Gathering is Hard Work

Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 5th March 2012

Characters: Rhosyn, U'das
Description: The pair of riders head around the gather to see what they can see.
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 6, day 2 of Turn 6

"Ohhh look," she pointed to a nearby tapestry. Wondering how that could look draped over her table, she fingered the fabric. After taking part in the ceremonies and everything else she had been asked to do, she was now freely walking through the gather stalls to see if anything caught her eye.

"It's lovely," U'das said, although he barely glanced the tapestry. His attention was caught by the next stall. The table was filled with nautical instruments, maps and other seacrafter's knicknacks.

Rhosyn was unsure of herself, back at a Hold after so long. She really didn?t know how to feel about it, but the Wingleader?s presence nearby helped. ?Do you see anything you like??

"Yes, that chronometer over there. Nice piece of craftsmanship, looks old too," U'das answered. He sometimes collected nautical tools, especially if he could find antiques.

The goldrider knew nothing of boats, seacraft, or any of that so she just nodded. "Do you want it?" She wondered why he would since he probably wouldn't be on a boat anytime soon, but she didn't say any of that. This place was a seahold so there were plenty of things for sale associated with that craft.

U'das shrugged a bit. "It depends. I already got one that my father gave me when I walked the tables. Only if it is a rarity, I might consider buying it. Now, what I really would like to take a look at is local maps."

"Well...." She walked with him over to the next stall where the nautical objects are. Rhosyn asked the man if he had any charts available and he said no, but there was a stall a ways down that did. She looked back at U'das. "Lead the way."

"As you wish, my lady," U'das bowed. "We could stop at the wine stall too," he suggested, leading her through the crowd.

"Been there already once, but I'll go again. And maybe for one of those fried pies.." Rhosyn was already thinking about the possibilities. It had been awhile since breakfast and she was certainly not some waif who didn't have to eat regularly.

"Well, I could use a glass of something cold and those pies certainly sound good," U'das answered. He never said no to food.

Turning around she put her arm through his, and nodded to some of the folks as they passed through the crowds. It was easier going around with U'das. There were no expectations really. He was also comfortable and Rhosyn found she could talk to him without thinking about it.

"So, what did you think about Morin? Have you managed to form an opinion of him yet? He'll be tithing to us," U'das asked while they weaved their way through the crowd.

"Aye he will. I've only been around the man so much so I don't really know what I think about him yet." She looked around the gather, though, and considered. "One thing for him, though, he knows how to throw a party. You?"

"I haven't even met him personally, so all I have is hear-say," U'das said with a shrug. They arrived at the food stall. "I'll buy, what do you like to have?"

"That plate with rice, meat, and some vegetables looks good with a roll maybe?" Rhosyn was considering the smells coming from the food stall.

"All right, I'll take that fish pie and large beer," U'das told the stall seller and soon received the foods. "Here you go," he gave Rhosyn her plate and gave the marks to the seller. "Wanna find a seat?"

"Thank you," she replied before walking through the tables to find them one. She nodded and smiled at some of their riders they passed. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. It was good to have an excuse to get out of the Weyr every now and again. Sitting down, she arranged her plate and then started to put some spices on it before eating.

U'das looked around while he bit down to his pie. "You know, I remember when this place was just a few fishing cots and pirate's port. My uncle used to fish nearby waters."

"Oh? I've never been here till recently. Nothing here huh? They all said that Morin worked hard to make improvements so I guess it's true." Rhosyn came from simple people so ambition was something that was a little alien to her. She had never wanted to be a queenrider, it had just happened. She had wanted to be a Weyrwoman, but only for the freedom it meant.

"Not much. He's really pulled the place around," U'das said. It also made him wonder. Not much was known about Morin's past.

"Hmmm...you know my Da was a cotholder. We had a small farm, but that was all." She fiddled with her food before continuing to eat. "It was enough just to get through the day. At night, there'd be dancing and singing and music...."

"Well, my father was a fishcrafter. He spent most of his days at sea. At least we always had fish on the table, even if we sometimes didn't have anything else," U'das told her on his behalf. " Parties in our hold tended to get rather rowdy... when the seamen came home to their families."

"Aye ours were the same there at night. I think it was more to remind ourselves that the hard work hadn't killed us. I saw so much sweat on Da's brow as he stood behind the plow runners. Mother...she washed, cleaned, cooked, and put up...The work never ended really. Everyone pitched in, though. Till Da went on." A shadow crossed her face. It had been hard to see her family split up as it had. They were very close and then there had been nothing.

Without a word U'das reached to squeeze her hand. He had seen much loss to feel for other people.

She saw his hand, looking at it for a moment before she gave a small smile and then pulled away, going back to her food. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Fishing or farming, there's a lot in common in those lives."

"Yeah...I sometimes wonder what would have happened to me if I hadn't gone to the Weyr. I'd be married to some cotholder somewhere washing dishes." Pondering that thought, she felt Orlaith's mental resistance to it inside her mind. After soothing her dragon that she wasn't serious, she swallowed the last bite of rice.

"I would probably be a ship's captain," U'das said. "If I hadn't drowned by now that is," he added with lightly joking tone.

"You can't swim?" Now that was odd, especially living right on the ocean as they did.

"Of course I can," the bronzerider chuckled. "You're never been out there in a storm?" He gestured towards the sea. "Trust me, swimming skills doesn't help out there when the closest land is hundred miles away. My father drowned, and he could dive hundred feet deep without airlungs."

"Nope never had the desire to be out there during a storm. When they hit the Weyr, Orlaith and I hide in our weyr and wait for it to be over. How old were you when that happened to him?" She was curious, suddenly finding that she had so much in common with U'das.

"I was forty," U'das replied.

Then he had known his father then. That was different. "You know what, tell me about when you were Weyrleader and Tsaera. I like to think I might be like her someday." This was turning into a pleasant afternoon, she had to admit.

"Tsaera was something. She did things in her own way. She did care about the people and she did all for the good of the Weyr. We were still early on the Pass and had to face all kind of problems. Disease among the herdbeasts," U'das told her. He really wasn't very good at reminiscent.

"Oh? What sort of disease?" That would have been hard, certainly. They depended upon the livestock to feed the Weyrfolk and the dragons.

"How should I know, I'm not a beasthealer! Something that killed animals and for a while we worried that men could catch it too. And then it just dwindled down and disappeared," U'das replied.

"Hmmm....that's odd." Rhosyn had seen livestock die over her turns at the cothold, but they usually knew why. Finishing her drink and food, she sat back to let U'das finish his.

"If you really want to know, dig into archives. I'm sure it's in the beasthealers' records somewhere, " U'das said with a indifferent shrug. It was past, the illness had gotten away, so why bother with it anymore.

Rhosyn wasn't a fan of bothering with Records unless she had to, which she did quite often. Disregarding that idea offhand, she accepted the fact that it was over and done with and concentrated instead on the here and now.

Last updated on the March 9th 2012

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Gathering is Hard Work