Meeting With Authority

Writers: Miriah, Chelle
Date Posted: 16th May 2013

Characters: Bahji, Rhosyn
Description: The Weyrwoman meets the blind resident.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 13, day 13 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Lenala

She had stopped into the weavers' area to look over some of the new
fabrics they had. Rhosyn had not decided just yet if she was going to worry
about a new dress for her Hatching. After all, she had several gowns
that would do. There was no real need for anything new this time around.
Fingering the material, she tried to imagine it on.

Working on a small loom in the corner, Bahji concentrated on the simple
pattern she was incorporating into the baby blanket. It was a braided
pattern that looked complex, but in actuality was rather simple. With nimble
fingers tracing over the strands of soft yarn, she paused as she heard new
footsteps. "Hello?"

Turning towards the voice, she noticed the figure in the corner. The machine
was working so Rhosyn didn't want to distract or disturb whoever was
working. Still, she did respond before straightening up. "Hi."

Bahji paused and tilted her head towards the woman's voice. "Can I help you
with something?"

"I don't think so. I was just looking at the fabrics. You can keep doing
whatever you're doing." She really didn't need anything new. She really
didn't. **That one's nice...would be great as a skirt** Rhosyn was used to folk
seeing her knots and knowing exactly who she was, even if they didn't
know her by sight.

"It's alright. It's just a blanket. I can get someone to help you with them,
if you like?" Bahji turned and stood but kept her hand on the small loom.

"Now if you do that, I will end up getting a new skirt when I have no need
of one. So your time's probably best served by finishing that blanket."
Backing up and away from the fabric, she turned to watch the thing that
Bahji was making. It was interesting the way it went through the process to
come out with the end product.

Bahji grinned. "But a new skirt will be lovely too, won't it?" Her eyes
twinkled. She patted the loom and sat back down. "The material felt lovely,
if you're looking at what's hanging there."

"Felt? Oh yes, it was soft and thin, which lends to the hot weather here.
Fabric always has to be breathable," Rhosyn was getting used to the heat,
but she could never cover up. That'd mean sweating like a herdbeast.

Bahji shrugged. "I guess I'm used to it. But then again, I'm usually in the
shade or I'm inside, so I don't feel the heat as much. " She gestured to her
pale skin. "I burn too easily." She smiled and began to work the spindle
carefully, her movements controlled. "So you're just here to look?" Another
strip of blanket formed as she moved the spindle back.

"Oh aye, a Hatching will be coming so it's always good to look, but this time I
don't need anything new really. Whenever one of my other dresses isn't
serviceable any longer, I'll get another one made." The fact that she said
dresses was evidence enough that this woman had power.

Bahji's brows rose, catching the implication and her fingers paused on the
loom. "May I ask who you are?"

And that simple question caused Rhosyn to take a second look at the girl.
How could she not know who she was? With a very confused look on her face,
she answered as simply as she could, "The Weyrwoman."

"Oh...OH!" Bahji rose again and palmed her forehead. "I wish you would have
told me, Weyrwoman." She smiled and shook her head. "I'd not heard your
voice before. I didn't know."

"Heard? What do you mean heard?" Rhosyn was still confused. She sensed
something was different, but she didn't get it just yet. With the way
Bahji's hands had moved on the loom, it had not occurred to the goldrider
that the female might be blind.

Brows creasing in confusion Bahji simply blinked for long moments
before she sighed and sat back down. "Forgive me, Weyrwoman,
I thought you realized." She shook her head and sighed. She supposed
she'd have to constantly be explaining herself. "I'm blind. I recognize
people mostly by their voices. I assumed you were just another
woman."

Of course, she had met blind people before. In a Weyr, during a Pass, there
were many that were made that way. This, though, being born that way, was
a rarity. Of course Rhosyn assumed she had been born that way because the
girl didn't have the look of a rider, or even an ex- one. "Ah well, how tall
do I sound then?"

That was a question she hadn't been asked before. Bahji blinked,
then considered the question. "You sound like you're close to my
height, actually. Your voice doesn't sound like it comes from over
my head.I may be wrong though, sometimes the size of the room
changes the way I hear."

"Hmm aye I'm pretty small, though there are smaller. I think it just makes
it more obvious because my dragon is so big." She smiled to herself, proud
of Orlaith and what her queen was capable of. "So what do you do here?"

"I'm obvious because most people are taller than me." Bahji chuckled and
tilted her head. "Well, I'm studying and helping the weavers here. I'm not
an apprentice for obvious reasons, but I make myself useful when
they need me." She shrugged. "That's about it."

"Well being useful is a good thing." Perhaps the woman could still sire some
good dragonblood. Then again if this blindness was hereditary, that was
probably not a good idea. "We appreciate you serving the Weyr."

A slight smile lifted Bahji's lips. The woman's words sounded
patronizing to her ears and she tried not to take offense. Instead
she spoke softly. "I don't have much else of a choice, do I?"

"If you wish to live here, you have to do something yes. Everyone has their
own way of earning their keep. It's the same way in a Hold, to a point. You
don't have to live here though. I'm sure there are other places you could
go." Of course that came from a holder who had been sent away from her own home,
but not many knew that.

Bahji's brows rose. "I don't mind doing what I do, Weyrwoman. But I can't
return home, is what I meant. Or to any other Hold. Here, I am a little more
free and I am not a burden."

"Ah you cannot marry then." She didn't figure it was due to disability,
though. Rhosyn was of the mind the girl had been with someone. She was
right, of course, but didn't know it. "Enjoy your freedom."

"I plan on it."

Last updated on the May 17th 2013

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Meeting With Authority