Worst. Family Reunion. Ever. (2/2)

Writers: Leigh M-F., Avery
Date Posted: 15th December 2015

Characters: A'kua, Eionen, Talwynn
Description: If he survives this, making things right with his son will be a snap. Right?
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 3, day 22 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: NPCs Bailan and Shastia, Lissath and Genna, Kenirath and D'kere,

Chioneth and Saibra.

Notes: (Dun dun duuuuuun!)

Talwynn followed A'kua, startled when he rushed past her. Was this a good
sign or a bad sign? Maybe she should have involved someone else. **Riveth,
how's Zeiranth?** she asked urgently. If he panicked, she'd have to call
for help.

The green reached out. }:Are you alright? Is yours?:{

}:I'm fine,:{ Zeiranth promised. }:But A'kua isn't thinking or feeling
anything right now. That only happens when he's asleep, even though I know
he's awake. What's going on?:{

"I can't believe it," Eionen said in a dazed tone, coming closer. "You're
really here. I've been looking for you for several weeks now. I was so
worried about you. I'm glad you're all right- and you've even Impressed!"
he added, pointing to A'kua's shoulder knots. "I should send a letter
Bailan and tell her that. She'll be so proud of you."

His hand lifted, reaching for A'kua's face, and the weyrling suddenly found
motion and sound. "DON' TOUCH ME!" he screamed, backing into the hall and
hitting the wall so hard he lost his breath.

Eionen froze in place, the joy becoming confusion.

A'kua gulped air and held up his hands, palms out, fingers shaking. "She
did- Ma did tell me. You're my worthless, loathsome, shameless,
brain-damaged _whore_ of a sire!" Some small part of the weyrling was
gratified to see the expression of shocked hurt that crossed the harper's
face.

}:My rider is angry at the man. She thinks yours is too. This was a
mistake,:{ Riveth said agitatedly.

Talwynn loomed in the doorway, interposing herself so no one else could
come in unless she allowed them. Unless they were a bronze or goldrider
here to defuse this.

Eionen tried to step around the greenrider. "Aluka, please, calm down," he
entreated. "Let me explain-"

A'kua was hyperventilating and shaking like a bush in a hurricane. "Why're
ya here? How'd ya find me?!"

The harper took a slow breath. "I'm here because the trader caravan I rode
with went to Bex," he said as calmly as possible. "Falior -do you remember
him?- attacked me, and your friend Bailan saved me from him. She explained
everything. I've been looking for you ever since. I had to know if you were
all right, and I was hoping I would have a chance to speak with you, give
you news from Bailan, and-"

"No no no no no no no, doncha dare lie t' me!" A'kua broke in, pain
beginning to pound at his temples. "You're gonna ruin ever'thang here like
ya did 'fore I was even born! Ma drank herself to death 'cause o' ya! She
pined away for the rest o' her life waitin' for ya even though ya ruined
her life an' abandoned her an' then she abandoned me! Ever'thang wrong with
me -ever'thang wrong in my entire _life_- is 'cause of ya!"

The harper seemed to shrink.

Back in the barracks, where Zeiranth was keeping off his sprained foreleg
until the next day, the concerned little bronze took matters into his own
paws. }:Mother? Father?:{ he called to Lissath and Kenirath. }:A'kua needs
your riders. He's by the classrooms.:{ To Riveth, he said, }:I called for
help. Please tell your rider to take A'kua away from whatever's upsetting
him. I don't like it.:{

Talwynn stepped towards Eionen. "As weyrlingstaff, I declare this visit is
over. You've upset a weyrling pair. Dragonriders," she emphasized. A Harper
should sharding well know that that was a problem.

"You should go back to the caravan. And plan on leaving when they do," she
added sharply. "If he wants to talk to you again, he can find you."

}:Mine isn't mad at yours but is being mean to get rid of that one,:{
Riveth said.

"No, please, don't ask me to leave," Eionen begged in a whisper. "The tithe
train isn't going to be here long; just a couple of days. I can't go with
them so soon, not when I've finally found my son. It's true I've done him
wrong, and I have to make it- Aluka, wait!" he cried as A'kua took off
running.

}:He's coming to me, Riveth,:{ Zeiranth reported. }:I'll keep him safe.:{

"He doesn't want to see you right now. He's going to be checked out by one
of the goldriders. If anything happens to him because of you, it's on
_your_ head." Talwynn's eyes narrowed and she stepped even closer to the
Harper. "If you scare a weyrling, if you make them angry, they can lose.
their. dragon." she snarled, jabbing her scarred hand towards him.

"Whoa!" Eionen was backed against the desk again and nearly tipped over.
Only a quick grab saved him. "Okay, okay! I won't try to see him again
today," he said rapidly, holding up his hands. "Just please, I entreat you,
don't ask me to leave yet." He swallowed hard. "I know he hates me," he
added in a lower tone. "His friend back at the hold told me exactly what
he's gone though, and it really is because of me. But now that I've found
my son, I have a chance to try to make things right. Please, greenrider,
don't deny me that. There's so much I have to tell him; things I promised
his friend I would say."

"You're a Harper, write it down," she said. " As for letting you stay, I'm
a greenrider. I can't make that call. Only a goldrider can."

And Talwynn fully intended to recommend that he _not_ be allowed to stay.

"All right." Eionen lifted his chin in a determined gesture, unknowingly
mirroring A'kua once again. "Which goldrider can I speak with?"

}:A'kua is here, Riveth. He's crying,:{ Zeiranth put in. }:I have him in my
wings. He's safe.:{

}:Which goldrider does he want? Mine thinks Chioneth's or Lissath's.:{ the
green answered.

"Whoever's free." Talwynn seriously considered sending him to Saibra.
Instead she told Riveth to see who was free. The Senior Weyrwoman might be
busy, after all.

"Is there a place I can wait until she's available?"

She considered 'right here' and then decided he at least deserved a drink.
Maybe he'd wet himself. "Dining Cavern," she said shortly.

"Thank you." Eionen collected himself and bowed to her.

Talwynn stalked off to go find a goldrider. Poor A'kua. This man didn't
deserve to be related to the bronze weyrling.

The harper let out a shuddering breath and patted his chest a few times in
an attempt to get his heart back to a normal rate. He'd had no idea
greenriders could be so intimidating.

Last updated on the December 21st 2015

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Worst. Family Reunion. Ever. (2/2)