Women's Virtues

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 24th November 2009

Characters: Eilomar, Tantral
Description: Tantral works on some more on Eilomar, and he starts to warm up for the idea.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 6, day 3 of Turn 5

The older harper grinned as he noticed Eilomar walking in his direction. "Eilomar. I was hoping to run into you. Please, have a seat."

"A good day to you, Tantral," Eilomar replied politely with amiable smile.

"I saved you a spot. Far enough away from the apprentices, but close enough to the fire. These stone walls chill me to the bone." Quite literally. Poor Tantral's fingers, after turns of writing music, were gnarled with arthritis.

More heat was last thing the fat harper needed but he still took the offered seat. "You should get yourself some insulation against cold," he said and patted his belly.

"Not on this swill," Tantral grumbled, looking mournfully down at his plate. "It's time like these that I miss Olana the most. She was a good cook."

"Ailowyn was a good at cooking too," Eilomar replied.

"Don't you miss it sometimes?" his friend asked with a far off expression. "The hot cup of tea, the smell of baking bread. Not having to hang your own laundry or carrying it down to the women to wash. Your mending being done without even having to hunt someone out to do it. Having your night shirt laid out for you, and the bed made."

"Sometimes," Eilomar admitted. "Except she wasn't much for a mending clothes. She rather just brought a new one," he smiled at the memory.

"I liked my woman to be sensible," Tantral grumbled, disapproving of such waste. "There was no use wasting my hard-earned marks on fancy things and just have them cast aside. A woman should know how to take care of the things her husband has given her. And to take care of her husband, too. After all, he is her provider. She should show gratitude for all he does for her. Don't you agree?"

"What else could you do with your marks than spend them?" Eilomar asked. He never been tight-purse. If his wife had wanted fancy clothes and jewelry, he had been glad to provide her, if it made her happy. Honestly, he enjoyed luxury too. "But I agree on gratitude. Some women just can't appreciate what they did have," he sighed, still thinking his ex-wife.

"My family has always taught our daughters to show gratitude towards their husbands," Tantral said proudly. "They learn to take care of a home and family the way they should. We hold to tradition."

"That is commendable," Eilomar said. "I wish my wife had shown more gratitude."

"As do I," his friend said, laying his hand on the Master's arm. "There is nothing that can bring a man more comfort than a woman who lives to please him."

Eilomar sighed wistfully. All this talk was making feel lonely. It would be nice to go home after workday and have someone there waiting for him, asking how was his day.

"I truly envy you, Eilomar," the harper sighed turning back to stir his soup idly. "You're still young enough to find a good woman. When you get to be my age, well..." Tantral shrugged helplessly. "All I can do wait until I'm too old to take care of myself and count on the generosity of my children when the time comes."

"Yes," said Eilomar thoughtfully. He was slowly warming up for the idea of marriage, especially if it was right kind of woman, certainly not Ailowyn's kind.

"Are you close with your children?" Tantral was sure he had heard that Eilomar had at least two daughters.

"Not really, they live far off," Eilomar said.

"Oh, that's too bad," the harper said with a thoughtful frown. "At least I have that comfort."

"Lucky you," Eilomar said bit enviously.

"Ah well," he shrugged as if it really wasn't such a big deal, "if I didn't have them, I always have my nephew and his family. Although I'd rather rely on my own children since he does have a house full of young boys running around. They only have the one daughter, you know. And soon enough she'll be gone..."

"Marrying, is she?" Eilomar asked.

Tantral looked at him out of the corner of his eye. "Not yet, but we're looking for a husband for her. I think I mentioned that before though."

"Oh, you're meaning her..." frankly, Eilomar barely remembered that discussion.

"I mean my nephew, but yes, I had mentioned her," he corrected. After all, he didn't want it to be too obvious that he was still trying to hook the Master up with his grandniece.

"Have you found anybody?" Eilomar asked politely, blind for the older harper's motives.

"I of course am not there, but I have not been _told_ that they have anyone in mind just yet," his friend replied innocently. "Well, it's hard job to find a suitable husband. I remember the task I had with getting Eilowyn married to a husband that was well respected, she found likeable and was worthy. Aileyan saved me from that problem by going and Impressing a dragon."

"It is. Especially since she is a very special young lady. She would be wasted on a younger man with no appreciation for what a rarity in this day and age a properly raised, traditional girl who is happy in her place really is. I truly hope a man will come forward who can care for her the way a treasure like her deserves to be cared for." Tantral eyed his friend curiously. Would he raise himself to the challenge? Or would he need more convincing before he even considered the possibility?

"I wonder..." Eilomar said thoughtfully and interupted himself with a shake of his head. He was being silly now. He really didn't want another wife. Or did he? Tantal leaned closer to his friend. "Hmmm?" he hummed encouragingly.

"Well, there would be no harm done if I met this young woman, would there?" Eilomar said.

"Harm? No..." Of course, the cost of the dragonrider would have to be added to the brideprice...

Last updated on the November 30th 2009

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