Getting to Know Each Other

Writers: AL, Vix
Date Posted: 13th April 2008

Characters: Tanas, Marida
Description: Marida and Tanas spend a brief time alone.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 9, day 5 of Turn 4

Marida stopped just outside the door and took in a deep breath. Her chest felt tight and the breath helped. She let it out, then stepped a little further away from the door. They were to walk, alone, together. What would they say to one another? What did they have to talk about? This was her parents' and his parents' doing, not hers, and most likely not his. She felt like running. She felt like fleeing, somehow getting as far away as possible and hiding until they stopped looking for her.

And then what? What could she do? She was not a crafter. She knew how to cook and keep a home, that was it. As likely as not she would wind up a drudge somewhere, or perhaps the wife of a stranger who needed children. So what difference would it be? Probably none. Marida sighed. She felt as if she were in a cage and there was no escape.

He walked past her and a short distance away from the cot before turning to look at her. "Well? Are you coming?" So it was not just her appearance that was deficient – she was slow as well. He sighed, hoping that she would have some sort of home-making skills. After all, he was far too busy with his craft to have time to teach her.

Marida flushed and nodded before she began to follow him. where would they go? She supposed they should find some place inside. It was rather chilly outside. Marida pulled her cloak around her more tightly and tried to keep abreast of her groom, though she kept a good couple of feet between them. She wondered if she should say something. But what? "So..." There was a long pause before she managed to get out another word. "You're a...weaver?"

"Yes." He drew himself up in pride, the better to display his shoulder knots. "I've just been named journeyman and am specializing in dyes. Though of course, I can do quite well in other areas of the craft as well." "That sounds interesting." Marida made the comment with no lack of sincerity. She found something interesting in all the crafts. Certainly specialising in the art of creating colours seemed interesting to her. "You enjoy it?"

"Of course I do," he told her. "Why would I choose to do something that I did not like?" Marida opened her mouth and closed it again. In retrospect, it was a silly question, but she had merely been trying to make conversation and it was the first thing that had popped into her head. "I'm sorry...I..." She stumbled over several syllables before lapsing into silence. This wasn't going well at all. He probably thought she was an idiot.

Tanas was oblivious to her discomfort, thinking instead of what he should be finding out about this young woman. He knew that his parents would make the final determination about his marriage, and that it was pretty much assured if it had come to the point of meeting face-to-face. Still, he needed to let her know her role and to set the tone for their homelife. "I assume that you know how to cook?" "Oh yes." It was, in fact, one of Marida's talents. She enjoyed cooking immensely and found it an outlet of sorts. "I can cook pretty well. I can sew a little too." Marida glanced at Tanas out of the corner of her eye. He didn't seemed too pleased with her and she wasn't quite sure what to do about it.

He eyed her suspiciously. He knew that some women did their own sewing and a few even fancied themselves to be as good as men, but he held little respect for their work. "Simple mending, I assume?" "Yes, and...and I can make clothes if need be." They weren't necessarily ornate, but they were functional at the very least. Marida's hands played at one another as she wondered what life would be like with this man. Could she please him? She hoped she could.

"Only to wear indoors, I hope." He said this with nose wrinkled in distaste. "It would not be proper for the wife of a weaver to wear anything other than craft-made clothing in public." "Oh." Red crept over Marida's cheeks and down her neck. She had never thought that any dresses she made were things of beauty, but she had never thought they were embarrassing to wear, either. "I..I've mainly used them...to work in."

"That's as it should be," Tanas told her. "You can sew for pleasure, but you'll have other tasks to do." "Of course." She knew her duties. Marida had been taught how to keep a home and she would do so, hopefully to her new husband's satisfaction. "I will do my best."

He had ignored her reply, brushing a speck from his tunic. "Laundry, cleaning, cooking. And of course, children." He turned to glance at her. "You've kept yourself from other men, I assume?" If Marida's face hadn't turned red before, it surely turned red then. Unconsciously, she brought her hands to her cheeks, as if trying to hide her embarrassment. "Of...of...of course!"

He nodded, again looking away from her. This marriage would probably work out, since the girl seemed to know her place, the most important consideration in his mind. He glanced back toward Marida's parents' home. "How long do you think they need to complete those arrangements?" "I don't know." Marida followed Tanas' gaze, sighing inwardly. On one hand, she wanted them to hurry because she was quite uncomfortable. On the other, she wished they would take a long time because she was so nervous about becoming this strange and caustic man's wife.

"I think we should go back and hurry them along." He glanced at her once more and then away. "After all, what's to discuss?" As far as he was concerned, both of them were at a disadvantage, bringing little that could be used to marry to higher advantage.

"Al...all right." Marida wasn't quite so eager to let things get settled so quickly, but she supposed there was no point in postponing the inevitable. She waited until he turned and then began to walk with him. She thought for a moment, then said softly, "Thank you for the walk." She could, at least, be polite even if he didn't care for her.

He paused at that, surprised. He had only walked with her because he was told to do so, expected to do so, and had no idea what to reply. Instead, he simply resumed his walk toward the door and those who were arranging their lives.

Last updated on the April 17th 2008

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Getting to Know Each Other