Seeking Favor

Writers: Eimi, Suzee
Date Posted: 13th September 2012

Characters: Morin, Sitmar, Eoelle
Description: The Holder of River Bend hatches a plan
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 10, day 3 of Turn 6

"What?" she sat at her vanity and stared at him in the mirror. They
were preparing for sleep and that was the time her husband usually
began talking about his plans and schemes. A lot of the time she just
hummed her attention but this? This was very different. She turned to
look directly at him with stunned eyes. "I can't believe you really
want me to do this,"

"This is his first official visit since becoming a Lord Holder, and I
want to make sure we secure his favor," Sitmar said, his hands clasped
behind his back as he paced the room. "Just think of the tremendous
advantage we have over our neighbors, our _competitors_," for they were
one and the same. "Don't you see that this is an opportunity that
_cannot_ be wasted."

She shook her head. "How do you even know if he's interested?" That
was only one of her questions. After all she wasn't sure he'd even
noticed her at dinner. "I just don't think I can do that." Eoelle's
hands shook as she clutched her brush in her lap.

"My dear, you are still an attractive woman, and he is a man. Once
you're in the room with him, it would be pretty easy for you to get his
attention. You just have to put forth a little _effort_ is all." If
Morin was any sort of man at all, the offer of a willing woman would be
too good to miss. Once she was in his bed, she could win him over to
their cause. And Sitmar, of course, would deserve some kind of
compensation for being willing to turn a blind eye while the Lord Holder
made his wife his mistress. Tit-for-tat, as it were.

She was pleased at the compliment but certain he knew that. It was one
of his tools to get her to do what he wanted. Usually though what he
wanted was not quite so intimate as spreading her legs for another
man. "Are you _certain_ this will achieve your plan my love?" She
wasn't above wondering what it would be like with another man. She'd
only ever been with Sitmar even if she'd _thought_ about it on
occasion. She would never dare to sully her husbands trust when she
had yet to give him an heir.

He knelt down in front of her, taking her hands in his. "What choice do
we have? I know full well I don't have half the head for Hold
management my father had. And you saw Morin's face at dinner when I
told him how small the tithe would be this Turn." His position as only
a Holder was in no way secure, and there were far more qualified men
circling around his territory, just waiting for reason to claim a chunk
of it. "I can't offer him marks or goods. All I have is..." There was
no reason to finish that thought allowed.

Her dark hair fell forward as she looked down at his pleading eyes.
She _had_ been just a little frightened by the look on the Lord's face
and truthfully she knew what her husband said was true. But what if...
"What if he fills my belly? What would we do then?" Her whispered
words trembled almost as much as she did at the thought.

Sitmar hadn't quite thought that far. He never really did think much
about consequences. "I don't know. We'll just have to deal with it if
it happens." Why worry about it now? There were more immediate
concerns. "But what good is an heir with nothing to give them?"

"Alright," she said lifting an index finger to wipe at a tear that was
threatening to fall. It would not do for her to have red rimmed eyes
if she was to try and do what her husband wished. "If that is what you
really want." Eoelle lifted a hand to caress the side of his face.
"I'll do it for _you_."

~~**~~

Morin pulled his undershirt off over his head and draped it over the
chair before wrapping the towel around the back of his neck and leaning
over the basin to splash water over his face. His hands still over his
eyes when he heard the sound of the light tap on his door. That was
odd, at this time of night and his mind began to whirl. Had it been an
emergency, they would have wrapped loudly. Were it a threat, they
wouldn't have knocked at all. Drudges and servants wouldn't dare tap on
a Lord Holder's door this time of night. Deciding that there was no
harm in satisfying his curiosity, he called back, "Yes, who is it?"

Eoelle had prepared herself as much as she possibly could but what
she'd been sent to do scared her. Her voice trembled even though she'd
checked to make sure there was no one around before she'd knocked on
the door. "Eoelle My Lord," her voice cracked and she cleared her
voice. "May I come in?"

Interesting. He pulled the corners of the towel to wipe the drops from
his face and eyes. This was certainly unexpected. "Yes, madam. Come
in."

She clutched her robe together in front as she entered the room. "My
Lord," she said and dropped a deep curtsy. "Are you finding everything
to your liking," she asked for all the world as though she were simply
the hostess inquiring after a guests needs. "Is there anything else
you need?" Her insides trembled at what she was about to offer.

"No, I'm very comfortable, Eoelle. Thank you," he said with a polite
nod. 'Comfortable' could not really describe how she seemed at that
moment. **She obviously has never done this before.**

She was honestly glad he was comfortable, that was her aim as a
hostess, but she didn't see that telltale gleam in his eye her husband
got when he wanted to share pleasures with her. So she was a little
unsure how to spark that interest. She walked toward the table where
the fruit and meatrolls she'd sent up sat untouched. "Are you not
hungry M'Lord?" As she turned toward the food she also turned her back
to show her hair, one of her best features, it fell in soft waves to
her waist. Only her husband ever saw her hair unbound like this.

Morin definitely noticed. "How could I be hungry after the splendid
feast you laid out for me this evening?" More likely he had just
forgotten it was there. He usually did, especially when there was work
to be done.

She turned back to him with a genuinely pleased smile at the
compliment. "I'm very glad you enjoyed it sir." Even white teeth
gleamed and a dimple peeked momentarily in her right cheek. The fact
he was shirtless hadn't really registered in her own panic earlier but
now it did. She bravely kept the smile but couldn't quite help staring
for a moment. There was something about him she couldn't put a finger
on. He wasn't handsome like her Sitmar but there was something
magnetic in his presence. She blinked but couldn't quite shake the
sudden feeling her husband might have made a very big mistake.

He decided to test the waters a bit. "My compliments to you and Sitmar
for a lovely evening." The Lord Holder watched her body language
carefully at the mention of her husband's name. Would she give away
what her true purpose at visiting him at this late hour might be?

Eoelle shifted her weight and her deep blue eyes widened before they
slid down and away from his. She knew what her husband wanted but
still wasn't certain their Lord was interested. "Thank you sir. I'll
tell him," she whispered. She forced her hand to let go of its death
grip on her robe. It slipped from her shoulders to pool round her feet
in a shining pink cloud. The gown underneath was translucent but left
little to the imagination. She couldn't make herself look at him for
his reaction.

Morin's nostrils flared slightly at the sight of her body so
tantalizingly revealed. He couldn't help but react to her silent offer.
It was only a few steps to close the gap between them. "Why have you
come to me tonight, Eoelle?"

His nearness caused a tingling change to come over her and she sucked
in a quick breath. She looked up into his eyes and was lost in his
intense gaze. This was nothing like anything she'd ever experienced
with Sitmar and she was unprepared for his effect on her. Eoelle was
supposed to say it was all her idea, that she wanted him, but words
deserted her and she was like a watch wher caught blinking in the
torchlight. Even though she trembled, she took the small step that
brought her up against him and her arms reached for his neck. She went
up on her toes to plant a soft kiss on his lips.

A hum of electricity coursed through his veins at her tender touch. His
hands clutched at his side as he resisted the urge to reach for her.
She barely looked at him through the meal, paid only the most proper of
respect, and yet now she came to him as scared as a virgin on her
wedding night. Only she was no innocent maid, and it showed in the way
she kissed. But he was no fool. When he could be sure of his
composure, he said, "I ask again, Eoelle, why have you come here? I do
not believe that this was your idea. What is it you want from me?"

He'd reacted! She'd felt it for just a moment. Even with the
stiffening she knew somehow she'd reached him but he had such control.
She took a tiny step back to look up into his face. Eoelle was no liar
practiced at the art and the direct question prompted a direct answer.
"Your favor My Lord," she said softly. In that moment she knew her
husband had completely underestimated Morin. He had seen right though
her but she didn't care anymore. "And to please you," she added after
a moment.

"Favor." It was amazing how many Holders thought a Lord's favor was
something that could be mined from between their wive's legs. Morin
bent down and retrieved her robe. "While I no doubt would be quite
pleased with you, Eoelle, I would not see you shamed merely to buy your
husband a wink from me. If you truly want to help Sitmar win my favor,
this is not the way to do it." He held up the garment, giving her a
slight nod to tell her to put her arms through the sleeves. It would
not be coming off again this evening.

"Yes sir," she said contritely. She gazed up into his unreadable green
eyes for a moment before turning to put her arms back into the robe.
For an instant she'd thought he desired her but she was grateful in
the extreme at his decision. She turned back to look up at him again.
Fingers raised to touch her lips. Then with glowing eyes she thanked
him. Once again the proper hostess she clutched the robe and dropped a
deep curtsy bowing her head. "Thank you My Lord."

He took her hand, pulling her back up to her full height. "Eoelle, do
you sacrifice yourself for your husband because you think he's right, or
because you think it is your duty?"

"Because it is my duty My Lord," her voice was still soft. "It isn't
my place to say whether he is right."

"It is your duty to help your husband in whatever way necessary to
ensure his position, is it not?" It was a rhetorical question, and so
he continued. "You were willing to give your body and your honor to
another man in order to ensure your husband's success. Would it cost
you so much more to give your mind and your voice to Sitmar instead?
You must have an opinion on his business affairs."

This was a completely new thought for her. She hadn't been raised to
think of herself as much more than a brood mare and to look decorative
for her husband. Honestly she did have thoughts about some of the
things Sitmar did but she'd never believed he would listen to her.
"No, I supposed it wouldn't... if he listened." She wasn't so
convinced that he would.

"Madam, I am sure you are already aware of the fact that your husband is
a poor manager, though not for lack of trying, I'm sure." That was a
lie. Moring suspected Sitmar might be more lazy than he aught, but he
did not want to put the woman in a position in which she felt compelled
to defend her husband to him. "Find your voice, Eoelle, and I suspect
your husbands fortunes, and my favorable opinion, will rise
considerably."

"Yes My Lord," she said. Her father had said much the same thing about
Sitmar though he was less positive about his abilities. His next words
inspired her to a new sense of purpose. "I will," she promised, eyes
shining. If only she could make her husband understand. Lord Morin was
a great man in her opinion. Eoelle found herself with a tiny touch of
hero worship for the Lord of Sunstone Seahold.

He placed his hands gently on her shoulders, giving them a slight
squeeze. "I have every faith that this Hold will turns itself around
soon." Leaning in, he pressed his lips softly to her cheek. "Good
night, Eoelle."

"Good night, Lord Morin." She went to the door and tuned for one last
look and smile before she slipped out.

Last updated on the September 23rd 2012

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Seeking Favor