For the peoplespalace 12 Prompts of Rahlmas

Title: Abundance

Prompt: Fruitcake

"It's fruitcake," Richard said, a fixed smile on his face as he covered up the basket. "Again," he added quietly.

"Ssh," Kahlan hushed.

"Thank you," Richard said loudly to the D'Haran woman. She smiled broadly and backed away, curtseying.

"It's just we've got about fifty of the things," Richard whispered to Kahlan. "And eighty puddings. And I'm going to have to build a pen to house all those turkeys. And we've been given thirty five casks of ale so far."

"The wizard is doing his best to relieve the burden of such abundance," Cara observed dryly from her position by Kahlan's throne. Kahlan sat to Richard's left and Jennsen on his right; the Rahl family presiding over the long-standing winter tradition, wherein the people made homage to the reigning Lord Rahl.

"I wish they'd keep this food for themselves," Richard said. "I'd hate to think of anyone starving during the winter because they gave us their last fowl."

Kahlan put one hand on his knee. "You insisted they give only what they could spare. But to abandon this ritual would risk insulting people. We do not want them to think their gifts are unworthy, or that they are undeserving of your time. You are Lord Rahl and they are honouring that. Let them bring us gifts." It wasn't the first, nor likely the last, time she'd tried to explain this to him.

Jennsen leaned over to join their whispered conversation. "We could throw a huge party at the solstice," she suggested. "And every week throughout the worst of winter, if you wanted to. Then you can be certain no-one goes hungry."

Richard nodded. "Thank you, Lady Rahl, for your wise counsel."

"You're welcome, Lord Rahl."

Cara rolled her eyes at this exchange. They liked to tease each other by using their titles; Cara didn't understand it and she was fairly certain it annoyed Kahlan too.

"Shall we continue, Lord Rahl?" Cara purred. "The line is still very long." They'd been here almost two hours and it would likely be another three before all the gifts were presented.

"Yes, go ahead." Richard sighed and then smiled broadly, if a little too brightly.

Cara beckoned to the man anxiously waiting at the head of queue. He was carrying a wicker basket, and, Cara thought with a perverse delight, it probably contained another fruitcake.