," Corowal said and hold his arms
for the little girl.

Erassa began pulling the child away from her to hand her over to her
father, but Wallia instantly protested. "Mama!" she cried, wrapping her
arms tightly around the woman's neck.

"And now _I'm_ to be all muddy too?" she asked with an amused chuckle,
trying once more with little luck.

"Aaww, let Erassa have her arms free for moment," Corowal said to her
and cradled her in his arms. "Mama?" he mouthed silently to Erassa.

The foster mother had the grace to blush. "I didn't teach her that.
She picked it up from Beleran."

"I should have expected it," Corowal said with wry smile. "After all,
you are the only mama she knows."

"I didn't mean for her to start saying it." After all, if there was any
woman who should bare the title, it was his new wife.

"There's no way you can get rid of it now," Corowal said.

"Are you angry?" she asked softly, knowing full well he could disconnect
himself from her at any time, especially now that Wallia only took the
breast when she couldn't sleep.

"How can I? With all the time children and I spend with you..." which
brought his mind Sarban's warning and he grimaced. "People already
suspect that I support polygamy."

She knew. But she was used to it. This was the first time she had
heard him speak of it as if it might bother him. "I'm sorry. I wish
people had something better to do than spread ugly rumors."

"So do I. I already had a friendly warning from my Steward, that I spend
too much time with you," Corowal replied. It still irritated him. Why
people cared anyway...oh, yes, he was their Lord holder.. Well, he had
gotten himself to this position.

"Boys, go get ready for your bath," Erassa said in a rather motherly
voice, not wanting any of them to overhear what they were talking about.
The chances that they were listening to a word they had said was slim,
but she certainly didn't want to take the chance. "Corolia, you don't
look dirty. Why don' you change your clothes and put your dress in the
hamper for the washing."

She crossed her arms across her chest protectively as the children
scattered obediently, leaving the adults alone with Wallia. When she
was sure they had the room to themselves, she asked quietly, "Do you
think he's right? Do you want me to go?"

"He's probably right. And I don't want you to go," Corowal replied, his
brows furrowing into a scowl.

"I don't want to go." Her voice cracked slightly as she reached out to
smooth down Wallia's hair. "I feel safe with you."

Corowal just nodded add her words, wondering how he felt around her. At
ease, probably and the sexual attraction he felt for her had not gone
away.

"What do you want to do?" She knew her fate was completely in his
hands, and the vulnerability in her eyes as she looked up at him
conveyed that she understood that fact all too well.

"The subject of moving you to separete quarter has come up before..."
Corowal said, rather meekly.

She closed her eyes, lowering her head, breathing in deep. "I know it
has," she finally whispered. And there was no way Erassa could fight it
this time. He could separate her from his family with a word. Corowal
could pretend that it was just a small move down the hall, but it was
much more than that. It was distancing himself from her in the eyes of
the Hold as well, which was proper for him, but it left her to face them
all alone. "They'll never leave us alone, no matter what we do."

"I know they won't, but it would take out some wind from their sails,"
he reached to touch her hand comfortingly.

"For _you_." He would be the Lord Holder coming to his senses. She'd
still be the dragonrider's whore with their bastard son.

"I can't force them to change the way they think," Corowal said.

"I know," she whispered, feeling the weight of the room crushing on her
as she breathed in deeply and exhaled in a long sigh. "It almost would
have been easier if I _had_ done something wrong. Lord Holders
acknowledge mistresses all the time."

"So they do. A mistress does have a certain power in a Hold," Corowal
replied and looked her curiously.

"At least no one can whisper about what she does with the Lord Holder.
When it's out in the open, it's far less fun to speculate." And far
more difficult to look down on her since she would have the full
protection of her Lord Holder.

"But sometimes the Wife can turn nasty," Corowal warned.

"What is that to a Lord Holder? Is he Lord or not?" She shook her
head, sighing deeply once more. "But I am neither wife nor mistress.
I'm just a servant."

"It's up to you to change it. I've made an offer in the past and it
still stands," Corowal said.

"One in which I wouldn't be acknowledged, one in which any children I
might have would not be recognized. You could leave me at a whim and I
would have no protection." She shook her head, looking down at the
space between them. "How could I accept that offer?"

"Offers can be negotiated, " Corowal touched her again and then pulled
apart. The kids were coming back.

"I promise I will think on it," she said softly, raising her gaze up to
his at last. "But you have to give me _time_."

"All right," Corowal said neutrally.

Last updated on the May 18th 2010

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Offer still stands