Children and Riders

Writers: Miriah, Paula
Date Posted: 5th March 2019

Characters: Yanley, Ninaine
Description: Yanley and Ninaine have a much needed visit
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 2 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: N'call, G'nir, D'ale

Yanley

Ninaine

She's growing like a weed." Ninaine bounced the toddler on her knee,
feeling a bit awkward, but enjoying Callaine's giggles. She did love
her daughter, but her relationship with Luneth had to come first,
especially with the recent injury.

"They do that at her age," Yanley agreed and brought them klah, juice
and some cookies. Daley was instantly there, eyeing the cookies.

"Can I have one?" the boy asked politely. Yanley was very strick when
it got teaching the children some manners.

"Yes, just one, go ahead," Yanley replied. "and don't share it with
flits, it messes up their stomachs."

"Thank you!" he snatched the cookie before his mother would change her
mind. He then disappeared back to his own plays.

A light smile followed Daley. Yanley surely had to have a handful
raising the children. She wasn't sure that she would have the
patience. "He's very polite."" She kissed Callaine's brow and cuddled
her close as she picked up a cup of juice to take a sip. "I have to
tell you, Yanley." She cleared her throat. "If you receive a missive
from my family, please let me know." She stroked her daughter's hair.
"N'call has banned them from contacting me."

"I will," Yanley promised. "Are you having problems with them?"

"Yes. My mother decided to come and try to convince N'call that
Callaine needed to go home with her for 'proper' fostering." Ninaine
frowned. "I'm afraid I hit her." She slowly held out her hand, showing
bruised knuckles. "I lost my temper."

"Oooh!" Yanley looked surprised first and then chuckled softly. "While
some dragonriders do foster their children at the Holds, it's not a
common practice," she said. "Besides, if I can't offer your daughter a
proper upbringing, no one can."

Ninaine gave a little snort. "You're at the Weyr, that's not proper to
her." She sighed and frowned. "She said she hoped Luneth died." Her
expression hardened at the memory. "I don't want her back, but I'm not
putting anything past her at this point." She took a breath and looked
up at Yanley. "I trust you completely with Callaine. I know you take
really good care of her."

Yanley gasped with such audaciousness. "That's the most horrible thing
you can say for a dragonrider," she shook her head in disbelief. "And,
yes, some might think me ruined. Thank you, dear, I'm doing my best,"
Yanley replied.with soft, understanding smile.

"You are doing wonderfully." Ninaine smiled. "And if you are ruined,
then so am I." She looked down at her daughter. "But I don't care
anymore."

"That's good. I never cared. I'm happy now, that's the most important
thing. I enjoy my work and the children and my mate," Yanley said. She
hoped Ninaine would find a happiness like that.

"I love being with N'call." She paused and as she patted Callaine's
back, asked a soft question. " How did you get used to it? I mean
D'ale having other partners. Was it hard for you too?"

"I'm not that sure I'm used to it. And yes, it was hard to learn to
accept. I just have to live with it. He always comes to me right
after, so it helps," Yanley replied with honesty. She did her best to
suppress any jealous feelings.

"N'call always comes back to me too." She then blushed a bit. "And I
can't help flights. I still don't like them, though. Not really." At
least afterwards. During them, she repeatedly told herself, it was not
her, but her green. "I'm trying really hard to be understanding. " She
paused, then squirmed with her next question. "Has...has D'ale ever
said that you could be with other people if you wanted to?"

"Not directly," Yanley answered. "There's not been need for that kind
of talk. I don't want anyone else."

Ninaine frowned, sucking on her lower lip in thought. "Have you ever
been curious?"

"Not really, not that curious," Yanley replied with a slight shrug.
"My eye might wander occasionally, but I seem to be one-man's woman by
nature. Or maybe growing up and living around men of Blood, made me
aversive of it. They have no trouble wandering from bed to bed," that
old bitterness from her first marriage peeked it's ugly head.

"My mother always said that I had to accept that if I married."
Ninaine admitted. "And that it was acceptable for men, but not for
women. N'call said I could, but I haven't been with anyone besides him
outside of Flights." She blushed, her cheeks stained brightly. "I just
didn't know if all male riders were like that. "

"Some are, some aren't. They come in all the shapes and shades,"
Yanley was getting philosophical.

Ninaine nodded. "I suppose. " She kissed Callaine, and as the child
squirmed, finally set her down. "I'm going to ask G'nir if I can help
with the weyrlings."

Yanley nodded encouragingly. "Sounds like a good plan. Remember, he's
rigid, arrogant and formal but deep down a decent man."

"I hope he agrees. I was one of the worst weyrlings, but...maybe I
could help other holdbred girls. I don't want them to go through what
I did. They may not have someone like N'call to help them."

"Sometimes having experienced difficulties makes you better at helping others in same situation," Yanley replied.

"Maybe." Ninaine paused and then asked her next question. "Yanley, if he doesn't want my help, do you think you would? I have to do something and I can't think of any craft that I'm good at."

Yanley thought about what she knew of Ninaine's skills. Women like them really had limited options. "You could always help harpers to teach children," she suggested. "Or help me, Faranth knows, any time I find a good assistant, they end up Impressing."

"Well, " Ninaine smiled, " you don't have to worry about that with me. Besides," she gave a small smile. "When I ask you to foster the next one, maybe I can help more."

"You're pregnant, aren't you?" Yanley asked.

Ninaine's smile was hesitant, even as she laid her hand on her belly. She'd only just managed to get it toned again. "I'm pretty sure, but it's still early and I've been taking the teas. I haven't had a cycle in almost two months." She glanced at Yanley. "I haven't told N'call yet. I want to be certain."

"Go to healers," Yanley adviced. "And if you want to keep the baby, stop taking those teas, they can sometimes cause miscarriage." she warned.

She nodded. "I will. I'm just nervous." She rose, picked up Callaine to give her a kiss, then put her back down to play. "I'll let you know what G'nir says. "

Last updated on the March 15th 2019

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