What Now?
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Paula
Date Posted: 17th February 2015
Characters: Alfginna
Description: Alfginna contemplates her choices, what should she do?
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 10, day 17 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Alrog
Alfginna stepped outside. The spring had come to Iron Lake hold. The snow had turned to dirty slush and green, growing things were pushing their way out of the ground. The winter was officially over and so was the firehead. Those who had died, had been put to rest. Those who recovered were back on their feet. Those who didn't get sick were now safe. She was one of those the illness had passed by. The Lord Warden of Garnet Valley hold had confirmed Alrog's last will and her brother-in-law Miro was now the Holder. Alfginna had no doubts that he and Rolfina were going to be good holders. They had lot of things to learn but Iron Lake wasn't a large hold and people knew each other. No, the only doubts she had concerned herself. What she was going to do now?
Gravel crunched beneath her boots when she walked to the lake that gave the hold it's name. Only few ice floes were floating on the dark water. She scared away a flock of avians resting at the shore. They were probably on a migration. She stared the mirror calm water. What now? What was she supposed to do now? She couldn't stay here, she didn't want to stay here. It was easier for Rolfina to take over if she wasn't underfoot. But where she could go?
Alfginna saw her reflection from the lake's surface, distorted as it was. Narrow, sombre face, beaked nose, black hair. She was not pretty. Even worse, she was painfully shy and meek. She tried to see herself objectively. She wasn't without skills. She was good at sewing and knitting, she could spin fleece to a yarn. She could run a hold. She had surprised everyone and most of all, herself, during the firehead-epidemic by taking charge. Mother's death had freed something in her. She had made decisions, she had told people what to do. She had sent for aid. She had nursed sick and carried dead bodies to cold storage so they would be buried later. She had made sure the hold didn't come to complete stop just because people were falling sick left and right. She had informed the Lord Warden of Alrog's death, sent his will to him. Her mother had filled in the role of Headwoman in Iron Lake and Alfginna had been her assistant. She had learned more than she realized just following her around. She could do it, she knew it, she could be a headwoman in some hold or hall. She had the skills needed. If only she had the assertiveness and self-confidence needed. Could she learn it? To become like her mother who never let anybody poke fun at her. Or even cross her will.
Alfginna sighed and pulled the coat tighter around her. She'll never found out if she stayed here. She would never be able to break free of her old life unless she left the Iron Lake Hold and her family. First the step on her new life would be going to Garnet Valley. She could then continue from there. Their family had close ties to Garnet Valley's Blood. They had allies there, friends, old debts she could collect. She had been fosterling there once. From Garnet Valley, she could get a ride, either with dragonriders or one of the trader caravans.
"Alfginna? What are you doing out there?" a call interrupted her self-examination. It was Rolfinna.
"I am thinking, deciding my future," Alfginna answered.
"You can think? And decide?" Rolfinna's eye brows rose in sarcastic manner.
Alfginna grit her teeth. No, she could not stay. She loved her sister but sometimes she did resemble their mother too much. She was not going to be Rolfinna's doormat. Her mind was set.
Last updated on the February 18th 2015