What Will You Do?

Writers: AL, Francesca
Date Posted: 23rd January 2009

Characters: Chalzie, Alydelle
Description: Chalzie tries to talk to Alydelle again.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 1, day 4 of Turn 5

The weather was nice and breezy outside and Chalzie's step was light as she walked on the beach. Classes were done for the day, a new Turn had started, and the weather was wonderful and hot. She wanted to sit on the docks and relax for awhile before the evening meal. As she approached, she saw someone else there who apparently had the same idea. Hopefully they wouldn't mind her company. However, as she got closer, it became clear that the other person was Alydelle.

There had been rumors circulating about the other apprentice for sevendays; whispered stories of love, seduction, and pregnancy. It was hard to know what was actually true, because Alydelle certainly wasn't volunteering any information. However, it made Chalzie curious. Therefore, instead of finding another place to sit, she walked to the docks and took a seat nearby, but not too close. Besides her curiosity, it was a new Turn. Just because Alydelle was strange and quiet, and hadn't been friendly the last time they had talked, didn't make her a bad person.

"Hi," Chalzie said, looking at Alydelle for a moment and then out at the water.

"Hello." Aly muttered, casting a sidelong glance at Chalzie. She had drawn close and stayed close, surprising the young dolphineer. Why? Did she have an agenda? Aly looked about but there was no one else. The girl turned her gaze to the water, her feet hanging over the edge of the dock, dipping into the water.

Maybe this conversation would be similar to the last one. Whether or not it would, it wasn't worth it to get annoyed. "Happy Turn's Beginning."

The second greeting surprised her and it was rewarded with a hint of a smile. "And...Happy Turn's Beginning to you too." Chalzie, Chalzie was her name. She had talked to her before, though Alydelle had been just as surprised then. Nothing had happened at that point in time and she had been alone. Was the same true this time?

With the pleasantries over with, Chalzie did not know what else to say. The questions she really wanted to ask, about the supposed lover and pregnancy, were too intrusive. So, she stuck with superficial conversation. "I'm glad classes are over for the day. And, it's wonderful out here."

"Yes, it is." Of that, Aly certainly had to agree. She loved being outside, being near the water, in the water. She loved the ocean and never wanted to have to leave it. "Very lovely."

Chalzie peeked at Alydelle out of the corner of her eye. She didn't look pregnant, but it was still very early. It was so silly that everything was such a secret. Half a candlemark's walk away, a pregnancy wouldn't be the subject of gossip, unless the story behind it was interesting. She would never get used to many aspects of life outside of the Weyr.

Alydelle did nothing to break the silence that descended. She continued to glance behind and around her, though the time between these furtive glances were further and further apart. Chalzie was the second person to have approached her recently. Previously, people had either ignored her or taunted her and Aly couldn't help but wonder why those two were showing interest all of a sudden.

Chalzie's legs swung back and forth over the edge of the dock as she wondered whether to get up and leave, just continue to sit there, or blurt out her questions. She finally settled on trying one more time to subtly ask for information. "What are you plans for the new Turn?"

"Oh..uh, just...join in the celebrations." Alydelle didn't have anything specific in mind, just enjoy everything - within reason, of course. When silence descended once more, Aly realised she really ought to make an effort. As far as she could tell, Chalzie was alone, had been alone the last time they had talked, and didn't mean any harm
- yet. "Y...you?"

Chalzie almost didn't hear Alydelle's question. She hadn't expected her to actually help keep the conversation going. Whatever her reason for trying, it was a nice change. "I just want to keep up with my studies, improve my endurance...you know, nothing special. When I apprenticed here, I had practically no endurance," she admitted.

Alydelle went silent for a moment and then realised that the girl had meant after the turn. Goals, things she wanted to accomplish. "Oh...yeah. Yeah, I understand. I just...I just don't want to fall behind."

"I don't think that'll be a problem. Don't you study all the time?" She always seemed to be in a corner, reading or taking notes.

"Mostly." When she wasn't, Alydelle was with the dolphins. There wasn't much outside of her dolphineer life - there hadn't been until...no. No, she refused to think about him. "But there are some things I won't be able to do while..." She trailed off and looked away to stare at the water, cheeks burning.

"While you're pregnant?!" Chalzie couldn't believe Alydelle had actually touched on the subject, or at least she couldn't think of another way to finish the sentence. She had imagined a long conversation in which she came away with absolutely no new information. But now, this was getting interesting.

"Yes." The word was soft, a whisper really, easily missed and would have been missed if one hadn't been careful to listen. Aly shifted, unsettled by the unspoken admission that had been uttered by the other girl. What Chalzie must think of her! That would end it, the name calling would begin she was certain.

So, it was true. The girl wondered why she didn't seem very happy about it. "So, you're gonna keep it?"

"I...don't know." Aly wasn't sure if she was simply going to give the baby up to someone else or not. "I...I don't think I would be a very good mother."

"Well, you could always get help." Chalzie frowned in thought. "There are lots of foster mothers at the Weyr. Mine is wonderful...Umm, I guess I don't know what they do at the Hall though. What _do_ they do at the Hall?"

"Generally women raise their own children." Of course, things were usually different for those who held holder rank, but Aly had no such thing. "I might foster." In fact, she most likely would.

"That's a good idea." Chalzie said, trying to be encouraging. She wasn't quite sure why Alydelle seemed almost embarrassed to discuss her pregnancy, and the idea of fostering. That was the norm at the Weyr. It was what she had grown up with.

"Yeah." And it was probably the only way she would be able to continue with her craft. Not probably, definitely. How could Aly craft and take care of a baby? She couldn't see any way, and she didn't have a husband to help. Even if she did have a husband, there was no guarantee he _would_ help.

Chalzie was dying to ask about the father, but she didn't want to risk Alydelle completely closing herself off again. So, instead she said, "Well, it's good to have a plan. And, in a few months it'll be over." Alydelle could decide what kind of relationship, if any, she wanted to have with the child.

"Yes." Chalzie was right - in a few months it _would_ be over. She just hoped the time would go fast.

Last updated on the January 23rd 2009

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