To New Friendships

Writers: AL, Kaysea
Date Posted: 12th June 2008

Characters: J'gen, Irlani, Gyta
Description: Irlani meets J'gen's daughter Gyta and a new friendship forms
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 4 of Turn 4

Irlani got to the dining hall early . That was how she always was. It wasn't good enough to be on time, she always preferred to be a little bit early. So she was waiting there by the time J'gen arrived with his daughter. "Hello again, Bronzerider." She greeted the man, then turned her gentle smile to the child. "Hello Gyta. I'm Irlani."

J'gen smiled in greeting, "You can call me J'gen." he said with a chuckle, "Bronzerider sounds so formal." He looked down a Gyta, the child glanced up at Irlani and then stared out over the cavern, her hand tightened on her father's as she did so. They seldom ate in the company of others, but tonight, he thought it more suitable to have the cavern for distraction - especially while they talked about the child in her presence.

"J'gen, then." Irlani nodded. "Please, lead the way."

Holding out a chair for her, he waited until Irlani had taken a seat, then did the same for Gyta. His daughter had said not a word the whole time, she had just watched her fathers movements, while taking in their surroundings.

"You've dealt with other children with the same problems?" he asked, finally taking a seat. He reached out and picjed up te jug of water on their table and filled their mugs. Gyta sat and stared at Irlani for a few moments, as if she wasn't quite sure who the woman was.

"Dealt? No. Loved? Well, I've loved and tended to children with problems." Irlani stated gently. Dealing with children was not a term she liked to use. It seemed too...harsh and unempathic. "I've cared for children who had various issues, many of whom were violent."

"You won't have a problem with Gyta being violent - quite the opposite." he said, reassured by her words. "She seldom does more than she is bidden to do - except..." he paused, Irlani would probably rarely have to deal with Gyta during the evenings, or overnight, the benefit of being in the dragon cavern, it was only on a few occasions he had had to be there at night. "Except at night - her dreams..." he gave a small shrug as if it were nothing, when really they terrified both Gyta and himself - it was the only time he heard her talk.

"I'm sure she'll be no problem." Irlani turned her gaze back to the child and smiled at her. "It is a pleasure meeting you. I hope we will become good friends."

Gyta slowly turned and looked at the woman a less vacant look appeared on her face briefly before her vision clouded gain and her eyes slowly turned to take in the room at large again.

Irlani watched the child for a moment before returning her gaze to J'gen. "She's very lovely, J'gen. A beautiful girl, and I can see you in her. I'll be happy to take over her care if you would have me."

"We'll see how we go, then." J'gen nodded with a smile. "If you'd like to go and get something to eat, I'll stay here with Gyta, then if you don't mind, I'll go and get us something to eat?" he'd like to see how they interacted while he wasn't at the table, and whether Gyta would accept Irlani in replacement of Trayla.

"Certainly." The woman nodded, then stood and made her way up to the food. She took up a plate, loaded it with what she wanted and returned to the table shortly. She smiled to J'gen as she settled down. "Perhaps when you return you can tell me more about Gyta, her likes, her dislikes, help me to get to know her better."

"Yes, you'll need to know." he nodded, "I'll be back in a few moments. Any trouble...well...I'm sure you'll be fine." he nodded.

"Yes, we will." Irlani watched J'gen as he left for a moment, then turn her attention to Gyta. She studied her for but a moment before she asked softly, "How old are you dear?" She knew the answer, but she wanted to ask anyway.

Gyta turned and looked at Irlani, her curiosity obvious in her eyes. She fiddled with her hands, looking down as though counting on her fingers, before looking back up at the woman. Once more her attention returned to the room, eyes searching for her father, her relief evident as she saw her father moving over near the servery.

"I'm thirty-four." Irlani continued just as if the child had answered verbally. "I never was one of those people who felt it necessary to hide her age." She paused for a moment, "Do you like to sing? Or perhaps be sung to?"

Once more the child turned her attention to the chattering woman. This time her curiosity was more evident, and her consternation, as she began to frown a little as if thinking intently.

"I like to sing." Irlani continued, "Oh I'm no harper, but I can keep a tune and my voice isn't too bad. I enjoy it though. I also like stories. Do you like stories?"

Slowly Gyta nodded. Her eyes rivetted to the womans as she continued to talk.

J'gen watched the pair froma distance. He could see Irlani chattering away, and was surprised to see that Gyta, instead of gazing round the room as she was want to do on the rare occasions they ate here, was intent on whatever the woman was saying. Irlani seemed to have a way with her, despite the rather unusual way she had of broaching the subject of an exchange of care. He had never felt confident with Trayla, less so the last few months, but no one else had taken to Gyta - placing her in the awkward or too hard category, he guessed.

"If you like stories, I can tell you some." Irlani took a bite of her food and smiled to the little girl. "Maybe we can make up some stories of our own together."

A small tentative smile crossed the childs face.

"You and your father can be the hero and heroine if you like." Irlani returned the smile with one of her own. "Perhaps later you can tell me some other things you'd like to do and we can do them."

Gyta appeared to be considering this as 'gen took his seat at the table. "Me, a hero?" he asked, looking down at Gyta, "Do you think I would make a good hero?" he pulled a face at the child.

She shook her head, a small smile on her face.

"You seem to be getting on well." he said, looking across at Irlani. He passed Gyta a plate of food, slipped his own plate onto the table.

"She's a lovely girl, J'gen." Irlani gave Gyta another smile then looked to her father. "We've just been having a chat about all the things we can do together if she would like."

"So I heard. And she seems to be responding well to you." he nodded, looking down at Gyta. "Would you like to have Irlani as afriend?" he asked, feeling confident that the answer would be positive - more so than with any other carer she had had.

Slowly the child nodded, looking from one adult tothe other. A smile slowly grew on her face, as she picked up her fork and began to eat.

"I'm glad." Irlani said softly, smiling to Gyta, then turning it upon her father. "I always enjoy making more friends."

Last updated on the June 15th 2008

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