Where Millicent Gerthrim makes clothes.

Millie was curled up in a large chair by the window, working on some children's clothing. Her work table was piled high with fabrics and supplies, she was still waiting on some other furniture to sort things out on to.

Fortune swept into the room.

"Oh good, you've gotten yourself set up." Fortune said. "I have so many dress ideas and you simply must make me something new right away."

The woman pulled out a scrap of paper with a fancy dress design roughly sketched out. Just like she brought to Millie's shop every week before the raid.

Millie smiled at her regular customer. "Good morn," she greeted, setting aside what she was working on. She took the paper and studied it. "This is lovely. Why don't you choose a fabric you would like it in?"

Fortune looked over the fabrics.

"All those fabrics you had at your shop are gone?" She asked sadly, choosing the fanciest fabric in the selection.

"Unfortunately, yes. The men are bringing me weekly supplies of fabrics, but I fear they don't know the best choices. I'm hoping soon they will permit me to accompany them on a supply trip."

"Such a shame it was all lost." Fortune said, handing Millie the fabric. "I would like something purple."

"I agree. This is a nice fabric and with the right trim, we can make it very pretty. I will get started on it this afternoon."

"How soon will it be ready?" Fortune asked.

"I'm going to say three days. It might be sooner, but I'd like to allow the time to get it right for you."

"Three days... That's such a long- Where's your helper?" Fortune asked. "She didn't perish in the raid, did she?"

"No, but she was badly injured. It will be some time before Pinja will be able to return to work. I must admit, I miss her company terribly," Millie replied.

"The poor little thing." Fortune said. "Will she be helping you again soon?"

"We haven't discussed it yet. As I said, it will be a while and I don't want to push her too hard. A lot will depend on if being in the same type of setting brings back bad memories for her, I'm certain."

"Having something to do would be good for her." Fortune said.

"Oh, I agree it would be. But she may need a different environment from a dress shop."

"What else can she do besides help you make clothes?" Fortune asked. "She never seemed to have any other interests."

"She's a decent cook," Millie replied. "She may have interests I don't know about."

"You seem to know her the best." Fortune said.

"I do, but Pinja is very private. She holds a lot of things in."

"Sure she confides in you about what she would like to do." Fortune said.

"I take my confidences very seriously, and I'm really not comfortable saying anything further about Pinja's future. I'm sure you understand," Millie replied. Anything further would be gossiping and that wasn't something she enjoyed doing.

"Of course. But would her future have anything to do with your brother?" Fortune asked. "I had noticed he was around your shop a lot."

"Lek and I are very close, and he came by to keep an eye out for anything needing repairs, and they would speak when Lek was there. Other than that, I know nothing."

"They're not going to make you an aunt anytime soon?" Fortune asked.

"I can assure you that I will not be an aunt soon," Millie stated.

"A pity." Fortune said, and turned back to the fabrics.

Millie couldn't help but agree, but she honestly doubted Pinja would ever be ready for another relationship. She struggled to keep her own shoulders from sagging.

Millie bypassed the hall, it seemed everyone was going to their rooms. She didn't feel up to speaking to Aalyssa or Pinja, so she went to her sewing room and bolted the door. After building a fire in the hearth, Millie spread out one of the furs and grabbed another to place over her, and she curled up to go to sleep.

Aalyssa stopped in front of the sewing room. "It would probably be best if you go in, after all, you share the space with Millie."

Pinja looked like Aalyssa had suggested that she step into an active volcano.

Aalyssa urged her on. She heard nothing going on in the room, so if Millie was there, she was indeed quietly sewing.

Pinja tried to open the door, but it was bolted from the inside. "Millie?" Pinja tried to call.

Millie was curled in a ball, having cried herself soundly to sleep.

In reply to Millicent Gerthrim (msg # 34):

"The door is bolted from the inside." Pinja said worriedly to Aalyssa.

"Maybe it's as I said, she simply wants some time alone."

Pinja was having flashbacks of being in the back of Millie's shop, Jack and his friends with the scissors.

"Someone could have her locked in there with him." She said, on the verge of panic.

Aalyssa pressed her ear against the door. "It's all quiet in there, nothing going on."

Pinja nervously bounced in place. "He could be keeping quiet. We need to get in."

"I don't see how we can," Aalyssa replied. "I only have healing powers, nothing that would open a bolted door."

"An ax? A window?" Pinja asked frantically. She began to pound on the door with her fists.

Millie growled under her breath when the pounding started on the door. Who would be in such need of something this time of night? She crossly got up and went to the door. "Go way!" she shouted sleepily.

"Millie, are you all right?" Pinja asked, hoping there wasn't an evil man forcing Millie to tell her to go away.

"I'm fine, Pinja. Just wanted some quiet alone time," Millie replied. "You can go back to bed."

"Can you come out here?" Pinja asked anxiously.

Millie sighed and unbolted the door. Her hair was sticking out all over the place, and she still looked sleepy but none the worse for the wear.

"What happened?" Pinja asked, knowing what someone looks like after they have been crying even after getting some sleep between crying bouts.

"Nothing. Just feeling sorry for myself because of the wedding."

Pinja was not convinced that was all, she looked at Millie, her eyes widening. "Is that blood?"

"What?" Millie looked at where Pinja was gazing. "It's Lek's blood. He challenged one of the knights to a duel."

"What?" Pinja was shocked. "Is he ok? What happened?"

"He'll be fine. Difyr was there and quickly patched him up. The knight was being vulgar and Lek had had enough of him."

Pinja was still having a hard time picturing Lek fighting anyone. The thought of a vulgar knight made her anxious. "What happened to the knight?"

"He went off to lick his wounds. He's probably back at the barracks."

"I know your brother had been training to be a knight... but I can't picture him fighting anyone." Pinja said.

"I saw it, and still don't believe it."

"That knight... he must have been really bad." Pinja did not know how to feel about Lek challenging anyone to a fight.

"He was, though I dare say he might have been drunk. I mean, I actually managed to knock him on his derriere when I slugged him."

"You hit him?" Pinja asked, surprised.

"I did," Millie said with a small smile. Truth was, she was proud of that moment.

"Good, he probably deserved it." Pinja wished she had hit Jack hard enough to knock him down, wished that she had not been so afraid. "But won't he want revenge?"

"I think once word reaches Lord Thornblade about his actions, he'll probably be taken down a peg or two. And I won't allow him near me again."

Pinja did not look convinced. It was obvious she was thinking about Jack.

Millie was quiet for a moment. "I'm going back to sleep. I'll see you in the morning."

"Are you sure you're safe here?" Pinja asked worriedly.

Millie nodded. "I'll be fine."

"Will the door hold if he comes after you?" Pinja asked anxiously. "What about the window?"

"Yes, the door will hold and I have the shutters locked. I'm safe.

Pinja could not stop worrying. She did not want what happened to her to happen to Millie. "But if he breaks in?"

"I have my shears near and a knife under my makeshift pillow."

"But his friends?"

Tria nervously fumbled with a needle and thread. She seemed especially stiff and awkward today.

Millie looked up from the dress she was making for Sileas and turned her attention to her assistant. "Is everything all right, Tria? Do you need any help with anything?"

"Everything is... all right." Tria said in her usual halting way. "I... don't need... help." She accidentally poked herself with the needle she was threading but barely reacted to it.

"As long as you are certain," Millie replied, going back to her own  work. She herself had been keeping things to herself that bothered her, so she couldn't fault Tria for doing the same.

"How is... your brother?" Tria asked, as if it was something she was obligated to ask. For a moment her hand hovered over the silver torque around her neck, as if to touch it, then she rubbed her throat just above the torque.

"Lek? He's doing well, working hard at his training," Millie replied.

Tria nodded, a bit of nonverbal communication she had picked up.

There, Millie thought, taking the last stitch. This should be the last dress Sileas will need for now, and I've already finished her laying in clothing. Millie folded the dress neatly and leaned back and stretched.

Despite her nervousness, Tria finally managed to thread the needle. She began sewing, only making a few stitches before she poked herself with the needle again, this time drawing blood which soaked into the fabric she had been sewing. Tria stiffened, horrified at her screw up. Bloodstains don't come out easily, this fabric was likely destroyed. Millie was going to be angry.

Fortune let herself in. "How are my dresses coming along, Millie?" She asked, waving a bit of parchment. "I have another dress idea that you must get to work on at once."

Millie looked up from the dress she was working on for Fortune. "Another day or two and it will be time for a fitting for the first dress," Millie replied. "We may have to prioritize your designs as to what order you would like them completed in."

"Oh, all at once and yesterday." Fortune chuckled, handing Millie the parchment with her dress sketch on it and studying the dress Millie was working on. "Oh it looks beautiful already!"

Millie smiled and blushed. "Thank you. It helps when I am given such exquisite sketches to work from."

"But it takes a true artist to make these dresses. You could be rich selling these dresses in Portside, but I don't want you to go there because I already resent sharing your talents with others here." Fortune smiled, her eyes lighting up as she lowered her voice to gossip. "I saw Cyan and her little boy on my way over here and it had me wondering how Pinja is doing, her time must be coming soon. Cyan claims her son is her late husband's, but with all that has happened do you think so? I mean, she spent over a week captive to those raiders and then just escaped from them? I don't think they didn't touch her. But her baby was born last month and didn't look early so maybe it is Coop's. She says it looks like her husband but babies can look like anyone at that age. Is Pinja still struggling?"

Millie had to take a moment to sort out the rapid fire questions and statements. She really didn't like talking about Pinja, but she couldn't afford to offend her best customer either. "I think Cyan's baby is her husband's, I'm not given to think any other way. Pinja's babe is due soon, once that is over she can concentrate on getting better herself."

"I suppose time will tell if Cyan's baby is her husband's son. I would like to see dear Pinja, I have a hard time picturing that little waif pregnant. I should like to give her something, though I'm not sure what. A crochet hat and booties seem inappropriate since she is not keeping it- unless she changed her mind about giving it up for adoption? It is almost a shame she would not keep the baby and marry your brother- it would fit together so nicely but I like the idea of him marrying my Tria even more- you could make Tria the most beautiful wedding dress! I saw your bother today too though I doubt he noticed me, he was training hard. He has really built up some muscle and was training with his shirt off, if I was 40 years younger I would want him for myself! Wow! I know he's your bother but wow, you seen him lately?"

Millie was so floored by the last part of Fortune's speech, that she forgot the rest. She stared blankly at the woman for a few moments and then she burst out laughing. "Lek? Attractive?!"

Fortune blinked. "Well, I suppose you having known Lek since you were in the womb you are immune to seeing how attractive your brother really is. Especially now that he has been training so hard. Pinja's loss shall be Tria's gain."

"Time will tell," Millie said softly. "It's his choice to make, after all."

"Oh, he'll make it. He just needs to get to know her." Fortune said lightly. "It's been four months, high time your brother has spent some time with Tria. Noontime meal would do, today."

Millie swallowed a sigh. She liked Tria, but not as wife material for her brother. "I'll extend the invitation to him, if I see him before then."

"I had gotten oysters from the latest shipment from Portside. They are still fresh." Fortune said. "Noonday meal or dinner would be best."

"It will depend on his schedule for today, of course. But I will let him know." Millie nearly groaned. Lek hated oysters.
This message was last updated by the player at 04:43, Thu 19 Nov 2020.

Sileas meandered through the keep until she found herself outside Millie's sewing room. "This can't be right. Yehudit would never come spend the day with Millie." Sileas frowned.

"This is such a simple spell, how could you mess it up?" Bai asked. "Maybe Yehudit is getting new clothes."

In reply to Millicent Gerthrim (msg # 94):

"Surely Lek can take a break from his training for a noonday meal- he has to eat anyways." Fortune said. "He can meet Tria in our rooms, some privacy."

In reply to Bai (msg # 96):

Sileas shook her head. "I said it word for word. Yehudit doesn't really care about clothing. She'd just help herself to something I'm not wearing."

In reply to Fortune Calm (msg # 97):

"He cannot go until whoever is training him gives him leave." Millie glanced down for a second. "I don't think it would be proper for him and Trina to dine alone in such a manner."

In reply to Sileas Thornblade (msg # 98):

Bai was very frustrated and discouraged by how Sileas failed at such a simple spell. What hope would she have when her magic was needed?

"May as well have left you to shag your husband." Bai muttered.

In reply to Millicent Gerthrim (msg # 99):

"Tria and Lek are practically family. And if anything improper happened, well Lek would just have to marry her." She laughed. "Not that your brother would ever do anything improper."

In reply to Bai (msg # 100):

"I know I didn't do anything wrong. I know I didn't!"

In reply to Fortune Calm (msg # 101):

Millie frowned, trying to figure out how Lek and Tria were practically family. "It doesn't matter what they actually do, it's what people will think they are doing."

In reply to Millicent Gerthrim (msg # 103):

"Your brother would do the honorable thing and all will be well." Fortune said.

In reply to Sileas Thornblade (msg # 102):

"Uh huh." Bai said sarcastically. "Let's go back and try a simpler spell."

In reply to Fortune Calm (msg # 104):

Millie didn't like the idea of Lek being forced into a marriage he didn't want. "Still, it is his choice."

In reply to Bai (msg # 105):

Sileas grunted and headed back to her rooms.

In reply to Millicent Gerthrim (msg # 106):

"Of course. And I know what Lek will pick." Fortune beamed. "Well, I'll leave you to finish the dresses and I will see about getting the oysters prepared."

Millie bade her a good day, but decided she would warn Lek before giving him the invitation.

Tria uncomfortably fidgeted with the cloth she had been sewing.

Millie glanced over at Tria. "Are you all right? We could take a walk if you like. I could use a break."

Tria screwed up her courage. "I'm sorry, I must have pricked my finger without realizing it and-" She held up the cloth to show the tiny blood spot.

"Do you have any idea how many times I have done that?" Millie said with half a laugh. "It's one of the few dangers of being a seamstress. Is it in a spot we can trim the piece from?"

"I think so." Tria said, pretty sure it could be trimmed but afraid Millie would fly into a rage at any moment.

"Let's take a look, shall we?" Millie said, getting to her feet and walking over to the cutting table. "Just lay it out flat."

Trembling slightly, Tria spread the fabric out on the table. There was a tiny drop of blood on the edge.

Sileas had just about reached Millie's door again, when she stopped dead in her tracks. "Oh oh."

In reply to Tria (msg # 116):

"Oh this is nothing. I have done so much worse." Millie reached for the shears and trimmed the fabric off, from top to bottom. "There. Good as new."

In reply to Sileas Thornblade (msg # 117):

"Yehudit had better be in there." Bai said irritably.

In reply to Millicent Gerthrim (msg # 118):

"Oh." Tria was surprised and confused that Millie wasn't even screaming at her.

In reply to Bai (msg # 119):

"We have bigger problems," Sileas replied, clutching her abdomen. "My water just broke."

In reply to Tria (msg # 120):

"Problem solved. You never have to be frightened to tell me if you have a problem with your work," she said gently.

In reply to Sileas Thornblade (msg # 121):

"You couldn't have done that over a basin?" Bai began checking his pockets, muttering something about magical properties.

In reply to Millicent Gerthrim (msg # 122):

Tria was afraid that Millie was trying to lure her into a false sense of security and did not relax.

In reply to Bai (msg # 123):

"It doesn't exactly give a warning, Bai. I need to get to Difyr."

In reply to Sileas Thornblade (msg # 125):

"At least you're in the right building. The healing room is just downstairs." Bai said, scowling at the only empty vial he had on his person. "It could be good practice to use the drying spell on the stairs so nobody slips and breaks their head."

"If you trust me to cast it while being in pain and vastly uncomfortable."

In reply to Sileas Thornblade (msg # 127):

"You won't always have the luxury of performing magic at your leisure." Bai lectured.

Sileas let out a breath. He was correct of course. She cast the drying spell with no incident.

Bai hurried Sileas to the healing room.