Aslyum Request

Writers: Avery, Devin, Suzee
Date Posted: 12th May 2024

Characters: Cyradis, N'vanik, Zelah
Description: A woman with a troubled past asks the Weyrleaders of Dolphin Cove for sanctuary.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 27 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: Briata, J'lor

Cyradis

N'vanik

Zelah

This was certainly an unusual situation. A former Lady Holder,
essentially exiled to the Mindhealer Hall. And now she wanted to come
_here_? N'vanik glanced at Cyradis and then over at the young woman.
"Why Dolphin Cove? Why the Weyr?"

That's what everyone wanted, wasn't it? Hear from the crazy lady why
she (tried to) kill her child? Why she couldn't just submit to her
marriage? Did they think she was insane as had been said, or did they
know that sometimes insanity just depended on who was asking? But they
had read her letter and invited her to interview, so they must be
willing to give her a chance. She clung to that hope as she began.

"They call me insane because I don't want to be chattel, married off
to a man I don't choose in order to trade for land or wealth or just
to improve noble Bloodlines. I don't want to be a broodmare to pump
out boys to inherit, and girls who will have to do the same unwanted
marriages I did. My sister _killed herself_ because she was pregnant
out of wedlock and her value was ruined. But I was born a girl, so I
had no choice."

After a long moment, she continued, "I just want to be my own woman. I
don't want to be Xeladrie, Blooded broodmare, anymore. I want to be
anyone but. So that's why the Weyr. And that's why Dolphin Cove, a
whole continent away from Turquoise Bay and Sunstone Seahold. I'll
work for my keep, I'll do anything you want me to do. Except have a
baby. _Please_, Weyrleaders."

As she faced two of the most powerful people on Pern, she knew how
to the Mindhealer Hall, Maybe _they'd_ take her as some kind of pet
and showcase her around as an example of how the Weyr could tame
former Ladies. Maybe she'd be some dragonrider's sexual plaything. But
as long as she was never pregnant again, never back in a Hold again...
she'd take any trade.

"No one here will ever force you to have a baby." N'vanik probably
should have let Cyradis speak first, but he couldn't help himself. Had
she ever been crazy at all, or just broken by the world she'd been
trapped in?

Cyradis was a bit conflicted over this addition with all the heat the
Weyr was taking lately. But she was not going to allow her discomfort
to transmit to the woman begging for asylum from a life that could
have befallen her had she not been chosen by Panitath.

"Do you understand what Life in the Weyr means," she asked kindly. "It
can be quite an adjustment."

"I know they can Craft. I saw the women with knots at the hatchings my
husband took me to, and I wanted to be them. At the feasts I've also
seen the way some men interact with other men, and women with women. I
know what they say about the perversions of dragonriders, and it
doesn't bother me who does what with who. I know mating flights will
happen and they can affect people. I know women have freedom to choose
what they do with their bodies."

She folded her hands together as she waited for what they'd say next.

Either Xeladrie was actually fine with all that or it didn't matter to
her. It was clear to N'vanik that she thought anything was better than
where she'd been. Where she was now. "Just be prepared to be
overwhelmed at first. The Weyr can be . . . dazzling when you're new
to it." N'vanik hadn't had time to adjust before Loseth found him --
which was probably a good thing, because they might have booted him
out once he settled enough to get up to trouble.

“Alright Xeladrie,” Cyradis said. “Do you wish to Stand or work at a
craft?” She needed to understand what exactly the lady was looking
for. There was no provision for people at the Weyr who didn’t
contribute to the whole. If she did want to craft she would introduce
her to…

“Briata,” she said out loud.

The idea of Standing to Impress a dragon... promising thoughts of
soaring the skies, free forever, unable to be anywhere but at a Weyr -
no way of being forced back to a Hold! But to fight Thread and maybe
be injured or die - terrifying. She'd have to think about it. She
didn't know what Craft she might be good at, or even want to do.
Something with her hands, but not a womanly art - no baking, no
embroidery or anything with clothes, nothing she'd been forced into
before. But she knew she could contribute with stocking, with numbers,
with organizing and directing.

"I have skills with running a Hold, working with a Headwoman. Could I
help yours, while looking maybe into a Craft?"

Then the Weyrwoman said something she didn't understand, and she
blinked. "Briata?" she echoed.

Cyradis nodded. "Briata, Lord Ishek's former wife. Do you remember
her? She is here at Dolphin Cove. A weaver and a mother by her own
choice. She elected _not_ to Stand. She is weyrmated to our Master
Dragonhealer. Again, by her own choice." She wasn't going to bring up
the bronzerider's other weyrmate at this delicate time. "Would you
like to talk to her? I believe her story is very similar to your own."

"Then we can discuss what you'd like to do. Stand or work with the
Headwoman in the lower caverns." She nodded to N'vanik. She didn't
feel they needed to turn this young woman away.

"I'd like that very much." It sounded perfect. Someone else who'd had
an experience of going from a Blooded lady to a weyr resident? That
would absolutely be useful.

She'd considered this for months in the Mindhealer's Hall - never
being Xeladrie again. Names had run through her mind. Rielle. Laria.
Xela - then Zelah. Now that she was at the Weyr, she knew what to say,
who to become.

"One last thing... I don't want you to get in trouble for hosting me,
and I know my name will draw attention. I'm changing it to Zelah."

The Weyrleader nodded. "Zelah. Sounds nice." He was glad Cyradis was
on board, because he'd been ready to convince her they should allow
Xeladrie to stay. "I think a Headwoman's assistant would be perfect,
while you consider if you want to Stand." Someone determined enough to
go halfway across Pern and plead directly to the Weyrleaders could
make a good, strong greenrider. Or even gold.

"Zelah it is then," Cyradis smiled. "I'll get in touch with Briata and
set up a meeting for you. I'll also introduce you to the Headwoman.
However, I'd also like to introduce you to J'lor who is a mindhealer
here at the Weyr. You'll be able to talk to him when you have the
need." She wanted Zelah to have the option but wouldn't force a
meeting unless she wished to Stand and then they would need J'lor's
input. All their weyrlings needed stable lifemates.

"Another mindhealer? Haven't I seen enough?" But if it was the price
of staying...

"Ah," she smiled gently. "Yet have you seen a dragon riding
mindhealer? One who understands and appreciates the ways of the Weyr
and will not judge your state of mind based on those traditional roles
you so abhor?" She tilted her head. "We're not judging but we do need
independent Weyr focused input. Just asking you to talk to him. I
think you'll find he's a good listener. Sometimes that is all we need.
Does that make sense?"

It _was_ true the ones at the Hall believed in the ways of the South.
And she wanted to be cooperative so she could stay. "I can speak to
him," she said.

"You'll need to tell the mindhealer the truth, and of course we know,"
N'vanik said. "But you can choose what you want to tell anyone else."

Cyradis nodded but then added. "Though I expect you'll want to share
your information with Briata to get her to talk. She is a very private
person and would likely not discuss her own situation with you without
a good reason.

"All right," she said, twisting her hands together. "Thank you both
for this chance."

"I hope you can be happy here, Xelad-- Zelah," the Weyrleader said.

"Yes," Cyradis nodded. "We both do. Let's get you to the Headwoman so
you'll have a place to sleep tonight." She smiled.

Last updated on the May 13th 2024

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Aslyum Request