Marriage Plans

Writers: AL, Cali
Date Posted: 17th September 2008

Characters: Ri'len, Serend, Karai
Description: Railen's parents discuss marriage plans with him.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 11, day 11 of Turn 4

Karai sat in the rocking chair on the back veranda overlooking the stables. She was mending another pair of trousers Serend had managed to wear a hole in when she was joined by her husband and son. It was a routine they often shared at evening's end, and she had already made up two mugs of ale and a plate of leftovers from the evening meal. "How did the runners fair during our time away?"

"Fine, just fine." Serend cast off his boots and put them in the corner, his son doing the same before they made their way over to the table. "Gretta will probably foal sometime early next month, I'm thinking."

Railen turned to his plate and pushed at his food for a moment before taking a bite. He wasn't hungry enough to eat it all, but peckish enough to want a little something.

"And Tobi?" Did he miss you Railen?" Karai asked, knowing that her son had worried about his favorite colt while they were away.

The mention of his runner caused a grin to spread over Railen's features. "I think he missed his fingerroots more than anything."

"He's going to be a fine runner, a fine stud." Serend leaned back in his chair and took up a bit of bread, munching on it. "Did Sorsha get settled, Karai?"

Karai chuckled, "The girls took her over immediately. She looked a bit overwhelmed, but they'll calm down once her newness wears off."

"So they...they like her?" The boy queried shifting a bit in his seat, as if uncomfortable.

"It appears so," she replied still amused as the memory of Karai being pulled in the direction of the kennel. "She seems like a very sweet girl Railen, please put an effort into getting to know her."

"Yes...I will." Sorsha _did_ seem like a sweet girl, but the fact that his parents expected them to marry made things seem so strange. They didn't really know each other. What if they did get to know each other and didn't like one another? What then? Railen had the feeling his father wouldn't like him asking to back out. "Was...an agreement made with holder Balisor then?"

Karai looked at her husband expectantly, "You haven't told him yet? Leave it to you to be more focused on your runners than your son's future."

Serend chuckled softly. "Yes, we've come to an agreement." The big man took up his mug and chugged down a good deal of the ale before continuing. "Her father will be coming around Turn's end and we'll finalize everything then."

"Oh." That wasn't _that_ long off. Railen sincerely hoped they could at least learn to like each other, though he couldn't shake off the thoughts of 'what if'.

"We don't need to rush anything of course." Karai interjected when she noticed her son's expression. "There's plenty of time for you two to get comfortable with all this."

"Of course." Serend waved his hand in a dismissive gesture. "The more time you spend with her, the better though. Get an idea of what she's like and give her an idea of what you expect out of her, though she doesn't quite know about this yet."

"She doesn't?" Surprise registered across Railen's face and he cast a glance toward his mother.

Karai sighed, not agreeing with Balisor's thinking but not wanting to go against his wishes either. "Her father thought that she might be overwhelmed with the news. He wished for her to get settled in here first, to get comfortable with all of us, and then when he visits he's going to tell her."

"Oh." Railen looked to his father and knew that meant he should withhold the information as well. He just hoped they didn't wait too long.

"I'm tired." He said after a few moments and stood. "I'm going to bathe and head to bed. Is there anything else you wish of me?"

Serend shook his head and finished off his ale.

"Railen" Karai called, reaching out her hand to her firstborn, "Is everything alright?"

"I'm fine." The boy smiled and took his mother's hand to squeeze it gently. "It's just been a long day and I could do with a good night's sleep."

She nodded as she watched him walk into the hold and then turned to her husband with a worried look on her face. "I hope we're doing right by him."

"Of course we are!" Serend snorted and wolfed down the last of the food upon his plate. "He'll be fine. They'll both be fine."

Assured by her husband's certainty, Karai nodded again as she remembered Sorsha smiling at her son at the beach dinner. "It is a good match for the hold, and he seems to like her enough. I'm sure more will come later, how could the girl not love our Railen."

"Indeed." Serend nodded as he stood and walked over to place a kiss upon his wife's forehead. "How could she not?"

Last updated on the September 18th 2008

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