Something To Do Together

Writers: AL, Eimi
Date Posted: 25th June 2008

Characters: Penryn, Marida
Description: Penryn helps Marida carry a chair back to her cot and Marida makes a request.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 10, day 2 of Turn 4

The chair hadn't been the best when they moved into the cot. After only a couple of sevendays, it had just gotten worse and Marida was afraid that either she or Tanas was going to sit in it and have it simply collapse underneath them. So, she had gone in search of one.
With the help of the headwoman, she had found one. Then the headwoman had been called away and Marida was left on her own, carrying the rather bulky item a little ways, then stopping to rest before starting again.

Penryn had seen the young woman struggling once more to pick up the awkward weight and had hurried up to help. "Are you trying to move this all on your own, Marida?"

"Oh, Steward." Marida's gaze darted up to Penryn, but it didn't linger. "I just had to replace a chair. One of ours is about to fall apart."

"May I carry that for you?" Luckily there was nothing pressing that needed his attention right away.

"I wouldn't want to trouble you." Marida sputtered as she started to lift the chair again. "I'll be fine." She added softly.

He quickly grabbed the other side and helped steady it, noticing she was bearing the weight in a very awkward place and was likely to throw out her back if she wasn't careful. "Please, allow me. Lady Thalia is always encouraging me to get more exercise. It would give me an excuse to take a little break from my hidework."

Marida hesitated, but finally let go of the chair and nodded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he said, carefully lifting with his legs and only wincing slightly at the twinge of protest from his knee. "So how is your father?"

"Oh, he's fine. Fine." Marida nodded, her hands coming together to twist at one another, a nervous but familiar gesture for her. "Doing well, though I've not spoken to him in a couple of sevendays."

That was rather surprising considering how close her family lived.
Well, perhaps not too surprising. He had heard she was recently married and remembered what it was like to be a newly wed. "By the way, I haven't had the chance yet to extend my congratuations to you and your new husband."

"Ah, um, thank you." Congratulations...yes, she had received those.
Strange considering how awkward things were at the moment. I uh...appreciate it."

"You married Journeyman Tamas, is that right?" The Steward had only dealt with the weaver on a professional level, but he had seemed a nice enough fellow.

"Yes, that's right." Marida nodded slowly. "My husband." The title still seemed strange to her. "You know him?"

"Only passingly," he admitted. "I believe I met him when he reported for his new posting, but I haven't had much chance since. He seems pleasant, though. Your father must be proud. He's a good match."

"Yes." Marida nodded, though inwardly she knew that the match wasn't necessarily made because he was a good one. It was made because his parents didn't seem to mind her plainness. "He's...nice."

Penryn knew that note of forced optimism all too well. "Did you know him long before the wedding?"

"N...no." Marida stated hesitantly. "We met just once before." And when they had met, they hadn't spent that much time together. Their walk had been short, and it seemed Tanas had just wanted to get the entire ordeal over with. She supposed she had as well, since they both knew it was inevitable.

"Well, he must be a good man or your father would never have chosen him for you. I'm sure you'll be very happy together." The Steward had known many happy couples who had married as strangers, after all.

"It's just..." Marida paused, then shook her head. "Never mind."

"Go ahead," Penryn gently prodded.

"It's just...awkward." Marida confessed, the flushed a bit.

Penryn could understand that all too well. "I imagine it would be. I think everyone needs time to adjust to married life. I would think it strange if it wasn't at least a little uncomfortable to start with."

Well, it would have been better if they had known one another for a bit longer, but such was life, she supposed. "It's hardest in the evenings," Came out the next confession, "Especially as we try to figure out how to spend our time together."

"Have you much in common?"

"Well, no, not really." Marida had to admit they had one thing in common - in a sense, they were both artists. That was not something she was about to reveal.

"That will get easier over time. Especially when you have children together." They would at least be guaranteed to have that in common.

"Yes, children." Marida couldn't stop the colour coming to her cheeks.
Her thoughts did not match Penryn's and she only felt that having children might make things even more awkward - at least, if they didn't change.
Of course, they would change...wouldn't they? "I suppose."

"Don't worry, Marida. Many a happy couple started in just such a way."
And many an unhappy couple, but he would hope for the best for her.

"Yes sir." She hoped he was right. It was just so strange at the moment and Marida just couldn't see thngs changing. Still, she was grateful that Tanas, while not a romantic or particularly enthusiastic husband, was, at the very least, gentle and, she thought, kind in his own gruff way.
"Our cot isn't much further."

"Oh that's all right. The fresh air is nice," he assured her. "Do you like living outside the main Hold?"

"It's...interesting." Marida conceeded. It was more interesting because of her husband and the strangeness of being married to a stranger. "I'm sure I'll get used to it." Eventually.

"Well, you know if there is ever anything I can do to help you, you know you can always ask me." Not just because he was a steward, but because he had known her father for turns.

"I...I appreciate that, sir." Marida didn't really know what the steward could do for her, until a thought came when she remembered the conversation with her husband the night before. "Actually sir...if it's not too much trouble. I...do you know where I could get a chess set and a set of cards?"

"A woodcrafter might have either one. A stone mason might also carve a chess set now and then so you can try there but it would be heavy and expensive. When the traders come through in the Spring they would be rather easy to find I should think. Until then I can lend you either if you like." The previous Steward had left both in his office, though Penryn already had sets of his own.

"Would you?" Marida perked up at the offer and a small smile flitted across her lips. "It would give Tanas and I something to do in the evenings after he comes home."

"Certainly. I will drop them by later this evening. Is this it?" he asked, looking up at the face of a cot carved into the rockface.

"Yes." Marida nodded, then hurried to open the door. "I do appreciate your assistance, Steward."

"It really was no trouble," he smiled, though truth be told he would be happy to finally put that chair down. It was starting to get rather heavy. "Just tell me where you want it."

"Just at the table." Marida moved aside, motioning to the small table that graced their home. "I'll feel better not worrying about a chair collapsing."

"I can imagine." Penryn carefully set it down where she indicated and staightened up to his natural posture once more. "Well, then, I shall drop those games by later this evening. Is before the evening meal all right?"

"That would be wonderful." Marida smiled, gratefulness evident in her expression. Maybe the evening wouldn't be so awkward with the availability of something to do together. "Thank you."

Last updated on the June 28th 2008

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Something To Do Together