Sunspear Gardens

[Deleted]

"I'm sure your family don't agree with that," she said, laughing softly, "Home is the people that make it, is it not?"

[Marie]

2Oh, no doubt. I lovem y family but I think it's proper to have someone here at Sunspear, don't you? Why shouldn't it be me?"

[Deleted]

"You and Lucas had a son, didn't you, I think I remember my father mentioning it." She said, "Is he here with you then?"

[Marie]

Elayna shook her head, her hair partly wet where it had fallen below the water.

"No, Edric lives at Ghost Hill with my lady mother."

[Deleted]

"Well...I." she said, not quite sure what to say, "Don't you think a child needs it's mother?"

[Marie]

"Gods be good, you sound like my father," Eleyna sighed. "That's what he said the last time I was at Ghost Hill. I always thought that Edric's place was with the family. That's where I was raised, and he has cousins to play with. He's safe there. And besides, he's nine now, so he will be going off to squire for someone within a year or two. Most of the boys in my family go for squiring outside of Ghost Hill. My brother Marq is the only one who remained at home, and only because my uncle Uthor wanted him for his squire."

[Deleted]

"Yes, but do cousins make up for him not having a mother around? My brothers and I didn't have my mother growing up, and I think I should have liked her there a lot. It might even be worse, knowing your mother could spend time with you, see you off to bed at night, be there when you wake up, and then also knowing she won't." Myranda argued back, but still smiling. "Of course, I don't have any children, so perhaps it is not my place to say, but I can give you the other point of view."

[Marie]

"Oh, I never thought of it like that. I believed it was my duty to be here," Eleyna confided.

She could not tell Myranda the full truth. Only someone who had been married and widowed could understand.

"I love my son, I do, but I have never felt that I myself was necessariy to him. He has always seemed content and, well....after all these years...I am more like his aunt than his mother."

[Deleted]

She could not tell Elenya the full truth. Only someone who had lost their mother at a young age and grown up without one could understand.

"You sound sure enough, so I shall keep out of it. I am at an age where I think I am always right, I am afraid." she lied and smiled pleasantly at Elenya.

[Marie]

"Oh, don't worry about that. Even at my age I always think I'm right," Eleyna said with a laugh. "I know you mean well, Lady Myranda. Mayhaps it would be different if I had another husband, but I don't. I can be happy here. I think you could too, if you wished to stay."

[Deleted]

"I am lady of my house, Lady Elenya, my place is there, especially as my father gets older, there is where I belong." she said with a smile and looked up at the clear blue sky. It is nice to get away, even if it is for... official matters."

[Marie]

"I'm sure it is. I'm older than you, of course, by nearly ten years I'd say, but I am not lady of my house yet. My mother is strong, I have every hope that she will last twenty or thirty years more. Is it not better for me to serve where I am most needed than simply getting in the way at Ghost Hill?"

[Deleted]

"What is it you do here that is so needed? She asked, leaning forward slightly and brushing her wet hair to the side slightly,

[Marie]

"I serve as my mother's ambassador and lady in waiting to the princess. It means we have someone here who can speak for the interests of our house, which I think is no bad thing. Indeed, it can be positively advantageous," Eleyna whispered. "If I were at Ghost Hill with Mother, I'd have little notion of how matters proceed in Dorne."

[The Smith]

Emelia laughed from where she had been quietly floating, "Have you been sent to spy on my Eleyna? How dreadfully honset of you to say in my presence."