Pacing (Sulia)

[kayla]

Merrek was not entirely happy. He had agreed with Lord Enald of Telgar to set up a meeting between his little Allie and the current, but temporary heir of Telgar Hold - Enald's brother Torent. Of course the man had not been at the Conclave, which made the Lord Holder of Fort a little suspicious, but Sulia had managed to calm most of his misgivings while Enald had had a perfectly rational explanation for why his younger brother had remained at home rather than coming to the Conclave - and in fact, other than the fact that he was looking for a wife, there was no real reason for Torent to attend.

What really bothered the Lord Holder was not that he had not yet gotten to meet the man - that would be something he would definitely see to if he did agree to the match - but that Torent would not be heir for very long. Lady Leshya had already proven that she was fertile, even if it had taken a while before that came to be, and Merrek knew that it would only be a matter of time before the Lord and Lady of Telgar were celebrating the birth of a baby boy - an heir. And then where would that leave his oldest daughter? He loved all his children, but as his oldest little girl, it was Allie's birth right that she be married to an heir, that she would be a Lady Holder herself.

And yet he also knew the options. There were other Holds that would gladly align themselves with Fort, after all, they were Fort. But the only Hold that had a marriagable heir was Bitra, assuming the boy was alive and ever found, but he would not send his darling Allie into that nest of tunnlesnakes. And Enald and Leshya seemed rather honorable. They would make sure, he knew, that Torent was given a decent size holding of his own, and that as wife to the Lord's brother, Allie would be a high ranking lady in her own right in Enald and Leshya's court. But it was not the same as being the Lady Holder herself.

As Merrek thought all of these things, he was pacing in his and Sulia's chambers. He knew that he was not entirely ready to see his little girl leave, but this was more than a father who did not want to admit that his little girl was growing up. This was a father who wanted to make sure that his little girl had the best possible life.

He momentarily stopped pacing and leaned his head against the wall. He loved Sulia, with all his heart, but right now the person he most needed to talk to, to make sure that he was doing the right thing by Alsea was Ralyn.

He did not want to even think about the fact that Chaila and Melora were not far from marrying age either.

[thedreamerlady]

Sulia was a bustle of orange dress, and when she entered the rooms of herself and Merrek, she didn't quite register that he was in their rooms, doing what seemed to be pacing.

Odd. Sulia gazed at her husband for a few seconds, and then moved to sit lightly on their bed, adjusting her full dress so that she could sit, and then waited. Merrek, would, Sulia was certain, tell her exactly why he was upset, given the right support. Not that he ever knowingly cut her out, or so Sulia hoped, but he was male, and therefor needed prodding, at least some of the time.

The Lady hoped that he wasn't upset about Torent. She'd told him that it would be more difficult after waiting until Alsea was so old. Not that it wasn't partially her own fault, but they could shift blame later.

"How are you feeling?" Sulia asked gently, trying to be as careful of Merrek's feelings as possible

[kayla]

Merrek had not heard his wife come in, which was odd as Sulia could often take his attention away from anything - even if she did not realize or believe that was the case. When she asked how he was feeling he turned and smiled warmly to her, "I'm sorry, dearest. I did not hear you come in." Which rather fully expressed just how preoccupied the man was.

He moved to sit by her, kissing her warmly as he did so. "I just don't know if this is the right match for Allie. I know. We've not even met him yet. And the two may fall in love." He waved his hand, "Or they may hate each other." He rubbed at the bridge of his nose. "I want the best for Allie. I want her to have a good marriage, to be happy, and yes, to have the rank that she deserves to have. And I'm not sure that settling for a place-holder of an heir is the way to get her any of that."

[thedreamerlady]

He hadn't heard or seen her come in. Sulia mentally dismissed this orange gown from ever being worn by her again. She liked being noticed, and if Merrek didn't notice her in it, she wasn't going to bother keeping it around. Not with the amount of work she put into being seen.

"Oh Merrek." With a rustle of material, Sulia twined an arm around her husband. "Let the meeting take place, and talk to Alsea. For all we know, she wants to be a Cotholders wife. I know that I am not close with her, and I don't believe the two of you have ever spoken about it."

Sometimes, Sulia mused, it was nice to be shorter than your husband. It gave you an excuse to look up from your lashes, and look sweet and innocent. And it also kept her from suggesting the manner of changes that could happen even if Alsea married Torent. Early death, and those types of things. Merrek wouldn't appreciate that, not coming from her.

"Talk to her. You two can figure things out."

[kayla]

Merrek raised an eyebrow at the possibility that Alsea would want to become a cotholder's wife, but he did not argue the point. The fact of the matter was that he would not allow such a thing, so it did not matter. A minor Holder was one thing - especially one who would be close enough to the Lord and Lady as to have standing in court. However, a cotholder would have been completely and totally out of the question for any of his girls. They deserved better and would have better!

"I'll talk to her about it. And I'll want to know what she thinks of him afterwards as well. I realize that some may consider her a bit old to be just beginning this process, but we are still a well reputed Hold that many Holds would like an alliance with. If for some reason Allie cannot bear the thought of marrying Torant, than we will pursue other avenues."

After all, the Lord Holder had been fortunate in both of his marriages. He wanted the same thing for his children.

[thedreamerlady]

There was nothing else Sulia could have asked for. She doubted they could find another Holder better suited for the oldest daughter of Merrek and his first wife, but that was a conversation they could save for later. And at least Merrek wasn't trying to claim that Alsea shouldn't marry Torent out of hand. She could work with any of his fears, as long as Alsea didn't despise the current heir of Telgar. And the little girl had best not: Sulia wanted her out of Fort Hold, and the sooner the better.

"Well then, it's settled." Sulia whispered into Merrek's ear. "Why don't I help you relax?"

End