Trust and mischief

Writers: Clancey, Paula
Date Posted: 8th July 2010

Characters: Corowal, Felyna, Corofel, Ofewal
Description: Felyna leaves for Hidyn Hold to visit her sick mother, taking the oldest boys with her.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 9, day 23 of Turn 5
Notes: Precedes: "Exactly those words"

Mentions: Erassa

Felyna

Corofel

"Corofel and Ofewal are packing up their things. Are you sure you want to
take them along?" Corowal reported and asked, when he entered his bedroom,
where his wife was also packing.

Felyna glanced up at her husband and smiled lightly. "Of course. It will
give me a chance to spend some time with them, the ruffians. Also, I have
some second cousins who have children their age at my family's hold, and
they should have playmates." She paused, considering.

"There will be plenty for them to do while I see to my mother. You do not
mind me taking them do you? " She paused in the act of folding one of her
less elegant skirts and looked curiously at him.
"Not at all, I'm just worried how you can handle the two of them," Corowal
grinned. "Ofewal won't be a problem, just give him a book but Corofel..." he
shook his head. "He reminds me of me as a child, unfortunately."

Felyna would have grinned back, but she was feeling sensitive today. She
knew very well she was leaving her husband alone with Erassa, and that he
was _happy_ about her leaving him alone with the foster mother. Why wasn't
she enough for him? Because of that, despite giving him permission to
sleep with her if she consented to sleep with _him_, her answer to him was a
little short. "Husband, I know I am not your special, extremely talented
foster mother, but I am quite capable of taking care of the boys. Do you
have no trust in me at all to care for your children?"

"Of course I trust you, the boys just can be rather difficult ones," Corowal
replied, bit surprised by her reaction.

That didn't really help. Saying that seemed to imply that she was capable
of dealing with "difficulties". But telling him so would do no good, and
only make him happier to see her gone. So, with an effort, she cleared her
face to smooth calmness.

"Well difficult boys seem to my specialty." she said instead, with a
pointed, lingering glance at him. _He_ was more difficult than any six
boys together, but she wasn't sure the alternative was very attractive.
So she smiled. "We'll be fine, Corowal. My sister will help after I
arrive, if I need it, and there will be plenty of exciting adventures for
the boys to go on to keep them out of mischief."
"Or get into new kind of mischief," Corowal said. "Perhaps the little trip
together will help you bond more closely," Corowal said and smiled. The
children did like Felyna but they were not as close to her as they were to
Erassa. Especially the boys tended just ignore her.

She smiled more warmly, and went close to kiss his cheek. "I hope so,
Corowal. That is why I want to take them. I want your children to come
to love me as much as I love them. Its the best way for us to truly bond
as a family. Don't worry, hmm?"

She finished packing the last of her skirts, and closed the wherhide bag.
"Help me gather up the children and go out to the courtyard? The runners
should be saddled by now. "
"Of course," Corowal said and took her bag to carry.

The runners were, indeed, ready. They had stopped to gather the boys, who
only went along reluctantly and with Felyna's promise that there would be
_plenty_ of interesting things to do there, and yes, they could ride the
runners everyday. And yes, they brought books.

She would rather have traveled by dragonback, but her family's hold was not
that far. Or at least not far enough to consider asking the Weyr for
help. She sighed a bit, thinking what riding the runner would do to her
dress, and was glad she'd worn an older skirt. Perhaps someday she'd try
wearing ...breeches...

A grin at that and it was that face that met Corowal's. "Well, we are off,
husband. I will tend to my sick mother and your sons. I would not expect
us back for at least a sevenday, if not longer. I'll send Xebex with
messages though, as often as you like."

"Have fun, dear, you will be missed," Corowal said, handed the bag for a
stable hand who tied it into the pack-runner. He planted a kiss for her
cheek. "Boys, you behave and be nice to everyone!" he admonished his sons.
Corofel was already up in saddle, but Ofewal was still eyeing his runner
with distrust.

Felyna resisted the urge to snort in his face; have fun when she was going
to see her sick mother? Truth be told her mother would probably be fine,
but she felt it was her duty to go. Have fun, when she _knew_ very well he
would _not_miss her? And he would spend all the time she was gone trying to
get Erassa into bed? And maybe suceeding?

She hid all this behind the pleasant Lady Holder mask, doing her duty and
taking care of the children and her husband. She hid it easily, and by the
simple advent of going to Ofewal's side and leaning down to whisper.
"Riding is fun, Ofewal. And we'll be going slow enough you might even be
able to read while we ride; you can just hook your runner's lead to my
saddle if you don't really _want_ to ride." She thought the idea he might
be able to read, even up on a runner, might get him at least interested.

"Don't forget to write," Corowal said to the boys and turned to his wife.

"Reading and riding?" he whispered with an amused smile. He offered his hand
to help her up to the saddle. Ofewal got help from the stable hand.

Felyna smiled back, eyes twinkling. She took his help and settled
gracefully into the saddle. "Well, we are riding slow and he doesn't
really have to pay attention; its a well traveled, flat road. And that
runner won't even blink fast. So, it should be alright... and he's mounted,
isn't he?" Her smile broadened and she looked down at her husband for a
long moment. See, she seemed to be saying, I _can_ take care of them.

"See you soon, love."

"Take care and travel safe," Corowal replied and answered her smile.

Last updated on the July 17th 2010

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Trust and mischief