Just This Once

Writers: AL, Cali
Date Posted: 4th December 2008

Characters: Sorsha, Ri'len, Serend, Karai, Lenlee
Description: The family discusses Lenlee going to the Weyr.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 13, day 1 of Turn 4

Sorsha waved as G'len lifted off and blinked between. It had been an unexpected day, and as people drifted back off to their assignments, she didn't know what was going to happen next.

"Ah, just missed him." Serend's soft voice was barely audible over the murmur of excitement. The man cocked his head as he regarded the girls twittering about and then raised an eyebrow. He had been working with a mare and was unable to get away to greet the dragonrider, though he had been assured by Railen that the fellow would be made welcome. So, when he came upon the group that had gathered and the excitement he could certainly guess that someone had gotten searched. "Oh, so who was it?"

"Serend." Karai approached with Lenlee in tow, apprehensive about how her husband would react to the news she wasn't sure had sunk in for herself yet. "The Searchdragon chose Lenlee."

The holder paused and stared at his wife. He blinked a few times and then stated slowly, "I'm sorry, I think I misheard you. What did you say?"

"The greenrider, he said that the Searchdragon chose Lenlee to be a dragonrider." she put her arm around Lenlee's shoulders and was comforted by Railen and Sorsha's presence when they came up behind her.

"Lenlee?" Serend looked down at his daughter, then to Railen who nodded, then back to his wife. His Lenlee? "Are you sure?"

"Tobereth liked Lenlee." Sorsha explained since she was the one with the most experience in the matter. "Since she's a Searchdragon, she _likes_ people that a dragon might like."

"Oh." Serend's gaze fell across the young woman who would soon be added to his daughters, then back to his biological child. He stared at her for a long time, then turned upon his heel and muttered, "I need to check on Blaze."

Railen sighed. "Might as well go inside and get settled. He might be there for a couple of hours." At Sorsha's look, he explained, "Da goes and tends Blaze or rides him when he needs to think about something."

Sorsha nodded and then looked at Lenlee. "Do you want to go for a walk or something? You've probably got a lot of questions and I might be able to answer some of them."

"Yeah." The girl nodded, glancing over at her mother. She honestly wasn't sure what to do and talking with Sorsha, privately, might give her some insight.

"Come on Ma," Railen squeezed Sorsha's hand then released her to offer his arm to his mother. "I think some tea is in order."

~ ~ ~

Karai was setting dinner on the table when Serend finally came back from the stables. He'd been in there all afternoon, but no one wanted to disturb him. She glanced around at the girls and Railen before stepping back into the kitchen for the last batch of bread.

The holder moved inside, his face creased in thought. He paused to gaze at Lenlee, his expression something between wistful and concerned before he moved into the kitchen to join his wife. "Bread smells good." He stated softly, moving over to peer down at it.

"Lenlee and I made fresh sweet butter for it." Sorsha added in a light voice. She hoped Serend would be open minded to Lenlee's decision.

Without a word, Serend reached out and tore a piece of bread from the loaf. He shuffled over to the table and sat down. "Where's the butter?"

"Right in front of you." Karai said, coming back in with the bread. She set it down on the table and then seated herself. She nodded to Lenlee, this was as good a time as any to bring things up since Serend was going to ignore the whole situation.

Lenlee shifted in her chair. She wished her mother would just tell him, but Karai had thought it best that she be the one to say. "Da..." The girl started. The Holder glanced up, knife already clung to by a pat of butter, ready for it to be spread upon the hot bread. "I've decided to stand."

Serend stared at his daughter for a moment, then actually put the butter onto the bread, spread it around, then took a bite. "The bread's good." He stated softly, forehead creased and eyes staring down at his plate.

They sat in silence for several minutes while they ate. Sorsha couldn't understand why no one was talking. She'd expected either acceptance or anger, not silence. "I'll send a letter along with her to G'len. He'll make sure she gets looked after by good people."

Serend glanced up at Sorsha, as if trying to comprehend what she had said, then slowly nodded. "She'll need someone to chaperone." He stated after a moment, looking back down at his plate and slowly eating. A moment later he asked softly, "Karai, don't you have a cousin at the Weyr?"

Karai looked up, surprised by the question. "Um, yes. Second cousin. He's a greenrider at Dolphin Cove."

Serend winced, then nodded. "I suppose..." He trailed off, as if he wasn't certain of himself. He took another bite of the bread, "But...no one else?" He queried.

Sorsha kept her mouth shut as she looked around the table. Lenlee'd be in the candidate barracks, it was one of the things the girls discussed on their walk, so there would be no chaperone to watch over her. But if Lenlee wasn't going to bring up the point then she wasn't either. Serend seemed to be going along with the idea, but that might change if he got stuck on too many details.

"Not of my family." Karai answered her husband, she knew a greenrider wasn't an ideal, but at least she'd be sure that he wouldn't try to touch her.... if he'd take her on.

Lenlee glanced over at Sorsha, trying her hardest not to squirm. Was her father saying what she thought he was saying? Was she going to be allowed to go? Would he actually let her?

"Well...perhaps we should get in touch with him." Serend stated slowly after a moment. "Let him know about Lenlee."

Karai visibly relaxed, while she didn't _like_ the idea of Lenlee Standing, she knew that by law she could Stand without her family's permission. She had hoped that Serend wouldn't object, that way maybe Lenlee would decide to come back to Willet Grove, just like Sorsha had. "I'll write up a letter. Perhaps you could give it to the rider who checks in after Threadfall to deliver?"

Serend nodded slowly, glancing over at Sorsha, as if pondering something. Then he cleared his throat, "There is just one thing." His gaze traversed across to his daughter, "You may stand once. If you do not impress, then you will come back here."

Lenlee's eyes grew wide. Her father _was_ going to let her stand! She nodded, unable to keep her lips from beaming upward. "Yes Da. Thank you Da!"

Karai reached out and squeezed her daughter's hand. She was worried for the girl. She wasn't even old enough yet to marry, and still she was going alone to a Weyr. "Sorsha, do you promise she'll be looked after?"

Sorsha nodded, "She'll be fine. She'll be in classes all day and chores inbetween. She won't have time to get into any trouble."

"Well contact your cousin, ask him to look in on her." Hopefully he wouldn't have too much of an influence on the girl. Serend glanced back at Sorsha once more. She had gone to the Weyr and she had come out perfectly fine. Originally, Serend had contemplating denying his daughter's request, but then thoughts of Sorsha came to mind. He liked her and she had been fine after coming from the Weyr, so why wouldn't Lenlee? And he had to admit, if there was a gold on the sands and Lenlee happened to impress the gold, that _was_ a great honour. And she wouldn't be kept idle, it seemed, according to his soon to be daughter in law, so that would certainly help. Yes, he would let her. Just this once.

Last updated on the December 5th 2008

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Just This Once