Uncomfortable Silence
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: Dana, Bree
Date Posted: 2nd November 2006
Characters: Ailyn, Fielton
Description: Fielton shares dinner with his children and Ailyn, and gets a little more advice than is comfortable for him.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 13, day 8 of Turn 3
Fielton sat back, feeling better than he wanted to admit now that he'd had his first peaceful, leisurely meal in longer than he cared to remember.
Jielta had been suitably thrilled by her father's attention, causing a stab of guilt when he realized how badly he must have neglected her for so little attention to please her.
Jielta smiled shyly at her father as she gathered up her little brother, propping him up on one hip. "I'm going to take Miyon to bed, papa. Would you like me to fetch anything for you?"
All too aware of Ailyn's sharp eyes on him, Fielton shook his head and gave his daughter his best attempt at a smile. "I'm fine, Jielta. Thank you for taking such good care of your brother."
Glowing from the praise, Jielta beamed at Ailyn for a moment before all but skipping from the room, her lightened spirits obvious to even someone as unobservant as Fielton.
The room went still and the silence was quite loud indeed, only broken when Jielta's crooning and Miyon's fussy gurgles could be heard drifting in from the other room. Ailyn leaned back in her chair with her drink, the ice clinking against the side of the glass as she took a sip. She couldn't help but test Fielton, for _she_ certainly wasn't going to search frantically for something to shatter the silence. Let him think about things for a while.
He certainly needed to--and should!--considering everything...
"She looks so much like her mother," Fielton said after an uncomfortable silence. "She has my coloring, but her face... it could be Jayzine's. I think I forgot for a time that she's not like her mother. Not in the important ways."
"The important ways?"
Fielton cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably. "She's a good girl.
I don't much appreciate the way you brought it to my attention, but you were right to scold me. I had neglected her."
"Yes." She took another sip before meeting his eyes. "I hope you'll be coming by to see her more? And Miyon?" She lowered her voice until it was a soft whisper. "You saw how much she'd missed you."
"Of course I will. Though the living quarters at the Vintner Hall are almost complete. Before long, we'll be ready for everyone to move in." Not for the first time, Fielton wondered how likely it was that he'd be able to convince Ailyn to move into the Hall as well. Perhaps it was selfish, but he couldn't help but feel more comfortable spending time with his children when she was there to act as a buffer. Except for when she said uncomfortably true things...
Her slight smile was genuine. Jielta would be so happy to finally move back in and be with him... "I'm sure that takes a great weight off your shoulders."
"It should be," he agreed, swirling the wine in the glass and watching it.
The idea of having to supply Jielta with enough affection to keep her happy terrified him. Jayzine had always been the one who hugged the girls and listened to their worries. All he'd ever done was be strong and stern.
"Maybe it would be, if I thought I was any kind of father."
"It's not too late to be one."
"I don't have time to learn." Sighing, Fielton set the glass back down. It was a fine vintage he'd brought to share this evening, but he was so tired that he couldn't even enjoy it. "But that's not your problem, Ailyn. It's mine, and I'll deal with it as best I can. It would be--" He cleared his throat, suddenly. "I would appreciate it if maybe you could still free up some time to visit the children. They appear to have taken a liking to you." And then he wouldn't be _solely_ responsible for their happiness.
She studied him for a long moment, feeling absolutely no shame for looking at him so openly. If she had any suspicions about his real reasons, she didn't voice them, or show them. Finally, Ailyn inclined her head, that small genuine smile curving her lips a little again as she thought of the children. She really had grown fond of them over the past sevendays, and it felt so good not to be so empty inside... "I'll certainly make time for them." Her tone was softer than she'd meant it to be, and she hid her sudden emotion behind her drink. She just couldn't think of Firon right now.
Fielton cleared his throat, obviously uncomfortable with the topic of conversation. "Well, that is a weight off my mind. Now I just need to find someone who can take over the kitchens in the Vintner Hall for long enough to give my cook a decent break with her new husband."
A dark brow rose. "Is that your subtle way of asking me for my help?"
"It was my subtle way of changing the subject," he replied gruffly. Then he looked at her. "Why, _can_ you find me a cook?" It hadn't even occurred to him to ask.
A tiny smile flickered across her lips as she crossed one leg over the other. "I could possibly ask a few people I know." She glanced at him.
"That is, of course, if you needed me to." Ailyn wondered if he was humble enough to admit that he needed her help for _this_ too.
"Well, I don't _need_ you to," he said hastily, answering that question.
"And you certainly aren't obliged to do the work of the Vintner Hall. But, well... if you know anyone who could be... I mean--" Fielton cleared his throat. "I would be grateful," he finished lamely.
She tried not to laugh at his efforts. It wouldn't be very nice of her if she did. "I'll ask some of the women I've come to know these past few sevendays. And if they can't, I'm sure they'll know someone who can."
"Thank you." Much as he appreciated her help, there was something about Ailyn that rather unsettled Fielton. Maybe it was the way she kept looking at him as if he was somehow inherently amusing to her. He would be just as glad when Jielta was back in the Hall where she belonged, and no longer had this sharp-eyed guardian looking out for his slightest fault.
Last updated on the November 5th 2006