To Fill the Gaps

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 13th December 2013

Characters: Rhosyn, Tsaera
Description: Rhosyn comes to see Tsaera to talk to her about the possibility of her moving.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 4, day 26 of Turn 7
Notes: Lenala, K'sedel, Solieira, N'vanik, Sh'del, R'enh, Cyradis (not by name)

The sun was hot, but inside Tsaera's weyr the temperature was much cooler. The rock was perforated with ventilation shafts that carried the hot, muggy air outside while providing a bit of a breeze.

It wasn't that different from River Bluff.

The retired goldrider looked at the letter from K'sedel again, then sighed. River Bluff's Weyrwoman pregnant and soon grounded, and Lenala also about to be since Vilarth had risen. The situation was entirely avoidable, but also entirely predictable. It wasn't as if she hadn't faced the same dilemma when she'd had her own children, but that had happened well before the Pass began, when it didn't matter if she could lead her Wing or not.

And to go back to River Bluff? The thought made her heart ache. She'd left for a reason-a very good reason-but the Weyr was _hers_. It was home.

}:They are here,:{ Tabanirth said softly.

Tsaera tucked the letter into her desk as the Weyr's bronzes called a greeting to the younger Queen dragon. She ran a hand through her iron grey hair to tame it, then rose to walk to Tabanirth's ledge to greet River Bluff's Weyrwoman.

Rhosyn was still flying, but barely. It would only be a sevenday or two before she would be grounded for good. The River Bluff Weyrwoman was used to assistance at home getting on and off her behemoth. As it was, though, she hadn't thought to bring a candidate with her to get her down. Pursing her lips at this oversight, she decided to just bear it. Orlaith took her time circling and landing, then carefully lowered herself so Rhosyn just needed to unstrap and slide down her foreleg to get down. She maneuvered her tail to catch if need be. It took some time but she managed, grunting all the while. It didn't take long to figure out this female was not a lady, even if her reputation had not preceded her.

She was wearing wherhide pants and a loose tunic under the flight jacket that was not normally hers. Pulling the helmet off her head, she stuck it into Orlaith's harness bag, letting the copper hair catch the sunlight before she looked around, searching. She had heard descriptions of Tsaera but had never seen the woman.

"If I'd known you were so far along, I'd have come to meet you." Tsaera stepped from the shadows, her hand extended in greeting. She was a stocky woman, her muscular arms bared in a sleeveless tunic of orangy gold. Her cropped grey hair and lined face marked her age, but her posture was impeccable and she moved with the surety of a woman half her age. "Welcome, Weyrwoman Rhosyn."

"Well met, Tsaera." She did extend her hand as well, but it was a cautious smile she gave, realizing she was out of water here. Still, Rhosyn being Rhosyn she went forward. "Since it won't be long before I can't, I used the chance to go for a visit. No worries. Just not as fast these days." She wasn't sure if Tsaera knew this was her first pregnancy carried to term. There were so many things that made Rhosyn uncomfortable, but she didn't dwell on her vulnerability. "I'm sure you know why I've come."

"K'sedel did write to me, but I would much rather hear it from you." Tsaera held out a hand to usher the younger woman into the cool of her weyr. "But come in, first. I have water or juice, if you'd like."

She followed her inside, considering the furnishings and the woman's certain turns. Could she even fly enough to lead a Wing? "Water is fine." That sat better when Rhosyn was having to get up and down and fly across Pern.

Tsaera poured two large glasses from a earthenware jug with water beading on its surface. She handed one to Rhosyn, then sat across from her in a well-worn armchair. "Now. I've never been one to mince words, and you've come an awful long way to have to deal with small talk. K'sedel said that you are in a bit of a fix with you about to be grounded and Vilarth clutching soon."

"Yes. We don't have any juniors so there's no help. Dragonsfall has the same numbers. Dolphin Cove has a junior but their Weyrwoman is pregnant so they won't spare. So here we are." Rhosyn had been hoping for an egg for so long but it had yet to happen and so it was. "We were discussing it and he mentioned a letter from you wishing for a change. So I have come to ask, what is it you want? Also, if you don't mind, why did you go?" It was said quietly but Rhosyn was earnest. She didn't want to waste time either and it seemed Tsaera was a frank woman, much like herself.

The retired goldrider smiled, briefly. "I was Weyrwoman at River Bluff for over ten turns, and a presence there long before. I left because if I'd stayed during the transition period, I would have ended up undermining the next Weyrwoman's position. Not that I'd have meant to, but the Weyr and the Holds have looked to me for a long time. My departure meant that the habit was cleanly broken, and the Weyr could trust its new Weyrwoman sooner." She paused, her expression hardening slightly. "I'm not sure that it was the right decision, in retrospect. Zharesti's time as Weyrwoman wasn't... well. It's done. As for what I want..." Tsaera tapped a finger against the arm of her chair as she looked Rhosyn over. "Do you miss Vista Point?"

"Not at all," she answered flatly, without going into the whys and wherefores. Then again, she hadn't left anyone behind since R'enh and Sh'del had both ended up at Dolphin Cove.

"Well, I miss River Bluff," Tsaera replied.

"So at this point, what exactly are your capabilities? I mean obviously you retired for a reason." The woman didn't look in ill health, but one needed to ask these things.

}:Patience,:{ Tabanirth said softly.

Long practice meant that Tsaera's expression didn't betray her. "I am as fit and able as you," she told the younger goldrider. "As I said, Tabanirth failed to rise, and I believed it was better for the Weyr if there was a clean break in leadership."

**She regrets it now, of course.** That was easy to see. With Tabanirth unable to Rise, there was no chance of Tsaera usurping her as Weyrwoman should Tsaera return. However, Rhosyn was no fool. She had left so that Zharesti would have full reign because she knew her people would defer to her. What if they did so as soon as she returned? Rhosyn had gained her independence at River Bluff and she did not welcome any challenge to her authority or her position. She had been controlled for far too long. However, the Wing needed a Leader and there were no other options. "So if we asked, would you come? And would you stay, after?"

"If asked, of course I'd return to River Bluff. And whether or not I'd stay afterward..." Tsaera folded her hands in her lap. "That depends on what is best for the Weyr."

**That's it then. Once she gets in, she won't leave, the old wherry.**

"Whatever the arrangement made, I will perform my duties on the ground as long as I am able. When I am not, Lenala will. So whoever comes will only be serving as Wingleader, not Weyrwoman." Rhosyn would not relinquish her control, her power, her freedom. It had been too hard won. And within her Weyr, there wasn't much to challenge it. Even her Weyrleader generally left her alone. She was quiet before her head came back and she felt her hormones surging just a bit. "Tsaera, I don't know you and you don't know me. I understand that you are doing the Weyr a courtesy if you do agree to come. Believe me, I hate being in this position." She gave a low chuckle and looked skyward. "And I appreciate that. Something you do need to know, though, I don't always work well with others. So you'd be taking on a bit more by coming." It wasn't a threat, it was just an honest admission. Rhosyn liked to be up front with people.

"You're right. We don't know each other, but _if_ this is going to work, we _are_ going to have to work together. Both of us." Not working well with others was a luxury that a Weyrwoman didn't-- couldn't-- have, and if Rhosyn wanted to remain Weyrwoman then she would have to figure it out, fast. "The Weyr looks to you, and will continue to, but if they see their leadership squabble your authority will be undermined. I will work with you and support you as Weyrwoman, but in exchange you are also going to have to work with me. If you don't see that happening, then my coming back to the Weyr will do more harm than good."

"In all honesty, it depends on you and how you act. At present my staff and I are fine and everyone gets along, as well as the other Wingleaders. My only hesitancy is with you personally. I've been around older goldriders in the past that didn't accept me and the way I do things. That-- I can't abide by. Not anymore." She didn't want to go into her entire sordid history. Rhosyn knew that there was no way to predict everything and how it would go. "If I have issues, I will air them privately if that's what you're worried about." Her eyes rested on her pregnant belly. Her mood swings had been a little less frequent of late, but they were there sometimes.

Tsaera raised an eyebrow. **Interesting.** "Well, your staff hasn't changed much since I was Weyrwoman, and most of the bronzeriders at the Weyr were my Weyrleaders at one point or another. If you get on with them, I'm sure that you and I will be able to work together. They're as much a character reference for me as they are for you."

The way she said it-they were hers-like they were still hers-Rhosyn didn't like it. River Bluff was hers now. She had fought for it and it was hers. Granted K'sedel was Orlaith's choice out of the bunch, but he wasn't hers. Never hers. It was no secret Rhosyn wanted N'vanik at River Bluff instead, but she couldn't always get what she wanted. So Tsaera could have K'sedel or whatever if she wanted, but she wouldn't take River Bluff. "Very well. Then, I know K'sedel has no problems." **I have no other choice.** "If you wish to come, then we'll need to make arrangements since you'll be needed soon."

Tsaera nodded. "I can be packed up and moved within the next few days, if necessary. Just say when."

"Let's say in four days' time. That'll give Solieira and I the time we need to get one of the other weyrs ready. I'll have K'sedel send you help for your things." **Am I going to regret this?** Rhosyn tried to remember if there was anything else she needed to bring up.

"Thank you. Once you and Sol have things figured out at your end, let me know. I'd also like to have a meeting with yourself and Lenala soon after I arrive, to discuss how to you'd like to manage the change in Wing leadership."

That would give them time to acclimate Tsaera to the changes before Lenala was grounded herself. That was a good thing. Rhosyn didn't have long now at all. Maybe less than a sevenday. Putting it all together in her head, she nodded. "That will be fine." It crossed her mind that there were new folk, some who wouldn't know who Tsaera was. Rhosyn liked that idea. "Did you have any questions for me?" Otherwise, she was hoping she could get her fat arse out of here and back into her nice loose dress.

The retired goldrider shook her head. "I trust Solieira to take care of any arrangements, and anything Wing related can wait until I'm at River Bluff to discuss."

"Thank you for your time and for your assistance then Tsaera. I may send some charts and schedules and those sorts of things by one of our senior weyrlings for you to look over. For now, though, I've got a bit of work to do to get ready." Ready for the baby, ready for an older goldrider, ready for everything else. Rhosyn sighed under all the stress then stood up slowly and took stock before turning to go.

Last updated on the December 18th 2013

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To Fill the Gaps