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Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 25th January 2018
Characters: Alina
Description: Alina receives news from home
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 6 of Turn 9
There were two letters waiting in her weyr when Alina finished the day's drills. She pulled off her gloves and boots and sat on the edge of her bed. There was no way she'd be able to bathe without reading them first.
The first was from her father.
"Dearest Alina,
Your mother and I hope that you are safe and well at the Weyr. Your brother sends his regards. Your mother is in good health but her spirits are not as high as usual, for we have decided to send Elana to Emerald Falls Hold to foster with Great Aunt Panna."
"What?!" Alina stood, dumbfounded by what she'd read. After more than a Turn of wheedling, her father had finally agreed to foster Elana at Emerald Falls! The greenrider felt a pang of envy. When they'd been girls, she and her twin had spent many candlemarks imagining their lives at Emerald Falls Hold. What dresses they'd wear, the men they'd charm, the adventures that they'd have… and now she was here, and her sister would get to live that dream alone.
Slowly she sat down again and continued to read.
"Your mother will miss your sister's company. I am hopeful that you will agree to fly your sister to Emerald Falls Hold at your convenience, perhaps at the beginning of next month. I would not be comfortable letting her travel by land, and I know that she would very much like to see you. Please pass my respects to your dragon.
--Palinon"
She set the letter aside, shaking her head. Although she was ecstatic for her sister, the fact that her father still couldn't remember Imarith's name was irritating.
The second letter had to be from her sister. She picked it up eagerly.
"Alina,
You'll never guess what! Father's agreed to foster me at Emerald Falls Hold with old Great Aunt Panna! I'm so excited. I've waited for this for so long. I'm so happy to say goodbye to Nadol CotHOLE for good and finally start my life. I only wish you were here with me instead of at the Weyr, but on the upside Father has only one daughter to marry off now!"
Alina bit her lip at that, her happiness diminished somewhat by her twin's insinuation that she was no longer her father's responsibility. Just because she'd Impressed didn't mean that she'd lost her family.
"I'm still deciding what to pack. Half my clothes won't be suitable at all-- too old or farmer-ish. I know this is a lot to ask but can you get me a dress or two from the Weyr so I don't look like a complete bumpkin? I know you put your neck out for me when you got me that lovely Gather dress for Turnover (which I'm bring for sure) but I need something between a work dress and a Gather gown to wear for dinners and such. And maybe a scarf and a hair ribbon and a new apron, but a nice one, and satin slippers for dancing in. I'm sure that there will be so many dances at the Hold since it's so close to the Harper Hall. Also when you come and get me can you come mid-morning so I can get to the Hold just before lunch, which is really too late to get put to work for the day so I can just get settled and explore - and maybe meet my future husband! Oh, I'm so excited! I can't wait to see you.
--- Elana"
Alina set the letter aside and flopped backward onto her narrow bed. Elana was finally off to Emerald Falls Hold. **Lucky Elana!** She and her sister had gone to Emerald Falls Hold the Turn's Ends before last. That Turn the Harper Hall had celebrated with a masquerade and sung that stupid song about J'ackt. It seemed like such a long time ago.
Elana was right to be worried about looking like a farmer, though. When Alina had arrived at the Weyr her clothing had made her stand out, and not just because she was actually decently covered compared to most of the Weyr inhabitants. Nadol Cothold wasn't exactly the pinnacle of fashion. **At least she had a Gather dress,** Alina thought. She'd given a dress to her sister from her own closet since the things she could get at the Weyr were much finer than any of the cloth or trimming found at Nadol Cothold.
But there was no way that she'd be able to sneak anything out of the store rooms now, not with all the refugees from River Bluff Weyr needing clothing to replace what they'd lost. **Maybe some ribbon, or a scarf though?**
Thoughtfully she rose and opened the doors to her own little wardrobe. A good half of it was filled with riding leathers and clothing, including tunics and pants. She had a handful of dresses that she wore in her off time and two Gather dresses for special days. She pulled one of her everyday dresses off the hanger and held it up to herself. **I don't wear this much. Maybe it would look good on Elana?** It was a pretty, pale blue with two large pockets on the skirt that were embroidered with yellow flowers. She set it aside, where it was joined by a lightly woven green headscarf she'd used to wear on laundry duty and a thin, cream coloured belt that Alina didn't remember acquiring.
The clothing should go to the people from River Bluff Weyr. Alina bit her lip and stared at the small pile. **No one will know,** she thought after a moment, then proceeded to wrap the dress and belt up in the scarf. She could give it to her sister when she flew her to Emerald Falls Hold.
The second rest day of the month couldn't come soon enough.
Last updated on the March 2nd 2018