Freedom comes at a cost

Writers: Kaysea
Date Posted: 23rd May 2007

Characters: Fareena, Caelah
Description: Fareena and Caelah discuss the new Lord Holder's proclamation
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 3, day 7 of Turn 4

They stood listening to the new Lord Holder make his pronouncements with bated breath. Neither girl daring to breathe in case they missed something important.

"Did you _hear_ him!" Fareena clung to Caelah's arm, almost shaking the other girl off her feet in her excitement. "He sad it! He said I can't be made to marry!!"

"Hushhh!!" Caelah turned to Fareena, and grabbed her by both arms, "Shhh! Don't say anything here, don't speak too loud." her eyes darted from one figure to another, "Not everyone is as happy as you are. They are starting to digest what he said, see their faces?"

Fareena slowly glanced from one person to another. Someone else had also come to the same realisation as Caelah, but his voice seemed filled with amusement, not so much worry. She turned quickly and saw who she thought was the Master Beastcrafter of the Hold walking away.

"But... I can't be held to the agreement now." she whispered to Caelah. "And I can't be punished for it either."

"Yes sweetheart, I know that. But you will have to tread carefully. You don't just have yourself to worry about, you also have to think of your mother."

"The way my Mother was thinking of me?" Fareena sniffed disdainfully.

"Your mother was doing what she thought was best." Caelah sighed, the love she felt for Fareena didn't blind her to the other girls faults, and the lack of compassion she had shown to her mother was niggling at Caelah. "Speaking of which, I think tonight, you should go back to the cot. You need to talk with your mother, seriously."

"What?" Fareena stepped back, her face clouding over from the smile she had worn moments before. "You... you don't want me to stay with you?" she stepped back, her hands dropped to her sides, not moving. "Have I.. Have I done something wrong?"

"No...no of course you haven't." Caelah shook her head, "No, but I want you to sort things out with your mother, you need to. Especially now."

"Why _especially now_?" fear hadn't subsided in her eyes, but questions filled them now as well.

"Did you listen to what Lord Corowal said? Things will change here. Things are changing, as we speak." Caelah once again took hold of Fareena, this time slipping her hands over the other girls and lifting them. "We will have freedom, freedom we haven't ever known before, but it will come at a cost."

"I'm not sure what you mean?"

"We will be free to take up a craft." Caelah looked the other girl in the eyes. "_We_ - you and me. We can leave here if we so choose and find a craft willing to take us. The Harpercraft, Far, we can be Harper's if that's what we want."

Understanding dawned finally on Fareena's face. "But.. the Hall isn't here."

"Exactly, the Hall is at the Weyr. So if we are to leave, you don't want to leave your mother on bad terms..." she paused for a moment, "You will want and need her understanding on more than just the craft business too."

Her meaning was clear, and Fareena nodded. "You're right. I need to go and see her." She glanced around the quickly dispersing crowd. "But how? What will I say? _How_ do I tell her?"

"You're her daughter, the words will come." Caelah said reassuringly.

"I don't think I can - alone. Will you come with me?"

"No. You need to do this yourself. I will come and see you, once you have spoken to your mother, but I won't be a foil for you. You can't and won't use me to stop your mother from showing whatever emotion she chooses. A child does that. If you and I are to be together, you will stand up as the adult to claim to be, my sweet." Caelah lifted her hand ands gently smoothed Fareena's cheek. "I love you, but I won't be used by you."

"There you both are!" Salvin strode up to the pair, a wide smile on his face. "Well, what did you think of the pronouncements of our new Lord Holder?" he asked.

"Very _interesting_." Caelah smiled back at the Harper. "Very interesting indeed. Actually, we were just discussing how it may affect us." she nodded at Fareena. "Far, is going to go and talk to her mother tonight." Her words may have seemed innocent but there meaning wasn't lost on the Harper, as he looked from one girl to the other.

"You've not seen her, since... your disagreement?" he asked, trying to be diplomatic.

"No. I've been staying with Caelah that last few nights." Fareena shook her head. "But Caelah thinks it best I go sort things out with her. And I have to talk to Corlean as well, and straighten things out with his family. The agreement that was made, had nothing to do with either of us, and they will all have to realise it just isn't going to happen." She was adamant, and the Lord Holders proclamation gave her assurance completely. She could see only as far as telling her mother, and hoped when the time came to tell Corlean's family, her mother would back her decision, now there was no pressure from the Hold.

"I think we all deserve a drink." Salvin held out his crooked arms to both girls. "Care to join me?"

With a giggle, they linked arms at either side of the Harper, and all three took their first step together.

Last updated on the May 25th 2007

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Freedom comes at a cost