A New Story

Writers: Avery, Heather
Date Posted: 30th June 2014

Characters: L'pin, Chaysea
Description: Chaysea finds a sympathetic shoulder after her visit home.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 11 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Chupsin, Genna
Note: follows "The Final Chapter"

It was dinner time and he'd already spoken to one of her workers about
having something made up and sent to...where-ever they wound up
eating. Now all he needed was the lady herself. L'pin knocked on the
door of the Headwoman's office, hoping she was at a point in her work
where she could stop.

Chaysea flinched at the knock on the door and scrambled to wipe her
face clean of tears. It was futile, she knew, she had been crying ever
since she had been brought back to the Weyr from her trip to the
Vintner Hall to collect the rest of her things. She was still reeling
in shock over being disowned by her family, by her own brother,
Chupsin, whom she had been closest to out of all of her siblings. All
because she had changed locations? Accepting a job at the Weyr rather
than staying in some backwater Vintner Hall as the spinster Headwoman
for the rest of her life.

"Come in." She called once she decided that she was as presentable as
she was going to be.

"Am I interrupting? I'm here to steal you away for dinner," L'pin
began as he entered the office. He expected a smile or a teasing wag
of the finger, not to see her looking sad.

"Shells, what happened?" he asked with concern. "Do you want a hug?"

The offer for a hug earned him an unexpected laugh, and Chaysea shook
her head as she slumped in her chair, relieved that it was just L'pin
and not someone else in her office. "My family happened." She said
simply, although there was a hint of a smile around her mouth. He had
actually remembered about taking her to dinner some time!

"You went home to visit?" he guessed. "What did they say?"

"Not even really to visit. I still had a few things back there to get.
S'avn took me." She sighed, "I just went by to see how my brother was
doing. We were close growing up. Apparently, however, since I chose to
move to the Weyr I am a disgrace to the family and am no longer
considered one of them."

"That's rather harsh," he said after a moment. "Do they think we've
ruined you already?"

Chaysea shook her head, hot tears pressing against the back of her
eyes again, "No, I was ruined the moment I decided I wanted to come to
the Weyr. No holdgirl should ever want to come here, at least,
according to them." She sniffled and pinched the bridge of her nose in
an attempt to keep the tears at bay, "The ironic part is that my
niece, Genna, just Impressed the gold dragonet at Dragonsfall. They
have forgiven her because she at least Impressed a _gold_ dragon when
she went to the Weyr..... There is no forgiveness for me."

"Do you think they would have not forgiven her if she Impressed a
green?" he mused, before shaking his head. "This is your decision.
Headwoman is a respectable position even at the Holds, isn't it?
Shouldn't they be proud of you for the option to do it at such a large
place?"

"You would think," she shook her head, "I don't understand it either.
I was apparently suppose to be satisfied as the Headwoman of the
Vintner Hall. My family pretty much thinks that a woman's sole purpose
is to be married and have children.... And in my case, married
_again_."

Again? He didn't think he'd known that piece of information. "Anyone
who's seen you here knows you're still a proper lady by holder
standards," he reassured her. "Whatever they might think, they're
wrong. Women are just like everyone else - your purpose in life is
what you make of yourself."

"I know, and even though they are being completely ridiculous they're
still my family, you know? They're all I have." Chaysea sighed and
shook her head, "I am sorry. I don't mean to dump all of these on
you."

"I'm used to hearing these kinds of stories," he said softly. How many
young Candidates had been miserable in his office with the same
feelings? "You can still be respectable here, if it worried you at
all." Some women cared. Some didn't.

"I am happy with the decisions I have made. I haven't done anything to
be ashamed of, and I am sure I am the epitome of a prude in Weyr
standards so," Chaysea shrugged, "I am not worried about whether or
not people find me respectable. I have got a job to do, and that's
what I will do." With or without her family's support.

"You're a strong woman. Everyone will respect that," he assured her.
L'pin found himself drawn to that core of strength she was showing.

Chaysea had to face facts. Her life at Amber Hills was over, and all
of the family she had known had turned their backs on her. That
chapter of her life was closed. She looked at L'pin. The Weyr and
its people were the next chapter.

"I believe you said something about dinner?" She smiled.

"Indeed. I had one of your girls make up some food, and I figured we
could eat in your choice of place." He didn't want to invite her
somewhere private in case it was too far, too fast; he figured he'd
let her set the pace.

"What if we wrapped it up and took it down on the beach?" Chaysea
suggested, not feeling up to a crowded room full of people.

"It sounds like a pleasant way to spend an evening with such fine
company." He'd nearly called her beautiful.

Chaysea stood and came around her desk, raising her eyes to his,
"Thank you, L'pin."

He wanted to kiss her cheek, but settled for another smile. "It's truly a pleasure.

Last updated on the July 1st 2014

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