Thanks and You're Welcome

Writers: AmajoS, Paula
Date Posted: 4th April 2019

Characters: Rothen, Zelanka
Description: Rothen stops by the Headwoman's office to thank her.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 10, day 12 of Turn 9
Notes: Follows 'For Good of the Hold'

Rothen knocked on the Headwoman's office door, glancing down to make
sure the puppy - he still hadn't figured out what her name should be -
was sitting at his left like she was supposed to be. She was, and
staring up at him with a look that said, "See? I can be good when I
want to be!" He chuckled softly.

"Come in, please," Zelanka called.

"Is it alright if she comes in as well?" Rothen asked after opening
the door. "She's trained not to make messes and I took her out before
coming anyway," he added, gesturing at the black and tan puppy by his
side.

Zelanka stared the puppy. She generally wasn't very fond of pets, they
made messes, shed hairs and left muddy pawn prints to the floors. But
her husband was a beastcrafter and she recongnized the guard-breed.
Besides she was cute. "Alrgiht, but if she makes a puddle, you'll be
cleaning it up," she replied.

"Of course, thank you, Headwoman." Rothen entered the room, the puppy
following just to his left. When the guard stopped, the puppy did as
well. "Sit," he prompted her. She sat and looked up at him, tongue
dangling and head tilted. "Good girl."

Turning his attention to the Headwoman, he grinned sheepishly, "Sorry.
I'm supposed to be training her all the time."

"Yes, I know how it is. Petriv has trained few canines to help herd
the herdbeasts over the Turns," Zelanka replied.

Rothen grinned, "I admit, before I started working with her and
Dagger, I never really paid much attention to all the canines doing
work around the Hold."

"We have the spit canines in the kitchen, beastcrafters use canines to
help with herding, there's hunting canines, you have guard canines and
there's even canines that are just pets, yes, there's lot's animals
here," Zelanka sighed. Her staff was those who cleaned after them.
Canines that were kept outside didn't bother her.

Realizing that they were edging into dangerous territory, considering
he had a rather young puppy at his side, Rothen decided to move the
discussion along, "I came today because I wanted to thank you,
Headwoman."

"Thank me of what?" Zelanka asked.

"My mother came to ask for extra supplies and you gave her a contract
with the Hold. She's very proud of it," he smiled. If anything he was
understating the issue. He knew his mother felt a bit adrift and that
it made her feel useful to mother his fellow guards, particularly the
younger ones, away from their parents for the first time. But he
hadn't realized just how important it was to her until she proudly
showed off that contract. "She asked me to find a woodcrafter to get
it framed."

"Well, she had a good idea that benefits the Hold," Zelanka said. Of
course she knew how important it would be to her. They were close in
age. Zelanka had her position as Headwoman to keep her busy, but a
woman who's child bearing Turns were over and family all grown up,
what could she do to feel useful? It could be lonely.

He nodded, "Well, I wanted to thank you anyway. I haven't seen her
this happy in a long time." His smile faded a bit as he thought about
the difficulties his mother had faced throughout the turns. From being
abandoned by her husband and oldest son to losing her youngest
daughter, though she still refused to acknowledge that, and surviving
the destruction of two Holds. It felt very good to see her smiling and
feeling proud of herself.

"You're welcome," Zelanka said simply. Of course, that was one of the
reasons why she had chosen to give her contract. She could have just
given her permission to use the supplies instead.

Rothen gave the Headwoman another smile. "I better be going or we'll
be late for training." He glanced down at the puppy and said, "Come,"
tapping his leg. The puppy stood up and moved with him to the door,
tail wagging and eyes alert.

"Good luck with the training, and remember, no puddles inside," Zelanka said.

Last updated on the April 16th 2019

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Thanks and You're Welcome