The Weyrbrat Blues

Writers: Len, Clancey
Date Posted: 10th November 2010

Characters: G'wen, J'darin
Description: J'darin finds out why Galwen is missing Candidate classes
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 11 of Turn 5
Notes: Meantioned: E'naer

J'darin

A frown, but not so much forbidding as concerned, colored J'darin's
face as he spied his quarry ducking back into the kitchens. He squirmed in among the folks working in the kitchens, going after Galwen. The lad had been missing several classes. Too many classes and J'darin might not clear him to Stand.

Being raised at the Weyr didn't mean you knew everything, though if
Galwen had Stood before, he wouldn't mind the class skipping at all.
But, for the youngster, this was his first time through Candidate
classes. He _needed_ them, unless he wanted to get hurt, or get
someone else hurt, on the Hatching sands.

Getting close, J'darin took that moment to tap him on the shoulder.
"There you are, lad. I'm wanting to have a chat with you. Come with me, hmm?" He wouldn't make the youngling talk to him in front of the whole kitchen staff, after all.

Galwen dared one glance into J'darin's face before sighing
in resignation. That was a lecture face. His da liked to use that
same look. With dragging feet, he followed the Weyrlingmaster out of
the kitchens.

J'darin didn't lead him too far. Out into the dining cavern
they went, heading over to one of the quieter, unoccupied corners and an
empty table there. He had grabbed some juice on the way, and some
mugs, and poured both of them a glass before settling down. "Its
alright, lad. I just want to talk, not yell. Drink up and sit down
and relax." It was _close_ to an order, but not quite... a strong
suggestion perhaps.

He waited a moment while Galwen got settled and tilted his head
curiously at the youngster. "So, lad. I've been missing you about
Candidate classes. Want to tell me whats going on?"

Galwen looked sheepish when he said in a low voice, "um...it's
just...well, you remember how Nadden was a few weeks ago? And
Berren?" He was Nadden's best mate. "Well...they're sort of making
life a bit hard, you know what I mean?"

J'darin nodded in understanding. His voice was sympathetic, but
firm. "I do know. It was my understanding that Nadden was
fairly cowed after the last meeting. But it appears that is not the
case. I have no problem speaking to him again. He was warned." He paused,
considering, then went on. "Sometimes kids just like to bully younger
smaller kids. Listen, Galwen. Running away isn't going to solve it
either. I'd say you should throw yourself into your Candidate
classes
with even more interest, because if you Impress this time, you will be
free of bullying. At least the kind of bullying that means
anything.
There may still be harsh words, and there are fights between riders -
obviously - but generally new weyrlings are way too concerned with
caring for their lifemate to do anything to distress them, including
stuff like Nadden
seems to like to do. Trust me. I've seen lots of weyrlings in and
out of training. And if you Impress and he doesn't, well thats even
better. He'd never bother a rider and risk being sent away from the
Weyr, not if he wants to be a dragonrider."

Galwen nodded, taking in the Weyrlingmaster's words. To clarify
things he added, in a mutter, "well, Nadden did tell some of his friends
that he was told off by 'only' a brownrider. He thinks he's 'destined'
for a bronze and to be Weyrleader after that." The small boy snorted,
thinking about all the bragging that went on in the Candidate
barracks.
Or at least when he had slept there. Looking J'darin in the eye, he
decided there and then to also confess another issue he had. "It's
also too...my da...he's really out for me to Impress anything_but_green.
What am I going to do? He just won't see."

J'darin chuckled dryly at the first part. "Aye. So many
boys come here convinced of those very same things, Galwen. Nadden is
no different than most boys, who think bronze is the only color." He
fell silent a moment, wondering if he should tell this boy the truth
about himself. Despite being fairly sure - and having Galwen confirm
it with his second comment - that Galwen would Impress Green if he
Impressed at all, J'darin felt like he could help this boy. I'ster
had Impressed a brown, but still, Galwen reminded him of that
youngling.... so strongly.

"I used to be one of those boys. My father was much like that -
bronze is the only choice, anything less makes you less of a man. Its
not at all uncommon, especially here in the South. I used to think
bronze was the only choice. And even though I _did_ Impress a bronze,
my attitudes were slowly trained away by living in a Weyr. For turns,
I held to those traditional beliefs, but sometimes, you meet some special
riders. And you know what, Galwen? Those special riders I met were
_green_riders." He had met other colors equally special, but those
greenriders were the most important thing he could tell Galwen.

"Listen, lad. You may not know it, or see it in me, but
all colors are important. We could _not_ fight Thread without
greenriders. No other color is as fast or agile as greens, no matter
how wonderful we think our lifemates are. All the colors have a
purpose, and if your father cannot accept your..." and here he stumbled
a bit, though he thought very highly of E'naer, and Hasaarth had caught
greens with male riders a few times.... "... natural tendencies and the
fact that your dragon will choose you because you're _you_, then you
won't be the first dragonrider to be disowned. I know it will hurt,
lad, if he doesn't understand, but you have to embrace yourself and the
truth, before your dragon, whoever she may be, will embrace you."

"Oh, he's not_that_bad. He's just...I don't
know. Just closed up, I suppose. And his Weyrmate, T'bel, won't just
leave off. He keeps trying to get me to go with one of his bluerider
friends. I know he does mean well...I think it's his way of trying to
get my da to understand a few things...but it's doing my head in." He
eyed his juice and gave J'darin a helpless shrug. "I want to Stand, I
really do, but if it means having to put up with all this bulling and my
da...and T'bel and all his mates...I dunno, maybe staying a drudge
wasn't so bad." He blinked several times to stop from crying. He
tapped his glass and added, "I think I need something stronger than
this."

J'darin shook his head to more than one of the things the lad
mentioned. "Listen, Impressing and becoming your "own" person with
your own life and lifemate is worth anything at all, and the other stuff
won't end just because you don't Stand. It might get worse.
Maybe."
He paused, thinking about it. "But, its very important, too, that you
only offer yourself if you truly truly want to do it. The dragons
will know. Let them be the ones that decide, not your Da or his weyrmate or even Nadden."

"You're too young for anything but Klah..." He smiled faintly.
That was unlikely, but he still felt he had to "pretend" to say it.
"I will say one thing. If you are destined for green, you should get some
experience with a bluerider or even a male greenrider before you
Impress or after you become a Senior Weyrling. It will help you
understand yourself." J'darin couldn't believe he was saying those
things, though, really. He would never understand how men could want
men instead of the beautiful, intoxicating creatures that were _women_
but it was his job to teach them all, no matter their sexual interests,
and he would do it to his full ability.

"And the last thing you need is something stronger. You look like
you've been out in Thread. Wine or stronger drink will not help you,
Galwen. But fresh air and some exercise might. I can get some of
the
other weyrlings and arrange a little fun." It was one of the crisp but
cool days and it would be good to be outside.

Galwen blanched at the meantion of joining the weyrlings. Glancing
shyly at J'darin, he said in a low tone, "about that 'finding
experience'...I
think that's what T'bel has in mind with all his blue friends...but..."
And he did feel like crying right there and then. "No one seems to
want me. I_have_tried but...I dunno...maybe it's because I'm so bloody
short, everyone seems to think I'm a little weyrbrat still. Or maybe
I'm ugly? I don't know. What should I do? What would you do?" He
turned to the Weyrlingmaster with big eyes.

J'darin frowned again, looking thoughtful. "When I was young,
I never had any problems finding girls to experiment with, but its a
little harder if you're only interested in men. You do seem young,
but all of you seem young to me, lad. Perhaps you should try walking
taller, instead of hiding behind other people. Be proud of who you
are, and other people will see it too. " He smiled, though he said nothing
about ugly or handsome. He wasn't quite equipped for that
question.
"My suggestion is to let you talk to E'naer, who rides a green, like you
most certainly will. He will understand better than I do, I am
certain. But I do want to make sure you get help, with all your
questions, okay? Will you please talk to him? You can trust us both,
you know, Galwen. We both want the best for you."

Galwen nodded, taking it all in. And J'darin was right, if he wanted
away from all that was making
his life unbearable, he needed to be on those Sands in a few sevenday's
time. And to do that he needed to stop being a werybrat and become the
young man that would be worthy of the love of a dragon.
"Okay, I'll be in class tomorrow morning. I promise."

J'darin smiled down at the lad and nodded, pleased. "Very good,
youngling. I'll see you there." J'darin stood up then, intending to
let the boy return to work. He was happy to see that Galwen wanted
to do well, and he would see to it the boy had every chance to Impress
his lifemate.

Last updated on the November 20th 2010

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The Weyrbrat Blues