The Storm Breaks (1/4)

Writers: Estelle
Date Posted: 25th July 2020

Characters: R'fal, Telany, Kerril, Lirena, Terren
Description: R'fal's family is reunited for his birthday
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 5, day 14 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: Corowal, Ailda

The day after R'fal's eighteenth birthday, the air was humid and misty
with rain, but it couldn't dampen his mood. Last night he'd even felt
able to celebrate with some of his old clutchmates, staying up in his
friend O'len's weyr, talking about those days when they'd first found
themselves in class together as new weyrlings, laughing over their
mistakes and telling embarrassing stories until the early hours. For the
first time in months, he'd felt the guilt lift like a weight from his heart.

Today was a restday, with no classes or duties, and he was going to
spend the whole afternoon with his family. R'fal felt the excitement
bubbling up inside him as he fitted Marlath's riding straps. Last Turn
he hadn't been able to see them on his birthday, since he'd been a
weyrling and unable to leave Dolphin Cove.

His first stop was at Emerald Falls to collect his sister, who came
running out from the Hold almost before Marlath had settled to the
ground. To his amazement, she was wearing her Turn's End dress.

"Telany!" He grinned and unbuckled the straps enough that he could reach
for her hand. "Or should that be, my lady?"

The girl stuck out a very unladylike tongue at him, took a handful of
the skirts in one hand and lifted them for a brief moment to show that
she was wearing a pair of trousers underneath, before she began to
climb. "They wouldn't let me wear these, even for a trip to the farm, so
I sneaked them on underneath." She settled herself behind him and
reached forward for a hug. "Happy birthday, big brother!"

"Thank you! We're going to get Kerril next, but then we can fly straight
to Uncle Evinder's." They could have gone /between/, but it wasn't far,
perhaps a half-candlemark's flying, and he thought his siblings would
enjoy the flight.

It turned out that they did, both of them leaning out so far in the
straps to watch the land passing by far below that he was very glad he'd
double checked they were buckled in tightly. Telany in particular was
fearless, and talked about how she wanted to come to the Weyr and Stand,
as soon as she was old enough. R'fal wasn't sure how that would fit with
the fostering agreement with Lord Corowal, but he kept quiet for fear of
dashing her hopes.

The farm hold finally came into view and as Marlath soared overhead,
they could make out activity outdoors. A long dining table had been
dragged out into the shade of a large tree, a cloth spread over it, and
small figures were busy carrying out trays and bowls from indoors. R'fal
directed Marlath to land a good distance off, so his wings wouldn't stir
up dust all over the preparations. As soon as they were down, they were
immediately surrounded by delighted children calling the dragon's name
and waving.

R'fal handed down his brother and sister and watched as they raced
towards the familiar figure in the door of the main building. His mother
came running forward to meet them, arms outstretched, and crouched down
to wrap her arms around them and draw them both close to her.

"Oh, I've missed you!" Lirena waved R'fal over, and soon all four were
embracing each other. "Kerril, how you've grown! And Telany, that dress
is so fine..." She stroked her daughter's curls.

"It's the Weyr's colours, sea-blue. Lady Ailda helped me choose it,"
Telany said, all innocence.

"And R'fal. Happy birthday. Eighteen!" She brushed her eyes with the
back of her hand, smiling. "You're a grown man now. And a dragonrider!
I'm so very proud of you."

"Thanks, Ma." He smiled, but couldn't help a quick glance around for the
other person he'd expected to be there. He'd not told his brother and
sister, thinking it might be a surprise. They'd not seen their father
since the night of the guards' raid, almost a Turn ago now. "Uh -
where's..."

"Out in the fields, helping your uncle. They'll be back soon, in time to
wash up and change before the birthday meal." She turned and gestured
towards the table. "We're going to eat outside, so Marlath can watch."

The young brownrider brightened, sensing his dragon's sudden pleasure at
being included. "Thank you, Ma! He appreciates it." Now they were on the
ground, he could see that the table was laid with the best plates and
cutlery, bowls of flowers and wine glasses sparkling in the sunlight
that filtered through the dappled shade of the tree.

"We didn't want to leave him out. He won't be hungry, will he?" Lirena
asked. "I'm sure Evinder would spare one of the herd for him."

"Oh no, we hunted yesterday. He only eats once or twice a sevenday, so
he's full up. Hello, Aunt Falanna!" He turned to greet his aunt, who'd
come out of the cothold carrying a bowl of salad for the table. "Do you
need any help?"

"No, we're almost there. Happy birthday, R'fal!" The scent of roasting
meat had followed her out from the kitchen, and R'fal felt his stomach
rumbling. "You could keep the children busy until it's ready, though."
She gestured towards the little group gathered around Marlath.

"Yes, Aunt." R'fal followed Telany and Kerril, who were already running
over to join their cousins, and soon found himself surrounded and
peppered with questions about how much Thread he'd charred, and if he'd
met the Weyrleaders, and most of all, when the next Hatching would be.
All the time, he kept glancing back at the cothold and the path leading
beyond it to the grazing lands.

At last, his patience was rewarded. He saw the men coming around the
side of the cothold, chatting as they kicked off their dusty boots and
washed their hands and faces at the pump, and then the one he was
looking for, a little apart from the others.

"Telany, Kerril." He touched their shoulders to draw their attention,
and pointed. "Look."

"Oh, it's Uncle and the fieldhands and..." Telany's breath caught. Then
there were two delighted screams and the pair were racing across the
courtyard to greet the man.

"Da! Da!" Kerril nearly knocked his father down as he barrelled into
him, wrapping his arms around his waist, while Telany, heedless of the
dust from his clothes on her dress, was only just behind.

"You're here!"

"Ma said you got in trouble and you had to put it right..."

"Are we going back home now?"

"Not yet, son." Terren reached down to the pump and splashed water over
his face. "But we can spend all day together, eh?"

"Oh." Kerril drooped for a moment, then managed a smile. "All right! For
R'fal's birthday! There's going to be a feast and cakes and pies and all
kinds of sweets."

R'fal had stood back, watching, but now he raised a hand in greeting.
"Hello, Da. You're looking better." His father was still thin, but there
was a stronger colour in his face and though he was weary, it was the
healthy tiredness of a morning spent in the fields.

"Thanks. I could have done with a few more days' rest, it's been Turns
since I've done fieldhand work - but it's your uncle's cothold, so."
Terren frowned, briefly, then appeared to shrug it off. "Anyhow, we've
got a feast to look forward to! Happy birthday, R'fal." He opened his
arms, and R'fal came over to join them, breathing in the familiar scent
of grass and hay and sweat, closing his eyes and forgetting everything
except that he was with all of his family, once again.

Last updated on the September 29th 2020

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The Storm Breaks (1/4)