A Small Gift

Writers: Eimi, Suzee
Date Posted: 20th November 2012

Characters: Morin, Sophque
Description: A birthing day gift
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 10, day 5 of Turn 6

Sophque

Sophque hadn't received a summons in several nights but that could be
good if Morin were actually sleeping. She had no illusions and no
desire to move in the same circle as their Lord Holder. She wasn't a
Lady and never would be. As it was, she was almost invisible to those
hangers on around the hold. She could come and go as she pleased with
no one asking questions. That suited her just fine.

The young woman had simple desires. She and her daughter had all that
they needed and that was enough. Her lot in life was much better than
many of those around her. She was grateful to the man who'd pulled her
out of the ignominious slow decline of a sailor's widow and given her
the one thing she'd wanted.

A soft smile lit her lips as she carried the bundle with her toward
his office. Inside was his birthingday present. She hadn't been able
to get near him in several days but the hold was quiet now after the
celebrations were done and she could sneak through the passages to
give him her gift finally.

She knocked softly in her own way that would tell him it was her
outside the door. There were times she simply turned and walked away
if he didn't respond or sent her off. He was a very important and busy
man after all.

She ducked her head and put her back against the side of the passage
as the door opened and the Steward swept past her without a second
look. Bryvin looked preoccupied and more than a little worried but she
dismissed those thoughts and slipped in the door.

"Come in," Morin called, shuffling his hidework back into some semblance
of order now that it was no longer needed. At least, not that
particular stack. There were still plenty that needed his attention.

She came into the room and just looked at him for a moment. Then she
went to the table and lifted the covers from the tray. "Your food is
getting cold."

He paused for a moment, looking at the tray as if for the first time.
Food had completely slipped his mind. "I had a meeting with Bryvin,"
Morin said as an excuse, sitting down once more at his desk and grabbing
a hide off a pile.

"I saw as he left," she said. Then she approached the side of his
desk. "I made you something for your birthingday." She placed the
package on the corner when there wasn't any clutter.

The pen in Morin's hand stilled over the page as his eyes were drawn to
the package. Were it anyone else, he would have given his polite, but
dismissive thanks. He had work to do, after all. But this was Sophque,
and anything she did, he had learned, came from the heart, which
deserved special attention. Still, it was hard to set aside his usual
habit. After hesitating for a few breaths, he set the pen down and
pushed his chair back. He reached for the package, giving it and her
his full attention. "Thank you. Should I open it now?"

She nodded happily. "I hope you like it."

He pulled at the string holding the paper together, and carefully
unrolled the shirt that was inside. Morin held it up, his eyes
immediately drawn to the meticulously detailed blackwork around the
collar and cuffs. He knew she was capable of such work, but the _time_
it would have taken! "Did you make this?"

"I did," she said with a smile. She was not a trained weaver by any
means but her hands were talented with a needle. Mostly she did the
mending but one day she'd gotten one of Morin's shirts to mend and
though the tear in it was small and easily mended she had kept it an
extra few days long enough to make a pattern and from that the pieces
had been first embroidered and then the garment assembled. She thought
he would look very fine in it.

"It's wonderful. You have a fine talent." It was easy to admit that to
her. Usually he saved his praise for those whose talents he wanted to
mine, since he had found openly praising someone just lead to their
trying to impress him more for their own purposes. Morin knew Sophque
had her own definition of happiness, which did not require manipulating
him to get ahead. He leaned down to give her a soft, and grateful kiss.
"Thank you."

She smiled happily up at him. "You're welcome. I'm glad you like it,"
she said. She knew she probably wouldn't see him wear it at one of his
special events, but others would and he would look fine and handsome.
She hugged him for a moment and then leaned back. "Are you hungry?"

He looked over at the food and pondered the question. It had been
sitting there a while and he hadn't even thought about stopping long
enough to eat it. Now that his mind had been pulled away from work for
a
moment, he had to admit, his stomach was feeling a little empty. "Sure.
I think I could eat something."

"Good," she smiled up at him. She'd never try to push him but it did
make her happy and she rubbed his arm communicating her feelings with
just a touch. Sophque just accepted him the way he was. She didn't ask
for more. She and her daughter were well, dry, fed, and protected. How
much more could they want? A case could be made, if anyone had known,
that Sophque didn't really see the genuine Morin. They'd be right but
she wouldn't have cared about their opinion. He was good to her and
that was all that mattered in her world.

Last updated on the November 26th 2012

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A Small Gift