You Can Keep Her!

Writers: Emma, Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 25th March 2014

Characters: Ninaine, N'call, Teseada, Ninaine's Parents
Description: Some parents don't react well
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 6 of Turn 7

Ninaine

N'call

Teseada

Still dazed from the surprise Impression of little Luneth, Ninaine
made sure that the dragon was sleeping before she left her to attend
the festivities after the Hatching. It was still a shock...apparently
she had been very wrong as to what a green dragon looked for. That she
had been chosen, nearly knocked down by the staggering little dragon,
still made her mind reel. The moment she looked down into the whirling
eyes, she had completely forgotten her disappointment in not being
chosen by the gold.

As she made her way to the festivities, her smile tired but still
retaining the trace of awe, she was suddenly jerked from her thoughts
by a hard hand gripping her upper arm. Her mother spun her around, her
expression angry, her voice loud. "How could you do this to us? How
could you do this to your family? A green? A _green_!? You didn't even
try, did you? There's only one reason a green would have chosen
you...you've become a whore, haven't you? "

"No, Mama, I haven't..." Ninaine tried to defend herself, but knew
better than to raise her voice when her mother was so irate. She
looked helplessly at her father, who tried to pull her mother away,
yet did nothing to defend his daughter.

N'call walked up behind the adults talking to Ninaine and was not
pleased at all by the tone they were using to the new weyrling. His
eyes narrowed and he pulled himself to this full height. "You will
not speak to a rider in that manner madam," he said severely as he
stepped past her and removed her hand from her daughters arm. "You are
distressing her dragon."

"_That_ was my daughter." The woman snapped back, ignoring her husband
as he tried to calm her and pull her away. "We only allowed her to
come because of that gold egg, not so she could grace you riders'
beds. She could have been married proper and done her duty to her
family." The woman's furious eyes narrowed, focusing back on her
child. "She's shamed all of us."

Thankful that Luneth was firmly asleep, Ninaine felt utterly torn and
shattered by her parents lack of support. She had always done her
duty! She tried to keep her back straight in the face of her mother's
accusations, but it was clear that the woman's words had struck her
deeply.

The man's feeble attempt to pull his wife away had not gone unnoticed.
"You will use My Lord when addressing me madam," he said coldly. "Or
have your vaunted hold manners so deserted you that you offer insult
wherever you desire?" He was disgusted with the woman and certain it
showed. "For whatever good it will serve, this young woman showed
proper manners when she addressed me and even included the appropriate
curtsey. But I see you are so far gone in vilifying her that you have
forgotten to whom you speak and do not perform your own duty to the
Weyr."

The woman floundered for a moment and her mouth opened and closed
before she stood a little straighter and gave the curtsey that she had
forgotten. "I apologize for the insult, Bronzerider. But my daughter's
behavior has humiliated her entire family." Her eyes went to Ninaine
who was desperately trying to hold back tears. "She failed in her
duty to her family and now she is completely ruined!"

"Your daughter is _not_ ruined, she has Impressed a green dragon. She
will now devoting her life to protect _all_ the people of Pern rather
than serve one man. You would do well to thank her and praise her for
her victory on the Sands today." He hadn't missed the fact that the
woman had still neglected to call him by his rightful title but
elected to let it go.

"I have not heard a whisper of impropriety around this young woman
while she has been here. In fact, it has been well known to all the
riders that she was very particular in her choices of friends and
acquaintances while she was a Candidate. You trained her well and she
stuck to your principals. If you choose to be humiliated, then perhaps
you can tell me where your house is and I'll make sure _not_ to
protect it the next time my group flies Threadfall there." It was an
empty threat and he knew it. They probably did too but it felt good to
say it.

"I can guarantee you that today is the best day of her life and you
are not going to pollute it further with your blind tunnelsnake's
poison." He held out his arm to Ninaine and his voice changed
completely. "Greenrider, will you do me the honor of this dance?" His
gaze was frosty as he faced the mother again. "Begone woman."

"Is there a problem here?" Teseada had seen the discussion from the other
side of the weyrbowl, and had worked her way over as fast as she could.
"Congratulations Greenrider Ninaine, My duty to your Luneth," Teseada said
with a smile.

Despite her husband's urging to come away, Ninaine's mother was set on her
course; disappointment in her daughter and the sight of her now flanked by
an unknown man, even a rider who was trying to take her away just spurred
her on. Her voice became strident, carrying over to the gathering
celebrating the Hatching. "Best day? Best day?! She should be ashamed! She's
nothing but a tramp now!" Ninaine's father hissed angrily, yanking her back
as the goldrider approached and spoke in her ear, his voice rough and
unheard. The woman dipped into a curtsey at the sight of the woman, but the
motion was a grudging one. At Teseada's greeting, the woman's face flushed
brighter. "She should _not_ be congratulated.

Ninaine visibly shrank further and looked up at N'call, then Teseada. "I..."
She had lived her entire life following the strictures of her parents and
the hold. She had always obeyed them and the sight of her mother, so enraged
at her for failing to live up to their expectations was a shattering
experience. The awe of the day and her joy at the Impression of Luneth had
been utterly ruined. She did not want to dance. She did not want to face
anyone who had heard her mother's words. "I..I better go check on Luneth..."
She pulled away, gave a quick curtsey to both riders and she looked at her
father, her eyes hopeful. The hope died as he turned away to try to rein in
her mother before she said more. Unable to bear the condemnation of the
people she had always worked to please, she bolted towards the barracks,
skirts hiked up as she ran.

Tempted as she was to go after the girl herself, Teseada restrained herself,
and instead had Onnyth send one of the Weyrlingstaff to chase the girl down
and check on them both.

"I beg your pardon?" The words Teseada really wanted to use were restrained,
this was not the time or place to explain things in such blunt terms as they
clearly needed. "I believe Bronzerider N'call, whose dragon is the sire of
this clutch, along with my Onnyth has already explained to you just how
important all riders are to Pern. she and her green will help keep you and
your family safe from thread. For showing the courage to accept search and
take to the stands alone..." Teseada shook her head. "She should be
commended for her bravery, not condemned. And here at Dragonsfall I
guarantee you rthat she will find family and friends who will respect her
for that."

"You can keep her!" She was yanked back again by her husband and her
jaw clicked shut with a scowl.

Ninaine's father, his face set, addressed the two riders with a voice
that directly contrasted to his more strident wife. It was soft and
deep, but had a hint of steel. "I beg your pardons. My wife is
understandably upset. We'll take our leave now."

N'call simply nodded and watched them go though not in a friendly way.
"Not a good start for such a timid girl," he said softly to Teseada.
"We have to protect her."

Last updated on the April 13th 2014

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

You Can Keep Her!