The Good Daughter

Writers: AL, Cali
Date Posted: 13th September 2008

Characters: Sorsha, Balisor
Description: Balisor tells his daughter she is being fostered to Willet Grove.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 11, day 9 of Turn 4

"Morning father" Sorsha greeted Balisor as she came down the steps and saw her father sipping his klah.

"Good morning Sorsha." Balisor lowered his mug to the table and smiled to his daughter. He motioned to the seat across from him. "Sit down."

She did as she was told and grabbed a meatroll from the basket on the table. It was still warm and she took a bite while she waited for her father to speak again.

"We never got a chance to talk about the visit." Indeed, it had been late enough when he had come to bed that his daughter was already asleep by the time he had a free moment. "How do you like them?"

"They're very nice people." she wanted to ask if they'd offered the fostering yet, but changed her mind at the last second. Instead she asked, "Are they staying long?"

"They'll be home back after next Threadfall." Balisor assured her. He contemplated the mug in his klah, "What would you say to going back with them?"

Sorsha grinned, "They're allowing me to foster?"

"Yes." Balisor nodded. "And, of course, I'll visit you. They leave in two days. I want you to be ready by then, all right?"

Her face fell slightly at the abrupt departure date. "So soon?" But I'll miss Turn's End?"

"Yes, well, I'm sure you can celebrate with them." Balisor smiled and rest a hand upon his daughter's shoulder. "I think you'll like it over there."

She nodded, realizing she was being silly complaining about Turn's End when the important fact was that she was accepted to foster! "I'm sure I will. Thank you so much father, I really appreciate the opportunity you're giving me with this. I'm going to learn so much with Karai."

"She's a wonderful lady. You be good to her." Balisor smiled and reached over to squeeze his daughter's hand. The smile then faded as he remembered another topic he had to broach. "There is one thing, Sorsha."

"Yes?" she asked before she took another bite of meatroll.

"These visits with the dragonrider are not going to be allowed." Balisor shook his head. "It's okay to have friends, but having a male friend who comes from the weyr...it's not seemly."

"Not allowed?" she cried. "What to you mean _seemly_! He's never been anything but a gentleman, he-" she stopped herself before she gave away their secret kiss. Instead she scrambled for some assistance, "Surely this isn't Serend or Karai's idea, they didn't have a problem with him at dinner, and Railen liked him quite a lot I think."

"Sorsha," A warning note crept into Balisor's voice. "You don't know everything that was said when you weren't listening. It's not proper. I was going to ask you to stop seeing this young man but now I see that I'm going to have to _tell_ you. The visits must stop. He is especially not to visit you after you are fostered. Is that clear?"

She shook her head in disbelief, but she couldn't meet her father's eyes so she stared at the table in front of her. "I'lan said he'd come to visit next restday." she whispered. She couldn't believe that her father was doing this, she cared for I'lan and she couldn't imagine not seeing him again.

"You won't be here." Balisor clasped his hands behind him.

"I..." Sorsha didn't know what to say. If she told him how she felt about I'lan then he would think ill things about him- and her. If she didn't say anything, she might never see I'lan again. Then again, he did know where she was going, and maybe Serend would allow I'lan to visit her. It was a better chance than nothing, and she knew she wouldn't win against her father when he'd made up his mind. She took a deep breathe and nodded her head in defeat. "Yes father, I'll be ready after Threadfall."

"Good." Balisor relaxed when Sorsha didn't fight back. Impulsively, he reached out and pulled her into a hug. "I love you Sorsha, and I'm only doing what's best for you. It may not seem like it, but I hope some day you'll look back and understand."

Sorsha hugged her father back automatically though she didn't feel the love. The elation she'd felt at being fostered had turned to numbness at the uncertainty of not ever seeing I'lan again.

Last updated on the September 14th 2008

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The Good Daughter