The Right Choice

Writers: Devin, Ames
Date Posted: 28th February 2011

Characters: Janani, N'vanik
Description: N'vanik check in on Janani as she puts her new office in order
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 10 of Turn 5
Notes: Mentions: Traelyn

N'vanik

N'vanik couldn't help glancing around the office as he walked in. The
little nick-nacks that Trae kept in here were gone, but the hidework
remained.

Janani looked up from the floor where she was just trying to pick up a
batch of hides she'd once again knocked onto the floor. Blowing her
hair from her eyes, she turned to see whose footfalls she had heard.

"Oh, N'vanik." She said, standing upright with the hides clutched in
her arm. "I didn't expect any visitors. I'm still working on sorting
things so I know what's here," She'd made a mess of things, to be
honest, but she had to organize the hides in a way that would work for
her, not for the previous owner.

"Yeah. I wanted to see how you were doing and see how things were
going with the Wing." He looked around again. All this belonged to
Janani now.

"Aside from trying to get everything organized to suit me, things are
going well. I mean, I have a lot to learn still, but I've been working
with my wing so we'll be ready for the next Threadfall. I assure you
of that." Janani replied, setting the hides down out of her way. She
knew she'd reorganized the room differently than it had been when
she'd arrived. She had her own taste for where she'd wanted her desk
and how she'd wanted things organized. Though Traelyn had been a great
Weyrwoman, Janani was her own self and had already tried to make the
office reflect parts of who she was.

"Good. I figured you could handle it." He couldn't stop looking
around. Her mug had been there, a carving on that shelf over there.

"Would you care for something to drink?" Janani asked him, stepping
over to the sidebar where she was keeping a tray of fresh klah and
other drinks. She wasn't sure what else to say. She _was_ the
Weyrwoman, but only until one of the gold dragons rose. She was more a
fill in than anything else. It wasn't like she could start spouting
off suggestions or anything of the sort.

"Sure." He sat in a nearby chair. "Is anyone giving you any trouble??"
N'vanik was glad the other goldriders agreed with his choice. He
didn't think he could have handled them arguing over it.

She poured them both a drink and handed one to him, before she too, sat.

"No, no problems. Actually most people seem to be either acting overly
friendly towards me of late or uncertain how to handle me. I think
many still mourn for the loss of Traelyn." She paused. The name had
slid so glibly off her tongue. She really hadn't spoken of the former
Weyrwoman with N'vanik at all, and she wasn't sure he was ready to do
so, or if he _ever_ would be ready to.

"Mourn. That's a good word." He took a drink.

She, too, took a drink. "Would you care to talk about her?" She asked.
"I hardly knew her myself. Perhaps if I understood what she was like a
bit better I would be able to offer more...comfort to those around me
as I fulfill my duties."

"I'm not sure I'm the right person to ask. I'm pissed at her for
shutting me out and ..." **leaving me** "doing what she did. My view
is gonna be tainted."

Janani pondered that for a few moments. "I can understand that. It
would be hard to feel as though someone you cared about was hiding
something from you."

"When it's bad enough to try to kill herself over? Yeah. Even _I_ go
get help after a while." **And I would never do that to you,** he told
his dragon.

}:I know. I don't understand it either.:{

"It's hard to imagine why anyone would do such a thing," Janani said
quietly, more to herself than to N'vanik. She'd thought on this for
some time, but could fathom no reason why _anyone_ would be so
desperate to risk not just their life, but the life of the queen.
Angdelouth was the world to her and she would protect her at all
costs, and vice versa.

"I don't know _what_ she was thinking." His voice dropped to a growl.
"Maybe she was just _weak_."

Janani thought on his words for a moment before replying in a rather
careful tone, "Perhaps that is so, or perhaps there was some part of
her that she lost somehow. I do not know what the Turns had been like
for her, but maybe there was something that left her broken inside, in
a way that only she knew."

"She could have _told_ me." **I would have listened.** He'd come to
her often enough to find comfort, why couldn't she do the same?

"Yes," Janani replied, watching him. It was odd to be discussing the
previous Weyrwoman with the Weyrleader, when she herself was only
filling in at the moment. She _did_ however, have news for him.

"I've been meaning to tell you. I noticed this morn that Angdelouth
has a certain glow about her. I knew her time could come soon. It
looks like it will be sooner rather than later," Janani found herself
holding her breath, wondering what he thought of that. He _had_ put
her in charge, but only temporary, perhaps he had other ideas for what
would best suit Dolphin Cove.

"That's good." He turned his focus Janani. "Are you sure you want
this? I could try to find someone else."

"Oh, no N'vanik. I am more than ready to take this challenge on, as
long as _you_ want me here." She figured he did, only because he had
chosen her to fill in, but perhaps his thoughts had changed since that
initial day. "If something has changed your mind about things, I'd
best no sooner rather than later, for I don't think Angdelouth will
wait long."

He nodded. "I just wanted to make sure. I know this all happened
fast." Now that it was almost sure Angdelouth would rise first, the
question was: would he win? Did he even want to?

"Aye, that it did," she replied. She couldn't help but watch him.
Would Angdelouth chose Loseth or would she choose another?

"This might seem a bit...awkward, but, would you be willing to tell me
a bit more about all the bronzeriders at Dolphin Cove? I mean, while I
might be partial to you since you chose me for this, Angdelouth will
make the choice in the end, and it would be helpful to know what I
might be getting into here." She'd met some of the bronzeriders, but
it would be interesting to hear his thoughts on them.

It was practical, but it still hurt. What did he expect, though? How
could he expect her to have confidence in him when he didn't have
confidence in himself? "You really want my opinion? Because it's going
to be biased." Could any of the other bronzeriders do a better job
than him? Would they have sat by while their Weyrwoman sank into
despair?

"I do, N'vanik. You've led this Weyr while I've been here, so I trust
your opinion. I know I have already gotten some impressions of some of
the riders, but there's so much I don't know. I don't want to feel
like I've gotten slapped in the face with something that will turn the
Weyr upside down because _I_ wasn't prepared."

"I think I made the right choice with you." And he should trust that
Angdelouth would make the right choice when she rose. Whatever choice
that might be.

Last updated on the January 28th 2012

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The Right Choice