A Supporter for the Accidental Weyrwoman

Writers: Eimi, Dana
Date Posted: 20th October 2005

Characters: Traelyn, Almonteo
Description: Almonteo decideds to meet the new Weyrwoman before forming an opinion
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 6 of Turn 3

Almonteo

"Excuse me, Weyrwoman, I'm sure this is a bad time..." The Harper Hallmaster looked at the boxes, the piles, the scattered pieces of a transplanted life. His own quarters would look like that soon... No, he had to remind himself it was now called a weyr.

His gaze then fell on the blonde haired young woman, for she did look very young and lost at the moment as she stood in the middle of the chaos, probably wondering where to start, and how she got there in the first place. "Well, now, you certainly don't _seem_ the power hungry usurper I have heard about, and I pride myself on being an excellent judge of character."

She planted her hands on her hips and grinned wryly at him, despite herself. "Well, I'm glad _someone_ judges rightly around here."
Carefully, she picked her way over to where he stood. "Forgive the disaster in here, Master Harper..."

He reached his hand out to her, both in greeting and to help steady her as she took a rather long step over a pile of clothing. "I'm Almonteo, the new Harper Hallmaster."

Grateful for the supporting help, she smiled up at him after placing both feet firmly on the ground in front of him. "It's very good to meet you, Hallmaster," she replied, returning his gently firm grip.

"And you, Weyrwoman." His body inclined in a respectful bow, both as a curtesy and to give him a moment to study her. He decided she had honest eyes, if not a little tired and uncertain, and her smile was warm, not contrived at all. Her firmly planted feet gave her the aire of confidence, and yet something in her eyes told him that it was a bit shaken. Overall, the Hallmaster decided he liked the new Weyrwoman of Dolphin Cove. "Do you mind my intruding in on your unpacking? I know you just arrived today and would like to get settled, but can we have a cup of klah?"

"Of course we can. If you'll come with me..." Gesturing for him to follow her, she shoved her way between four over-stuffed boxes, making a small path for them to walk through. Scooping up a pile of tunics up off the back of the large couch, she gave him a smile. "If you have a seat, Hallmaster, I'll grab us some klah."

"Thank you," he said as he settled himself on the sofa. As she picked her way around to get the klah, he took time to look around the large, cavernous room. He was sure his would not be nearly so big. Almonteo wondered just what the room would look like when she was all settled in. His natural curiosity made him want to peek in all the boxes and sift through the piles, but it was unbecoming of a Master Harper, let alone a Hallmaster, to be that obvious.

Soon enough, Trae returned, bearing two mugs of steaming klah. She handed one to him before she perched on the sofa beside him, blowing on the top of hers to cool it. "Again, I'm sorry about all this," she waved a hand around her chaotic weyr. Almonteo took a few cautious sips. His eyebrows raised in appreciation. He was going to like the klah at the Weyr. "So, my lady, please tell me, how is it you have found yourself Werywoman of Dolphin Cove? I have heard plenty of rumors, but as a harper I am trained to hear out both sides before making a judgement."

She stifled a sigh. **You need to get used to it, Trae. You're going to be judged by everyone like you never have been before now...** She was silent for a moment as she gathered her thoughts, one finger moving over the rim of the mug, wondering how to begin. "Well...contrary to popular belief, it was an accident." Inwardly, she winced at how that sounded. "I took Nyith out of Dragonsfall, and I didn't realize how ready she was to rise." She shook her head, her dry smile rueful. "It was completely irresponsible of me, I know." Then, she softly repeated, more to herself than to him, "I know." "My daughter is a greenrider. I try not to pry too much into that side of being a dragonrider, being a father and all, but I do know that Almora _knows_ when her dragon is about to rise." His voice was soft and gentle as he asked, "How is it you missed the signs?"

That question was rather pointed, wasn't it? Regret flashed through her eyes as she thought of the reason. She looked away, setting her mug carefully down on the tabletop before she looked at Almonteo again. She hesitated, searching his face for a moment, looking for anything that would give her a reason not to reveal _why_ she had been so irresponsible. But she saw nothing except gentle curiosity in his eyes. "I'm not here to get a tidbit of gossip, child," he said with the tender tone he used to use with his own children when they had problems they were hesitant to share.

And as she looked into his eyes, she found that she believed him. "I missed the signs because I wasn't...I wasn't thinking clearly," she began slowly, quietly. "Two of my good friends and I stayed up late the night before. And we...we had a few drinks." Shards, she sounded like an errant weyrling!
**Ah, the folly of youth,** he thought, hidinig his sad smile. More than once he had fallen victim to the effects alcohol had. "What could have made you leave your Weyr without noticing? Surely, the next morning you would have some kind of warning."

She paused for a moment, wondering how she could put into words what she had felt when her fuzzy mind had realized that U'kaiah and Kalamath had not been there. "One of my very good friends...he left Dragonsfall that morning to go to the Dolphin Hall. To get his heart checked by the dolphins there. He left without saying anything about it to me, so when Nyith told me that that's where he went...I followed." Almonteo nodded. He had heard about the Wingleader from Dragonsfall being at the Flight too. No one had an explaination as to why he had been there other than to try to work his way in to the Dolphin Cove leadership. That certainly answered _that_ piece of the mystery. He began to wonder just how deep of a connection she and this bronze rider had shared. "You must have a strong attachment to him if you would follow him all the way here after a night of heavy drinking."

Traelyn didn't answer. Then, she finally nodded, her jaw beginning to tighten as she fought down that ridiculous lump in the back of her throat. She wished it would just sharding go away! "Now now," he said softly as he reached his hand over rest on hers. "You will see your bronzerider again. And you should not feel bad. Love may not be the most intellegent excuse for accidentally becoming Weyrwoman of another Weyr, but it is a whole lot better than being power-hungry. And a whole lot more forgiveable. And I dare say, you will see your bronzerider friend again."

Shards, this was _embarrassing_! She was acting like an eighteen-Turn-old adolescent. And with the Harper _Hallmaster_, no less! Some Weyrwoman. She cleared her throat and nodded, trying to gather an air of neutral indifference. "I will. He is, after all, only a little hop /between/ away." Yes, Almonteo decided, he truly did like her. Perhaps it was because she was excactly of the right age to fit between his youngest daughter and his son, or perhaps it was just because she needed someone to be on her side. Either way, he knew he would do what he could to support this accidental Weyrwoman. "Now, I have a couple candlemarks before I start to worry my own special someone," he said giving her hand a squeeze. "What say we finish our mugs here, I'll pop down to the kitchen and steal us some treats, and we can use them to give us a bit of energy while I help you unpack a box or two."

A slow smile curved her lips and her gray eyes brightened considerably. "That would be wonderful, Hallmaster." His genuine kindness touched her. It had been a while since anyone had spoken to her in that tone. "But are you sure you do have the time enough...?" "I am the Hallmaster, my dear. I make my _own_ time," he said pompously, followed by a teasing wink. Luckily, most of his harpers were on a boat and much of the packing had already been done. The real work would start when they moved into their new home...

Last updated on the October 20th 2005

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A Supporter for the Accidental Weyrwoman