Impending Changes

Writers: Avery, Eimi
Date Posted: 9th January 2009

Characters: Gilsha, Ishek
Description: Ishek and Gilsha talk about Ishek's upcoming marriage.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 13, day 16 of Turn 4

"I got a message that seemed rather urgent," the greenrider said,
striding across his office rug with a small box in hand. "It's some
treats from the Baker Hall." She set it on the desk in front of him.
"I figured it would look suspicious if I just showed up empty handed."

Ishek smiled appreciatively. "Now my Hold cooks will feel ashamed." he
joked. "I'm glad to see you." he added more seriously.

"Oh, well, then I'm glad to be here," she smiled, walking around the
desk. "Though I'm not sure it's really me your happy to see so much as
my goodies."

"Well, I do rather like baked goods..." Ishek teased.

"Aren't you lucky I didn't go to the fishmarket then?"

"Very." Ishek agreed. He truly did enjoy bantering with Gilsha- it was
light in a way he couldn't really be with anyone else. "How has your
life on the wing been lately?"

"Always an adventure," she smiled, hitching a hip onto his desk. "Never
know where I'm going to be called off to."

"I still think I'd trade you some days." he said. But would he really?
Before his duties had been duty, a burden. Now things were changing.

"Only some days," she conceded. "I doubt you would enjoy fighting
Thread much. The excitement wares off the first time you watch the
person next to you get consumed by Thread in front of your eyes."

"You're right. That part sounds awful. But freedom..." And he paused
again. "So...have you heard I'm to be married? I'm sure the gossip is
spreading."

"Yes, I did," she said with a genuine smile. "Congratulations! That
was... quick. Though I suppose they often are at this level of the
hierarchy."

"It was, but to be honest, I've been getting quiet pressure to marry
ever since I became Lord here. Briata is a very nice girl, and we became
friends. I'd rather marry a friend then a strange woman." he said.

"Of course not. You wouldn't want to roll over to face someone you
loathe every morning."

"No." Ishek agreed. But her words reminded him of what he'd been trying
to ignore; Briata was younger. So much younger...

"What's eating at you, Ishek?" she asked, thinking it was better for him
to just get it out.

"She's younger." he admitted. "I know that most Hold girls just get
married to whoever, but Shama and I were the same age when we met.
You're close to my age. It just seems awkward that I'm supposed to...and
she's half my age."

Gilsha smiled, amused at his embarrassment. "I know for a fact, Ishek,
you know what you're doing. I'm confident the experience will not be
completely unpleasant."

"But she's half my age." He wasn't trying to whine, it was just that it
hadn't really occurred to him before. "And what's worse is I know that
in theory she could be married to someone even older. It just doesn't
seem right."

Gilsha snorted softly. "You _just_ now realized this? Why do you think
I ran for the Weyr the first chance I got? Of course it's not right.
But it is the way of your world, and you just better get used to the
fact that you are expected to not only bed that girl, but to breed with
her as well. Right or wrong, that is what is expected of you. That's
what _she_ expects of you. She's just hoping on Faranth's shiny egg
that you're gonna be gentle with her, which I know you will be. And
trust me, Ishek, when you get her out of her clothes that first night,
you will have no trouble doing your duty."

"I do want the children." he agreed. "And yes, I can see why you'd have
headed for the Weyr. I wish there was some way to change things."

Sometimes Ishek was so naive, it was amazing they had ever put him in
charge of a Hold, Gilsha thought with a twinge of sadness. One of these
days, he would have to grow up, and the experience would more likely
than not be painful. "You shouldn't wish for that, Ishek. You'll only
ask for trouble for you and your Hold. The South isn't ready for
change, and you'd only make things worse."

"But how is it ever going to change if someone doesn't take the first
step?"

"Ah, so _that's_ why you're marrying this girl? To give your holders an
example of what _not_ to do?"

Ishek paused. "That's a good point. But at least we care about each
other, and everyone can see that. It's not like she's unwilling, or that
I'm forcing her."

"I think you've held this office too long," she chuckled, shaking her
head in amusement. "Do you really think your halls are filled with
miserable people? You think it's the _men_ that hold this society back?
Very few marriages are ever made under force. The girls go willingly.
They've bought into this whole idea too. Sometimes even _more_ than the
men they marry."

"But it can't be all the women, or there would never be runaways who
look to the Weyr. There would never be girls who accept Search and then
don't Stand because they needed an excuse to leave- my wife's sister did
that." Ishek argued. "I'm not saying it would change overnight, and
you're probably right that most people of both sexes buy into it. But if
someone starts offering women a chance to Craft- at least with the ones
who take women- then that's progress."

"Idealism is all beautiful and good, Ishek, but I think you are going to
find that Lord Holders and Lord Warder's options are as limited as your
women's. You can have all the dragonwing dreams that can fit into your
head, but unless your people share them, nothing's going to change
except your title."

"You're right. I just wish there was a better way."

"There is. Move your Hold North." Gilsha smiled slight, amused
slightly by the unintentional hypocracy the Lord Warder was displaying.
"You want things to change, and yet you have bought into the same system
of arranging a marriage that's sole purpose is to advance this Hold.
The bride is coming bought and paid for like a runner. It doesn't
matter if
the two of you like each other. It was a business arrangement at it's
core, brought about by pressure to marry and breed rather than as a show
of any true desire for the girl. Don't be so quick to judge your
Holders, Ishek lest they judge you." She leaned back, folding her arms
across her chest. "And so now what? Are you determined to be a shining
example of marital morality in our Hold?"

"What should I have done, waited a Turn? Asked for nothing?" he asked.
"I don't even know what a shining example should be. Don't beat her and
don't let her wear herself out with too many babes, but give her freedom
to have her own interests that aren't me."

Gilsha did not want to fight about this. That wasn't why she came. "I
would expect nothing less of you than that, but that isn't want I was
asking. What I meant to ask, Ishek, is are we over?"

"Oh." Ishek felt stupid. "I'm sorry, I didn't think you meant that." He
had to think about it for a minute. "Briata is a friend, and I care
about her. But she's... she's just a girl." he repeated helplessly. "I
don't know what marriage will be like. You're an adult, we're like
equals, and I don't have to pretend with you and that- that makes me
feel good. I like what we have." But, of course, he would be expected to
give it up.

How did Gilsha feel about him? Was this just physical sport? It was
release, and yet it was also acceptance, warmth. He felt like just a man
with her, adventurous. "I care about you, too. This isn't just me being
physical." he admitted. "I wouldn't want to stop seeing you."

"I would be sad if you did," Gilsha admitted softly, surprised a little
at how true a statement it was. She had grown generally fond of the
man, despite his niavette. Perhaps even a little because of it.

"Then let's keep seeing each other. I'll make it work." he promised. He
didn't know how, but he would.

Last updated on the January 10th 2009

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