Of Entertainment

Writers: Emma, Yvonne
Date Posted: 10th November 2005

Characters: Thalia, Carlan
Description: Thalia asks Carlan how the preparations for entertainment at the banquet to welcome Lord Ishek are going
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 8, day 25 of Turn 3

While actually _working_ for a change was a delight to Thalia, she often found herself exhausted and worn by late afternoon. Her feet hurt and all she wanted to do was to sit by a fire somewhere with Aslian, who saw more of his wetnurse than he saw of her. She settled herself with a sigh behind Verora's desk and put her head down for only a moment, but a knock at the door interrupted her and she quickly sat upright again. It wouldn't do if anyone saw her like that. "Come in!"

"Ma'am," said the young harper rather formally. "You asked to see me?"

"Thank you for being so prompt. I hope I haven't interrupted anything?" she asked.

"Not at all," replied the young man. "Ryannae is sleeping, and so is Nikanna." He smiled, "I'm sure you know what it's like with a small baby around."

"Yes," she said, a bit sadly. Although how one could get a good night's sleep _without_ the wetnurse was beyond her. Having to work and wake up with her child every few candlemarks... what a nightmare that would be! "I wanted to talk to you about the banquet. How are the entertainment plans going?"

"I've sent for some new music from the Harper Hall, it should arrive tomorrow." He paused for a moment, "Yes, tomorrow, so that will give us several days to rehearse."

"At the very least. I was wondering what you had planned for the banquet itself. Music while we eat? And is there to be singing as well as dancing afterward?"

"I've arranged for a singer to be sent from the Hall. He'll perform some ballads while the meal is served, then join us to play music that can be danced to. My own speciality is just with the gitar as you know, Journeyman Ralser is an accomplished singer and drummer."

"Yes." Thalia chewed at her fingernail absently as she thought. "Have you heard much about him? Lord Ishek, I mean. I've asked around, but no one seems to be able to tell me much."

"I haven't unfortunately," replied the harper. Sometimes there were ways of finding things out, but with the hall moving as it had, well that had meant his sources were too busy.

She sighed. "Well, no matter." It was frustrating not _knowing_.
Whoever he was, Lord Ishek would wield a lot of power over her and her son, and it was better to be prepared than to face a possible threat blindly. Everything she'd heard made him out to be a kind man, but late at night, or when she held her child, her anxieties said differently. "The last banquet we had was for my wedding, and you'll excuse me if I don't remember much from it. The harpers were positioned in the alcove to the right and a little down from the Head Table, correct?"

"I'm afraid I wouldn't know, I was still at Sapphire Meadows then.
But I can check for you what things would sound like from there."

"Please. And ask--" Verora. Ryalane. Both names were on the tip of her tongue. "--ask one of the Headwoman's assistants, or Penryn. They would know." Moments like this made her feel incredibly lost and overwhelmed. And alone.

"Consider it done." Carlan changed the subject, having caught the hesitation. "Might I ask after young Lord Aslian?"

"Fine. Well." Thalia bit her lip, wishing for her baby. The nurse took good care of him... she thought. "He is well. And your wife, and child?"

"Both are doing well. Ryannae is almost a month old now. The healers are very pleased with her."

"Just as you seem to be! Just saying her name makes your face light up, Carlan."

"She looks just like her mother," said the harper with a smile on his face.

"Luckily for her." Thalia smiled and rose to her feet. "While you are not sore on the eyes, I'm not sure that your masculine good looks would suit the girl she'll become."

Carlan laughed. "She'll be as beautiful as her mother someday."

"I'm sure that she will be. But if you have no further questions, I really ought to be going to my own child." **And getting some hidework done. How do mothers without nurses function?!**

"I should get back to mine as well," replied Carlan. "You can leave the music arrangements to me ma'am."

Thalia smiled. "I can't wait to see what you come up with."

Last updated on the November 10th 2005

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Of Entertainment