Starting Again
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Clancey, Mirren
Date Posted: 23rd March 2012
Characters: J'darin, Elona
Description: Elona approaches J'darin about resuming her candidacy.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 1 of Turn 6
Elona ran her hands over her hair, trying to smooth it back into place as she walked. Her ponytail swung back and forth as she walked up to the door. She stopped to smooth her skirts and then smiled to herself for being so fussy. She looked presentable. She didn't need to look as if she were seeking a gather beau. She raised her hand and stopped twice before finally knocking on it.
J'darin looked up from his never ending hidework and called 'Come!" He wasn't expecting anyone, he didn't think, but then again, his memory was not all that reliable since his mind was often so full of other things these days.
When he saw the young woman who entered, he smiled pleasantly. She was from his home Hold, and he was sure he had known her and met her before... but what was her name...
Ahh. He remembered. Elona. She had been a Candidate a couple of turns back, and then... a baby? Yes, she'd had a baby. She reminded him of his sister with her freckles and sweet nature.
"Please come in, Elona. Its a pleasure to see you again!"
She stepped inside and hesitated before closing the door behind her. She wished the click as it shut didn't sound so ominous. "Thank you, you too sir." She smiled but looked a bit ill at ease. Subconsciously she stood with her feet together, hands clasped in front of her, shoulders squared. Only the nervous look spoiled her posture.
He smiled at her, attempting to put her at ease. "Please sit, Elona. Nothing to worry about, hmm? How is your young baby?" He thought she was here to want to go back to her Candidate classes, and so while she was settling, he reached behind him for a stack of hides from a couple of turns ago. That should have been the right timing, if his math was right.
"Oh, he's doing very well," she smiled broadly while perching on the chair. "He's settling in with a foster mother while I do chores. I spend as much time with him as I can but I know he will need to be settled before I... Well that's why I'm here actually, I'd like to return to my candidacy." She looked nervous again. What if he said no?
"Oh lovely. That is good news Elona." His smile broadened as she added the last comment. "You would? Well that is even better news! We always need likely Candidates, lass. And you've the good sense living in the Weyr for turns will give a woman. I'm glad you decided to return. Some decide to give it up if a baby intervenes. But you've still some turns before you have to stop Standing, and you might Impress your first time anyway. Of course you can return!"
He shuffled through the stack of hides he pulled and found that none of them were right. Of course not, he wasn't anywhere near that organized.
"I'll find your records in a bit, but in the meantime can give you a temporary schedule. Did you want to start back as if you were a new Candidate? Or are there some classes you feel as if you don't need again? We can work with the Headwoman to see that your chores are adjusted for Candidate classes again, too."
She smiled broadly and allowed her body to relax. "Well," she said slowly and thoughtfully. "It's been almost two turns since I last had classes. It wouldn't hurt to refresh myself on anything I've done before. I've probably forgotten a lot more than I remember. Then maybe if I remember more I could help the other candidates?" Then she glanced over his pile of records and understood why he couldn't find anything. "Would you like some help sorting those?" she asked, her offer genuine.
A bright, wide smile crossed his face and stayed there. "I would love your help, Elona. As you can see, I am desperately unorganized. I assign Candidates and Weyrlings out all the time to help other riders and forget to assign them to myself. All the time. Would you mind terribly adding helping me for a candlemark or so a day to your chores? In the meantime, I'll get you started on your scheduled of classes."
He handed over a the schedule, a full Candidate class schedule, to her and leaned back, some bit of tension sorting itself right out of him at the thought of help.
She accepted the schedule and looked it over. She was going to be very busy! "Of course I don't mind," she said after a couple of minutes. Maybe if I put that in here," she pointed to a space on the schedule. "Then I could come here just after classes but before the kitchens." It would mean less time to spend with her son but she wasn't going to show anything less than complete commitment to her candidacy!
"I could start now though," she added.
His dark blue eyes lit up with an intense happiness. It was both attractive and startling.
But his words sounded almost like a young boy instead of a man 38 turns old.
"Oh, would you? Would you please? You're going to be fine, you know. You'll remember in no time..." He added to his very pathetic plea for help.
Yes, she would be just fine. And more importantly, she would help him!
Last updated on the March 27th 2012