Nice to Know
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: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 7th November 2005
Characters: Lenala, M'galec
Description: Lenala and M'galec talk about how she came to be a dragonrider instead of a Holder's wife.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 8, day 26 of Turn 3
M'galec pretended to be reading a book about treating Threadscore around the spine, but actually he was watching the goldrider who sat on the opposite side of the couch, her feet daintily tucked up underneath her. He watched as her fingers ran along the edge of each page, her eyes widening with amazement, her jaw dropping in surprise, her lips curving with amusement.
She was thoroughly engrossed, and beautifully natural. "Why, goldrider, I do believe you're blushing."
Lenala started, glancing at him guiltily as she slapped the book shut and reached for the tithing information she was _supposed_ to be looking at. It had managed to slip to the side some time ago, since reading about bolts of fabric and quantities of minerals was far less interesting than an adventure on a deserted island after a shipwreck. "I'm not blushing!" "Well, if you're not blushing than you're flushed. You don't have a fever, do you?" The bronzerider leaned over and caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers. "Nope, you don't have a fever," he smiled, "so I think in my medical opinion, that is a blush."
"Stop teasing," Lenala scolded, forcing herself to turn her attention to the tithing records. "I promised Tsaera I'd look over Garnet Valley's records this month. It's amazing they're managing to get the tithe together at all, all things considered." M'galec smiled, loving the way he could make her feel so uncomfortable.
"Yes, they seem to be doing well for themselves. Their new Lord Regent must be a capable man."
"I haven't met him yet, though I'd like to when I get some free time." She flipped through the pages until she found his name. "Ishek. I hadn't heard of him before this, but I don't know many of the Holders in this area, so I suppose it's no surprise." "Well, don't look to me any information," the bronzerider chuckled. "I'm still learning _all_ the Lord Holder's names."
Lenala laughed. "Oh, I had to know all of them. And their heirs of marriageable age, of course. Because my parents were determined to make me wife to one of them." He smiled, thinking she would have made a fine Lady Holder. "And how do your parents like having a _goldrider_ in the family?"
"When they need a ride somewhere they like it just fine," she replied lightly. "The rest of the time... well, being a goldrider was not important enough to give up the chance of being a Lady Holder, as far as most of them are concerned. Though if I ever become Weyrwoman, I'm sure they'll change their minds about that." "How is it they allowed you to Stand if they were so bent on your marrying an heir?"
Lenala set the hides aside and turned so she was facing him. "The first act of rebellion in my life," she admitted. "They had started talks with our Lord Holder... and not for his Heir, who was already thirty." She wrinkled her nose. "Being a Lady Holder was appealing, but I was eighteen and not looking forward to the idea of marrying someone who was nearly sixty and being a widow before I'd gotten the chance to be a wife." "Aren't we all happy you came to _that_ conclusion," M'galec chuckled as he put his book down on the floor. "So what did you do?"
"Hopped right on the back of a green dragon with a promise to my mother that I'd be back within the turn on a gold." Lenala grinned. "I was fairly confident... which didn't make me any friends in the candidate's barracks, I can assure you. But when you spend your life being told that you're going to be very important someday, confidence comes easily enough." M'galec nodded. He knew a thing or two about confidence. "Well, it seems confidence is deserved. You _did_ get the gold. You are an important woman."
"But an important woman with no husband and no children," Lenala replied lightly. "An unforgivable offense, if you're to ask my family." He shrugged. "Plenty of goldriders have children. Do you not want any?"
"I don't know..." She trailed off and then lowered her voice. "Can I tell you a secret?" "Of course you can," he said with a confident nod.
Lenala leaned closer. "I'm scared of it. Honestly terrified. To spend all those months being the next thing to helpless and then going through pain and the chance of dying... maybe I'm just a coward, but I don't know if I could do it." "Well, I have a couple secrets for you then." He smiled and leaned forward.
"Considering your beautiful round hips, you would have no trouble giving birth naturally. And I will tell you that most women are afraid and yet they manage to give birth just fine. And I have one more secret for you.
If something did go wrong, you wouldn't die. Do you know why? Because you would have one of the best surgeons on Pern by your side..." He leaned in a bit more lowering his voice to a murmur. "And I won't let anything happen to you."
Lenala kissed his cheek lightly. "That's nice to know. And unlike most men, you have a chance of keeping that promise."
Last updated on the November 7th 2005