Who Are You?

Writers: Eimi, Suzee
Date Posted: 17th November 2012

Characters: Morin, Sophque, Quellen
Description: Morin remembers
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 10, day 19 of Turn 6

Sophque

Morin opened his eyes. It was late, or early, depending on who was
judging the time. The sun would not rise for at least another
candlemark, he was sure, but an urgent need to relieve himself brought
him awake. It was always something, he thought with a long sigh as he
pulled the sheet back.

He looked back to see if Sophque was still awake. She often was,
reading one of the books he left by his bedside just for her benefit.
It was nice that she was always available any time of night that he
might need her for whatever purpose. But it meant that after their
lovemaking, his body would demand sleep while hers was still full of
energy. Luckily, she could not get enough of books. He often wondered
if that wasn't the true reason she had agreed to become his mistress -
access to his extensive library! The thought always made him smile that
while most women hoped to spread their legs for him for expensive
presents or favors, Sophque had seemingly opened her arms, and her
heart, for the price of a story.

Of course, that was just a thought. The truth of the matter had been
very different.

~~~**~~~

Three quarters of a candlemark left judging by the pocket watch Morin
held in his hand. Thank Faranth for that. Not long now. He flipped it
closed as one of the guards approached to quietly whisper in his ear,
"The woman has been sedated and the healers will keep an eye on her," to
which the Holder merely nodded.

Lively music drifted down the Hall towards the main entrance where he
stood, surrounded by Agenothree tanks just waiting to be shouldered once
they got the all-clear. It sounded and smelled like a celebration, not
what it truly was - a distraction from the fact that above their heads
this very moment, dragons were hopefully in the sky fighting their
mortal enemy for the first time in centuries. Even now, Thread was
attacking his small Holding, threatening all he had spent turns
building. The only thing between them and disaster was the stone that
now surrounded them, and a group of men and women that were full of
brave talk, but who knew if they could really get the job done. They
were trusting their lives to a group of daredevils who were full of more
piss than vinegar in his opinion. Just what sight would greet them when
they finally opened their doors and windows, none could guess.

But many seemed to be speculating anyway. And that had lead to all
sorts of problems throughout the long wait. Fights had broken out here
and there, quickly pulled apart, but it was a sign of the tension that
many felt building inside. Others had broken down in weeping hysterics.
Claustrophobia had suddenly become infectious, and several had been
slipped something by a healer to help calm them down. Rumors that the
dragonriders had abandoned them, that their fields, crops, and ships
were all destroyed and they would all starve before a month was out had
been whispered about, finally prompting one woman to decide that if she
was going to die, she would do so on her own terms. She had nearly
succeeded in opening one of the higher windows, intending undoubtedly to
jump out of it to her death, when a patrol of guards found and stopped
her. As was now reported, that situation was taken care of.

And yet there was forty-five more minutes of madness to deal with. No
one would truly be at ease until all the shutters were once again thrown
open and they could all see for themselves what the damage truly was.
Morin had walked among them, smiling, making jokes, whipping up the
Harpers to play the happiest tunes they possibly could, making sure the
tables were always full with something yummy to nibble on. He
personally tried to calm their fears as much as possible.

Finally, he had to slip away, just for a few minutes. He was feeling
exhausted, both mentally and emotionally. It was hard enough
controlling his own doubts and anxieties, but trying to keep hundreds of
people from giving in to chaos was absolutely draining. In the dark,
quiet corner, he finally sank down against the wall, taking deliberately
slow, deep breaths to try to relieve some of the stress his body was
under. But it did nothing for his mind, which was a whirl of thoughts
that whipped about like leaves in a hurricane. It was so sharding
frustrating! He just wanted a moment of peace, but how could he when
his his own head was betraying his efforts!

Sophque had come into the hold with the rest of the hold population
for protection from the coming threat. Her father had herded them all
through the great doors rather proud that he'd be wielding one of the
Agenothree tanks when they walked the orchards after the all clear.
He'd met and trained with the teams even though he had no idea of what
they'd really find. Her mother was a pessimist and crying softly in a
corner certain they were in for devastation, while her husband Inokin
was busily stuffing his face sampling all of the Holder's food.

She couldn't' bear to just stand around and watch doing nothing. It
wasn't in her nature. So she picked up a tray of the nibbles and went
around to people who seemed distressed and tried to help them and
encourage them. Her calm assurance that all would be well floated
around her like a calm in the midst of a storm, which in a sense it
was.

More than once she passed the long stair that lead back down toward
the huge doors and the staged rows of tanks. People came and went but
there was one who looked like he'd taken up residence by the tanks.
So, she picked up a fresh cup of klah and a small plate with a
sandwich.

"You look worried," she said as she got closer and offered him the
cup. "I'm sure the Holder has everything planned," she smiled
reassuringly. "He always does."

The voice seemed to come out of nowhere. Morin had been so lost in his
breathing exercises that he hadn't heard her soft footfalls approaching.
He turned at the sound, and stared at the offered cup, a little
confused. Who was this person and why was she smiling down on him as if
it were just water raining down on them, not fire and death falling from
their mortal enemy? "What?" He shook his head realizing how
uncharacteristically rude that sounded. "I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear
you. Were you asking me something?"

"No," she said holding out the sandwich with a smile. "I brought you
this. You should eat something before you have to go out there." She
put the cup down on a table near where he stood. "You'll need your
strength." She reached out to give his arm a comforting pat.

He looked down at the sandwich, realizing for the first time that he
hadn't actually eaten anything since this whole mess had started. His
gaze shifted to the hand on his arm, surprised at both the gesture, and
just how reassuring it felt. That paired with the easy smile that
seemed to soothe his aching nerves, and Morin was more than a little
unsettled by this woman. That never happened. "Forgive me, but who are
you? I don't remember seeing you around the Hold staff."

"Oh,"she smiled. "I don't work here." She guessed he probably did
though. "We live out in one of the cots and just came inside at the
Holder's invitation." He seemed quite worried to her. "Da works the
Orchards and my husband's a sailor." She'd found people could stop
thinking about the bad things going on around them when they talked
about themselves so she asked the logical question.

"What do you do?"

He had never been one to play cute games, and so he replied simply, "I'm
Morin." She would know the rest.

"Oh," she blinked. She knew that name. Here she'd stumbled on the
Holder himself and hadn't even realized it. But even with the somewhat
gruff reply she could see he seemed to carry the weight of the world
on his shoulders. It explained a lot and made it impossible for her to
just walk away.

"I'm Sophque," she answered. She picked up the klah again and pushed
it into his hands. Holders needed things same as regular folk, and she
was a natural caregiver. It was as much a part of her as breathing.
"It's going to be a long day and you'll need your strength." She
spotted a book on the table nearby and she looked at it a bit
longingly as her fingers ran over it. How she'd love to turn it over
in her hands.

"Would you like to hear a story," she asked with a tilt of her head.
There were other ways to distract people from their cares than trying
to get them to talk about themselves.

It all happened so fast, Morin just stared into the mug of klah that
just seemed to appear from nowhere in his hand and muttered an, "All
right," without even thinking. Of course, as soon as the words left his
lips, he winced inwardly. Just what he needed right now, another Holder
talking his ear off. Too late now, so he hid his irritation by taking a
sip and waited for the barrage to begin.

Sophque began to spin a funny tale from a little known harper
chronicle she'd read. It was dispute between two cot holding families
involving a wall and low hanging redfruit in the hands of rambunctious
children. The story was funny but came to a satisfactory conclusion
when the families were finally united by the harper. He suggested the
marriage of a daughter of one family to the son of the other. Of
course the two were secretly in love and everything turned out just
fine.

Whether it was her turn of phrase, the tone of her voice, or just
something about the woman herself that could not be defined so easily,
Morin quickly found himself engrossed in her story. He had reached for
his sandwich without thinking, filling his empty belly and smiling
slightly at the humorous tale. The tumult in his head ceased, and all
his attention was fixed on this strange woman and her story. For that
moment, he was able to completely forget all that was happening around
him, and he felt utterly at peace.

Just as he was about to ask where the story had come from, reality
rushed back in. A guard hurried up to him, whispering, "Should we
assemble the men now, sir?"

It took him a second to switch back into crisis mode. "Ah, yes," he
said, reaching for his pocket watch and flipping it open. Where had the
time gone? "Yes, assemble all the agenothree teams in the great hall, I
will give them final instructions there. The Headwoman will instruct
the women and children afterwards."

The guard rushed off to do his bidding and Morin flipped his watch
closed once more. He looked at Sophque, a little at a loss as to what
to say to her. "Ah, well, yes, I guess I had better go. But thank
you," he gently handed the now empty mug back to her, "for the
refreshments and... for... talking." He was still a little confused as
to just how she was able to make him forget so quickly, but he was
grateful none the less. "What was your name again?"

"Sophque!" Her fathers voice sounded incredulous as he walked toward
them with some of the other men. "I'm sorry sir, is she bothering
you?" He picked up one of the tanks and began strapping it on. "Go see
to your mother and keep her calm while we go clean up."

She just smiled softly and nodded taking the cup and plate. She
dropped a tiny curtsey to the holder and turned back up the stairs.

It was all Morin could do not to turn and follow her with his eyes. She
intrigued him, and so few did. He was sure he would never see her
again. Chances were, he would quickly forget her face. But not her
voice...

~~~**~~~

As Morin turned to look at that face which now had become as familiar as
her voice, he smiled. She had drifted off, a book spread across her
bare chest where it had fallen. Carefully, he lifted it up, and slid a
engraved silver bookmark into it to hold her place. His lips brushed
hers lightly as he reached over her to put it back onto the end table,
where it would wait until her next visit.

Last updated on the November 26th 2012

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