Grand Romantic Gestures

Writers: Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 6th February 2007

Characters: Thalia, Penryn
Description: Thalia steels her resolve and visits Penryn the night before his wedding to Ryalane
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 1, day 5 of Turn 4

Late in the afternoon, Thalia stopped by Penryn's office door. She couldn't help herself - for all that she'd avoided the man for the past month, ever since she'd heard about his upcoming wedding, she also couldn't stay away... or stop thinking about him. She bit her lip nervously for a moment, then knocked anyway.

There was so much he had to get done before he could leave for a sevenday. It was only proper that Penryn take time off after his wedding, though in truth the thought only made him more nervous. He had always hid behind his work. There would be no hiding for a whole sevenday, unless some unforeseeable emergency occurred. The steward almost wished there would be something. Penryn genuinely liked Ryalane, and was looking forward to some aspects of their marriage, but in truth they were just barely more than aquaintences. Theirs had always been a working relationship. He knew people married total strangers all the time and were happy in the end, but the adjustment period loomed ahead. It was just pre-wedding jitters, he knew, but part of him wondered just what he and Ryalane would have to talk about to fill a whole sevenday of time. Penryn almost welcomed the knock. Perhaps it would be that emergency he was hoping for. Or at the very least, a drudge with a pot of klah to see him through the start of a long night. Opening the door he was stunned to find it was neither. "Lady Thalia?" "Oh! I hope I'm not interrupting you..." Thalia asked. She glanced briefly at him, then away, then back again. "I just hoped... I wanted to stop by to say good luck. Since tomorrow you're getting married."

"Well, Lady Thalia, that's... that's very kind of you." He took a step back into his office to make way. "Won't you come in?"

"Thank you. But only for a moment..." She brushed past him into his office and took her usual seat. "I shant keep you. I'm sure that you've got enough to do to prepare for tomorrow without my taking up your time. Truthfully, I'm surprised to see you here at all!"

"Well, there really isn't a lot for me to prepare." He sat down in his customary spot where he always sat when she visited. It was so strange sitting there with her now. She hadn't visited for so long. Not since he told her he was getting married. "It's going to be a very simple affair. So I'm getting everything in order since I'll be...
well, I have the sevenday off."

"Good! It's only right. I think it'll be good for the both of you,"
Thalia said.

"Yes," Penryn smiled, "but I truly don't know what I'm going to do with myself for a whole sevenday. I haven't taken more than a restday off in more than three turns." And even then he was itching to get back to work unless he could find some reason to occupy his time. "I might have to sneak a hide or two home just in case."

"Don't you dare!" Thalia shook her finger at him. "You're to be married to a woman, not your work. And I doubt that Ryalane will be happy if she needs to compete with a bunch of moldy old hides."

"I know," he sighed. "I'm just... not used to the idea of having so much time on my hands I suppose. But I'm sure we'll find plenty to busy ourselves with. After all, there is a baby on the way."

"Of course." The thought made Thalia sad, although whether it was for herself, Ryalane, or Ryalane's unborn baby was uncertain. Penryn, at least, had made his choice. **And we must all abide by it,** she told herself.

"Lady Thalia, forgive me for asking, but, is there something wrong?" He had noticed the slight change in her demeanor, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Perhaps it was the strained formality that seemed to separate them where before it had been lax.

"Of course not! Why on earth would you think that?" Thalia said, a tad defensively. "Nothing has to be _wrong_ for me to come and wish you well the day before your wedding." **Does it?**

"No, of course not. Forgive me for prying." Though he was certain now that there was something bothering her. Still, it was none of his business. "It was very thoughtful of you to come."

The Lady smiled slightly and soldiered on. "What did you get Ryalane as a bride-gift?"

"I thought in this case I should think of the practical. I commissioned a rocking chair with a beautiful padded seat and back with a matching rocking foot rest. It's not romantic, I know, but I think she will get good use out of it." He had the feeling a grand romantic gesture would be hollow and unwelcome. This was not a marriage based on love, but on loss, after all.

She nodded, thinking of the one that both she and her wet nurse continued to make such good use of. "I'm sure that she will appreciate it once the baby is born."

"I must say, I really know nothing about being a father," Penryn admitted softly. "Not that really _anyone_ knows how to be a father their first time, but I had always thought I would have months to prepare myself."

Thalia smiled and lay a hand on his arm. "You'll do fine, Penryn.
You're a kind man, and that'll carry you through."

He had expected the typical platitude. Somehow, the words she chose sounded much more sincere and meaningful. But then again, she had always been good at saying exactly the right thing. Penryn covered her hand with his, returning her smile with a bit more confidence. "Thank you. I'm honored to hear you say so."

"You'll do fine. Much better than I would, I suppose. I don't know what I'd do without my wet nurse." Thalia suppressed a small, sad sigh and withdrew her hand. "Honestly, Aslian prefers her company to mine, even though I am his mother!"

Penryn felt a pang of disappointment that she pulled her hand away so quickly. Of course, it was not proper for it to linger. "I'm sure that's not true, Lady."

"Mmm." It wasn't worth arguing over. "Are you both moving into your rooms, or elsewhere?"

"My rooms are a bit small for a family with children. I decided we should move into the Steward's Suite." Not only was it much larger, but there were no shadows of his wife at every turn.

"Good," Thalia said approvingly. "It's not healthy for the Hold for them to remain empty for this long after.. well. It's just not good for them to remain empty. It makes you seem more permanent, somehow."

"Don't worry, Lady Thalia. I'm not going anywhere." He knew no where but Garnet Valley, and he never wanted to leave it. Everything he cared about was right there. For now.

"Well, you _are_ going to see the Harper tomorrow. And I ought to let you be so that you can get some rest." Thalia rose to her feet, then scowled at Penryn. "And you _will_ leave this room at a reasonable candlemark tonight... won't you?"

"I suppose I do have to get into that habit now," Penryn said with a wry smile. "Thank you for worrying about me, Lady Thalia."

"I'll see you tomorrow," she said - instead of what she really wanted to say. She thought it anyway. **Someone needs to... Ryalane ought to. But I'm not sure that she's up to the task. She seems less enthusiastic about this marriage than you do.** But she smiled as she left the Steward alone in his office anyway. Penryn and Ryalane's happiness in marriage was none of her business, no matter how much she wished that it was.

Last updated on the February 9th 2007

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Grand Romantic Gestures