Finding Assistance and Fostering

Writers: Heather, Miriah
Date Posted: 14th January 2020

Characters: K'lvin, Bartona
Description: K'lvin goes to Bahji's mother for assistance.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 1, day 22 of Turn 10

Bartona sat at her little table, slender but aged fingers finding the
holes in the net even as she stared outside. She had little left in
her cottage and nothing but time. Her husband and daughter dead, it
was all she could manage sometimes to get out of bed, but still she
persevered, refusing to abandon the memories she did have. She brushed
a tear from the corner of her eye, memories of her Bahji coming to
mind, her bright laughter filling the small cothold. It was so quiet
now.

The sound of great wings startled her, making her lose her place in
the netting. She recognized the sound and for a moment, hope flashed
in her heart. Could it be that K'lvin was finally bringing little
Kaliha to see her again? She ran to the window to look out, but saw
nothing. She sighed, shoulders slumping.

"Bartona?" A voice called, preceding a knock at the door.

Xmrenth settled himself neatly behind the small structure so that he
could enjoy the full effect of the sun on his hide.

Her head shot up immediately and Bartona rushed to the door, flinging
it open. She greeted K'lvin with mingled hope and grief in her eyes.
Seeing him reminded her of Bahji, but also reminded her that while
Bahji had lived, she'd been loved. "K'lvin! It is so good to see you.
It's been too long!"

"Bartona," he hugged her. It made him feel guilty, seeing her now,
knowing that he probably should have visited her more, especially with
Kaliha. Today Kaliha was waiting behind at Barrier Lake. "It is good
to see you as well. I hope it's okay that I came by unannounced."

"You are always welcome here, K'lvin. Never worry about that." She
returned the hug tightly, kissing his cheek before ushering him in.
"You didn't bring Kaliha? Maybe next time then? I'd love to see her.
I'm sure she's grown." Her home, though clean, was evidently shabbier
than the last time he'd visited, evidence of her lack of resources now
that she was alone. "Have a seat. I'll make some klah for you. I think
I have some left. I don't drink it much anymore." She bustled about
the kitchen, setting the pot on the open fire while she rummaged
through mostly bare cabinets. "How have you been? Is your heart still
doing alright? Oh dear...it looks like I don't have any. Would you
mind tea? I do have some tea left." She brought down a small tin of
tea out of a cabinet and began to make preparations.

K'lvin's heart squeezed as he took in Bartona's meager living
conditions. **I should have visited more often. Bahji's mother should
never have had to want for anything,** he thought to himself,
especially not when he had the means to help provide. "Tea is fine,"
he assured her, although he hoped she wasn't making the last of it for
him. "My heart seems to be doing better, I haven't had any trouble out
of it in a few months now." Which had enabled him to really put in
some work around Barrier Lake, work that made him feel as though he
had purpose once again.

"I was hoping, Bartona, that we could talk about the condition that
Bahji had," he said as he watched her work. "I was wondering when it
became noticable, how many Turns she was able to see, stuff like
that."

"That's good." Bartona poured the tea leaves into the kettle,
emptying the little tin completely. "You need to stay healthy. I'm
glad you're doing better. I was so worried for you for so long. " She
sat down, regretting that she had nothing more to offer him, and then
frowned as he continued, her hands stilling on the table.

Her brow furrowed and immediate concern filled her eyes. "Oh no. It's
started for Kaliha, hasn't it? Bahji was so afraid that any child she
had would be like her. For Bahji, I think it started very young and
she lost her sight completely by the time she was eight turns old. It
was gradual, thank Faranth, and it didn't happen immediately, so we
had time with the Healers to get her accustomed to it."

Cold fear flashed through K'lvin's gut. Only eight Turns? "Yes, Kaliha
is showing some signs of vision impairment. I'm hoping that her
condition won't be as severe as Bahji's. Perhaps her eyesight will
just be poorer than normal but she won't completely lose it?"

She rose as the kettle began to whistle, then carefully removed it
from the fire to pour two cups. Setting the kettle down in front of
them, she handed K'lvin a cup, took one of her own and blew over it
lightly. She'd seen the fear and could understand completely. Hadn't
she felt the same? "You can always hope, K'lvin. Bit remember, Bahji
never let her lack of sight stop her. You must teach Kaliha the same
and help her prepare... just in case. "

"That is actually the reason I'm here, Bartona. I can only be with
Kaliha for short visits since we've moved to Barrier Lake. The
Weyrhold is still in a developmental stage, so it requires a lot of my
time. Kaliha's current foster mother, while wonderful, has no idea how
to help a child who is developing visual impairments. I was hoping....
" He trailed off, knowing it was a big thing to ask. "That you might
consider moving to Barrier Lake and fostering Kaliha. You've already
done this before with Bahji, you know better than anyone what skills
Kaliha will need to learn to be successful."

Bartona stilled and stared at K'lvin, mouth parting in surprise that
was quickly followed by watery eyes. "K'lvin...I...I don't know what
to say." The thought of being with her granddaughter everyday, having
that connection with her Bahji, meant everything to her. She had
nothing left here at Sunstone, but had never dared ask K'lvin for more
than what she already had with Kaliha. "I would love that. I'd be
honored and so very pleased. "

"Good." The response left him with a sense of relief. "If you need
help packing I am sure I can secure a couple of Weyrlings from Dolphin
Cove to help transport things."

"K'lvin..." She gestured to the small cothold. "You're looking at
everything I have. After the tsunami, I didn't have much left, just
what I could find and what Lord Bryvin could provide. All I really
have is my clothes right now and some food." She straightened. "But I
can still be useful. I understand that there's going to be good
fishing at the Weyrhold. I can still repair nets and fish myself. I
can mend clothes and I can watch over other little children. "
Suddenly, the despair that had bowed her shoulders seemed to lift away
at the thought of finding some measure of purpose again. "I never
lived at any sort of Weyr, but if Bahji could adapt, then surely I
can.'

"Well," he looked around, "if you want to go with me today, I'd be
happy to transport you and then show you around Barrier Lake. It
really is like a Hold right now, a Hold with dragonriders, so it may
be more familiar than you think."

She perked up immediately. "It wouldn't take me very long. All I'd
need is my clothes and cooking items, I suppose." She paused. "But
would there be a place for me? It would be rather sudden for your
Headwoman, wouldn't it? I don't want to put anyone out."

"I got permission to bring you before I came. I didn't know it would
be today," he confessed, "but there are a couple of open quarters
reserved for foster mothers near the creche."

"Oh, well then. You've thought of everything." Bartona smiled. "Finish
your tea and I'll pack up my things. It shouldn't be too much for your
big bronze, I'm sure." She rose, studied her kitchen, then paused.
"K'lvin...uhm...I still have a few things of Bahji's, some old toys
and clothes before she went back to the Weyr. Do you think...may I
bring them? Would it trouble you if I did?"

"Of course not, Bartona, I would love or Kaliha to know and have some
pieces of her mother."

Relief flooded her. The flooding had taken so much, she was thankful
to have any small piece of her daughter left that she could see and
feel. The life changes, moving to the Weyrhold and away from the
only home she'd ever known, they felt minor in comparison to the joy
she would feel being a fuller part of her grandfather's life. "You
wait here then. It won't take me long."

K'lvin smiled as he watched her go to get her things. He finally felt
completely at peace with Bahji, knowing that this was what she would
have wanted for her mother.

Last updated on the February 1st 2020

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Finding Assistance and Fostering