A Pleasant Surprise... Maybe
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Eimi, Bree
Date Posted: 2nd November 2005
Characters: Fielton, Ivenn
Description: Ivenn arrives at the Vintner Hall, where he is assured by a clueless Fielton that Miryene will be happy to see him.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 8, day 27 of Turn 3
Ivenn slid down the brown neck and planted his feet firmly on the ground. He took a few steps towards the familiar buildings and stopped to close his eyes and drink in the smells and sounds. **It's been so long...**
Obviously someone had been waiting for him. The front doors to the Hall opened, and Fielton stood there, smiling with unnatural cheer. "Ivenn! It's about time you arrived."
"Master Fielton," the journeyman called back with a bow. "Just let me get my things!"
The vintner shook the brownrider's hand after reclaiming his bag. "Thank you V'sol, and you Gevranth. It was a wonderful ride."
"When will you need us to come back for you?" the rider asked as he glanced around at all the vines, freshly pruned to prepare for the spring that seemed far off from this place... "I could come for you in a few days, or someone else..."
"I don't know how long I'm staying yet, V'sol. If I need a ride back I'll send word," Ivenn replied.
The brownrider nodded. "Well, just let me know when you're ready to come home."
Ivenn clapped V'sol on the arm with a hopeful grin. "If all goes well, my friend, I _am_ home..."
Fielton waited until Ivenn had reached the steps of the Hall before coming out the door, reaching out to offer his hand to Ivenn. "Welcome back." "Thank you, sir," he said as he took the Hallmaster's hand. "How is she?"
"With the healer at the moment." Fielton had no idea if this was true or not, but it certainly made the situation sound more dire. "Why don't you come to my office and have a drink while we wait for him to finish. I'll tell you the whole story."
"That would be wonderful, thank you." Ivenn could certainly use a drink, both to steady his nerves for the new he was about to hear, and to calm the beating of his heart at the thought of seeing Miryene again.
Fielton picked a decent bottle of wine from the shelf in his office and directed Ivenn to take a seat on the comfortable couche next to the fire instead of at his desk. "I'm afraid Miryene has been through a terrible trial." "But she is all right, isn't she?" the journeyman asked as he perched on the edge of the cushion.
"Physically she's all right. The healer is with her because..." Fielton met Ivenn's eyes, figuring he might as well say it. He hadn't mentioned it in his notes because he'd known there had been some tension about the subject between the two before their divorce, but Ivenn was hardly going to fail to notice. "She's pregnant, Ivenn. Talrian tells me that he expects the baby to be born in about a month and a half, if all goes well. But the father of her child... well, I told you in my letter about him."
The journeyman looked at the Hallmaster for a moment in stunned silence.
"Pregnant?" he whispered as soon as he had recovered his voice. "Faranth's shell..." How many times had they tried? How many times had Miryene practically killed herself having a child? And just what kind of monster was she married to?
"Daigoro and I had hoped you might be able to visit with her," Fielton continued. "She needs all the friends she can get right now."
"Of course. Is she... expecting me?" Ivenn wondered just what she thought of him after all this time...
Fielton shook his head. "I thought it might be nice for her to get a pleasant surprise for once." "Are you sure it will be pleasant?" Ivenn asked, meeting the Hallmaster's eyes.
The Hallmaster was sure of no such thing, but he hid it well enough with a wide smile. "I'm certain of it."
Last updated on the November 2nd 2005