Nevertheless, Magesterial Hold was already up and about, chatting happily. The Lady Holder was giving birth to her third child, and everyone was excited.
The Lord Holder, Cyril, waited expectantly, two-turn-old son sitting beside him, while he held the little one-turn-old Seyeda in his arms.
Lord Cyril was a tall, imposing man, his shrewd, dark eyes stern. However, he was currently looking rather worse-for-wear at the moment, his dark brown eyes overcast with worry for his wife.
It had begun to rain outside, before the first cries of the Lord Holder's new son were heard.
The babe had his father's unruly brown hair, and his mother's dark blue eyes. Cyril gazed at his little son happily, then glanced at his wife.
"What shall we name him, Lecea?" Cyril asked as he gazed at the boy in his wife's arms.
"...Alcuin, we'll call him Alcuin."
Cyril took his son in his arms. "Alcuin it is then!"
Thane Hold was not a particularly large hold, but neither was it small or poor. The sun was setting behind the stone fireheights, staining the sky red and orange. The few runners still out in the fields were being led in. The drudges busy in the kitchens, preparing a feast for the birth of the Lord Holder's second child. Servants were chatting eagerly back and forth, making bets on whether the child would be male or female.
Lord Aurik paced nervously, his blue eyes shrouded with worry and impatience. His black hair fell in his eyes, while he nervously pushed it back.
Three-turn-old Cavan sat beside his father, his dark brown eyes gazing wistfully out the window. The boy was impatient, not understanding what was going on. A small kitten was clutched in his arms, batting playfully at his sleeve. The kitten's ears perked, as the cries of the Lord Holder's new baby rang out in the darkening sky. Lord Aurik raced in, staring happily at the baby in his wife's arms.
"What will we name him, Ishani?" He smiled as he took the child from his wife's arms.
Ishani smiled. "Her name will be Rea, I think."
"Eh-heh. Right then, Rea it is!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Rea stared at the dark bay runner as it raced around the fence. It's dark mane and tail were whipped out behind it, as the wind tugged playfully at it. It reared up, flinging its hooves out in front of it. The beastcrafters would have their hands full with that one.
Seven-turn-old Rea turned away from the rebellios runner, green eyes bright. Her ten-turn-old brother, Cavan, spotted her and ran over to her, his feline trailing behind him.
"Rea!" He said, as he caught up to her. "Father's looking for you."
Rea walked over to her father, who was talking to another man, presumably another Lord Holder. Lord Aurik turned to see his daughter.
"Rea!" He said, beckoning to her. "Lord Cyril, allow me to introduce to you my daughter, Rea."
Lord Cyril nodded, and smiled. He looked behind him, talking to a young boy sitting on the fence. "Alcuin, come over here." He said.
The boy, Alcuin, was about Rea's age, and a bit taller than her. His hair was long and rather unruly, and it fell into his dark blue eyes. His eyes narrowed, and he nodded.
"Cyril, can I talk to you for a moment?" Aurik said, and they left the two children to themselves.
Alcuin scowled at the girl in front of him. Her light gold-brown hair was tied back with a large ribbon. She returned the glare and turned away, looking at a dapple-gray runner beside her.
Alcuin snorted. "Runners are boring, they're just stupid animals."
Rea glared at him. "Are not! What do you know?"
Alcuin scowled, and stuck his tongue out. "Fire lizards are smarter. Plus, they're related to the dragons. They can go between."
"Oh, and I suppose you're going to be a dragonrider when you're older?"
"Maybe." Alcuin replied. He really had no intention of Impressing, he didn't think the searchriders would be interested, but he wasn't about to tell her that.
Rea stared at him. "You'll never get searched." She decided.
Alcuin scowled again, glaring at her.
Cyril and Aurik shook hands, sealing their agreement. "It's decided, then." Cyril said. "Alcuin and Rea will be married, when they're old enough."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Rea stared at the brown-haired boy from her position beside a runner. He was currently bragging to some of his friends, something about a prank against someone. Knowing Alcuin, it was probably going to be for her. Well, that was just fine with her, if she knew what it was, she could turn it against Alcuin instead.
Rea smiled as she thought about Alcuin's last attempt to prank her. It really wasn't her fault the wire hadn't caught when she tripped over it. And, naturally, when Alcuin strode over to see why the bucket of water positioned above them hadn't fell like it should have, it wasn't her fault he accidently set off the the trap instead.
Dripping water, Alcuin had just glared at her. "Isn't the bucketfull of water trap rather old, Alcuin?" She had said, eyes widening innocently. She really didn't know why Alcuin thought she'd done it on purpose. Really.
Alcuin stared at the chess board. It was only about four turns into the game, but he intended to beat Rea, preferably as quickly as possible. He stared at the board, silently debating what to do. He slowly reached for a peice, thought better of it, and pulled his hand back.
Rea sighed. "For Faranth's sake, Alcuin, just move already!" She snapped, exasperated.
Alcuin paused, and moved his pawn. Rea then made her move. "Checkmate." She said, moving her queen, in the shape of a gold dragon, by his king.
Alcuin sat, gaping at her. "Wha...? But, it's only four turns into the game...Wait a minute, couldn't my king just take your queen?"
Rea grinned at him. "Nope, cause then my bishop could take your king." She smiled at him innocently. "Another game, sweetheart?"
Alcuin groaned. "Not if I have anything to do about it." He muttered as he stood up to leave.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Rea gazed at the winding path of the small, bubbling stream, the tall trees casting shadows over her face. The cool wind whipped lightly at her hair as several small birds chirped happily in the trees.
She liked to come here, where no one could tell her what to do, where to go. Or who to marry. Her eyes narrowed at the thought of Alcuin. Their parents had been trying to get them to fall in love, or at least tolerate each other, for years now.
She didn't really mind the fact that her father had already arranged her marriage. It was just that it was Alcuin, that cocky dimglow...
Just the thought of the arrogant twelve-turn-old made her blood boil. In fact, she could almost hear his grumbling voice now, cursing as he tripped over fallen limbs-
Rea stood up, walking to the grove of trees where she could already see Alcuin brushing dead leaves off of his tunic. Her eyes widened when she realized her little hiding place had been discovered. By her annoying fiance, no less.
"What are you doing here?" Rea glared at the boy as he looked up, green eyes meeting blue. He scowled at her, pushing back a protuding branch, which promplty sprang back into place, striking his arm.
Rea didn't bother to hide her laugh, causing Alcuin to glare at her. "I could be asking you the same thing." He answered, rubbing his sore arm. Rea didn't answer him. "To be honest," He continued, "I wasn't even looking for you. I just came out here to get away from Dalyell and the twins."
Rea smiled in spite of herself. She knew how he felt about a bunch of younger siblings, having several herself. Out loud, she said, "Congradulations, now you're stuck with me instead."
Alcuin rolled his eyes. "Faranth help me." He looked around. The forest was rather peaceful, the sound of the rushing brook and the wind through the trees were the only sounds, if Rea would keep her mouth shut. He sat down, running his hand through the cool water.
"I don't like this engagement thing either." He said. "But since our parents seem dead set on it, there's really nothing we can do."
Rea stared at him for a moment. Perhaps she hadn't really given him a chance. But then, he hadn't really been too nice to start out, either. Perhaps they were both wrong about each other.
She stood there for a moment, then turned and started back to the Hold.
Alcuin looked up, hearing her leave. His eyes narrowed. "Good riddance."
Rea laughed as the dark gray runner nudged her side, looking for food. The thirteen-turn-old girl giggled and stroked his head.
The runner's head raised, nickering to another, nearby runner. Rea turned, and was surprised to see Alcuin, leaning against a fence and apparently off in his own thoughts.
Alcuin looked up as Rea walked over to him. He scowled at the girl. "What do you want?" He frowned.
Rea grinned. "What are you doing here? I thought runners were just stupid animals?" She asked, partly out of curiosity, and partly just to annoy him.
Alcuin scowled. "Dad wants to buy a runner for Seyeda. Her birthday is in a few days."
"Rea!" Rea turned, seeing her father beckoning her over. He looked up, no doubt noticing who she had been talking to. He smiled, waving to her as she arrived. Another man was behind him, leading a sorrel runner.
"Oh!" Rea gasped. "He's gorgeous!"
Aurik grinned. "Good, because he's yours."
Rea gasped, hardly believing it. She threw her arms around the young sorrel. "Straight from the Tiynarea Weyr stables." The other man was saying.
Rea happily lead her new runner away, as her father handed a few marks to the man.
Alcuin looked up, seeing Rea leading away a sorrel colt. "Oh, great. More stupid animals." He said.
Rea stopped, glaring at him. "What do you know? You don't have a fire lizard yet, do you?"
Alcuin ignored that, staying silent for a moment. "What's his name?" He asked.
Rea paused. "Treowe." She said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to catch up to my father." She glared at him and left.
Alcuin blinked. He really had been trying to be nice. Well, not about the stupid animal comment, but still...
He watched Rea as she led her runner away, Aurik waiting for them. Her green eyes sparkled excitedly as she looked over the sorrel.
Alcuin smiled. She was pretty, sure, but had a personality like a tunnelsnake. She was like Thread, beautiful at first glance, but menacing.
He shook his head, running off to find his father so they could leave.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Her green eyes bored into his dark blue ones, a slight smile hovering about her lips. Her eyes narrowed forebodingly, daring him to make one wrong move.
Alcuin bit his lip, eyes darting nervously back and forth. He considered, changed his mind, thought about it again, and decided against it again. He licked his lips, finally decided, and made his move.
Rea sighed. "Finally! Honestly, Alcuin, could you take any longer deciding? For Faranth's sake, I'm not that good at chess."
She reached out, moving her queen forward. Alcuin's eyes lit up. "Hah! Took your queen!" He yelled happily, as he moved his knight. He grinned, placing the tiny, sculpted gold dragon by the side of the board.
Rea grimaced, and moved her rook. "Checkmate." She said, leaning back as she smiled triumphantly.
Alcuin gaped at her, jaw dropping. He groaned, putting his head in his hands. "Shards, again?" He muttered.
Rea grinned, grabbing her queen and putting it back in place. "Another game, Alcuin?" She asked, emerald eyes shining brightly.
Alcuin sighed. "No, what other games have you got?"
Rea cocked her head, thinking about it. "Well, there is, of course, checkers. And I think Tyrel has a deck of Terran-style playing cards." Alcuin wondered where her younger brother got all these old Terran games, but didn't ask.
"Three jacks, a ten, and a three. Beat that!" Alcuin grinned smugly, sure he would beat her this time.
Rea fought back a smile, placing her cards down. "Three fours, and two queens. A full house."
Alcuin groaned. "Not again..."
Rea smiled, her head in her hands. She guessed Alcuin wasn't really that bad. Of course, that didn't mean she would tell him about the full-length mirror behind him.
Alcuin shook his head, gathering up all the cards and reshuffling them. He glanced over at Rea, noting her bright, green eyes staring at him, a slight smile on her face. Actually, she was kinda cute...When she wasn't yelling at him or beating him at games. Her light brown hair was tied back in a ponytail with a ribbon, and her glittering green eyes were staring into his. She really was pretty-
"What are you staring at?" He said, suddenly glaring at her.
Rea blinked, face flushed red, then scowled at him. "None of your business, dimglow."
Alcuin dealt out the cards, and they continued to play.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Rea smiled, eyes shining, as she held tightly onto the reins. Treowe nickered, galloping over the greenhills just outside the Hold.
The sky was a brilliant blue, with almost no clouds. A light, cool wind whipped about, tugging at the girl's hair and the runner's mane and tail. A few scattered trees, leaves swaying gently in the breeze, held chirping songbirds in their branches.
The sicteen-turn-old girl laughed, stroking the sorrel runner's neck as he slowed to a walk.
Treowe's ears perked,hearing the approach of another runner. Rea looked up, seeing a dark bay mare coming towards them. She recognized Lytia, the runner that belonged to Alcuin's sister, Seyeda.
Rea frowned, it wasn't Seyeda riding the bay mare. Lytia slowed, stopping in front of Treowe, nickering.Rea cocked an eyebrow. "Alcuin?What are you doning here? I thought you didn't like runners."
Sure enough, the seventeen-turn-old boy was on the mare, grinning at Rea. He shrugged. "I borrowed Seyeda's runner. Cadell and 'Lani were driving me crazy. I had to do something to get away."
"Who's gonna watch your younger sibling, then?" Rea asked.
"Hestia and Vesta can take care of it. Besides, if worse comes to worse, Taro will take over." He answered. His fourteen-turn-old twin sisters may not be too happy with it, but they'd manage.
Rea smiled. "So, any particular reason you came to find me?"
"Who said I was looking for you? I just happened to see you. Or rather, Lytia saw you, and I just hung on." Alcuin said drily.
Rea laughed, and they spent the next hour or two chatting. Despite their pretense of hating each other, they could get along without fighting, despite what most of the people in their holds thought. Rea looked up at the setting sun, as it painted the sky red and orange, eventually fading to purple, to blue, and finally to black.
She glanced at Alcuin. "We'd better head back." She said. "It's going to be dark soon."
Alcuin nodded. "Until we meet again, M'lady." He said, grinning at her.
Rea cocked an eyebrow. "What are you going on about? Besides, you're supposed to kiss my hand, aren't you?" She asked, hiding her own grin.
"Too right." Alcuin said. He grabbed her hand, pulling her closer to him, and kissed her on the lips. He grabbed his reins, urging Lytia into a gallop, as he headed back to the hold.
Rea, too surprised to say anything, smiled, before leading Treowe home.