Come Back to the Hall

Writers: Francesca
Date Posted: 7th June 2025

Characters: Lindora, Zinora, Ilinora, Palinor
Description: Lindora attends the Hatching feast with her daughter and runs into family members.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 26 of Turn 12

As soon as Lindora showered and changed, she went to pick up Zinora,
holding her tightly until the girl wriggled impatiently. Being with
her daughter and knowing they would be able to once again sleep in the
same room was an immense relief, making the slight disappointment of
the Hatching fade away.

"Dragon?" the toddler asked her.

"I didn't find my dragon today," Lindora explained as the pair headed
to the Hatching Feast. "Maybe next time. Wasn't it exciting though?
All the baby dragons?"

"Baby dragons," Zinora said happily.

"I bet we can meet some of them soon. That would be fun." She was sure
many of the weyrlings would be happy to show off their new lifemates.

The dining hall was already full and Lindora wove through the crowds
to get to the tables piled with food. Zinora in one arm, a plate in
the other, she grabbed a variety of food for both of them, then began
looking for a place to sit.

"Lindora!" a voice said in her ear, and then she was wrapped in a hug.
It took a moment for Lindora to realize it was her sister, and then
she felt a rush of joy as she returned the hug.

Zinora immediately reached for her aunt with a happy cry of, "Illy!"
and Ilinora took her in her arms.

"I can't believe you made it," Lindora said. "And I'm so sorry I just
left the Hall. I was angry and my mind was made up. I didn't want to
get dragged into a long discussion with Dad." The words spilled out,
even though this wasn't the best time to get into it. She wasn't sure
how long her sister would be there though. And, the joy at seeing
Ilinora was quickly overshadowed by the dread of knowing her father
must be there too. "A dragonrider came to pick you up?"

Ilinora squeezed her hand. "Your disappearance was definitely...
unexpected. And Dad was furious. I talked him down a little but... you
know how he is." Ilinora spoke quickly too, since they didn't have
much time for a private conversation. "I'm sorry you didn't Impress.
He's going to want you to come back to the Hall. Both of you."

Lindora sighed. "That's what I assumed." Her voice grew fierce. "We're
staying here though. He can't make us go back."

"He isn't going to like that," Ilinora warned, then turned her
attention back to Zinora. "You've grown so much! I won't be able to
carry you soon." She pretended to almost drop the girl as Zinora
giggled.

Lindora felt a stab of guilt that she had taken Zinora away from her
family. But no, this was the right decision for both of them. She
followed her sister through the crowds and then there he was. "Hi
Dad."

Their hug was a little awkward, but not without feeling. Despite
disagreeing with him, she still loved and missed the man. He happily
took Zinora and sat her on his lap, while LIndora handed her a bread
roll.

"I can't believe you came," Lindora said.

"Of course we did," Palinor said gruffly. "We've never had anyone in
the family Impress, except for a second cousin or two, and we never
see them."

"Well, it's good to see you. I guess we won't be able to see each
other again until the next Hatching. I'm not sure when that will be."

Palinor frowned. "Look, I can see why the excitement of being Searched
would make you want to come here. But now the Hatching is over. You
can come back to the Harper Hall. People might not even have noticed
you left, or think you were still at the Printer Hall and decided to
transfer back. There's a nice young Journeyman who just came back from
a posting-"

"Dad," Lindora interrupted angrily, knowing where his conversation was
going. "I'm not going back."

He looked at her, baffled. "Why not? This is not a good life for you,
or for Zinora. You belong with us."

"There's nothing for me back there." The heat in her voice was
partially replaced with regret. "There, I'm a young widow no one wants
to marry. Here, I'm just me. No one cares that I was married before,
or that I have a daughter. And, the Weyrlingmaster said I can
apprentice to any craft. I can be an actual apprentice baker, not just
a student. I couldn't do that outside of a Weyr."

Palinor must have seen something in her eyes, because she could see
him realizing he needed to switch gears. "I can't force you to do
anything," he said, although it was clear he wanted to, "But what
about your daughter? She can stay with us and you can come visit. Then
she can grow up in the Hall, not here."

It was clear from his tone what he thought of the Weyr. "Remember when
you were here as a child, when the Hall needed to relocate? That's why
I sent you to the Bakercraft Hall; to keep you from having to grow up
here."

"My daughter belongs with me. I'm her mother." Lindora was furious.
How could he imagine that she would be ok with abandoning her
daughter, forcing her sister to raise her? Even when Zinora stayed
with her foster mother, Lindora was able to see her daily. If they
were separated, she would just become like a fun aunt who dropped in
occasionally to play. The thought was intolerable.

"No, we're both going to stay here," Lindora said. "I'm going to
officially apprentice, then we'll see what happens at the next
Hatching. And, if necessary, the one after that."

Luckily, Zinora interrupted the argument asking for dessert. Lindora
knew her father would keep pushing her to change her mind, but it
didn't matter. She knew what she was going to do. And he couldn't stop
her.

Last updated on the June 13th 2025

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Come Back to the Hall