Market Day

Writers: Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 25th January 2008

Characters: Thalia, Penryn
Description: Thalia meets Penryn wandering the stalls on Market Day
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 7, day 7 of Turn 4

The late afternoon sun was warm, though it had enough of a chill on the breeze to remind him that autumn was coming, and along with it the harvest and the changing of the leaves. It was so good to be out of doors on a day like this - a day which could make him forget his troubles, forget his worries, forget even his work and just... be.
Penryn strolled lazily between the stalls, breathing in the air so full of delicious smells. Everywhere there were smiles and the sound of music and laughter. He found himself smiling along with them, though for what reason he had no idea. It was just infectious. Market Days were like that sometimes.

"Penryn! Look Aslian, it's Penryn!" Thalia's voice carried through the crowd and when he turned, she was weaving her way through the crowd toward him with her son in her arms and Aslian's wet-nurse trailing behind. "Can you wave, Aslian? Can you wave to Penryn?" The young boy merely stared at Penryn blankly, then stuck his fist in his mouth. Thalia sighed. "I'm afraid he's not overly chatty yet."

"Hello, Aslian," the Steward grinned, reaching out to tickle the little boy's stomach softly. "Do you remember me?" Aslian smiled around his fist but stayed silent.

"He's only got a few words to say, and 'yes' isn't yet one of them.
Alas." Thalia sighed, then smiled. "You do know Liddy, right?"

"Yes, we've met. Good afternoon, Liddy. How are you today?" he asked, turning his attention on the nursemaid who seemed as though she would rather be out enjoying the stalls than following the former Lady Holder through them.

"Well enough, thank you, Steward," Liddy said quietly. "And you?"

He smiled, feeling relaxed and talkative. "Very well. It's a beautiful day, wouldn't you say?"

"Indeed," Thalia said. "I was so hoping that the weather would be fine. Winter is approaching so quickly, and we get so much snow...
the last few days of sun are to be savoured. And what better way to do so than a market!"

"Indeed," Penryn smiled, turning back to the Lady Holder. "Even I couldn't stay away!" And they both knew his tendency to work himself to exhaustion.

"Was there anything in particular that drew you out of your office?"
Thalia asked.

Penryn shrugged and spread his hands out wide. "All this. Fresh air, good food, nice weather... I thought you would approve."

"And I do! But Market days mean that you have to buy _something_. I've got a new clip for my hair and I bought Liddy some ribbons..."

He supposed that was true. The whole point of a market day was that all the crafters and farmers brought out their best to sell... But what was there _he_ needed to buy? The Hold took care of his basic needs. "I was thinking of buying a bubbly or two..."

Thalia made a face and shifted Aslian to her other hip. "Really, a bubbly? You could have a bubbly any time you wanted. Isn't there _anything_ you want? Something to make you smile? Or for Ryalane?"

"I wouldn't know what she would want." Though he supposed he probably should try to find her something. Something that would make her smile. Anything that would stop her from crying, if only for a little while.

"I'd imagine anything; candy, a ribbon, something for the baby... it means more because it's a gift, not because of what it actually is,"
Liddy said quietly, and Thalia nodded. "I suppose that's true." But even just thinking of Ryalane was already starting to put a damper on his mood. He was walking on eggs shells whenever he was around her, not sure just what would set her off. Maybe she would appreciate a gift. Then again maybe not... He just didn't know. "A hat," he finally said, forcing a smile. "I need a new hat for winter." Penryn could think about Ryalane later.

Thalia's smile was mischievous. "I think you should get one with a bobble on top. It would suit your station."

"A bobble?" Penryn asked, eyebrow raised dubiously. "Is that sound fashion advice, lady?"

"Oh, everyone loves a bobble. Don't you agree, Liddy?" The wet-nurse nodded, her eyes wide and innocent, and Thalia turned back to Penryn triumphantly. "See? Would I lead you astray?"

The Steward still wasn't completely convinced, but he was willing to play along. "All right, Lady. Show me to your lovely bobble."

"Shall we go get Penryn a nice hat, Aslian?" Thalia asked the child.
Aslian was silent and continued to gnaw on his fist, and his mother whirled off into the crowd with Liddy and Penryn trailing behind. A few stalls down there was a plump looking woman with rosy cheeks displaying a variety of knitwear on a rough plank table she probably walked in on the back of one of the bored looking mules tethered nearby. A variety of woolly hats were held up on long branches; Thalia plucked one of them from its mates and handed it to Penryn. "It's lovely, don't you think?"

"This hat?" She had to be kidding. "Do you really think it suits me?"

Thalia grinned. "What else conveys dignity, self-assurance, and confidence like a bobble hat?"

"Oh, I don't know, a pretty bow in my hair?" he chuckled as he looked at the lady suspiciously. "I'm not entirely sure you are giving me sound fashion advice, Lady..."

"Really?" She arched her eyebrows and gave him a _look_. "And where ever did you get an idea like that?"

He leaned in slightly and murmured, "You have a slightly wicked gleam in your eye, Thalia. I am not too sure you are not playing on my ignorance for your own amusement. Might you be thinking of taking advantage of a poor, trusting fool such as myself?"

Thalia smiled. "You're hardly a fool."

"Wicked, I say, lady. Wicked." With a yank he pulled the bobbled hat over his head. "There. Am I a picture of dignity now?" Penryn fought the silly, amused smile that threatened to ruin his attempt at looking stern.

The Lady laughed, Aslian cracked a babyish smile, and Liddy hid a smile behind her hand. "Oh dear - Penryn, your hair's sticking straight up!
Here, Liddy--" she handed the wet-nurse her baby, and then did her best to smooth Penryn's hair down, but the static made it cling to her fingers. "You're a mess!"

"Not the day to leave my hair down, apparently." He leaned down a bit to give her an easier reach. It was worth playing the fool to see her smile so easily.

"All right, so perhaps a hat with a bobble will not convey the image you want.." Thalia finished smoothing down his hair, then tweaked a few strands into place. He had such pretty dark blue eyes... and he was married. "There. Much better."

The Steward found himself looking into her eyes a bit longer than was proper. Shards, sometimes it was too hard not to think of what could never have been. Pulling off the hat, he turned around to hand it back to the crafter and regain his composure. "Perhaps we should forget the hat for the time being an perhaps all wander over to the bubbly stand. My treat, for all your heartfelt assistance."

"Well..." Thalia could sense that she'd lost the battle for the hat -
and Penryn's dignity - so she caved in. "If you insist. I'm sure Aslian would love a bubbly. Liddy?"

"Oh, I suppose I could be persuaded..." the wet-nurse said.

"Shall we?" he asked and offering the Lady his arm.

Last updated on the January 27th 2008

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