To Help Or Not To Help?

Writers: Avery, Eimi
Date Posted: 16th October 2007

Characters: Ishek, Penryn
Description: Ishek asks Penryn's advice on how best to approach Thalia about Kiomo...
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 6, day 15 of Turn 4

Ishek had left a note on Penryn's desk earlier, before he retired to his rooms. 'Can we talk later about personal matters?' it had said. ishek hoped Penryn wouldn't feel obligated. He really did want advice only.

Penryn was intrigued by the note. Perhaps Ishek had wanted to continue their discussion from before. If it kept him from reaching for a bottle, the Steward was more than happy to be there for him. And also, he considered Ishek a friend. His Lord first of course, but also a friend. "You asked to see me, sir?"

"No sir, not tonight. I want your advice as a friend. Please, sit. Some juice?" Ishek asked. True to his word- at least tonight- the Lord had a pitcher of juice by his side instead of drink.

"Thank you." Penryn took a seat, curious as to what advice he might need.

"Have you spoken with the Lady Thalia often lately?"

The steward squirmed in his seat slightly. Shards, what had he heard?
"A bit, though not as much as we once did. Not since I was married."

Ah. But he still knew her far better than Ishek did. "Do you know if she's happy now?"

The question caught him off guard. "She does seem happy. She seems to have a curious smile sometimes when I look at her, almost secretive in a way." Perhaps he had said too much. It wasn't appropriet for a married man to be watching at a young, unmarried woman as much as he had found himself watching Thalia.
"I have not heard anything to lead me to believe she is unhappy."

Ishek nodded. That was good. As for the smile, well, that led into what he was thinking about. "I was wondering if she feels completely recovered from the events that led to my arrival here, and if she has any plans. I don't want her to leave- I think she's a wonderful woman, and Aslian is going to inherit the Hold some day."

"Yes, I would hate to see her go." This conversation was starting to make Penryn very uncomfortable. Could Ishek be thinking of... It would make sense, but...

"I don't want to marry her." Ishek said, unknowing of Penryn's line of thought. "Not that she's a terrible woman. It just...it would feel wrong to marry the former Lady, as if I'm trying to justify my position or something. Yet there is someone who expressed interest in her."

Penryn had been relieved to hear Ishek had no intentions of marrying her, but at the mention of someone else his heart froze. He already knew the answer. **Kiomo...** "Is it a serious interest?"

"He seemed very interested."

Shards. "How could you be certain?"

"He asked me for advice one night."

While they were drinking, no doubt. "May I ask what kind of advice?"

"How to approach her with his interest. He was wondering if it might be too soon."

"It might." The steward mentally kicked himself. He had no cause to dislike Kiomo. At least no cause he could put a finger on. But the thought of that man putting his hands on Thalia made his stomach knot up. But what right did he have to stop them? It was bound to happen someday, and no matter who they were Penryn knew he would probably dislike them all the same. "But Thalia knows she must marry again."

"I don't want her pressured into anything." Ishek said firmly. "Yet, Kiomo seemed very interested and sincere."

Penryn repressed a snort. **Sincere. Yes that man always seems so sincere. A little _too_ sincere. Too caring. Too perfect.** And a little bit dangerous in Penryn's mind. Though he had no proof of any wrong doing on the man's part. There was the incident with Holder Peringel's daughter, and yet Kiomo had managed to come out of that seemingly innocent. Of course, with Penryn's help tracking down a key witness... And yet now he couldn't help but wonder. "What do you think?"

"He said he's never felt that way about anyone else before. I don't think anyone would lie about that."

The steward stood and walked towards the window. **Oh yes, Ishek, you wouldn't think so. But its a classic line scoundrals use...** That would be the kind of line he could use on a poor, innocent hold girl like Perina to get her into his bed. And yet, it had seemed she was not nearly so innocent. Penryn had found out as much himself. "Do you mind if I open the window? I could use a bit of fresh air."

"No, go ahead."

Penryn opened the windown and breathed deeply of the fresh air. **Get ahold of yourself, Penryn. You knew this would come...** Why look for guilt that was unproven. If Ishek had not found it, it just was not there. "So he intends to make his move soon?"

"He asked me for advice on how to speak to her about it. I suppose he doesn't know how to bring it up to her."

Then it would be soon. "What advice did you need from me?"

"Kiomo thought that I would know some way to approach her to see if she'd welcome any interest, but I don't really know how to do that either."

"Sometimes its best to stay out of the situation. Let things unfold as they will." And Penryn certainly didn't want to see Ishek encouraging Thalia in any way. Not for Kiomo.

"He asked me to help him. Isn't that what friends do? But I don't know how."

"Yes, of course." **Your Thalia's friend too. And mine...** "I don't know what Kiomo expects of you, though. It's not as though you can ask her for him." Or was it? Thalia would certainly be more inclined to listen if the Lord Warder championed the match. He was of the Blood too, technically. Ishek was one of their own, and he outranked them both... Could that be why Kiomo had enlisted his help? For his leverage more than his friendship? Oh yes, that man could be cunning, Penryn had no doubt. **Stop it, Penryn. You can't hate a man for being born with everything you're not. He's perfect for her. You know it as much as she will know it...**

Ishek knew Penryn was right. He would never explicitly ask Thalia to marry Kiomo. He supposed he would just have to suggest it. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm just..." **Disappointed in myself...** Shards, he was a married man now, whether it was a happy union or not. Thalia was never in his reach before, she was an impossibility now. Penryn hated the fact that he still felt most himself when he was around her. He hated that her smile brightened his day, that her touch could comfort his worries, that he hoped each knock on his door would be followed by the sound of the swish of her skirts... It wasn't right. And it certainly wasn't fair to try to stand between her and her future happiness. But Kiomo... He shook his head, clearing it of those thoughts. No, it didn't matter. Kiomo or another man, he'd feel the same jealousy and resentment. He just had to let it go. He just had to... go back to work. "I'm just thinking about the winter stores. Tunnel snakes got into one of our cache's of dried veggitables. It shouldn't set us back too far, but we had better make sure there are no other caches which are vulnerable."

"I see." Quite a topic change. "Do you have any ideas for where we could find replacements?"

"The headwoman is on top of it. We just need to find out how the tunnel snakes are getting in and lay traps where needed." He gave the Lord Warder an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Ishek, I know I'm not being much help to you. But Kiomo didn't come to me. You just have to do what you think is right."

Interfere in what was not his business, or let a friend go in need?
Ishek wasn't sure what was right. "I will try." he said.

Last updated on the October 21st 2007

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To Help Or Not To Help?