Your Blessing

Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 14th April 2007

Characters: Zanie, Renner, Zanyar
Description: Zanie and Renner finally tell Zanie's father about their plans for marriage.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 3, day 1 of Turn 4

"Are you sure I shouldn't bring my knife with me? Just for protection?"
Renner whispered to Zanie as they walked down the hall towards her father's quarters. Zanie squeezed his hand. "He's not likely to attack you." **Probably.** "He never liked me and you know it." Course, the feeling had always been mutual.

"It wasn't you," she said quickly, shaking her head. "It was just that... you're a man. And you talked to me. And that was the part he didn't like." "Well, hopefully neither of those will change..." She couldn't help but laugh. "I suppose not. Well, this is his door..."
Glancing up at him, she squeezed his hand again. "Are you ready?"

He had faced waves that chilled the blood and dived deeper than many dared go... What was so scary about asking a man to marry his daughter?
"I better be." Renner gave the door a knock filled with more confidence than he felt at that moment.

Zanyar opened the door after a few moments and looked from Zanie's face to Renner's, and then down at their joined hands. His face became inscrutable as he opened the door a little wider and nodded. "Journeyman Renner," he said politely. "Come in and have a seat."

"Thank you, sir." He gave Zanyar a tentative nod in greeting as he lead Zanie through the door and towards the sofa. "This is a nice room you have here. It's set up... very comfortably."

Zanie tried not to wince. This was going to turn into the longest most uncomfortable conversation ever if she didn't put a stop to it. "Papa?
I'm going to marry Renner."

Zaynar gaped at them. "You're... what?"

Renner was dumbstruck too. That wasn't exactly how he would have told him... "Umm... well sir, that is to say, we are planning to be wed and would like your blessing."

"I--" Zaynar blinked and then took a seat. "This is a bit of a surprise."

Though she knew both men were probably less than pleased with her right now, Zanie knew she had saved them all a lot of misery. "I know, but we wanted to tell you first. I know it seems sudden... but it's what I want. Renner makes me happy, papa."

"And I will do everything within my power to keep her safe and happy,"
Renner assured him, actually surprised at how well he seemed to be taking the news. "I truly do love her, sir."

Zanyar watched both of them for a long moment in silence. Then he shifted his attention to Renner. "And what about her studies? Are you going to think she needs to give them up so she can raise a family for you?"

"Certainly not," Renner replied confidently, though he did think better of telling Zanyar that he doubted there would ever _be_ a family. At least, not with his children. "I want her to continue with her studies as long as she wants to."

"You know I won't stop studying," Zanie said firmly. "Renner knows, too.
He'll help me do whatever I want to."

"That is true, sir." Including this ridiculous idea of marriage, and all the infidelity that he knew would come along with it.

Zanyar looked from one to the other, still looking shocked. "And you want my blessing?"

"Please, father." Zanie tightened her hand around Renner's and resisted the temptation to tell her father that she'd marry Renner with or without it. There'd be enough time to do that if he refused. After a moment, Zanyar rose to his feet. "I won't say I'm not surprised, and I won't say I don't have my doubts." He held up a hand when Zanie opened her mouth. "You're young, Zanie. But if this is what you want..."
Zanyar shifted his gaze to Renner. "You'll take care of my daughter?"

"I'll take wonderful care of her, sir." Of that, Renner was certain.

There seemed to be little choice. Zanyar knew Zanie was fully capable of packing Renner up and going to the Weyr to live with him if he didn't at least seem to approve. "Then you have my blessing."

Renner smiled his relief and reached out a hand to the older man. "Thank you, sir. You won't regret this."

Once Zanyar had released Renner's hand, Zanie threw her arms around her father's neck and kissed his cheek. "Thank you papa," she whispered quietly, knowing how wary he was. "You won't regret this. I promise."

Zanyar kissed his daughter's head and kept quiet. There was no good way to tell her that he was more worried about _her_ coming to regret this decision.

Last updated on the April 17th 2007

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Your Blessing