Women In Power

Writers: Avery, Chelle
Date Posted: 26th October 2014

Characters: Rhosyn, Zelah
Description: Xeladrie seeks to bond with the River Bluff Weyrwoman.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 9, day 5 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Bryvin, R'enh

Zelah

Finished with the dance, she walked over to the side, grabbing a skin
of water from a passing drudge. For the first time in months, Rhosyn
felt happy. She was dancing which was her favorite thing to do. The
music was good. The food was good. She only wished that one of her
boys was here. Drinking down some of the water, she rested as she
watched some of the couples go by. Smiling, she noticed a female
approaching her and then discovered it was the new Lady Holder when
the woman came around another lady. **Wonder what she will be like?
Not that I will see her very often with the way holders are. There's
always Hatchings though.**

Xeladrie drifted towards the Weyrwoman of River Bluff. It made sense
to get to know the leadership of the Weyr that oversaw Sunstone, after
all. The Weyr was responsible for protecting them, and it had
Hatchings and other exciting events. And perhaps, if a woman as
powerful as the Weyrwoman could like her... but she had to meet her,
first.

"Weyrwoman Rhosyn. It's a pleasure to meet you," Xeladrie said with a
polite tip of her head towards the goldrider. "How is your queen?"

"Oh Orlaith is well enough and will be expecting eggs soon so you'll be
next to come calling on me." That particular fact was another reason to be
happy. "And you, Lady Holder, do you think you will like it at Sunstone?"
She had come from this Seahold so perhaps it wasn't much difference.

"I don't know yet," she admitted. "Leaving home will be difficult, I
think. Even if Sunstone is lovely, I think I'll miss the paths I've
always known, the familiar little spots."

"Hmm we dragonriders travel a bit more by nature so I suppose it's not the
same." Of course being Weyrwoman now, Rhosyn wasn't going to live anywhere
else. River Bluff was the first real home she had. "It's a part of growing
up, though, leaving things behind." A shadow crossed her face at mention of
things lost.

"I suppose it is. I don't feel as though I'm a grown-up yet," Xeladrie
confessed. She had been lucky to not be married off even earlier,
really - though suddenly she felt as though she hadn't had enough time.

"Right now everything is too fresh. Give it a bit-go to your new home and
settle in then decide how you are. I had to make adjustments coming to River
Bluff." That had been a lot easier, though, she reasoned. Of course as Lady
Holder, Xeladrie would have whatever she wanted. "It's good to have freedom,
though."

"That's good advice," Xeladrie said. "Forgive me if this is a rude
question, but have you moved often?"

"Mm not a rude one. I've only moved twice in my lifetime, but both were to
far different places than the ones I'd left." Indeed she'd known some
queenriders to move more than that, as bloodlines thinned or more dragons
were asked for. Rhosyn was through with that. She'd found her place-for good
or bad.

"Eventually, you settle in? I hope I will only have to move this once..."
Her youth was showing with the question, her body language seeking
reassurance.

"Most of it has to do with your first reactions, the relationships you form,
and if you decide you like the place. So...if you went in with your skirt hiked
up, it's very likely people wouldn't respond well. And your relationships
are very important since they will be your support in the future. Me...I
have no family. So my Weyrfolk are the ones I look to." Well she did have
family but she hadn't seen them since she was young so that didn't count.

"Do you become close to them, or is it harder because you lead them?"
Xeladrie wondered. Would it always be so lonely at the top?

"Some I am closer to than others, but you always have to remember that
you may have to someday make hard decisions. If they really understand,
they will know this too when the time comes." Then again, R'enh was the
closest friend Rhosyn had and he wasn't even in the same Weyr.

Xeladrie nodded, listening carefully. Then she responded in a low voice.
"I appreciate your words, Weyrwoman. Speaking to a woman in power is a
rare honor."

"I take it you haven't met many Lady Holders or others then aye?" This was
curious. Maybe the girl had been sheltered, but at a major Seahold, she
should have even come into contact with female crafters from time to time.

"I wasn't considered important enough to meet too many," she said softly.
"Until we knew who I was marrying, what point in giving me knowledge above
my station?"

"Because you were a daughter of the Blood. You should have.." Rhosyn shook
her head. How on Pern did they think women met suitable husbands if not by
going to events where they were? "I have a daughter. And she will do whatever
she wishes to for the rest of her life if I have my way in it." Her voice
said she would.

Xeladrie's lips thinned slightly, but then she smiled. "That's a wonderful
thing for you to say, Weyrwoman."

If this woman knew her past, she would understand why. "Sometimes, Lady
Holder we with power did not always have it. So now you do have it. Think of
what you will do with it. For your daughters." Rhosyn smiled and handed Xeladrie
a glass. "I see someone wanting your attention, but you know where I am. And I'll be
seeing you in a few months anyhow."

"For my daughters, I would do anything," Xeladrie agreed. She sensed a
kindred spirit in Rhosyn, wished she had the courage to ask the goldrider
to spirit her away. She would protect them from men like Bryvin. Men who
used women and left them. Men who were cruel.

"I do look forward to it," she repeated.

Last updated on the November 13th 2014

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