Yes? No? Maybe?

Writers: Clancey, Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 18th July 2014

Characters: Lanniya, Solieira, Y'gel, Annileri
Description: Lanniya's family makes a decision
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 7, day 8 of Turn 7

Lanniya

Y'gel

Lanniya bustled after her grandparents as they packed up the caravan.
They'd not yet made a decision yet, and as they packed, Lanniya was
getting just a little anxious. So she flitted about them, trying to
read their expressions. When they said nothing, Lanniya tapped on her
grandmother's shoulder. "Have you made a decision yet?"

"Stop buzzing about, Lanniya." The older woman swatted at the hand
lightly. "Help us get what hasn't been bought back on the caravan.
That comes first. Then we'll discuss our decision."

The big dragonhealer walked toward the wagons with Solieira on his arm.
"Hello the wagons," he called as he got closer.

Solieira grinned as Y'gel escorted her toward the wagons just as if
she was a fine lady at a dance. He was _such_ a good boy.

As they arrived at the wagons, she spied a young woman dancing around
the wagons. That must be her, she thought idly, though she would
wait to be introduced to be sure.

She added her own call to his, "Hello there, might we come and visit a moment?"

The older woman lifted her head and stood straight to greet the new
visitors. "Good morning." She offered them a pleasant, yet reserved
smile. "You are here to speak to Lanniya, I suppose?"

Her granddaughter hadn't missed their arrival and stood behind her
grandmother, fidgeting, but with a hopeful look on her face. "Y'gel!
How is Aughashyth and Falzeth?"

"Lanniya, hush for a moment please." Annileri turned back to the
visitors. "May I get you some klah or tea?"

Sol spoke up first, while smiling at the young girl. She was clearly
unafraid of her ability, in fact enjoyed it. What a precious gift!
"Good morning, lady." Sol addressed Annileri. "We were, I would love
to meet her." She turned her smiled toward Lanniya for a moment, then
back to her grandmother. "But also to see you and your husband as
well. I am Solieira, and I am the Headwoman of River Bluff. Y'gel
here has told me that he kindly invited you all to stay on with
Lanniya. I wanted to extend my own special welcome and see if you
needed anything."

Annileri considered the pair for a moment and inclined her head in
thanks. "My husband and I appreciate the offer but.." Lanniya took a
sharp breath, her hands pressed against her stomach as her grandmother
continued. "..he isn't quite ready to give up his trade route. He's
run this area for his entire life." She gestured them towards a small
table and chairs that were still set up. Lanniya followed, biting her
lip the whole time, body quivering with nerves. "Please sit. You have
to understand, Lanniya is our only grandchild left. Our daughter, her
mother, and the rest of her family were killed in a squall. She's very
precious to us." Annileri sat in one chair slowly. "And we're
concerned as to what this means for her."

Sol made her way to the chairs, nodding as Annileri spoke. "You are
not required to stay. Lanniya can stay on her own; she can also
choose not to stay. We would not recommend it given her ...gift...
but the choice is still a choice." As Sol rested her aging bones,
she considered the woman's question.

"I completely understand your concern, Lady. I've been here a long
time, and I can tell you this about being at the Weyr: It means
family. She is your only family, and you are her only blood family.
But if she stays, she will develop a whole Weyr full of people that
might as well be family, and we will look after her." she paused and
let her very sincere, honest eyes fasten on Annileri's. "_I_ will
look after her as if she were my own."

Sharp eyes turned to Y'gel as Lanniya nearly danced on her toes with
nerves behind her. "And you, Bronzerider Y'gel? You first approached
us. Have you nothing to say?"

"Oh I have plenty to say ma'am," he smiled and leveled his gaze at
her. "I just give the ladies their chance first." He'd been watching
the young woman and her reactions told him she really really wanted to
stay. **Tell her exactly what I told you.**

}:Mine says to tell you I'm fine:{ Aughashyth spoke directly to
Lanniya. }:And that he's going to do his best to convince your
grandparents to let you stay if that is what you want.:{

Bronzrider charm rose to the surface and Y'gel smiled at the older
woman. "I have a young daughter myself ma'am "he said with a knowing
nod. "But I found out a long time ago that they have minds of their
own. Now I'm sure your Lanniya is an obedient girl but unless I miss
my guess she really wants to stay and Stand at the next hatching." He
watched as they still packed, the grandparents were older people and
had to realize they needed to provide for their granddaughters future.

"You're not going to be here to protect her forever. The Weyr is a
very big family."

Lanniya looked at Y'gel closely and then a hopeful look crossed her
face. **I want it more than anything. Please tell him that,
Aughashyth. I want to stay, but I can't hurt my grandparents either.**
Lanniya bit her lower lip and turned her gaze back to her grandmother.

Annileri considered both the Headwoman and the bronzerider, and then
back up to Lanniya. Seeing the hopeful look on her face, the elderly
woman sighed. "Can she stay with us if we stay here? While she's a
Candidate?"

Lanniya took a deep breath and clutched her hands to her stomach,
turning a pleading gaze to Soliera.

Sol's eyes softened as the young woman looked toward her. She loved
them all, each in their own way, but this one.... this one had already
stolen her heart without even trying, or knowing her longer than 5
minutes.

The Headwoman considered Annileri for a little while before answering.

Finally, she nodded.

"If you choose to stay at the Weyr until the Hatching, then yes, she
can stay with you. She will have to attend her Candidate classes and
she will be assigned chores." She paused. "We can talk later about
how you and your husband can lend a hand while you stay here at the
Weyr, but yes, she could live with you. We could put you all up in a
weyr near the ground."

"Then she can stay. I..."

Annileri was interrupted by an excited squeal as Lanniya hugged her
from behind, hopping excitedly up and down on her toes. "Thank you,
Grandmother! Thank you, thank you thank you thank you!" She pulled
away, jumping up and down and twirling before she launched herself at
Y'gel as well, hugging him with exuberance and then Solieira. "Thank
you!"

Y'gel 'oofed' when she flung herself at him though it was really
more of a reaction for her benefit. He could hear Augashyth's bugle
from across the Weyr as he trumpeted his welcome to the young woman.
"You're welcome," he smiled.

Sol also made an 'oof' and a 'creak'. Her bones were getting up in
turns after all. "We'll see if you're still so happy after your
first full day of chores and classes, young woman." Sol smiled
though, and hugged her tight.

"You are very welcome among us Lanniya. Very welcome." The
intelligent brown gaze traveled to Annileri. "You won't lose her.
If she Impresses, she'll be able to come see you any time she is free."
She didn't add the obvious - a dragonrider's life was dangerous in
a Pass. They might actually lose her altogether if she Impressed.
But that wasn't for now.

Last updated on the July 29th 2014

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