Building Blocks
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: Paula, Yvonne
Date Posted: 6th February 2006
Characters: Alrog, Thalia
Description: Alrog visits Thalia, and brings a little gift
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 10, day 4 of Turn 3
"Lady Thalia? Can I disturb you for a moment?" the young holder asked politely. He was carrying a basket under his arm. Thalia nodded, trying to remember his name. Al.. Alrog. A young Holder from not far from here. "I hope I'm not intruding," Alrog said with a formal tone. "Not at all." The former Lady Holder set aside her embroidery to give him her full attention. When he'd knocked on her solar door, she'd been curious, but his solemnity made her doubly so. "I'm not working on a thing that will mind being set aside. But I'm being rude -
please, will you sit?"
"With your permission." Alrog was nervous and when he was nervous, he took the politeness and formality to the extreme. He took the offered seat. "If you don't mind, I brought little something for Aslian." Thalia smiled at him - at Aslian's age, anything for _him_ was really for _her_ to admire. "Of course I don't mind. It was very thoughtful of you, Holder Alrog."
"Yeah, well, umh..." he run his fingers through his hair in nervous gesture. Then he opened the basket, showing wooden building blocks inside. "I know he's not old enough for these yet." "Oh! How sweet!" Thalia plucked one from the basket to admire. A letter of the alphabet was carved on three of the faces, numbers on two, and a picture of a lamb on the remaining side. They were painted brightly and the edges were sanded to be gentle. "You really did these yourself?"
"No, not actually. They are my old ones. I hope you don't mind," the young man looked embarrassed. "I used to love them." "These were yours!?" Thalia looked down at the block in her hand. Now that she was looking for it, it _was_ a little battered around the edges. But someone had applied new paint. "It's very kind of you, but I couldn't _possibly_ take these." She held the block out to him.
"You'll have children of your own one day, and will want to give these to them."
"But I want Aslian have them. It's pretty hard to explain," Alrog run finger's through his hair again, making it stick out in spikes. "Aswic was always like uncle to me. I don't know if you knew that my father and he were fostered together. And I was fostered here for few turns. Well, mostly under Auren. I want to do something for Aslian."
**Great, now you're babbling nervously.** He gave Thalia a sheepish smile. That fact he had developed a crush on her since her wedding to Aswic just made him more nervous. He would had liked to give something to Thalia too, but his mother had advised against it. It was still too soon and it would be little too obvious, too forward. "I didn't know that. If it's what you wish, then I'll accept them - and gratefully so - on Aslian's behalf. But when he has outgrown them, I will send them back to you." She smiled. "They have too much history for you to languish unused here."
"By that time I hopefully have own children who can play with them," Alrog said shyly. Thalia smiled. "I have no doubt that you will."
Alrog didn't really know what to say to that and smiled shyly instead. His secret dream was that those children would be with Thalia. The Holder's silence unnerved her a little, and Thalia glanced around for inspiration to keep the conversation from faltering. "I... will see that these are kept aside for Aslian, then. Thank you."
Alrog took that as a sign that the meeting was over. He got up and bowed. "It was pleasure to meet you, Lady Thalia." "And always a pleasure to speak with you," Thalia replied automatically. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Goodbye," Alrog nodded his head to her and left rather abruptly. Outside he stopped and leaned against the wall. "Shardit, shardit, shardit..." he muttered. He rather doubted he had made an impression on her. Which had been his intention. Instead he felt he had made himself look like a tongue tied, bumbling idiot. He wished he had his brother's smooth tongue with women.
Last updated on the February 6th 2006