Every Stitch Creates a Pattern

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 27th June 2024

Characters: Elana, Panna
Description: Elana works on an embroidery sample to enter into the Turnover competitions and worries about current events
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 12, day 12 of Turn 11

The day was over but there was still sunlight, and Elana had nothing else pressing. Therefore she sat with her Great Aunt Panna in the garden, working on an embroidery sample for Turnover. A little hanging that could be framed, with the Hold's heraldry in the centre with a tangle of blossoming oranges and wildflowers around it. Elana found the design dull, but her Great Aunt assured her that this was the sort of work that won competitions.

Elana wanted to _win_ the Turnover embroidery competition. Winning meant marks, and the attention might help her attract a suitor's eye. She thought the sample looked fine until Panna would look over and comment on her stitchery. It was usually not favourable.

Finally Elana set her sample aside and rubbed her tired eyes. "I've had enough," she told her aunt. "Whatever I do from now on is going to be terrible."

Panna held out her hand. "Show me."

Reluctantly Elana handed over her work. Panna took it and scowled over the small hanging. After a moment she handed it back. "You may want to unpick this flower," she said, pointing at a twelve-petaled rose. "It's uneven."

"Are you sure you're not losing your sight?" Elana snatched her work back, stung that Panna was right. She'd been tired and the edges were sloppy but she didn't need to go _all_ the way back to undo it. Maybe just half. Three quarters. She sighed. "I don't know if I have time. The Turnover competition is coming up so soon."

"If you want to stand out, then redo the flower. That flower is barely Apprentice work and there _will_ be Weaver work at the Gather to compare your stitchery to. You have the talent to compete against the younger Journeymen at the very least and I won't see you disgrace yourself because you are lazy."

Elana sighed. "_Fine_. But not tonight."

"No, not tonight," Panna agreed. The elderly woman carefully stood and grasped her cane, sensing Elana's mood. "I am going to head back to our apartments. I expect you to follow shortly."

"Of course." As if she had anyone to dally with. Elana let herself flop back against the back of the bench and rubbed her tired eyes. These days it wasn't just virtue one had to worry about... there were murderers, bandits and Holdless too. The awful man who had killed the Watchdragon's rider had been caught, but there could be others.

Pern hadn't felt so scary when she was growing up. Elana shivered and began to pack away her sewing. Lord Corofel was doing his best to protect his holders-- even she could see that. The Hold was swarming with new guards from Amber Hills, and the young Lord was always meeting with someone or other to reassure them. Minor Lords, Harpers and Printers, nearby cotholders-- anyone and everyone it seemed.

**I hope Turnover will be safe,** Elana thought as she carefully folded up her work in progress and tucked it into her basket. The Hold would be full of strangers and dragonriders here to celebrate. It would be so easy for someone with bad intentions to spoil a joyful Gather with their vendettas and awful actions.

But she had no control over any of that. All she could do was hope that the acting Lord Holder could bar the Hold gates and keep the evil away, just for the nights. And that she'd win the embroidery competition. If she worried about that, she didn't have to worry about other things. Knives in the dark. Dead dragonriders. Thread above and anger below.

Elana tucked her basket under her arm and rose from the bench. The gardens were beautiful and she took solace in that. With any luck, the awful events that had plagued Emerald Falls Hold were over and done with. **That's what I want for Turnover,** she thought. **Just some peace.**

Last updated on the July 1st 2024

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Every Stitch Creates a Pattern