A Castrovel Adventure: Part 5, Chapter 41
~O'mei Remaue maeavya-naze aesehathara soreathauara Kaureara.~ (In which Remaue takes control of preparations for Kaure’s bridetide.)
5. Soelae, 24,547 - 13th Month in Qabarat
So Meiss, as share of now spending more nights with our household than at the weaponyard, has taken the task of bearing Sievae’s weapons and harness. Befittingly, we have named him ~Umalaelas~ - Shieldbearer. The nickname has run among the yardfellows, who happily tease him. Luckily, he and Sieavae are well liked, as is Lenis her son who has become an eager waterboy. They have also stayed a few nights at the weaponyard, even if more often Meiss comes home with us.
Also, we have fulfilled boding all the guestwrits for Kaure’s bridetide. I welcomely yield stead to Remaue’s oversight on our maidenmate’s behalf, and ingathering high moodsomeness, along with fitting Indith and Leiendil. A thought: if nothing else, this soon worshiptide will beshow whoever upholds Thwartkind and Damaya-Elves, and whoever else withstands. As quoth Semuane: ~O’zhaoadeni kovim homaeara sholassara,~ - “We are about to beware who our true fiends are.”
12. Soelae, 24,547 - 13th Month in Qabarat
Today at mornmeal Remaue called the whole flag together, along with the household, Mistress Noemi, Mistress Shotheiae, and the house grooms. My shieldbearer-wifemate then bade that, unless needful business (incleaving trade and the Embassy’s service), all shall fully bename to the bridetide’s readiness. When others bechided, she threatened: ~Lei soreathara heshya-rualis, o’lei dorya-rualisa o venola!~ - “Either you thew the bridetride, or you are shackled in my bower!~ Idly I wondered who might take that choice.
As my meekness’s gift, Remaue let me bode word to the Lemussa Weaponyard and tell Master Evauess that we withhold drill until the bridetide, although we fully forelook the whole weaponyard to come, which at least he atook with mild gruffness. In friendship, I warned Meiss to stay away from our house unless he wants work. Yet instead he came back with me, knelt before Remaue, and yielded service. For this deed he has gotten her goodwill and stands as her first groom.
Zielae Treesong Eve, 24,547 (6 days from last log) - 13th Month in Qabarat
We have outlived the last week. Now we all slumber or sit wakeful, befitting our mood, at Firstwatch’s end, on the eve of Kaure’s bridetide. I reckon I have a wont for sleeplessness on a bridetide eve, ingathering mine, Remaue’s, and others.
Happily, and even against Remaue’s threats, it went more easily than foredreaded. Readiness ripened handsomely while all yielded help, and merely once did Remaue almost undertake dare (or at least a lively wrestle-fight under the midyard eaves, which foreboded a watchful throng) with Mistress Noemi Semuane’s matemother, on feud of the guests’ steads setting Elvenwise or Lashunta-wise. Although I would have bet on my fierce wifemate, reason overtook, which behappenly fell on Remaue’s side and settled trucesomely.
My main watch forthcame overseeing Kaure’s needs and peaceful mind, ensuring nothing unsteadied or bothered her shyness, and in which stead I behaved as her roomsteward inletting none without good business (and furthermore Remaue’s doomword!) and running small fetches as needful. In this oughtship I had Lanaryel and Tesine’s stalwart help, along with Aeosel’s, who yielded baby fun whenever we needed laughter. We also gained a steadholder in Hanos, who earnestly uplifted Kaure’s worship. When I sought his thought, it seemed wholly grown from selfish faith, and without maudlinness. Many times he held my stead when I needed a break, and I made deed to bestow thanks.
One such tide came yesternight, when Remaue and I headed to the Elf-Farthing and met with Indith, Leiendil, and Hauronil. Under their blossomyard’s blooming lipanaia we overtalked last whits, and I yielded a wordbode from Kaure: to the elfmates thanking their giftfulness, and to Hauronil beseeching his love. With a kiss I added mine, and merrily asked: ~Dei aesehi heshis?~ - “Are you ready to serve?” ~O’lani di diyavosivas,~ he answered: “I hope I will not misgladden.”
Indith neared and nuzzled his cheek, and outquoth that if Kaure loves him as she, then he cannot lose. Eyesome the thought of Hauronil thewing as Kaure’s First Man thrilled her, as her hand lay on his waist. Then she headed and kissed me elfwise. Even though Mistress Indith left me trucesome and we took leave with their goodwill, Remaue afterward teased me ruthlessly. She witted the fluster growing in me and sought to take full behoof, whereof she gleefully told Kaure, and then wracked me late through yesternight.
Today my duty undertook a main deed: to hold the mirthtide wontsome for the bridetide’s eve. In this mirth, however, I had gotten an odd beseech: our men, behaving under Korasha faith, wished to ingather. So we ended holding a melded mirthtide for our whole house, with much Retaea brandymlk (which we mostly let the Korasha drink, since it smote Damaya brains kicklike!), a whole thurseroast, Kaure’s most beloved steamed snails in queenstongue oil, and with rosewater beancake as sweetdish. With such melded fellowship, it outcame a milder gatherhood than a bridetide wontfully beholds, at least until the wrestling match broke out, at which we wives sternly shouted: ~Di lavi sorrye!~ - "Do not bruise the bride!" Then with no small flirtsomeness we danced to shake the yardsteps. We also took hap to bestow Kaure’s bridetide gift: a sixsome knifeset, blades of etched elvensteel, and each twain of an else kind - two heavy fighting choppers with downcurved blades and swept hilts, two light upcurved slashers in sheer Elven craftwise, and two flatly straight blades befit for throwing - for which we had all striven and yielded. These faircraft weapons - the fighting-wise she most loves and a gift from our whole house - stirred our maidenmate until tears.
Now, while Remaue sleeps in the bower with the children, Kaure, like me, wakes wearily. She has sat while I write, brow leaning on my shoulder. I have right bidden her to bed, where at last I hear her heavy breath and bless Father-Night bestowing peace. I merely hope I may also soon cleave…
…Right now, a wordbode came, shameless at this late tide, and from no less worthy than Ofu-Labu’s embassy here in Qabarat. At first I dreaded Her Highness Lady Nisaueth might withdraw from the bridetide’s guesthood. I should not have so worried, since the word proved odder, even riddlesome, in the leafwrit the wordbode yielded and I read:
~O’zhaomani-soati haiafara vehaeara:~
“Tomorrow forelook a doleful guest.”
…Whom it meant I had but wild inklings. Lady Marauqereth? I did not easily reckon, since the couthness of so high a lady faring to another city seems understandably manifold. My mind swerved to Vosaeth, although now I would guess her at the Blighttide Clanmoot among her clan and folk. I asked the wordbode, but who answered he knew only the bewritten word, and Her Highness Lady Nisaueth had told nothing more.
I shortly woke Remaue and told this news, who laughed wryly and went back to sleep. Tomorrow may outprove busier than foreseen.
- O’zhaoadeni (adv): henceforth; in the future
- Kovim (incl trans cond): we may/will beware/notice
- Homaeara sholassara (comm acc): friend(s) who are true
- Lei (adv): either
- Soreathara (comm; acc): bridetide; female coming of age
- Heshya-rualis (2nd-trans humble): you serve
- O’lei (adv): or
- Dorya-rualisa (2nd-comm intrans humble): you are shackled/fettered
- O: at; in; on; by
- Venola (comm): bower; bedroom
- Dei: interrogative adverb
- Aesehi (adv): ready; readily
- Heshis (2nd-masc intrans): you serve
- O’lani (adv): hope; hopefully
- Di (adv): not
- Diyavosivas (2nd-masc intrans cond): I may/will misgladden/disappoint
- O’zhaomani (imp): forelook; expect
- Soati (spir): tomorrow
- Haiafara (comm acc): guest
- Vehaeara (comm acc): doleful; odd; special
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