Time to Say No

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 30th December 2014

Characters: D'kere, Ninaine, Ninori, Fraine
Description: Ninaine's parents come for a visit.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 9, day 28 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: J'darin, Talwynn, N'call

Ninaine

"I don't see why we have to ask permission. She should be grateful
we're here." A strident voice echoed inside the barracks, its owner
not even attempting to modulate the volume.

"She's a rider now and she hasn't even graduated. We have to ask to
see her. You know that." A deeper voice answered, but the tone was
that of a man who had already explained the reasoning several times.
"And she's obviously not here. Her dragon's probably already too
big..."

"Greens are the smallest. Besides, she shouldn't be unsupervised."
There was a sniff that came louder as they approached the offices.
"It's improper. And who knows what she'll be up to now that they've
had their claws in her for a few months."

The deeper voice was bordering on impatient." Keep it down. This is
the last place you should say those sort of things."

"Even if its the truth." The chill in the voice was distinct, followed
by a deep sigh before a brisk knock was heard on the office door.

D'kere had heard the sound of voices coming down the hallway, but
being unable to distinguish what they were saying, he had kept his
head bent over his work. As J'darin's Second he tried to lighten the
other man's load as much as possible. D'kere would never say it, but
J'darin took far too much onto his plate, although D'kere could tell
it was because he cared so much about the Weyrlings.

When the knock sounded on _his_ door D'kere inwardly groaned. What now?

"Come in!" He called out, sweeping his hand across his desk to pile
all of the papers together where he could shuffle them, give them a
couple of taps on the desk and then place them into the open desk
drawer beside him.

A dark skinned, tall man opened the door and stepped in, followed by a
diminutive red haired woman who was obviously in the later months of
pregnancy. The woman's face was set in a frown, but the man had a
polite expression plastered on his face. "Excuse us, but we are
looking for Ninaine. Perhaps you could help us find her, if she's
allowed visitors?"

D'kere stood and offered his hand in greeting to the man, "I am the
Weyrlingmaster's Second. It is a pleasure to meet you. Are you related
to Ninaine?" There was no specific rule against Weyrlings have
visitors, but Ninaine was a special circumstance in many ways, and
D'kere wanted to be sure that everything about this was "normal."

"My name is Fraine and this is her mother, Ninori." The man took his
hand, shaking it briefly while his eyes flicked over his knots and
seemed to relax slightly. The woman kept behind her husband, lips
thinned, but said nothing, instead giving a quick cursty in greeting.

"Ma'am." D'kere inclined his head politely to Ninori. "Please have a
seat, I'll have my dragon speak with Ninaine's to see where she's at
right now."

**Please tell Luneth that her rider's family is here in my office.
They wish to see her if she has opportunity. Ninaine is welcome to
come down here.** D'kere wasn't sure if Ninaine's weyr even had stair
access or not for non-riders.

}:Luneth, your rider has family here to visit. They are in my rider's
office. Is yours busy?:{ Kenirath politely questioned.

"Can we not see her privately?" Ninori sat stiffly, and finally spoke,
her voice cool. "We have many things to discuss with the child."

Fraine rubbed his temple. "If it's possible, Rider."

Luneth's reply was snappy. }: She is coming, but her stomach is tight
and she is confused. Happy and scared all at once. I don't like it. :{

D'kere kept a diplomatic smile on his face, "Not all weyrs can be
reached on foot, and if Ninaine wishes for privacy with you then I
will gladly give up my office so that you may have it."

}:Luneth is upset. She is receiving a confusing blend of emotions from
her rider.:{ Kenirath reported back.

Having not seen your parents in a while and living in a new place with
new etiquettes and rules _could_ be a confusing place to be in D'kere
thought, but still.... He had an odd feeling in his gut about this
one.

**Please have Luneth tell Ninaine that I will stay if she wishes.**
Ninaine wasn't a full rider yet and until that point her well-being
was one of D'kere's priorities. No matter what he thought of the way
she and Luneth behaved if someone wanted to bother her or Luneth they
would have to go through him first.

}:D'kere says he will stay with your rider if that makes you and her
feel more comfortable.:{ Kenirath offered to Luneth, his voice firm
but kind.

Before Luneth could respond, there was a soft knock on the open door
and Ninaine appeared, hands clasped at her waist. Though she was able
to keep a straight face, there was no disguising the confusion mingled
with happiness and a little trepidation in her gaze. Her eyes flicked
to D'kere before landing on her mother and father. "Mama...Papa...
I...Hello."

Fraine stepped forward with a smile, but was halted by his wife's
sharp voice. "What are you wearing, young lady?"

Ninaine looked down and blanched. She had been in such a hurry that
she had neglected to put a dress on. Instead, she wore her customary
baggy shirt and snug trousers. "Uhm." Her face reddened. "I'm sorry,
Mama, I..."

"I'm sure it's necessary." Fraine interrupted before Ninori could
answer. "Riding a dragon and such. Can't have a skirt blowing up over
your legs, now can you?" He smiled, ignoring his wife's scowl and
offered a hand to Ninaine, who hesitantly took it, then relaxed as her
father enveloped her in a hug. The smile that the embrace brought was
full of relieved joy, but there was still a discomfort as though she
was unused to such open displays.

Ninori turned to D'kere. "If you will excuse us, Weyrlingmaster? You
did say we could have your office."

}: Kenirath, don't leave her in there alone. Mine is..uncertain. :{

"That wasn't quite the stipulation, ma'am." D'kere kept things
pleasant. He did not want to say outloud anything about Ninaine's
inclination on whether he should stay or not as he was afraid that
some how the girl's parents would manipulate her into asking him to
leave.

"But do, please, make yourselves comfortable. I can have some
refreshments brought up." The Weyrlingmaster's Second offered.

"That would be nice, thank you." Fraine answered even as Ninori turned
her gaze back to Ninaine and waved her at a chair.

Ninaine pulled away from her father and dutifully sat, hands clasped
in her lap and back straight. She couldn't help but feel a little
trapped, even with D'kere in the room. The moment she had seen her
mother, her training had kicked in and she was once again the biddable
daughter; Ninaine was surprised at how much that now chafed. "Thank
you for visiting, Mama. It's a pleasure to see you again."

Ninori gave a sniffle. "Yes. Well, I shouldn't have all things
considered." She waved at Ninaine's knots and then at her swollen
stomach. "But it's important." Ninaine's brows raised but she said
little. Ninori shifted in her seat and stared at her daughter for a
moment before speaking again. "Has your green risen yet?"

Ninaine's face instantly flamed. "Her name is Luneth. And no...that
won't be for a little while."

Satisfied, her mother smiled. "Good. We've found a..." She looked at
her husband. "what do they call it here? Oh yes. Weyrmate." She looked
back at Ninaine. "We've found a weyrmate for you."

Ninaine's jaw dropped.

It was a good thing, all in all, that no refreshments had been brought
up as of yet or D'kere might have spewed it all over Ninaine's parents
in surprise. As it was, his eyebrows shot upward and his mouth dropped
open a bit. **They have done _what_?**

"I am sorry. You have found Ninaine a _weyrmate_?" He asked for
clarification, not really caring if it were rude that he was butting
in to their family conversation.

While Ninaine was trying to formulate a response, Ninori turned to
D'kere and lifted her chin. "Yes. Since you at the weyr don't do
proper marriages and Ninaine still has a duty to her family, it's a
compromise we've been willing to make." She turned back to Ninaine,
who stared at her, dumbfounded. "Master Weidig has a son that has yet
to take a wife. He's a bit sickly, but still able to be a husband. In
return Weidig will give your father some of his prized wood for his
instruments and some wood working tools. They see it as an honor to be
married...weyrmated to a dragonrider and all that will be asked is
that you be proper and faithful to your weyrmate outside of flights,
which of course, you can't help. "

Ninaine squeaked in a mix of outrage, exasperation and despair. "You
traded me...for _wood_?"

Her father lifted a hand. "Now, it was only a suggestion on his
part...nothing has been decided."

Ninori's eyes narrowed. "But you'll do it because it's your duty."

D'kere had to consciously keep his eyes from narrowing, "Ninaine is no
longer obligated to do anything you say. Now that she is apart of the
Weyr, and a dragonrider, her only duty is to Pern and to her dragon.
The Weyr doesn't trade its riders out for favors. I suggest if you
would like to have that fine wood for your work then you begin saving
up the marks to purchase it out right." He had mostly planned on
letting the family work things out, but what Ninaine's family was
proposing was preposterous and he wasn't going to let the notion of
Ninaine being forced into a pseudo-marriage continue.

"This is none of your concern. And Ninaine knows her duty to her
family. She failed before and she won't fail again, will you?" Her
sharp gaze turned back to Ninaine, who stared at her. "You
disappointed us once, Ninaine. You have the opportunity to make it up
to your family. " She laid her hand on her swollen abdomen. "Which you
will if you want to see any of us again. It's entirely her choice."
Fraine looked as though he wanted to interject, but a glare from his
wife silenced him and he said nothing as anguish entered into
Ninaine's eyes.

The young girl swung her eyes to D'kere, trying to blink back the
tears that threatened to seep out as she took a breath. "I can't...I
can't just do that. Luneth...she would never..."

Ninori snapped out a quick interruption. "I don't care what that green
of yours wants, Ninaine! You will do as I say."

Ninaine's eyes shot back to her mother, fists suddenly clenching in
her lap. "No I will not." She rose, fingers winding in her shirt even
as they shook. "Her name is Luneth and she is more important than you
or what you want."

D'kere stepped forward, "I believe that settles it then." The
Weyrlingmaster's Second was not going to let the situation progress
any further. The last thing they needed was Luneth getting upset.
"That will conclude your visit, but please, feel free to write
letters. In your condition ma'am you shouldn't be traveling far." Kill
'em with kindness, his mother had always said.

Luneth echoed D'kere with a low growl, rumbling from outside the
barracks. There was a hard thump and a rattle as Luneth's tail slapped
against the barracks door, letting her opinion of the situation be
known. It stilled Ninori from her potential sharp reply; the woman
gasped and rose, hand flying to her chest. "What was that?"

Ninaine glanced at D'kere and then faced her mother, her chin lifting.
"That was Luneth and she doesn't like you." She took a deep breath and
swallowed, stiffening her spine. "And right now, I don't either. I'm a
dragonrider, not your plaything, Mother. I make my own decisions." It
seemed that J'darin's constant encouragement, D'kere's present support
and N'call's affection was finally sinking in. "I don't need you. And
I will not obey you any more."

Ninori sputtered, then squeaked with wide eyes as a shrill triumphant
bugle sounded closely outside. She stared at Ninaine, huffed loudly
and brushed by her daughter without a word, back ram rod straight.

Ninaine jumped a little as her father laid a light hand on her
shoulder and was turned to face him. She stared up at the dark man,
clearly expecting more harsh words. She was surprised warm arms around
her and a kiss on the brow. "I don't understand, Ninaine, but you're
an adult now. You make your own choices." He stepped back and turned
to face D'kere, then slowly offered his hand. "I apologize for my
wife, Rider."

D'kere respected the man, if only he could teach his wife some manners
there might yet be hope for their odd little family, "Don't worry
about it. I am no stranger to fiery women." The Weyrlingmaster's
Second smiled good-naturedly, thinking of Talwynn, as he shook hands
with Ninaine's father.

Ninaine held on to her father for a long moment and she couldn't help
the tears that rolled down her face, though as she stepped away from
him, she tried to hurriedly wipe them away.
Her father nodded to D'kere and then cleared his throat as he turned
back to his daughter. "So...why don't you introduce me to your Luneth,
then?"

Last updated on the January 7th 2015

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Time to Say No