Sacrifices Gladly Made (2/2)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Erin
Date Posted: 17th February 2007
Characters: Niefren
Description: Niefren remembers the lengths he went to in order to move his family to RBW twenty Turns ago.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 2, day 2 of Turn 4
Niefren was glad the Infirmary was quiet tonight, because he could not keep his thoughts on track. Dananie looked so much like his mother Anafrey that sometimes it was hard not to become introspective. Now, combined with the greenrider and his weyrmate, Niefren could not help but remember.
He had planned it with his best friend Steban, another journeyman healer who had been his closest friend since childhood. Steban had grown up very much under Anafrey's influence and they had always been close, even closer than Niefren had been with any of his brothers. Now Steban risked everythingThey had waited until Turns' End, when the Hall and Hold would be buzzing.
"It's for our girl," Steban had said softly, looking at an indistinct spot on the wall across from him. They were in a nearly secluded hallway that lead from the Main Hall out to the privies.
"Yes," Niefren had replied. "This is best for her. Even a Weyrhold needs healers, we'll find a place." Steban nodded, a quick, tight movement. He was dressed handsomely, in a green that went well with his shaggy blonde hair. Niefren let out a breath and chuckled uncomfortably. He turned to face his friend and rolled his shoulders. Steban nodded, suddenly more resolute. "We have to do it, Nief."
Niefren stepped forward and pressed his lips to Steban's. He felt Steban's hands on his waist, hesitantly at first, then more urgently. Niefren felt himself melt into his friend's loose embrace. Then Steban jerked away, licking his lips. His eyes darted to the side and he would not look at Niefren. "What?" Niefren found his voice was husky. "That... I..." Steban's voice was also husky. He shrugged with such helplessness that Niefren's heart began to hammer against his ribs, and not from fear.
"How long?" Niefren asked insistently. His ears and neck burned. The sounds of the revelry seemed overly loud and the sconces on the wall lit Steban in an eerily fascinating light.
"Since I can remember," Steban said. "I swear, Niefren, I wasn't using the plan to... to tell you anything. I swear it on my knots. I just...
I can't help the way I feel!" He finally looked at Niefren, and tears rolled down his cheeks. Niefren's chest tightened and he was stunned and confused by the attraction he felt for this man before him. He and Steban had always been close, mentally and physically. Niefren had never minded. Had he always been so attracted to Steban and just never acknowledged it? He pulled Steban close and kissed him, hard. Both of their bodies responded to the desperate longing that Steban had felt for so many years.
When the woman screamed, the world caved in.
Niefren rubbed his eyes and tipped his chair on its back legs. The greenrider by the bed had put the marker in his book and was fussing with the bed linens. Likely had to go to drills, Niefren thought, which meant that his shift was just about over.
He sighed heavily. Those memories were always hard, in more ways than one. The fallout would have been huge had the Master Healer not covered it up so carefully for fear he would take some blame for not stopping the "unnatural" relationship. The plan, however, had worked wonders, for here he was, and all his family too. And his second daughter a dragonrider. His chest swelled with pride. Dananie was the first rider in the family, though not the last. And Steban... Niefren's elation faltered slightly. Steban had come with them to River's Bluff. Niefren had shamed himself with a short affair his wife never knew about, but Steban had found himself unable to be so close to Niefren without being able to have all of him. Steban had transferred to Dragonsfall about two Turns later, and was still there. They hadn't seen each other since, nor had Niefren had any other lovers, male or female, since his wife's death ten Turns earlier. He drank the last of the water he had nursed all night and stood as his relief came in and smiled a greeting, which he returned. In no one had he seen a devotion to match his beloved wife or a passion to match his short-time lover, but he had to admit that he had been feeling lonely, especially since Dananie, his one-time shadow, had Impressed Enoiyath. He had no desire to go hunting, though. He smiled ruefully to himself as he headed back to his room. Maybe some day someone would happen across his path, and they would continue on the same path together.
Last updated on the February 19th 2007