A bit of a backpost now...

Day 10
Afternoon

Things always took longer when you had something else to be doing, or
somewhere better to be. In this instance the place wasn't better, but
Daisy wanted to be there for the new friend she'd made just the other day.

Lorelei's hearing was due to start at any moment, and although the dining
hall had been closed since just after lunch, it had taken the young kitchen
assistant an age to tidy the kitchen well enough that she might leave it and
join the others for the hearing.

Finally she untied the pinny she wore while she was working and threw it
on a workbench before making her way out into the dining hall.

She hadn't expected it to be so busy. What with the early morning egg
laying that had had everyone up hours earlier than normal, and the
excitement about the impending hatching, she'd expected only those
required to testify to be in attendance. She didn't understand Lorelei's
history with the warren, or that most of the people present had known her
since she was a child.

As the room was called to order Daisy slipped into a chair next to a young
woman she recognised from the dining hall, smiling at her when she glanced
over to see who had sat next to her before they both turned their attention
to Lord Fowler.

Daisy wondered where her sister was, but it really didn't take much
figuring out. The dragon eggs she'd been talking about since their
arrival were here now... Daisy doubted she'd see much of Rosie until the
damn things hatched.

Eleanora returned the smile, a part of her mind resting on just how she
knew this young woman next to her. Her attention was quickly redrawn to the
front of the room, as she sensed movement and saw Merissa and Lord Fowler
walk in to take their seats. Her companion's attention seemed to be
somewhere far away and Eleanora gently laid a hand on the woman's arm.

"They're starting," she murmured in her habitual near whisper.

Daisy nodded at the other woman, who spoke so quietly she barely heard
her. "Thanks" she whispered back, having no idea Eleanora couldn't hear
her. A final glace at the door told her Rosie wasn't coming - she probably
didn't even know about the hearing, and then Fowler started speaking, and
for the next couple of hours, no one in the dining hall thought about
anything but Lorelei, the men that had attacked her, the man she'd killed,
and what was going to happen now.

Neither Eleanora nor Daisy had known the full details of the Lorelei's
attack, but as they listened to the evidence both women were sickened.
When the 'court' broke up for Lord Fowler to consider the evidence Daisy
turned to the woman next to her and noticed that her eyes were as red from
tears as her own. "I thought this place was supposed to be safe" she said.

Eleanora smiled ruefully. "No place is ever completely safe," she murmured,
still in that near whisper. "But there are good people here, I don't think
you need be frightened. And Lord Fowler will do the right thing, I know
it."

She stood up, slowly, her muscles tight and sore from having clenched to
hold in the emotions the trial had engendered. Thank whatever gods existed
she'd never faced such things. All of a sudden, Eleanora felt horribly
guilty for being so upset over losing Ben. Sure, it hurt, but how could
that compare?

The courier summoned up a weak smile. "I don't think we've met before. Are
you one of the candidates for an egg?"

Daisy's eyes widened and she looked horrified. "No" she exclaimed. "No,
no!" She started shaking her head for emphasis, and Eleanora chuckled.

"I'm here with my sister" Daisy explained, except that it wasn't much of an
explanation until she added: "she's here for an egg." She didn't add 'and
she'd not leaving until she gets one' but she thought it was probably true!

Eleanora smiled broadly. "We shall have to hope she gets one then." She
glanced toward the empty dais at the front of the room. "There isn't time
now before Lord Fowler comes back, but maybe you'd like to have dinner
later? You could introduce me to your sister. My name is Eleanora, by the
way."

~~~~~~~~~~
Day 10 - Afternoon - Daisy and Eleanora make friends at Lorelei's hearing.

~~~~~~~~~~
A joint post by

Kas & KK


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