In Hindsight

Writers: Avery, Yvonne
Date Posted: 4th December 2008

Characters: Thalia, Ishek
Description: Ishek tries to make things right with Thalia
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 13, day 10 of Turn 4

Ishek couldn't believe that he had been so stupid. He really, really should have done this before negotiations- but he hadn't known if Briata and Bridinar would accept, and so he hadn't. Now he regretted that decision. He should have forewarned her, so that this wouldn't be a surprise. He genuinely liked the former Lady Holder. Would she hate him, now? Would she think he was trying to push aside her and Aslian?

The lady in question was sitting in a corner of the solar, away from the hum of activity that the other women created. She sat in a spot of sunlight playing a quiet tune on her gitar - mostly for herself, since only those nearest to her could hear the music. She looked up when Ishek's shadow crossed her sunlit spot and smiled, but it was devoid of any warmth. "Lord Warder."

"Do you have time to talk, or are you occupied with practicing?" he asked.

"I suppose I do." Thalia didn't take her fingers from the strings, though, nor did she make a move to leave to solar for somewhere less public. "What brings you here?"

"I need to talk to you about the- the negotiations with Onyx Peak that have been going on." He shifted his weight from foot to foot, acutely uncomfortable. "Thalia, I should have talked to you first. I didn't because I didn't know how Bridinar would react, but...I should have told you first, and I'm sorry."

Thalia plucked out a pair of minor chords, then lay her palm flat against the strings. "Yes, you should have."

"I'm sorry." he repeated. "I like her. I'm not doing this to...to try to push you out of the Hold. I just...like her. And everyone tells me I need to get married. She isn't going to be a stranger, or hate me. It doesn't have anything to do with you or your son."

"Come walk with me." Thalia set her gitar into its case and held her hand out imperiously to Ishek to help her rise.

Ishek helped her up and walked along with her contritely. He was starting to realize that he'd really messed up.

She led him from the solar, and the cool dark of the hall made seeing difficult. "You say that you like her, and that your marriage has nothing to do with either my son or myself, but it does. You are the Lord Warder here, and she will be Lady. That affects me. You may have children. That may affect my son. And I--" *should have been told personally, rather than having to find out at the same time as everyone else!** The last she didn't say. Ishek might not have shown her the courtesy, but she was still a Lady of the Blood, and would act it. "--have to protect my son's interests."

He couldn't just say he was sorry again. Thalia had every right to be angry. "I understand, and I will agree to a contract giving my children no right to the Hold. I didn't think through the legal ramifications of this, and that was wrong. It was impulsive and designed to make me happy, and I thought it would make things better for the Hold. But there will always be a place for you as Aslian's mother, and he _will_ be the Heir, and I honestly swear that I did not mean to displace you." Ishek promised. He really was bad at this figuring out thing.

"I _will_ hold you to that," she said quietly, then stopped. "You have already signed a contract in my son's favour, but your little wife-to-be hasn't. I've already spoken with Carlan about it, though." He might not have the decency to include her in the negotiation of events that would change her life, but that didn't mean that she wouldn't negotiate for herself.

"We'll work with you and with Carlan to find an acceptable solution for you, my lady. Either a new contract, or amending the original; whichever the Harper finds best."

**Whatever _I_ find best.** "And what about Eastern Point Hold?" Her home - and the alliance she had secured when she had married Lord Aswic - her father would be furious if she didn't even _ask_. "How is your alliance to Onyx Peak going to change the contract that was signed when I married?"

"Well, I would need to consult the original contact to see, but I would hope that it wouldn't invalidate or affect it. It was mostly about livestock rights." Ishek shook his head ruefully. "I didn't think too much about this, did I?" he asked sheepishly.

"No, you didn't." Thalia stopped, then sighed. She turned and took Ishek's hands in her own and held them tightly. "Please don't misunderstand me, Ishek. If this marriage is what you want, then I am happy for you. I truly am. But we are of the Blood, and both you and I know that a marriage isn't just a marriage - it's a binding political contract. While you have been so very good to me and Aslian, I still _must_ ensure my son's security as heir to the Hold and my Bloodline's place at Garnet Valley."

"It really is what I want. And I do want you to know that I don't _want_ the Hold forever. I took this job as a Warder, and I look forward to stepping down and seeing Aslian take over. I'll need to tell Briata about this, but we can set up an appointment with Carlan and work out the contracts to give Aslian his full due."

Thalia smiled, then leaned in and gave Ishek a soft kiss on the cheek. "Congratulations."

"I hope you'll like her." Ishek said, suddenly shy about it. "I don't want you two to be at odds."

Thalia smiled sweetly. "Well. You know my stance. The rest is up to her."

"I suppose it is." And he didn't want to force the issue, so he wouldn't do anything else to put his foot in his mouth. "Would you like to be involved in the planning?" he suddenly asked.

"Planning?"

"Of the wedding. I've only ever presided over the Turn's End feast, and we have much of the planning done for that already. But I didn't plan my first wedding, and I don't know what to do for this one, and I thought maybe you'd have more experience with celebrations. Or at least you know who would be best to ask for help?" For Ishek suddenly realized asking Thalia to help might hurt her. He was glad he'd left an out.

Thalia paused. She could probably throw a celebration grand enough to overshadow the actual wedding itself, but... "I'm not sure that it would be appropriate if I did," she said slowly.

"Penryn might be my Steward, but he can't handle all of the domestic matters. Miralani could, but she resides at the Smith Hall now. You could provide a feminine touch- or at least provide advice. I don't want you to feel like you won't have any place in the Hold anymore."

Except she wouldn't, not really. Thalia smiled anyway. "If you ask me, Lord Ishek, how could I refuse?"

Impulsively, the Lord hugged her. "Thank you, Thalia." he said sincerely. "This wedding means a lot to me, and I'm glad we cleared things up." Even though he'd screwed up, he hoped to make it up to her.

Last updated on the December 8th 2008

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In Hindsight