Should I tell her (part 2) (PG-17)

Writers: Teresa
Date Posted: 10th April 2008

Characters: T'nel
Description: Terainel tries to sort out his sleeping problem by talking to someone who had a similar problem.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 9, day 3 of Turn 4
Rating: PG-17

After Terainel and Rolada had walked well away from the healers door, Rolada took Terainel's hand, and said almost pleadingly "please, come with me. I have something I want to show you."

"Uuummm OK" He allowed himself to be led to where ever it was that she was taking him. She led him down a corridor that was not very well traveled, he could tell because it had a thin layer of dust. Not really sure what to think, he continued to follow. Finally his curiosity got the best of him, "where are we going?"

"Some place quiet, I used to come here when I was younger, and needed some where to be alone. We are almost there." she said in a hushed voice.
Finally they arrived at their destination, she opened a glow basket that held a strong glow.

"What exactly is it that you wanted to show me that we have to be off in a hidden cavern?" he asked Rolada turned her back to him, and pulled one of her shoulder straps down then the other, and let her dress fall halfway down her back, revealing the scars from her past life, and she looked back toward him.

"Oh Rolada, I am so sorry" he stepped closer to her and traced on of the scars that continued to run under her dress. She pulled her dress back up, and turned her body around to face him.

"I know what has happened to you. Your dreams probably are not much different than mine were. If I had not had my Grandmother to talk to about them I probably would have gone insane." she said with a note of sadness in her voice.

"I did not think they allowed such things to happen in the Weyrs" He said confused.

"They don't, I am not Weyrbred. My father used to beat me for any little thing when he would drink too much. One day after I was 13 turns, my Father tried to, well, he tried to do something I was not old enough to, something you should only do with a mate." Rolada wrapped her arms around herself at the memories. Her face flushed with the embarrassment that she still felt even thought it was not her fault.

"My cries, woke my Mother, she came into my room, and saw my Father, and tried to get him off of me. He hit her so hard, that she fell, and hit her head. He had killed her." Tears steamed down her cheeks. Terainel stepped closer, took her face in his hand, and wiped the tears from her cheek.
Rolada continued her voice strained with sorrow, "I screamed and tried to get away, but he was far larger than I, and much stronger. He hit me every time I struggled, so I stopped fighting him." She paused and hugged herself tighter "he did what he came to do, then left my room, leaving me to bleed, and my dead Mother in my room."

She shook her head and wiped more tears from her face. Terainel just stood there in shock. Wanting to hold her, to make her feel better, but not sure if that was such a good idea. "I waited until I could hear him close the door to his room, and I ran. I ran as fast as I could to my Aunt's house. She saw my clothes and the bruises, and I told her everything that had happened. They found my Mother still in my room. They woke my Father from his drunken stupor, and he was taken away that night."

"Why did you come here?, why didn't you stay with your family?"

"I wanted to, and I did for a while. Until the nightmares did not stop. My Aunt thought it best if I did not stay so close to where those things had happened. So I came here to stay with my Grandmother. It took me a while to get over it. But I did, it still hurts to talk about it, but I had to in order to heal here" she said as she tapped her right temple.

"I don't know what to say, my fears are nothing compared to what you had to go through." he said voice cracking with the tears that threatened to come, more for her plight than his own.

"But do you understand why it is so important for you to talk to someone?"
she asked pleadingly.

"Yes." he paused and let out a heavy sigh " I will tell you, if you want.
But I feel silly knowing how hard you had it, and mine is almost nothing compared to yours" he said sheepishly holding her hands and looking at the floor once more.

"No one should have to suffer through that kind of treatment, no matter the situation. It leaves scars on the inside as well as the outside for those of us who go through those kinds of things." she looked into his eyes and tightened her grip on his hand. "it will help if you can talk to someone about it, even if it is not me."

Terainel let out another heavy sigh and decided he would tell her. He told her his story, everything that had happened right up to when he was found by the dragonrider.

"Terainel, I don't think you should think any less of your self because your situation was different than mine. At least my Father only beat me when he was drunk, yours beat you anytime he felt he needed to. To me that is just as bad as what my father beat me for. And that awful Trader man."
she closed her eyes and shook her head " See your life has not been so much different than mine. It's just you were a little bit older and stronger than me when you were forced to do that kind of thing" She told him tenderly.

He gave her a weak lopsided grin, "nothing will ever be as bad as what he did to you the night you left your home though. Your own Father, and you were so young, I feel awful for you." Having had been in a similar situation himself, he was horrified at the thought of a young girl unable to defend herself properly.

"At least I know what happened to my family, you don't, especially your Mother. That would be just as heart breaking for me. And to not be able to contact them or find out any information for fear of a Father who would drag you back." She added gently.

"Well, I am told that even if he did try to take me back there, I am protected here. If I don't want to go. I don't have to. That has been my one comfort, and my greatest source of peace here. But that has not changed my fear of telling my family where I am. Not even my Mother. My Father would find out, and things for my Mother would be worse." He added with the threat of tears chocking him again.

"I want to thank you. You have been so kind to me since the first time I met you, and here you are, fighting your own pain, in order to help me yet again." He smiled and looked into her eyes.

"That's OK, I don't mind helping." she said looking into his eyes. She gave a mischievous grin and squeezed his hand a little tighter. "just don't make a habit of it, I may need the favor returned one of these days" she said quietly, but playfully as she turned sideways a little to tap his arm with her shoulder.

They were standing very close to one another at this point. Rolada could almost feel his breath. She wanted to get closer, she wanted to hold him, but dared not. Not right now.

Terainel just stared into her eyes, he wanted to hold her tightly in his arms, to help some of her pain pass, and maybe some of his would pass with hers. But her dared not, for fear it would not be welcomed, and cause more pain.

"I hate to break up this little party, but I have a curfew, which I hope I have not missed already. We had better go." he said after a few seconds, breaking the silence.

" I know, I hope we have not gotten you into trouble." she said quietly, letting his hand go. "If you like, we can meet again tomorrow." she asked.
Hoping that she had not run him off like she had so many others.

"Yes, that would be nice" he said fighting off the desire to hold her close.
"How about in the dining caverns after I have finished my chores."

"Perfect" she said brightly. " We better hurry." She pulled him toward the door still holding one of his hands. As they reached the point in which she would go to her weyr, and he to the barracks. "See you tomorrow then." she smiled then gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. His mouth agape, he nodded, and his hand automatically went up to where she had placed the kiss as he turned and started to the barracks.

Last updated on the April 17th 2008

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Should I tell her (part 2) (PG-17)