Like a New Toy

Writers: Heather, Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 21st March 2019

Characters: Saibra, Loella, Karhal, Lanniya
Description: Loella is invited to a Hatching.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 10, day 8 of Turn 9
Notes: Takes place just before "Tragedy and New Life"

Saibra

Loella

Karhal

Lanniya

Karhal walked carefully behind his wife, his every nerve on edge as
they walked towards the Weyrbowl. His eyes flicked everywhere,
watching everyone who drew near, then walked close by.

Loella blinked rapidly as she tried to deal with all the voices.
"They're all so excited," she smiled over her shoulder at Karhal.
"Like children over a new a new toy"

Karhal's rumble of discontent was only for his wife's ears. "Then tell
them to shut up."

An excited voice carried over. "There they are, Saibra! " Lanniya
peered around a group of riders and waved. " Hi!"

"Hi,"Loella waved back. "I'm Loella, and this is my husband Karhal."

Saibra smiled at Lanniya's youthful enthusiasm. "It is so good of you
to join us, Loella, and Captain Karhal. We have seats saved for you
both where you can be as close as possible to the action."

"Wow, he's a big guy, isn't he?" Lanniya smiled at Karhal, took in his
stony expression and lightly patted his arm. "Don't worry, we don't
bite." She turned back to study Loella, taking in the flicking eyes
and the expression on her face."But we have time before it starts."
**Anearyth, quiet them all down please?** Her dragon would have more
of an impact than she would. Lanniya waited until Anaeryth bugled and
heard the background murmur of dragon voices fade to whispers. "That
better?"

"Behave, dear," Saibra murmured in Lanniya's ear, wishing for a moment
that she had asked Teseada to accompany the pair as well. A goldrider
who draped herself over visiting holder men was bound to cause
whispers, and Saibra didn't want the holders to think they didn't
teach decorum at the Weyr.

"Thank you," Loella curtsied to the Weyrwoman in the same manner she
would have done to Lady Benani. **Thank you too,** she called to
Anaeryth. "Much better," she smiled at Lanniya.

Lanniya blinked at Saibra, confused. She had been behaving. Her brow
furrowed and she turned back to Loella. "We have a lot to talk about.
There's not many of us around and I've heard that you've had some
trouble adapting."

Karhal stared down at the goldrider. This..._child_ was supposed to
teach his wife how to control the dragon voices she heard? A goldrider
she surely was, but she still seemed as though she was just a child
barely of marriageable age. He bowed politely to Saibra, murmured an
appropriate response to her welcome, but kept his hand light on
Loella's back.

"I am sorry to have to run but I need to go get changed before
everything gets started. It was a pleasure to meet you both," Saibra
had that jittery feeling in the pit of her stomach, the one she always
got on Hatching days. "I will catch up with you afterwards to see what
you thought," she said to Loella.

"Thank you," she called after the Weyrwoman. "She really is very
nice," she smiled at Lanniya and then up at her husband who was still
scowling. "Karhal?"

"Yes. Nice. I'm sure." Karhal's scowl diminished at his wife's smile,
but his own expression remained stony. He didn't exactly trust the
weyrfolk around his wife, lovely as she was, nor was he entirely sure
that they weren't going to try to convince her to stay with them.

Lanniya blinked at the big man, tilting her head as she considered
him. "Saibra is usually more sociable, but she's very busy today." She
paused as she listened to the hum that reverberated through the walls.
"We've got a while yet." She turned back to Loella, her smile bright.
"So, I've been told that you need some help learning how to quiet them
down, right?"

"Yes," Loella nodded. "It's very loud sometimes and I don't know how
to keep them out. The voices."

Lanniya nodded. "I had the same problem and at the Weyr, it can be
worse." She took Loella's hands and peered right into her eyes. "Okay.
What I do is think about a huge room with all the voices in there.
Then picture a strong metal door in that room between the voices and
your mind. When it gets too much, close the door and push the voices
back. If you practice enough, all you really get is a buzz, like you
hear people whispering sometimes in a crowd. After a while, you'll be
able to pretty much ignore them until you want to pay attention. Can
you try that?"

Loella stared into Lanniya's eyes and did exactly as she'd instructed.
She visualized herself inside her house and closed the door. As she
did it she actively pushed the voices out the door. The seeming sounds
diminished to an almost manageable level. Her eyes widened and she
smiled. "That works, she nodded then looked at Karhal. "It works."

Karhal gave a more gentle smile and his thumb stroked along her back
where his hand rested. "Good, beloved." His voice was soft, but his
eyes were proud of his wife.

Lanniya offered a delighted smile in return. "Yes. It does. Whenever
it gets overwhelming, just do that and practice. Especially when you
hear the dragons fighting overhead. You'll learn to focus on one voice
at a time, if you can practice."

"Do they always hum like that to the eggs?" She'd caught some of the
happy thoughts of anticipation from the waiting dragons.

"Oh yes. Always. They sing to them to encourage them to hatch." She
tilted her head and noticed an increase in intensity. "I think we
better hurry. Saibra got you both good seats."

Last updated on the April 1st 2019

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