No Choice

Writers: AL, Cali
Date Posted: 13th September 2009

Characters: Talmina, Talphy, Morina
Description: Talmina's parents tell her she's leaving the Hold.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 4, day 20 of Turn 5

Talmina sat numbly as her parents watched her from across the small table. Her throat still hurt too much from where it had received a strong punch for her to want to eat. A few sips of juice was all she'd accomplished today. She thought she knew which girls were involved in the beating, at least three of them had jumped her in the darkened corridor the night before, but she had no proof, and who would believe her now that Briata was gone.

Talmina's mother sat, hands nervously picking at one another. She didn't like what they were going to have to do, but it was either that or something even worse happen to Talmina. Her daughter's life had taken a turn and not for good. She needed a fresh start, and what better place? How the girl was going to take it though, she didn't know.

"What?" Talmina growled. She hated when they stared at her. Ever since her face was carved up by that villain, they'd stared at her whenever they thought she wasn't looking.

"It's just..." Morina looked at her husband who sat like a stone, heavy and silent. Talphy's face had grown more worry lines since their daughter's attack. "We're worried about you Talmina. Very worried. We've been so frightened for you."

Talmina was frightened too. She didn't see a way out of her life, it had only spiraled down from one horror to another. Now that Briata was gone, she'd been kicked out of the kitchens. No one would take the whore girl with the horrible face. Her parents were supporting her, but every time she left their quarters she glared at, spit upon, or worse. She couldn't even accompany her two young siblings anywhere anymore, it wasn't safe for them to be with her.

"We've been talking. We don't want to do this, but we're afraid it's just going to get worse. We'd rather lose you to distance than something else." Morina's face drew tighter and tinged with red, evidence that she was desperately trying not to cry.

"We're going to send you to the Weyr." Talphy broke in. His tone was gentle and the hardness of his face softened. "You'll be safe there. We've written to Briata and she knows to expect you."

Talmina's eyes had enlarged when he'd mentioned the Weyr, then hardened as he said Briata's name. All of this, everything bad that had happened to her was all Briata's fault. How _dare_ he speak of her, speak _to_ her. "I don't want to go to the Weyr."

"If you don't," Talphy punctuated the words with a sigh, "Then you'll wind up hurt again or dead."

Morina winced at the words, but her husband was right and that idea made their hearts sink.

Talmina felt a rise of panic in her heart even as her limbs became dead weights. She didn't know anyone at the Weyr, Briata didn't count, and what would she do when she got there? No one would want her around, would want to look at her, not with her face carved into that grotesque smile. And then there were all the rumors she'd heard about the Weyr, the way the dragonriders traded their women around, how marriage was outlawed. She shuddered. She knew her father though, once he'd made up his mind on something there was little arguing would do. And he was right about one thing, if things stayed the same, she had no doubt she'd eventually be killed. "What will happen to me there?"

"Things are different there." Morina managed a small smile, but there was little but sadness behind it. "You'll be accepted, and behavior such as has been exhibited toward you as of late will not be tolerated."

"What if they won't take me either?" Surely they wouldn't take in just any stray and holdless that wandered into the bowl.

"We've already written, you'll be taken." Talphy assured her. Did she really think they wouldn't prepare? They had spoiled her and now she was suffering for it. Talphy blamed himself.

Talmina's mouth turned into a frown, it pulled at her scars, but she had learned to ignore the stretching pain. "You wrote to _her_ didn't you? I'll not be indebted to her again."

"What do you have against your cousin?" Talphy's frown deepened just as his daughter's did. "She has been nothing but nice to you, even when you have been considerably less so."

She bit back her retort, her parents never thought Briata could do anything wrong. Even when she left Ishek, it wasn't her fault, it was his for being with that cursed greenrider. They'd felt she was justified to leave. Of course, if _she'd_ been Ishek's wife, he'd never felt the need to consort with anyone else.

"Well?" Talphy leaned forward, anger clouding his face. "You have gone on too long young lady. You have two choices, stay and have the same treatment, or go to the Weyr and accept the help of Briata who is willing to help you despite how you have treated her in the past. Either way, I'm very much inclined to give you a good paddling."

"Talphy!" Morina stared at her husband in shock. She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off.

"Enough, Morina. She hasn't the sense to be grateful for family who loves her no matter what, she deserves a paddling for that." He grumbled and then leaned back, almost deflated. "Make your decision."

Talmina looked from her father to her mother, both shocked and furious at their behavior. They didn't want her. Didn't love her. They're ashamed of her and want to be rid of her. Realizing all that, she also realized that she had no choice. "I'll go to the Weyr." She said as proudly as she could as she stood up and walked at a normal pace to her bed where she promptly burst into silent sobs.

Last updated on the September 21st 2009

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