Let Him Come Home

Writers: Devin, Estelle, Suzee
Date Posted: 30th September 2019

Characters: Cyradis, N'vanik, Alyena
Description: Alyena pleads with the Weyrleaders for mercy for Grevan
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 6 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Grevan, Corowal, Vestian
Follows DCW: Don't Give Up

Cyradis

N'vanik

When the door of Grevan's cell closed behind her, Alyena felt despair
grip at her heart, despite the encouragement she'd tried to give him,
about the harper and the trial. She followed the dragonrider through the
corridors, hardly aware of where they were going. He wasn't going to
fight. They would find him guilty, and then...

**Don't think of that. Think of how you can help him.**

They emerged into the light and warmth of the Weyrbowl, where the dragon
was waiting to take them back to Emerald Falls. Relief at simply being
out in the open again gave her courage, and she made her decision. She
couldn't miss any chance to plead her son's case. There might not be
another opportunity.

She hastened to catch up with the dragonrider, who was striding ahead as
if eager to get this errand over with. "Sir, please. Wait." She waited
for him to stop. "I want to make a request. To see the Weyrwoman."

He gave her a long, wary look, and for a moment she thought he'd refuse.
Then he shrugged. "I can ask."

He seemed to lose interest in her then, his gaze unfocusing, and it took
a moment for Alyena to realise he was talking to his dragon. She
shivered, wondering what else they'd been saying to each other. The
silence seemed to last a long time, but eventually he spoke.

"Yes, she will see you. This way."

When the woman was shown into her office Cyradis nodded to the rider
dismissing him. She looked at the woman and took in her general
appearance of clothing, while clean and neat, worn slightly beyond
it's usual lifespan. She waved an inviting hand toward her couch and
moved there herself. "I hear you wanted to see me," she asked in her
warm contralto.

"Yes, my lady." Alyena regarded her in surprise, as if she couldn't
quite believe she was being asked to sit. The Weyrwoman didn't seem like
she would have imagined at all, almost welcoming. Still, she couldn't
forget that these people had sheltered the man who'd destroyed her
husband's life. Now they held her son's life in their hands. If she
wanted to help Grevan, she'd have to be respectful.

Hesitantly, she went over to sit on the couch, smoothing down the faded
material of her skirt. "I came here to visit my son, Grevan. He was the
one who..." Her voice caught and she was silent for a moment, breathing
slowly, trying to compose herself. "I know he's committed a terrible
crime. But he's young. He watched his father banished from the Hold,
dying slowly, in agony. He's looked after the family ever since, and
he's worked so hard for us, with never a moment's rest. I don't know
what I'd do without him." She met the goldrider's gaze. "Please, show
him mercy. Let him come home with me."

A brief knock was the only warning before N'vanik stepped in. "You
must be Grevan's mother." He kept his voice and his expression as
neutral as he could. There was no evidence this woman was involved in
Grevan's plot. "I heard you were meeting with the Weyrwoman. I'm
Weyrleader N'vanik." The rider escorting her had alerted N'vanik and
he didn't want Alyena to have Cyradis's ear alone.

The holder woman looked up, startled and fearful. She had hoped that the
Weyrwoman might listen to her plea. Perhaps she was a mother herself,
and would understand. All she knew about the Weyrleader was that he had
told Grevan he was never going home. Still, she had to try.

"Weyrleader." She stood, made a quick curtsey. "I came to speak on
behalf of my son. He's done wrong and I am so - so sorry for what
happened, but if you'd just let him come home, I promise he will never
trouble you again."

"We can't let the attempted murder of a dragonrider go unpunished,"
N'vanik said. "He'll have a fair trial with me, Lord Corowal and
Hallmaster Vestian as judges." No amount of begging was going to sway
him.

Alyena looked from him to the Weyrwoman in desperation. Lord Corowal had
seemed sympathetic to her, but not to Grevan, and she knew nothing of
the Harper Hallmaster.

"Please. He's my family's only support. I'm a widow and I have two other
children. My younger son isn't strong, he can't do the work that Grevan
did." She wrung her hands. "I've been to see him. What he did was done
in anger over the loss of his father. He understands now that it was
wrong. And the dragonrider didn't die. He could apologise, make amends..."

"N'vanik," Cyradis pleaded reaching out a hand. "Please have a seat,"
she placed her hand on the seat next to her. Then she looked back at
the woman. "I understand," she said. "And while we believe you and I
am sure we'd both like to help you, Grevan must still answer for what
he did."

"I know it, but..." Tears stung her eyes and she blinked them back, only
for more to well up. Now, when she most needed it, she could feel her
strength giving way. "Please don't hurt him. Not like his father. Please
don't - don't let Thread have him."

N'vanik reluctantly sat next to his Weyrwoman. He did feel sorry for
Alyena but that didn't make him feel merciful toward Grevan. "His
punishment isn't my decision. Not alone. All three judges have to come
to an agreement." He very much wished that wasn't the case. "But you
and your other children won't be left without support. If Corowal
won't take care of you, we will."

The holder woman stared at him. How could they imagine that she would
accept anything from the Weyr if they took her son from her?

**Don't get angry.** It wouldn't help her case. Instead, she bowed her
head. "Thank you, Weyrleader, but Lord Corowal has already been very
kind to me. It's just that I can't lose Grevan. It would break my heart.
Maybe you have children?" She looked to the Weyrwoman. "If you do,
you'll know what I mean."

"Unfortunately, children grow up and become responsible for their own
decisions," Cyradis said. "I know mine have made some decisions I
didn't like." She looked at the desperate woman for a moment. "Just
know the trial will be fair, all the information will be presented to
the judges. We realize that tempers are high," she squeezed N'vanik's
hand slightly. "But in the end, there will be justice, not revenge."

N'vanik pressed his lips together. He wouldn't make such a promise.

Last updated on the October 14th 2019

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Let Him Come Home