Married Off

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 13th December 2013

Characters: Yriadha, Sophque
Description: Yriadha talks to Sophque about suitors for her daughter
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 4, day 15 of Turn 7
Notes: Follows Perverse

Yriadha

Sophque

Waiting until evening, Yriadha made her way to Sophque's little cot,
her face pinched with her hurry. Knocking firmly, she waited, silently
hoping that the seamstress was available.

"Hey," Sophque said when she opened the door. Then she put a finger to
her lips and whispered. "Sophine just went down."

"I'll be quiet." Yriadha nodded and whispered quietly. "And quick. May
I come in?"

"Of course," Sophque stepped back from the crack and opened the door
wider to let the Headwoman enter her small but immaculate two room
cot.

Stepping in quickly, Yriadha glanced around and then turned to speak
softly. "I was wondering. Have you had time to meet with my daughter
at all? I know you are busy, but..." Her lips firmed. "I fear I may
have to foster her soon."

"I've talked with her a couple of times but she's very closed. Why?
What's going on," Sophque could see the worry in the older woman.

The Headwoman's lips thinned further. "I'm not surprised she's closed
off." She hid a shudder. "It's a private matter, but unfortunately,
not one in my direct control. She has..." She tried to formulate the
words without actually saying what was the problem. "...become
involved in matters that are unbecoming." She closed her eyes for a
moment a took a breath. "The thought of sending her to another Hold
may be the only recourse I have to separate her from the issue."

"Oh Yriadha," she breathed. "I'm so sorry to hear that." Her mind
searched for a possible happy medium. "What about the Hall. She'd be
close but not close enough for casual visits."

She nodded slowly. "Perhaps. The new Hall would keep her too busy to
be...distracted." Her brow furrowed deeply. "Has she mentioned
anything about a Ranara to you?" The thought of the girl her daughter
had been caught with still caught her with a cold anger.

"No," Sophque mused about what she'd seen in the square recently. "But
I've seen her with another girl in the square."

Yriadha paled slightly. Another girl? She sat abruptly in a chair and
pressed her fingers to her temple. "What were they doing?"

They were just sitting together by the fountain with their heads
together talking and giggling like any pair of friends." Sophque was
puzzled now. "Why?"

She exhaled deeply. "My trust in the girl has been broken, to be
honest. " She shook her head. "I know the girl is young, but she needs
to be married off. Quickly."

That was a hard thing for any mother to admit. Sophque figured it
could happen some day with Sophine though she rather hoped not. "Do
you have any prospects for her at all?"

Yriadha shook her head. "No. She hasn't shown any interest in any man
that has shown an interest in her." And now, she feared, she knew why.

Sophque looked a little puzzled. "Interest? What does that have to do
with anything? My parents didn't consult me when Inokin came to ask
for my hand my father said yes and we were married." She knew Yriadha
knew some things others had no clue of. "My luck came much later, and
at least Inokin had the good fortune of being gone most of the time."

Yriadha sighed. "I'm not of the Blood and despite my position, I've
little to offer a prospective family." Her brow knit. "My own marriage
was arranged; I had hoped to spare her that, but I suppose traditions
work far better than waiting for the heart. And none have offered for
her. She doesn't spend time with any prospective suitors." Her jaw
firmed. "Which will have to change."

Sophque looked at her for a moment. "It will," she agreed. Then her
brow creased. "Has she expressed a desire to craft?"

There was a harsh sigh. "The girl doesn't talk to me about her
desires." She sat up. "Perhaps I shall send her to Emerald Falls. I
hear there are many men there who might want her."

Sophque could hear the exasperation clearly and wasn't quite sure what
could cause that kind of reaction. "What is going on Yriadha?"

She knew that Sophque could be trusted not to speak, but the situation
was highly embarrassing; not only that, it made Yriadha feel like a
failure and it was something the proud woman could scarcely bear.
"She was caught...." She grimaced with disgust. "...in an intimate
embrace. With another young woman."

Sophque's eyes grew round and fingers raised to her lips. "Oh no," she
breathed.

Lips firming to a tight line, Yriadha nodded. "Which is why she needs
to be married as quickly as possible. This...situation has to be taken
care of. None of my family can afford to be shamed like that if she
can't control herself."

"She'll need someone strong who won't abuse her... too much." Sophque
had some experience of a husband who's needs were paramount but he'd
provided her a home. "What about someone from the Hall?"

"Someone who can control her baser instincts." Yriadha frowned. Her
husband hadn't been physically abusive, but she had seen her fair
share of other husbands who were. She did not want Humari to see the
same, but the girl had to be controlled. "I will have to send a
message to the Hallmaster. Humari is attractive. Surely they'll be
someone interested."

"I'm sure there will be," Sophque herself had been approached more
than once in the past Turn though she really couldn't expound on why
she wasn't interested.

Last updated on the December 19th 2013

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Married Off