A Little Conversation

Writers: Avery, Chelle
Date Posted: 12th May 2015

Characters: Parale, Zelah
Description: Xeladrie seeks out Parale to have a chat with.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 12, day 9 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Parme, Telemon, Ioven, Briata

Zelah

She continued to cut up the fingerroots while her daughter slept. The
room was blessedly silent since the older girls were at harper
lessons. Her husband was asleep in the other room. He'd pulled a late
night and she knew it was wise to let him rest. When he woke, though,
he was going to be hungry.

Xeladrie tapped on Parale's door, hoping the other woman was in. She'd
slipped away from the group of ladies doing womanly work by pretending
she was going to lie down. In truth, she just wanted some company that
wasn't gossiping nauseatingly.

Looking up at the noise, she remembered it wasn't locked since the children
were usually in and out anyway and figured it was Parme or someone. "Come
in!" she said loud enough for them to hear but not loud enough to wake the
sleeping figures in the other rooms.

Xeladrie poked her head in. "How's your morning going, Parale? Am I
stopping in at a bad time?"

"Oh...oh no. Just....Ioven and the baby are both asleep." She put her finger
up in front of her mouth and gestured for Xeladrie to come inside. It was a
welcome surprise to receive a visit from the Lady Holder indeed.

Xeladrie slipped in and closed the door quietly. "How have you been?" she
asked, keeping her voice down.

Continuing her work, though more slowly now, Parale considered her visitor
and checked for slight changes in her bearing and attitude since they had
last spoken. "The same as usual. Raising girls and making sure my husband is fed
and clothed. I'm sure you've had much more important things to do and worry
about than me." That was an invitation to share news if she wished it or
even just to share her worries. Parale would listen.

"The hurricane caused some worries," Xeladrie admitted. "Have you been
through many?"

"Quite a few since I moved here. Before that, never. The Hold's still
standing, though, so there's a lot to say for good stone." Parale still didn't
like it though. The howling wind..

"I wasn't sure about Sunstone's ability to withstand them, being so
much newer," the Lady confessed. Especially when it felt half-done,
which as a growing new major Hold, it was. "But I was impressed we
were fine. Did you hear about the poor woman who gave birth in the
middle of it? Couldn't imagine how that felt."

"Oh no....That does sound harrowing." Parale remembered her own birthing and
was glad that there were no serious problems with Parys. "Was she all
right?"

"I didn't hear anything bad that happened afterwards. Though I wouldn't
want my own to be born that way."

"I suppose there are worse things." She frowned before throwing the
vegetables into the stew. "And how have _you_ been milady?" Through her relationship
with Briata, Parale had gained insight into how it could be for a Lady
Holder sometimes and she commiserated. It wasn't an easy life always as some thought it
to be. There were obligations and expectations and husbands who weren't very nice.

"I think I'm pregnant," Xeladrie said with a smile.

Her eyes got big and round and then she smiled, genuinely happy. "That's
grand. When will you know for sure?" There were dolphins at Sunstone so
Parale wondered. Then again, it would be good for Xeladrie for quite a few reasons if
she were especially if it was a boy.

"How well do you know the Hold Healer?" she asked. "I need to go see him."

"He's allright. I deal with Parme more to be honest. I don't have serious
problems and she's readily available. Telemon is a Master though and has skill. I
think he mostly works on the people who are very injured or have serious problems." Parale
didn't have much interaction with him. Thankfully her girls were a healthy lot.

"I'm a little worried about the exam," she admitted. "But they need to
make sure..."

"I think every woman is uncomfortable. It's a natural thing. Just look up at
the ceiling and try not to think about it. It'll be over before you
know it." Parale didn't like it much herself.

She nodded along. "I can do that." It was her motto for a lot of things.

"And think about it this way...the Master Healer has seen so many women's
underparts that he probably sees them the same way we see arms." Parale
tried to keep it serious but she couldn't help it. She giggled.

The image was enough to make Xeladrie giggle too. "And he's probably
seen a lot of men's parts too and that has to be just as bad. Probably
boring compared to some of the gross cases though."

"Boring most likely especially since he sees the same thing everyday in the
looking glass." Parale had been quite curious about them herself until she'd
gotten married. Of course Xeladrie was married as well now so she knew
enough. "You're going to feeling unwell for a bit most likely. I had
to put up with it for a few months. Some women get over it quicker than others."

"A few months?" Her eyes got big at the thought. "What did you do to make
it better? I've been going with crackers and juice mostly."

"Aye watch your food and drink most certain. Also smells. They can set it off.
Ginger root seems to help. Parme gave me something-ask her whatever it was."
Most of the time she had just waited for it to pass.

"I'll have to ask. Thanks for the tips," Xeladrie said gratefully.

Last updated on the May 14th 2015

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A Little Conversation