A Timid Arrival

Writers: Chelle, Jelena
Date Posted: 18th March 2012

Characters: Qorri, Naevyn
Description: Naevyn arrives at the Weyr and Qorri helps her get settled in.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 3 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Janani

**Why did I do this again?** Naevyn asked herself as she stared at the
door. Now she was alone, her searchrider having left her to check in
with the Headwoman. Naevyn was starting to realize what she had just
agreed to. While she knew the chances of her impressing were next to
nothing, even without a dragon, weyrlife seemed like it could be
dangerous, challenging, scary. Yet, deep down she did know why she had
said yes, why she had come to Dolphin Cove Weyr. Here her parents
wouldn't be looking over her shoulder every step she took. Here the
only person she could disappoint would be herself. And she was used to
that. So, finally, Naevyn brought her hand up to knock at the
Headwoman's office door.

"Aye, who's there?" Qorri asked before she put down the lists she was
going over. She was going to have to ask for a higher lot of berries
in tithe soon since they were getting low. It was season, so she
didn't see that it would be a problem.

"I'm Naevyn, Ma'am," Naevyn said as she peeked around the door shyly.
"I was searched today and the rider brought me here."

"Hmm...give me your search token then. And where are you from?" Qorri
started to search for the intake hides before locating one. She
gestured for the girl to sit down.

"Here it is, Ma'am," Naevyn said, offering up the token with shaking
hands before taking a seat. "I'm from Evenfall Hold."

"And where is that?" She took the token, examined it, then threw it in
the bucket with the others. With a hatching coming, there were quite a
few new candidates for her to worry about.

"About two day's travel east of Emerald Falls Hold, Ma'am," Naevyn
replied quickly.

"How many turns have you and do you have any skill?" She didn't expect
anything of craft work, though some of the girls could sew and do a
bit of other things rather well.

"Sixteen turns," Naevyn said, blushing slightly as she continued. "And
I don't have any special skills to speak of, I hope that won't be a
problem?" How ashamed she would be if she was sent home again, because
they decided she wasn't suitable after all!

"But you can read and write?" Qorri was beginning to think some of
these holders were failing their daughters. This girl, at her turns,
should be able to run a household since she was marriageable age.

"Yes, that I can, Ma'am," Naevyn said with a nod. If Qorri had asked
about more specific skills, the girl might have told her a little
more, but Naevyn didn't regard anything she could do as an actual
skill.

"Well you'll have to see the healers to make sure you're physically
fit and the Weyrwoman will have to give you permission to Stand, but
for now I'll give you a place to sleep, food, and chores to do."

"Do you have any children?" That was always a question for the holder
girls since it was very possible and Qorri hated surprises.

"No, Ma'am," Naevyn said, quickly shaking her head. "I'm not married
yet." Why a married lady would leave her husband and children to stand
was beyond her, nor did she realize at that moment that a girl like
her didn't have to be married to have children.

"Sometimes we get the widows..." Qorri herself was one of those,
though she had never managed a child of her own. Then again, they also
got the girls who had been doing things they shouldn't or found
themselves in bad situations. The beaten ones who ran to the Weyr
sometimes didn't leave their children behind.

"Anything I need to know in particular?" was her last question before
she'd see to the girl.

"Ahh," Naevyn said, now understanding the question a little better.
"Not that I know of, Ma'am."

"Very well." She made a few quick notations then brought herself out
of her chair. She grabbed a set of keys. "Did you bring anything with
you?" Gesturing for her to follow, they headed out of the office.

"Just some of my clothes, Ma'am," Naevyn said, gesturing at the bag at
her feet before grabbing it and following Qorri out of the office.

"What clothes and how many?" She needed to know so she issued the
right amount to the girl. As they walked, they passed by several
people that Qorri greeted. Everyone know who she was, but she couldn't
always remember them. She always said hello, though.

"Three tunics and trousers and one good dress." More hadn't fit in her
bag and her mother hadn't been too keen on sending her away with the
most expensive clothing.

"What about underthings and socks?" Dolphin Cove was mostly a sandal
place but there were certain chores that required a good pair of boots
like firestone packing.

"Ah, yes, those too," Naevyn said, already blushing again. "How often
do we get to wash our things?"

"Everyone has a laundry sack with their name on it. When it's full,
simply put it in the cart to be taken. We'll try to get it back within
a few days." Of course Qorri couldn't always guarantee that, depending
on workload, which is why people needed a few changes of clothing.
They reached the storeroom and she unlocked the door. "Stay here near
the entrance."

She attached a glow to her belt and started walking. The cavern was
dark and immense, but it had an order to it. Qorri headed to where she
needed to be and started to rifle through clothing. It didn't take her
long to get a pile that she thought suitable. Grabbing a carisak, she
packed it and brought it back to Naevyn. "There are some tunics,
trousers, skirts, and a pair of boots. If you need anything else, let
us know."

"Oh, thank you, Ma'am," Naevyn said with a thankful smile, taking a
quick peek into the carisak. "I'm sure this is more than enough!"

They walked to the barracks and Qorri found her an empty cot. "Keep
your space clean. The Weyrwoman will meet with you soon. I'll add you
to the chore board tomorrow. Are you hungry?"

"I could eat," Naevyn said with a nod, only realizing she was actually
quite hungry when Qorri asked her. The day had just spun by so fast!

"There are signs through the main tunnels leading to the Dining
Cavern, the harper hall, and other important parts of the Weyr. Use
them. For now, though, I'll show you where the Dining Cavern is since
I have to return to my office anyway. Come along." The Headwoman
checked the barracks quickly to see if there was anything she needed
to send someone to pick up and then headed out again.

Naevyn obediently followed Qorri out of the barracks, making sure to
remember exactly where her cot was and how to get back there. It
seemed to her one could easily get lost in a place as big as Dolphin
Cove Weyr. Which seemed a bit ironic to her, as she had just been
'found'. Well, she was here now and was going to make the best of it.

Last updated on the March 20th 2012

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

A Timid Arrival