A Proper Welcome

Writers: Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 31st October 2005

Characters: Thalia, Penryn
Description: Thalia and Penryn plan a banquet to welcome Lord Ishek
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 8, day 6 of Turn 3

"Penryn?" Thalia knocked lightly on the assistant Steward's door with her knuckles. She smiled when he looked up. "I've just remembered something."

"Yes, Lady? How can I help you?"

She stepped into his office and shut the door behind herself before she told him. It wouldn't do to have everyone hear _everything_ they said. "We have to throw a banquet of some sort to welcome Lord Ishek.
It's not entirely... it's only a month after my husband- passed away," she swallowed and hoped that he hadn't heard her voice tremble, "but it's only proper that he's formally greeted. And the Hold needs something _happy_."

Penryn thought about this a moment and finally said. "Yes, of course. Of course, you're right. The Lord Regent must be made welcome, despite the events. It would be good for the Holders to have something to look forward to. Lady Thalia, I think that is an _excellent_ idea."

Thalia felt inordinately pleased that he approved of her- idea.
"We'll have to have a banquet, of course. And music, although I'm sure that Carlan will be able to organize entertainment much better than you or I. And perhaps a small Gather to display local wares, in order to introduce Ishek to the local craftsmen and what Garnet Valley has."

The acting steward nodded. "Perhaps we could invite the Smith Hall as well. It would be good to have a show of solidarity after all that tension that we have shared."

The Lady's smile slipped. "But the Hallmaster is such a _lout_. I'm not sure that I could stand an entire evening with him in the Hold. I could barely stomach half a candlemark!"

"M'lady," Penryn said gently, "I can understand your feelings towards the Hallmaster, but we cannot ostracize the entire Smith Hall over personal feeling."

"Perhaps not the entire Smith Hall - just him." She was beginning to pout, and tried to stop. "He came here and insulted me - insulted _you_ - and abused us both shamefully. Perhaps if he apologizes for his beastly behavior he can be allowed to attend, but not until then."

He stifled his frustrated sigh. "Lady Thalia, this is not about you and I. This is about the new Lord Ishek. We cannot hand him a damaged relationship between the Hall and Hold based on hurt pride. I understand your frustration, but the Hallmaster's support is vital to the new Lord Regent."

"Oh, very well." Penryn's argument might have been sensible, but it didn't mean that she had to like it. The thought of the odious Hallmaster rampaging through her banquet like an enraged herdbeast was almost too much to bear, but if he _did_ misbehave and embarrass them all, it would now be Penryn's fault. "Although I think the damage is entirely on his end. We ought to invite the Weyrleaders as well, if you're trying to consolidate support for Ishek."

"I agree," he nodded, happy she wasn't going to press the issue further. "It will take a lot of work. Are you sure you are ready for it?"

"What do you mean by that?" Thalia asked, stung. Her former glow at his praise evaporated as quickly as it had appeared.

He could see he had upset her, and that was certainly not his intention. "I didn't mean that you were not qualified for it, Lady.
I mean, so soon after your husband's death, and with Lord Aslian so young still, are you sure you have the time and energy to take on this task?"

"Lord Ishek needs a proper welcome, and you're worn to the bone." The dark circles under his eyes troubled her. "There _is_ no one else to do it even if I wished to delegate."

Penryn sighed. How he wished that statement wasn't true. "Well, let me know how I can help you and what we will need. We will need a rough estimate of how many are coming. Do you have any ideas of what you would like to serve?"

"Perhaps we could serve caprines as a main dish... or herdbeast.
Roasted. Whichever have more young animals to slaughter. If there's enough dried or salted fish, perhaps a fish soup as a starter. We'll need a vegetable dish of some sort as well to go with the main meal, and if there are enough winter greens, a salad - even if it's just for the High Table. Or perhaps a fingerroot soup of some sort instead of fish, and maybe dried fish and a soft cheese as a starter..."
Thalia pursed her lips in thought. "I'll have to talk to the cooks and see what they would recommend. And I'll have to find a seamstress."

The acting steward's head was beginning to spin... and his stomach growl! "Yes, m'lady, I think they should be able to help you there.
We will need to give the Hold a good scrubbing too of course."

"Naturally. The banquet hall will need to be aired out, and the Gather linens washed. And if there is time, perhaps have the tapestries in there taken outside and given a good shake. Will you need something new to wear?" Penryn frowned a bit. "I'm not sure. I never really worried about it much. Jaika usually took care of that kind of thing. I don't think I've had anything new in turns."

"Then it's high time that you did." Thalia was in her element:
parties and fashion. "I'll send some fabric samples by, and you and I will sit down with the seamstress in a day or so to get you outfitted. I'll need something new too, so if we meet with her together we'll waste less of her time."

"All right, that sounds... fine." This was certainly not _his_ area of expertise. What did he need fabric samples for? Wouldn't any one do?

Thalia laughed at his expression and impulsively reached across the desk to give his hand a squeeze. "Don't worry, Penryn! I promise that it will be painless. The banquet will go off without a hitch, and Lord Ishek will be impressed in spite of himself. I'll go speak with the cooks now, and track down a seamstress later on today." She stood. "I'll let you know when she'll need us."

Penryn gave her a relieved smile. "I will leave it your capable hands, then." And for once he trusted them to be just that.

Last updated on the October 31st 2005

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A Proper Welcome