Have A Good Day

Writers: AL, Vix
Date Posted: 15th May 2008

Characters: Tanas, Marida
Description: Tanas and Marida breakfast together on their first morning as a wedded couple.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 9, day 22 of Turn 4

The smell of eggs and fried porcine seemed to permeate the very walls of the small cot. It was a welcome smell for the morning, the kind of smell that helped to open eyes and infuse energy for those loathe to leave their lazy dreams behind. Marida had gotten up before sunrise. The main room and kitchen of the cot gleamed as if they had never been used and the skillet that her mother had left was getting its first round of seasoning with breakfast.

Tanas frowned as he awoke, swallowing at the sour taste in his mouth.
**Probably the wine,** he told himself as he rose to a sitting position. The girl was gone but he could hear her in the other room, past the door that she had closed as she left. He rose from the bed and quickly rummaged in the trunk for his clothing – not the "good" clothing from the previous day but work clothes. After all, restday was over and he needed to get back to his workroom. Dressing quickly, he slipped into the other room, boots in hand. He gave one quick glance back toward the bed, wondering if he should smooth the covers, but reminding himself that the girl would need to do something with herself while he was gone.

Marida looked up briefly as Tanas entered, but she turned her attention back to the food, not letting her gaze linger. "Good morning." Her voice was soft, barely audible above the crackle of grease. She turned over the porcine and mixed the eggs once more before moving to the pantry to get two plates, then returned to hover over the skillet. A moment later, she scooped food on the two plates, then carried them over to the table and set them down between the knife and fork that she had placed earlier.

He made his way to the table and started putting on his boots, only looking up when she placed the plate next to him. "Oh. . . I usually take my meals over at the Hold dining hall."

"Oh." Marida hadn't known. She would have just made breakfast for her, but she had thought...She lowered her gaze and stared at her own plate. "Well...you don't have to eat it if you don't want to."

The food did smell rather good. "I suppose since it's here. . ." He picked up his fork and jabbed it into the eggs."

"I'll remember next time." Marida said softly before she picked up her own fork and began to eat. She couldn't help peering over at he husband as he ate, though, wondering if what she had made would please him. She had no idea what his tastes were, what things he liked and didn't like. She supposed she would find out eventually.

The man shoveled eggs into his mouth and bit into the freshly toasted bread and realized that the food was quite good. He chewed that bite quickly and then swallowed it. "I suppose it would make sense to eat my breakfast here instead of at the Hold." He punctuated his comment with a sip of klah.

"If you would like." Marida took another small bite of her eggs, eating quite a bit more slowly than her husband. "I don't mind cooking...for you." She added hesitantly, not looking up from her plate. He seemed to like what she had made for him, and the fact that he suggested he eat there instead of the hall filled her with some satisfaction that came from a job well done.

He nodded and set aside his cup. "Of course, I won't be here for the noon meal," he told her. "I'm far too busy for that."

"Of course." Marida took another bite of porcine and chewed it slowly before she spoke again. "If you like, once I get the pantry better stocked, I can make lunches for you to take."

Tanas thought that over as he continued to chew. Many times he had found himself unable to concentrate on his work during the afternoon, being reminded by his growling stomach that he had forgotten to eat, and then having to seek out food. If she were to prepare something for him. . . "I suppose so."

"If you'd rather eat at the dining hall, that's fine." Marida offered. She wasn't sure what to think. He didn't seem to want her to cook for him, but she enjoyed cooking - and wasn't that part of her duties as a wife? To cook for him and prepare his meals?

"No, no – you can prepare my lunches." He frowned slightly. "You said that you'd need supplies? I suppose I should give you some marks for that?" He had enough of them tucked away, his own needs simple until now, but hated to give them up for anything frivolous.

"Yes." Marida's glance flitted over to the pantry. "We have a few things but...not really enough beyond today." She shifted, uncomfortable. Her mother had always been the one who dealt with the finances as far as such things went. She supposed now it was her turn.

This left him at a loss, but he rose and reached into his belt pouch, removing a few of the coins from it and placing them on the table. He studied them thoughtfully, then added two more pieces. "Buy. . . I don't know how much this will buy but let me know and we'll figure out how much you'll need in the future." He resolved to ask one of the other journeymen how much they allotted their wives for expenditures, since he had no clue how much was reasonable.

Marida stared at the marks on the table and nodded slowly. She didn't reach out to touch them, however, electing to finish her breakfast at first. "Thank you. I'll...I'll try to be as frugal as possible."

He nodded, expecting her to do exactly that. He wondered if he should ask her if she was alright, though she seemed to be fine – he had heard that sometimes women experienced pain on their wedding night and hoped that she had not suffered too badly, but that did not seem to be suitable breakfast conversation.

Instead he glanced around, noticing the parcel with the fabric she had given him the night before. "I'll take that with me today and consider what color I should dye it."

That comment brought a smile, if small, to Marida's face. "I'm sure it will be lovely, whatever you choose." She wondered what he would do with it after he died it. Perhaps a couple of nice shirts? Or maybe another jacket? "Do you know what you want to do with it after it's dyed?" She ventured to ask.

He shook his head. "That depends on what color it ends up." He usually gave little thought to such things, more concerned with the dyes than with the garments made from the fabrics. He set aside his fork and sipped at his klah. "I should be getting to my workshop."

Marida nodded and stood, reaching for the plate. "All right. I...I guess I'll see you this evening." She took up the plate and turned, then paused to add. "Ha...Have a good day."

As he rose from his chair, he realized that it was earlier than he had thought, time saved through not having to make his way to the Hold's dining hall. Still, he had said that it was time to go and he would use the additional minutes in his crafting. He paused at the door, wondering if he should do or say something, but unable to think of anything. "Uh. . . yes. Thank you. And thank you for breakfast."

Marida had made it to the sink by that time, but she turned, both surprised by his gratitude, and pleased by it. After a moment, she managed a shy smile and nodded. "You're welcome."

Last updated on the May 18th 2008

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Have A Good Day