Just Say No

Writers: AL, April
Date Posted: 19th January 2009

Characters: Amowyn, Briata
Description: Briata meets Amowyn and the two talk.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 13, day 22 of Turn 4

Briata

Briata made her way through the halls, a young child clinging to her
hand. She had finally managed to convince the ladies in the creche
that she could help out. While there, a young child by the name of
Veera had declared that she was hungry. Since the child had missed her
snack due to a followup to the healers for a sickness she'd had the
previous sevenday, Briata volunteered to take her to the kitchen and
get her something to eat. That way the other children wouldn't insist
on some for themselves, especially after they'd already had
something. The two entered the kitchens and Briata headed straight for
the first person she saw. "Excuse me," She stated politely, "Is there
anything available for a snack for the wee one?"

Amowyn glanced up and smiled. "I've a couple sweet rolls." She put down
the dough she was working on and grabbed a plate with about three sweet
rolls left on it. "here you go sweetie." Amowyn and her own daughter
had gotten lucky. Her parents had written to say they would come for
her themselves, after turns end. She smilled at the little girl. "Would
you like a drink too."

Briata reached out and took a sweetroll. "Thank you." She handed it to
the little girl who took it easily and mumbled a soft thanks as well
before biting into it. "And I think some water to wash this down would
be good. Surely she'll get thirsty from it, hm Veera?" The little
girl nodded, her mouth full of roll.

Amowyn got a small cup and filled it with water. She handed it to the
girl. "Why don't you sit here at this table until you are done." She
smiled at the girl. "Would you like anything?" She asked Briata.

"Kay." The girl plodded over to the table and placed her sweet roll and
cup upon it before climbing into the chair. Briata pulled one out and
sat beside her. "Some water would be nice." She stated after a
moment, giving Amowyn another smile. "I'm Briata by the way."

Amowyn nodded as she grabbed another cup and filled it. She placed it on
the table with a few slices of bread. They were smeared with red fruit
jam. "I'm Amowyn. You've probably seen my own little daughter in the
creche. Her name is Aavyn." She came around and sat in another chair
with a cup of water for herself.

"Oh yes! I have!" Briata's expression brightened at the sound of a
familiar name. "She's lovely. Is she your only child?"

"Yes. We had to leave our home. I was afriad for her and myself. My
husband was not happy with me and he was even less happy she was a
girl." She said with a sad smile. "She is all I have. But, she stays so
happy it's hard to be sad around her. She is my life."

Briata's smile faded at the story. "Oh...I'm so sorry!" She was rather
surprised, too, by the admission. She knew that not every women was
fortunate to have a father like hers, that many were thrown into
marriages of convenience without even knowing their husbands, much less
liking them. Yet, the woman's frankness and outright telling of her
story, was, in a way, rather disturbing. "Well, she's a lovely girl,
very smart!"

Amowyn noticed the change in Briata. She sighed. She had said to much she could tell. "I'm sorry. I've been so worried lately that I seem to let my mouth run on it's own. My husband was not a good man. I had to do something to protect Aavyn and myself. He has recently died and I am free of him. My father is already looking for his replacement and I am worried. When I worry I seem to say to much. Forgive me."

Indeed, the girl seemed to have told her life story and then some. Briata supposed that some people did do that when they were worried. "I'm sorry to hear that." She pondered a moment, then tilted her head. "Your father has jurisdiction over you still even though you were married and widowed?" That seemed odd. Of course, Briata knew that she was quite lucky for her father was nothing like a lot of fathers she had heard about, including this one's.

"He believes he does. he thinks it is his job to find me a new husband. Though I tink it is more my mother than anything. She doesn't think it ladylike to be unwed at my age. They can be very forceful. I'm sorry i shouldn't be saying all this. I'd best stop now. My problems are not anyone elses but mine." She sighed and stood. Walking back to her bread dough she looked back at the woman. "Don't you worry. I'm done talking of sad things. Aavyn and I are just fine. I'm looking forward to celebrating turns end. I just finished making Aavyn the cutest gown in lavender." She tried to move on to beter conversation.

"I love lavender." Briata mused, glad that the conversation had taken a different turn. She felt rather bad for the woman, but she was simply taken aback by how much information she had spilled to someone who, for all intents and purposes, was a complete stranger. Despite her efforts, Briata couldn't help herself. "Why don't you just tell them no?" She finally asked.

"I did. They just don't like to listen." She shook her head. She wished it was so easy. "I'm sorry I spilled. I just don't have many friends. i usually keep to myself. It seems I just keep wanting someone to understand. Or perhaps someone to vent to. I really shouldn't have said anything." She turned so this kind yet woman who was such a stranger to her would not see her eyes begin to water. She didn't know why she had said anything. It wasn't like her. But, she had been stressed since they had shown up that night. Would they find a way to bring her back to the hold? She didn't know and didn't want to know.

"I would think that considering the fact you were married you are no longer under jurisdiction. After all, if he were still alive, you wouldn't be under their jurisdiction." It honestly didn't make any sense to Briata.

Amowyn looked at her. She wasn't the first to tell her that. She sighed. Maybe she was worrying to much. "Problem is I don't think he is thinking about that. He wants his hold to have strong ties to another hold. He thinks he is doing what is best for me. I've told him I am not going back. I fear what he will try to get me back there. He is still my father. It's hard to say no to people you love sometimes." She whispered the last.

About that time Aavyn wandered in. "Miss Briata, they are asking for you to return to the creche. They wonder what has taken so long." Th elittle girl smiled and looked at her mother. She saw the strain in her mothers eyes and her own smile faultered.

"Nothing to worry about sweet heart." Amowyn smiled at her girl. Aavyn smiled back nervously.

Briata raised her eyebrows. They knew they were taking the little girl to get something to eat and children didn't always gobble everything up in a flash. She looked over to the child who still had two bites left. "Think you can finish that on the way back?" She asked kindly. Veera nodded and stood as Briata did, clasping her hand. Briata turned to flash a smile at Amowyn. "It was nice meeting you. I hope things work out in your favour."

Aavyn glanced back and forth for a moment more before walking out to wait for Briata. Amowyn nodded and smiled. "Sorry, about all the confusing talk. Perhaps next time I'll have everything figured out and we cna talk of better things. It was really noce meeting you. I'm sure everything will turn out fine." She turned back to her dough and shook her head. She wasn't sure what had come over her to allow herself to talk about things like that. Maybe she should move on. But, Aavyn loved it here.

Last updated on the January 24th 2009

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Just Say No