Thinking of Home... and Other Things

Writers: AL, Cali
Date Posted: 17th September 2008

Characters: Sorsha, Ri'len
Description: Sorsha and Railen talk after their riding lesson.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 11, day 18 of Turn 4

She'd been treated very well during her time at Willet Grove. She was rooming with Railen's two younger sisters, and they loved all her stories about the sea and even her time at the Weyr. They'd never gotten to touch a dragon before, and Sorsha had promised to introduce them to Naath when I'lan visited. But then he didn't come to visit. She had looked for him all the next restday, but he had never come. He wasn't the dragonrider that landed after Threadfall to talk to Serend, nor the one that had flown overhead this morning on a sweepride. Sorsha had started to wonder if her father was right, if I'lan wasn't just one of _those_ dragonriders. She'd certainly seen plenty at the Weyr that would flit about from partner to partner. She'd thought that she meant something to him, he certainly meant something to her, but perhaps she was just a fun distraction he'd gotten bored of...

"Oh, I'm sorry Railen, my mind was wandering again." Sorsha explained sheepishly as she realized she'd stopped brushing down the runner she'd used earlier in her riding lesson.

"Oh...to what?" She had only been there a sevenday, but Railen had managed to relax quite a bit now that Sorsha was more than just some stranger. He had even been able to keep up conversations with her. Once he had offered to give her lessons and she had accepted, Railen seemed to feel even more at ease. He found himself enjoying Sorsha's company and was glad that she had been fostered. Of course, he knew the true reason behind it. At first, Railen hadn't been too keen on his parents' idea to marry him to this girl. After spending quite a bit of time with her during the past sevenday, however, Railen was getting a little more used to the idea. While he couldn't say he loved her, he certainly did like her, and that made marriage seemed less scary to him.

She shrugged it off with a smile and started back up brushing. "Oh you know, just thinking about home." If Railen was a girl, she might have told him what she was really thinking about, but as nice and friendly as he was, he probably wouldn't understand or even care about her confusion over I'lan. Maybe if Lenlee was older...

"Are you...homesick?" Railen had a feeling Sorsha was close to her father and he could understand her feelings. It was the same with him and his mother. "Anything I can do to make you feel better?"

It was sweet of him to offer, but she didn't think he'd be up to riding to Dolphin Cove and demanding an explanation from I'lan about his absence. The thought however made her grin a bit, "I'm fine, really. A little homesick yes, but I really am very happy here."

"Good." Railen relaxed at her assurance and stepped away from his runner to draw a little closer to her. "I want you to be happy. You just...just let me know if you need something...okay?"

"Okay." she assured him. She checked over her runner for any more areas needing brushed, then asked, "What's next?"

"We have to check and clean the tack." Railen tossed the brush that he still clung to into the bucket with the rest of the grooming supplies, then picked it up. "Come on. With the two of us, that won't take too long."

"Thanks again for the lesson." Sorsha said when they were completely finished and were walking towards the main house. She had to wash off and change clothes before helping prepare the evening meal.

"Tomorrow then?" Railen slowed his pace so he wouldn't outdistance his shorter companion. "I can make sure to have my duties done, then we can have the time together." He was certain his parents wouldn't object to that.

Sorsha hesitated, "I'll have to ask Karai, but I'd like to, I would. She's just still trying me out in various things to see where my skills need polishing and everything." She didn't want to admit it to Railen, but she had discovered that she was lacking in quite a few areas Karai seemed to feel were important. The Holder's wife was always very polite about things and never said harsh words to her, but Sorsha couldn't help but feel that she was a disappointment.

"I'll speak to my mother." Railen stated with a grin. "I can be very persuasive when I want to be. Especially with her."

She grinned back, though she didn't entirely believe him. "I'll see you at dinner then?"

"Dinner." Railen nodded, then hurried to the hold - Sorsha wasn't the only one who needed to get clean!

Last updated on the September 18th 2008

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Thinking of Home... and Other Things