Scarburg Meadhall - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lhunardawen · 11-12-2010, 12:43 PM

As Saeryn and Wynflaed talked and Kara began washing the pots and ladles Frodides used for making breakfast, Ginna went to the dining hall to gather the dishes left after the men had eaten. She took one glance around and sighed, walking toward the nearest table. The women had been much busier now that Lord Athanar had taken over the eorlship of Scarburg as he brought with him more people to add to the household. Perhaps today, she thought as she stacked a dirty bowl on top of another, the workload could be lighter with some of the men gone. She did not feel very optimistic about it.

Ginna approached the last messy table, the one closest to the doors, and saw a folded piece of paper lying close to a bowl. She put down the tray she was holding, wiped her hands on the apron around her waist, and took it. A letter from her father! She wondered why it was left there instead of handed directly to her, but it was quickly replaced by excitement as she realised what it possibly contained. She had half a mind to open it right then and there until she remembered that Kara was waiting for her. She dropped the letter in the pocket of her apron and walked back to the kitchen with the dishes.

There was only one thing her father could possibly write her about, that they had failed to discuss when he had been in Scarburg months ago. Randvér had to return to his lands sooner than he expected, but not before meeting Harreld and seeing him with her. If Rand did not approve of Harreld, he would have had no trouble letting her know immediately. As it was, it seemed he had to think things through. Ginna took it as a good sign.

"Frodides, may I step outside for a moment?" she asked as she dropped the tray full of dishes beside Kara.

"Go ahead. Just make sure you come back soon."

Ginna headed back to hall and sat on one of the benches. She took out the letter, tore off the seal, and read. It left her dumbstruck, quite unsure of how to respond. She read it again.

Take his right-hand man, Thornden, for example. He is hardworking, loyal to his lord, and good to his lord's folk. From the first I took a liking to him in the former mead hall. Had it crossed his mind to win your hand I would have granted him his wish.

Ginna was not surprised. She had always known Thornden was the kind of man her father would want for a son-in-law, which was probably why she never considered being with him. Perhaps unconsciously it was her way of silently rebelling against his efforts to control how she lived her life.

Do not mistake me, I know what you see in the smith Harreld. He is a man of gentle manners and careful speech, and he treats you with the honor meet to a woman of your lineage. You are of the right age to choose for yourself, but know, my daughter, that in all of this I seek only the best for you, and should you entrust to me your future this is how I would have it.

You are of the right age to choose for yourself. Ginna guessed it was the closest she could get to an approval, and thought sadly that it was far from what she had hoped for. She had dreamt that the man she loved would be able to win not only her heart but also her father's, and it was not so. But if such an approval would be enough for Harreld, then it was enough for her. Rand may seek the best for her, but now she knew what it was better than he.

As she stood and made her way to Harreld's smithy, she thought about what her father said about the likelihood of Thornden and Saeryn being wed to each other. It never occurred to her, but it made sense. Would she dare broach the subject with Saeryn?

Ginna saw the smith already hard at work, trying to do alone a job equivalent to that of two smiths. "Harreld," she said, "may I disturb you for a while? There is something we need to talk about."

littlemanpoet · 11-12-2010, 05:47 PM

Harreld had gone directly to his smithy after breaking his fast. He had no doubt that the letter would find its way to Ginna's hands. As he stoked the hearth and prepared his tools, he gave thought to this new trouble.

Would Ginna come to him, or not? If she saw the same thing as he, she might stay away from him, which would be hard to bear but would allow for her father's will to come into play. What if she did not see how things stood, but chose to be stubborn, not heeding her father's will? Then she would come to him and say ... what? He had no idea. But to be sure she would want to stay betrothed.

The hearth stoked, he prepared the hammers and swords and mallets and soup ladles to be repaired or honed. What if she tried to say to him that all was well? He could not bear it.

The first sword was ready. He took his hammer, laid the sword on the anvil, and began to ply his trade. A shadow appeared in the door. She came in. His heart lurched. She was everything to him, yet he could not keep her.

"Harreld," she said, "may I disturb you for a while? There is something we need to talk about."

A fair question. How could he speak to her? A knot formed in his throat. He blinked hard and scowled, wiping the sweat already formed on his brow and the moisture in his eyes with it.

"Now is not the time," he said gruffly. "Have you no work in the kitchen? Leave me to my chores, Gi-" his throat caught on her name. "Leave me!" He hammered hard and fast, giving her no chance to gainsay him.

Lhunardawen · 11-13-2010, 09:39 AM

A strong urge to hurry out in fear came over Ginna, but she knew it would be unreasonable to do so. Harreld had always been gentle, and he loved her. He would not do anything to hurt her. But she felt an equally strong urge to demand whatever the matter with him was. This outburst was different from the ones before it, and she guessed it had nothing to do with having too much work in his hands.

It took all her willpower to fight down both urges. She knew Harreld, he would soon come around. When the time was right he would seek her as he always did and tell her his thoughts. She only needed to wait until he was ready.

Harreld gave her no more notice, striking his hammer at a sword as though his life depended on it. She wanted to walk towards him and wrap her arms around him, but she had to respect his wish. For now she had to be contented with conveying her concern through her words.

"You know I'm always here for you, Harreld," she said loudly enough, not letting his hammering drown out her voice. And she left.

11-12-2010, 12:43 PM	#1
Lhunardawen Hauntress of the Havens Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: IN it, but not OF it Posts: 2,538	As Saeryn and Wynflaed talked and Kara began washing the pots and ladles Frodides used for making breakfast, Ginna went to the dining hall to gather the dishes left after the men had eaten. She took one glance around and sighed, walking toward the nearest table. The women had been much busier now that Lord Athanar had taken over the eorlship of Scarburg as he brought with him more people to add to the household. Perhaps today, she thought as she stacked a dirty bowl on top of another, the workload could be lighter with some of the men gone. She did not feel very optimistic about it. Ginna approached the last messy table, the one closest to the doors, and saw a folded piece of paper lying close to a bowl. She put down the tray she was holding, wiped her hands on the apron around her waist, and took it. A letter from her father! She wondered why it was left there instead of handed directly to her, but it was quickly replaced by excitement as she realised what it possibly contained. She had half a mind to open it right then and there until she remembered that Kara was waiting for her. She dropped the letter in the pocket of her apron and walked back to the kitchen with the dishes. There was only one thing her father could possibly write her about, that they had failed to discuss when he had been in Scarburg months ago. Randvér had to return to his lands sooner than he expected, but not before meeting Harreld and seeing him with her. If Rand did not approve of Harreld, he would have had no trouble letting her know immediately. As it was, it seemed he had to think things through. Ginna took it as a good sign. "Frodides, may I step outside for a moment?" she asked as she dropped the tray full of dishes beside Kara. "Go ahead. Just make sure you come back soon." Ginna headed back to hall and sat on one of the benches. She took out the letter, tore off the seal, and read. It left her dumbstruck, quite unsure of how to respond. She read it again. Take his right-hand man, Thornden, for example. He is hardworking, loyal to his lord, and good to his lord's folk. From the first I took a liking to him in the former mead hall. Had it crossed his mind to win your hand I would have granted him his wish. Ginna was not surprised. She had always known Thornden was the kind of man her father would want for a son-in-law, which was probably why she never considered being with him. Perhaps unconsciously it was her way of silently rebelling against his efforts to control how she lived her life. Do not mistake me, I know what you see in the smith Harreld. He is a man of gentle manners and careful speech, and he treats you with the honor meet to a woman of your lineage. You are of the right age to choose for yourself, but know, my daughter, that in all of this I seek only the best for you, and should you entrust to me your future this is how I would have it. You are of the right age to choose for yourself. Ginna guessed it was the closest she could get to an approval, and thought sadly that it was far from what she had hoped for. She had dreamt that the man she loved would be able to win not only her heart but also her father's, and it was not so. But if such an approval would be enough for Harreld, then it was enough for her. Rand may seek the best for her, but now she knew what it was better than he. As she stood and made her way to Harreld's smithy, she thought about what her father said about the likelihood of Thornden and Saeryn being wed to each other. It never occurred to her, but it made sense. Would she dare broach the subject with Saeryn? Ginna saw the smith already hard at work, trying to do alone a job equivalent to that of two smiths. "Harreld," she said, "may I disturb you for a while? There is something we need to talk about."

11-12-2010, 05:47 PM	#2
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	Harreld had gone directly to his smithy after breaking his fast. He had no doubt that the letter would find its way to Ginna's hands. As he stoked the hearth and prepared his tools, he gave thought to this new trouble. Would Ginna come to him, or not? If she saw the same thing as he, she might stay away from him, which would be hard to bear but would allow for her father's will to come into play. What if she did not see how things stood, but chose to be stubborn, not heeding her father's will? Then she would come to him and say ... what? He had no idea. But to be sure she would want to stay betrothed. The hearth stoked, he prepared the hammers and swords and mallets and soup ladles to be repaired or honed. What if she tried to say to him that all was well? He could not bear it. The first sword was ready. He took his hammer, laid the sword on the anvil, and began to ply his trade. A shadow appeared in the door. She came in. His heart lurched. She was everything to him, yet he could not keep her. "Harreld," she said, "may I disturb you for a while? There is something we need to talk about." A fair question. How could he speak to her? A knot formed in his throat. He blinked hard and scowled, wiping the sweat already formed on his brow and the moisture in his eyes with it. "Now is not the time," he said gruffly. "Have you no work in the kitchen? Leave me to my chores, Gi-" his throat caught on her name. "Leave me!" He hammered hard and fast, giving her no chance to gainsay him.

11-13-2010, 09:39 AM	#3
Lhunardawen Hauntress of the Havens Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: IN it, but not OF it Posts: 2,538	A strong urge to hurry out in fear came over Ginna, but she knew it would be unreasonable to do so. Harreld had always been gentle, and he loved her. He would not do anything to hurt her. But she felt an equally strong urge to demand whatever the matter with him was. This outburst was different from the ones before it, and she guessed it had nothing to do with having too much work in his hands. It took all her willpower to fight down both urges. She knew Harreld, he would soon come around. When the time was right he would seek her as he always did and tell her his thoughts. She only needed to wait until he was ready. Harreld gave her no more notice, striking his hammer at a sword as though his life depended on it. She wanted to walk towards him and wrap her arms around him, but she had to respect his wish. For now she had to be contented with conveying her concern through her words. "You know I'm always here for you, Harreld," she said loudly enough, not letting his hammering drown out her voice. And she left.