Family Men

Writers: Jane, Kaysea
Date Posted: 14th March 2008

Characters: R'haran, J'gen
Description: R'haran helps the dragonhealers and talks to J'gen.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 27 of Turn 4

R'haran finished restocking one of the very useful trolleys that the dragonhealers used for getting their equipment to the place it was needed. It wasn't challenging work but it was something he could do as a contribution to fighting Thread with very little training.

"How's it going?" J'gen asked, coming up behind the Weyrharper. "Almost finished here?" he pushed at the small of his back with his fists, pushing against the ache he had from the candlemarks he had spent working.

"Just finished," the greenrider said, looking around the work room. It was a far cry from his what such a room would look like for his own craft but he had never minded a little cross-crafting in a good cause.
"And you?"

"Tired, but pleased enough that we had no serious injuries this time around. Faranth knows, we still have one or two more serious injuries from the last Fall, we didn't need more." J'gen nodded, glancing back over his shoulder to the sleeping green that rested no more than a dragonlength from them. "She's probably the more serious of the two, and I see her wingsail repairing itself fully within the next two sevendays."

"Nothing to complain about, there, then." His own Evielenth would never recover completely from her injuries but he had come to accept that.
"Are you going to get a meal, J'gen?"

"I will be in few moments," he nodded, collecting the last remnants of rags from the floor, discard and discoloured with a mixture of ichor and redwort, "I just need to make sure all the instruments are soaking, and then I'll be ready - you?"

"I'm ready," R'haran assured the bronzerider. "Could I help you with that?"

"Almost done." with one last glance around the cavern, J'gen gave R'haran a nod. "Come on, dinner is waiting - and I don't know about you, but I'm starving!"

"You would be - this is your craft. Me ... I was just an extra pair of hands. But, yes, I'm still hungry!"

"An extra pair of hands is just what we need more of since Fall began again." J'gen replied, not wanting or allowing the WeyrHarper to denigrate his usefulness during their afternoons work. "You've been much appreciated today, and welcome to do so again whenever you can."

"I usually can," R'haran said, not making a firm promise, though, for sometimes there might be a need for somebody with his skills elsewhere.

"C'mon Zeign!" J'gen emitted a short, sharp whistle and patted his thigh as he walked towards the cavern exit; a shadow lifted from under his desk and trotted towards him, a tri-coloured canine, knee high met the men at the entrance way, his tail wagging slowly back and forth.

"He doesn't mind dragons?" R'haran asked.

"No, he's been around Suuth since a puppy. Used to curl up with him at night, but now he sleeps with Gyta most of the time." His hand caressed the canines back as it walked beside him. "He's good company - for all of us."

"Gyta is your daughter."

"Yes, yes she is." J'gen smiled warmly, "It's as though Zeign knows she needs him with her. He only leaves her during the day when she's with the harper class. He'll be with her again this afternoon when she returns to her fostermother."

"Loyalty's an admirable trait in any creature. Is there some reason your daughter needs him?"

"You haven't heard about Gyta yet?" J'gen asked, "She's mute." his words weren't harsh, or sorrowful - though he had every reason to be saddened by her infirmity - just a statement of fact.

"I'm sorry to hear that," R'haran said. "And I hadn't heard it. Was she born that way?"

J'gen shook his head, "No, not born that way, she was a chatty little thing up until her mothers death. She saw Syrita fall from the cliff."
he felt a lump forming in his throat, as it constricted with emotion.
"She ... she hasn't spoken since. I keep hoping that one day the dam with break and with it she'll speak again, but nothing yet."

"Ahh. Does she communicate in other ways? Use signs? Is she old enough to be writing?"

"The harpers have been helping her, she does use some of the deaf sign language - sometimes. But its' more as if she has retreated into herself. She rarely communicates, even with me." he answered slowly.
The ache in his chest became stronger as he admitted the truth to R'haran - the truth he had never admitted to anyone else before.

"Yes, there's a difference between not being able to communicate, not being willing to, and not having the tools to do so. How old is she?"

"She's nine." J'gen answered with a heavy sigh. "She should be like other nine-turn-olds, running 'round, having fun when not with the harpers; but instead, she sits quietly when not in lessons, lost in her own thoughts. And yes, I have had her to the mind-healers, but all they suggest is that she will come around in her own time."

"Probably true. If you like I could arrange for her to meet Tibby, my youngest son. Adopted son. He's -" R'haran grinned and was sure he was going to sound like a doting father. "He's _sweet_ and people seem to be drawn to him, just the same way they are to kittens and puppies and firelizards."

"We - ell," J'gen dragged the word out, considering the chances of Gyta finally coming around to the smaller child. "I suppose it wouldn't do any harm. And if he's as gentle as you say, she may find she feels more protective of him and less threatened by him."

"He just smiles and loves. Look, think about it for a while and let me know. I won't be offended if it doesn't seem right."

"Thanks I will." J'gen nodded, "Even if she doesn't return to the Gyta I knew before, it'd be nice to have part of my little girl back."

"I don't think anybody would think it greedy to 'want it all' in this case," R'haran said.

"Well, its been two turns now, I'd be thankful for her just to say 'daddy', again."

The harper greenrider nodded, feeling that his understanding of parenthood had expanded incredibly since the five children had come into his life. "I hope that happens for you - for you both. In the meantime, let's get something to eat."

Last updated on the March 19th 2008

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Family Men