Not the One that I Want
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Ames, Chelle
Date Posted: 9th April 2013
Characters: Parale, Danrina
Description: Parale decides to help Danrina find a man.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 13, day 19 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Telemon, Fymer, Morin, Ioven
She was finally up and about and it was nice to have a seat in the ladies' solar again to see everyone and to show off her new addition. Parale was so excited and she couldn't help but be overly pleased with her little daughter. Baby in hand, she sat back and rocked, smiling at the other women.
Danrina entered the solar and looked around. It was hard for her to make conversation with some of the ladies sometimes, but she _had_ been trying. She hoped to meet people who could help her with her mission. If she didn't find her own husband she was going to be saddled with the louse her father had chosen for her. A frown puckered her lips at just that thought. As she glanced around, she noticed a new face, one she hadn't seen in here before. The babe in the
woman's arm both intrigued and repulsed her. She didn't have good memories of her younger siblings as babes. She knew it would be her duty to have children, so perhaps it was time to try and put those squeamish feelings aside.
Moving, she took a seat near the lady. "Good day," she greeted her, hoping it would engage her in conversation.
"Well met. I'm Parale and this is Parys," she replied before smiling and introducing the baby. The little girl had a bonnet but dark hair was escaping around the edges.
"She's very cute," Danrina replied, uncertain what else to say to the woman about the babe.
"Thank you. I don't believe I have met you before. Then again, I have been resting for some time so it's possible. My husband is a smith." Like with most holder women, Parale's status was directly connected to her husband's.
Danrina nodded. A smith? That wouldn't make for a bad husband, now would it? **Better than that lout father chose who seems to just leer at me as though I'm a piece of meat,** she mused. "Do you like being married to a smith?" she asked, her curiosity driving her questions.
"Well, I suppose being married to a crafter husband is different than being married to a holder. There is less work for me since I don't have to run a hold or cothold of my own. His work hours are sometimes a bit different, though." That was indeed a change from working just in the daylight like holders did.
Danrina gave a thoughtful look. **Perhaps I would like that,** she thought. **No hold to run, sounds good to me.** "Are
there many unmarried crafter-men around here? Perhaps I could meet some of them," she asked Parale.
"Ahh there are some. The Master Healer is single...the harper... Some seacrafters but they're gone a lot. Might be a
smith or two...and some woodcrafters. Maybe the Lord Holder will have some sort of party or something and we can introduce you?" Of course she had no idea what sort of plans Morin had going and they had just had the Gather so there would be no large celebrations in the offing most likely. "Or even..a dinner party hosted by someone?"
She swallowed a bit, but forced a smile on her face. They were all good ideas, but Danrina hated the thought of being put on show in front of so many, being the center of attention. However, knowing that it would help her cause, she nodded. "That would be good. I need to meet people if I'm to succeed on my mission to find a husband." **Anyone would be better than the leering, demanding lout father chose,** she thought as she recalled _that_ meeting and how
disgusted she had been.
"Oh you're on a mission?" That sounded quite serious. Parale couldn't help but think that she had all but given up on
marriage before Ioven had shown up.
Danrina tried not to grimace at that. It was hard enough talking to people sometimes, without them thinking her foolish for her little errand. But, knowing she needed help to accomplish it, she pressed onward, though she felt terribly uncomfortable doing so.
"I am. If I don't find a suitable husband in one Turn's time, I must return home and marry the man my father chose for me," she frowned then. She would do almost _anything_ not to have to go back there and live out _that_ life.
"Oh...I'm guessing the man chosen is not....suitable for some reason?" Parale's mind was already going.
She wrinkled her nose. "Not at all. He's just like my father and I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with that!" She hadn't meant to reveal so much about her personal feelings, but now she couldn't take them back. "I want a
life different from that." **One where people care about more than just themselves and power all the time.**
"Well then we have a Turn to work with." Parale was already feeling herself preparing to help Danrina. It would give her something to do besides her normal wifely duties and she would be grateful for the female companionship. She missed
that since moving to Sunstone, besides what she had with Parme. "What are your preferences?"
"Well, I don't really know, completely. I know I don't want a man who puts power and wealth over family. I also don't want someone who puts himself above everyone else around or who likes to boast and brag of the good things in his life." Danrina knew she was listed the traits of her own father she disliked. "I..." she paused, "don't know really, but I don't like being bossed around, at all!"
"So no arrogance and you want a man who wants a family. All right.." That was a description she could work with. "I say...Danrina why don't you come and find me in my quarters while my other daughters are in lessons and perhaps we can set up some introductions. It can't be too hard." And with Parale serving as a married female chaperone, it could probably go better with her parents.
She wasn't sure how much _she_ wanted a family, but she knew it would be expected of her, so she didn't argue. Perhaps if she found a man who _wasn't_ like her father, she actually wouldn't mind children running all over.
"Thank you, Parale. That would be very helpful. I'll stop by in a day or so and we can start making plans. I _really_ don't want to have to return home at Turn's End next Turn having failed in my mission."
"My dear, if I can find a man, so can you." She chuckled some before looking back down at the baby who was wiggling her hands a little bit. It was hard not to watch her all the time. Parale didn't want to miss anything.
"I hope so. I don't want to fail." Danrina looked at the baby again. "She's so small," she commented, uncertain what else to say. She'd been around babies enough to know how to handle them.
"Indeed. I'm almost afraid I'll break her except I've been holding children that weren't mine for a very long time. I just sometimes have to check to make sure she's real." Parale admitted that with a sheepish grin.
Danrina had to admit that she actually _liked_ the other woman, which surprised her as she hadn't ever really connected with other women at her father's Hold before. Then again, she'd almost never connected with _anyone_ there.
"She's definitely real," Danrina replied, not really sure what else to say about the child.
"And she needs a change," Parale announced with a sigh. Pulling Parys up into her arms again, she nodded at the other women. "Danrina, you come and find me sometime soon allright? I'll ask my husband if there are any we can invite to dinner."
"Thank you Parale, I appreciate it," Danrina replied. She intended to take the other woman up on the offer soon. Better to get started right away than to dawdle too long and be forced to return home at the end of the Turn.
Last updated on the April 11th 2013