Good Friends

Writers: AL, Vix
Date Posted: 26th August 2008

Characters: Nikanna, Marida, Ryannae
Description: Nikanna comes to visit at Marida's invitation.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 11, day 20 of Turn 4

Nikanna was coming! She had accepted the invitation and Marida spent the
early morning getting ready for her arrival. Biscuits had been made along
with a few tarts and crackers. There was fresh citrus juice coupled with
several pieces of redfruit available for enjoyment. Everything was set and
all Marida had to do was to wait the other woman's arrival.

"Not yet," Nikanna told Ryannae, holding the struggling child against her
own body. "We'll be there soon but it's too far for you to walk on your
own." The young mother took a deep breath, and then continued on to the
small cot.

Marida fairly jumped at the sound of the knock upon the door. Even though
she was expecting company, she wasn't used to hearing that sound in the
middle of the day. She froze then remembered that Nikanna wasn't able to
just come inside unless she opened it. The young woman hurried to the door
and opened it, offering Nikanna a warm smile. "Hello!"

The other woman offered a friendly smile. "Hello. We're not too early, are we?"

"Of course not." Marida stepped to the side, urging the woman to come in.
"I'm glad to see you again. I could do with some company." It did get
rather lonely there by herself most of the day.

"I can understand that," Nikanna agreed. She held Ryannae close to her as
she entered, glancing around the room. "I hope that she doesn't get into
anything. She likes to explore."

"There's nothing harmful within reach." Marida assured her. She had been
certain to make sure the cot was as baby proof as possible. Neither she nor
Tanas really owned much that was breakable save for dishes, and those were
safely tucked away. "Would you like some refreshments?"

"Something to drink would go down well," was the other's reply. "I love warm
weather, but carrying a baby in this heat is miserable." She smiled toward
her daughter. "And of course, when I let her walk she wants to go every way
but where I want to go."

"Juice?" Marida offered, moving over to the jug she had prepared and
lifting it, as if saluting. "Citrus juice, and there's some redfruit slices
if you'd like some of that."

"Did you hear that, Ryannae?" Nikanna placed the child on the floor where
the child could hold on to a chair while looking around. "Redfruit slices.
That's your favorite." The young mother smiled up at Marida. "And citrus
juice sounds good to me."

Marida poured two cups of juice and passed one over to Nikanna. She scooped
a few pieces of redfruit and placed them upon the edge of the table in the
child's reach. "Please tell me about yourself, Nikanna." Marida's voice
was soft, almost hesitant, "I'd like to get to know you better."

Nikanna's cheeks reddened as she considered the question. She took a sip of
juice as she decided what to say. "My father. . . always wanted me to marry
and have children. But he didn't want me to marry Carlan."

"Oh." Marida hadn't realised that such a topic would surface, but she
supposed since Nikanna had brought it up..."Why not?"

"He's a crafter," the other woman said, absently feeding her daughter a
slice of redfruit. "I was expected to wed a holder, one of high rank."

"Oh, your father's a holder?" Marida hadn't realised that, but she supposed
that was why Nikanna held herself with such aplomb. Yes, that certainly
made sense.

"He was," Nikanna told her. "As to what he's doing now. . . since he has
nothing to do with me, I've no idea."

"I...I'm sorry, Nikanna. I didn't know." Marida struggled to find another
topic to switch to, something that would be more agreeable. "What...what do
you like to do when you have time to yourself?" Yes, that would hopefully
be a happier subject.

To this the other woman uttered a laugh. "Time to myself? That's so rare
that I don't remember it." She nodded toward the toddler, now trying to peer
over the edge of a table and not succeeding. "She takes up all of my time."
She smiled at Marida. "But I'm sure you'll find that out soon enough."

"Yes, I guess I will." Did that mean she wouldn't have time for her
drawing? The thought made a sense of almost despair descend upon her.
Drawing was an escape for her, a means of relaxation. She didn't look
forward to the idea of having to truly give that up. "You don't have time
for anything else at all?"

"Well, yes. . . cleaning and laundry and then caring for the baby again."
Nikanna smiled again. "It really isn't that bad. It's just that some days I
feel as if I'll never have my life back, never have time to do anything that
I want to do. Occasionally Carlan takes Ryannae and gives me time to my
self, but it's rare."

For a moment, Marida said nothing, her mind whirling. Was that what her
life was going to be like? Would it turn into nothing but running after a
gaggle of children with no time to do anything for herself? "I could help."
She blurted before she truly realised it.

The other woman frowned and started to shake her head, but paused, her
forehead wrinkling in thought. "That might work. . . You could help me and
then when you have your own, I could help you out sometimes so that we'd
each have time to ourselves."

"And when we both have children, maybe we could chat while they play." The
idea had merit, and Marida hoped that it would help ease up some time for
Nikanna and keep her from losing all of her own.

"I'd like that," Nikanna told her. "When I first came to this Hold, I was
only interested in Carlan. Then Ryannae came along. I really haven't made
friends here."

"I haven't either." Marida admitted, offering a sympathetic smile to the
mother. "Maybe we can be friends, then."

"I'd like that. I miss having friends."

"I do too." The girl offered a tentative smile. Friends. It could make
life so much fuller to have them. She hoped that, perhaps, the two of them
could become good friends indeed.

Last updated on the August 26th 2008

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