No Time To Say Goodbye

Writers: Eimi, Yvonne
Date Posted: 13th January 2006

Characters: Thalia, Penryn
Description: Thalia receives the news that her aunt Jaela, Dragonsfall Weyr's Weyrwoman, has died
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 9, day 6 of Turn 3

Almost everything was in order. Thalia surveyed the dining hall with satisfaction - ribbons and evergreen boughs decorated the walls and perfumed the air with a sharp, wintery scent. The kitchens were as hot as the sun as the cooks baked and roasted, fried and gelled tonight's meal.
The tables were being set with snowy cloths and gleaming cutlery, and candles, rather than the ubiquitous glows and electric lights, were set out as both light sources and center pieces. The nook for the harpers was being prepared, and a slightly smaller room off the main hall was being set up as a retreat for those finished eating and wishing to dance before the tables were cleared from dinner for a proper celebration. The former Lady Holder turned at the sound of high pitched, childish laughter, and was almost bowled over by a pair of younglings who raced past her into the dining hall and between the tables. She smiled after them and wondered how her own baby was doing this afternoon, until a slight breeze against the back of her bared neck alerted her to the fact that someone had come in the doors behind her. She turned to find that it was Penryn. "Well?" Thalia asked, opening her arms wide to encompass the whole of the dining hall, "what do you think?"

The Steward blinked a few times in surprise as he looked around the room. "Am I still in Garnet Valley?" He gave her a grin of appreciation for her handiwork as he walked towards the middle of the cavernous hall to fully appreciate it all.

Thalia grinned at the unexpected complement and slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow to accompany him to the center of the hall. She pointed up at the ceiling where broad, heavy beams of ancient wood curved above their heads and glimmered faintly golden in the light. "Look at how much nicer it looks up there! I had a drudge up on the tables wielding a broom to clear out the spinner webs. I didn't even know how many were up there until they were gone!"

"They look wonderful," he nodded, gazing up at the wooden supports. They really did give the room a warm feeling accented by the natural cave stone above. He turned around completely, admiring the garnet hangings that framed the room. "Are those new? Or did I just not notice them before?"

"A little of both," Thalia said proudly. "Half of the original tapestries have been replaced by ones I found in the store rooms, from before the Plague, I think. And the rest were taken outside and beaten within an inch of their life! I-" The former Lady Holder broke off mid-sentence as a brown firelizard appeared from /between/ and made a dash for her. He circled her head once before awkwardly landing on the back of a nearby chair and holding out a message tube in his front claws. Thalia frowned as she plucked it from his grasp - the last news she'd had via firelizard was not good. She shook the message from the tube and sat down on a chair before reading it. 'My dearest daughter, The worst has come to pass. Your aunt Jaela has perished. We will not be coming to Garnet Valley tonight, and will instead go either to the Weyr, or to Topaz Sea Hold to comfort our remaining kin. All of Pern will mourn her passing.

~Mother' When she was done reading it, Thalia mutely handed the message to Penryn.

He took it and scanned the message quickly. "Shards," he whispered as he sank onto the chair beside her. The news of _any_ Weyrwoman's untimely passing was a blow, but for it to happen that night of all nights, and for her to be Thalia's close relative, it made the impact so much more shocking. He glanced over at the former Lady Holder, trying to read her expression. "Lady Thalia, may I offer you my condolences."

"Thank you." Thalia glanced down at her hands and blinked away the tears that clung to her eyelashes. She didn't even know why she felt so upset - she and Jaela had never been close. "I guess this means that the Weyrleaders won't be attending, either."

"I suppose not. But its only proper. Perhaps I should speak with Lord Ishek." Although he might also have received word by now. "Are you... all right, Lady Thalia?"

The Lady shook her head, then glanced up at Penryn with a small smile. "Not really. But I'll have to be, won't I?"

Why did it have to be tonight of all nights? As if there wasn't enough pressure on the poor woman to prove herself. "Anything I can do to help?"

She shook her head. "Not unless you can change the past."

Penryn smiled sarcastically. If he had known a way to change the past he would have used it by now. "Unfortunately not. If I could, I would."

"Thank you." Impulsively she reached out to grasp his hand in her own, hoping that she could convey her gratitude better that way than using only words. She brushed the tears from her eyelashes with her other hand, then quickly stood, suddenly feeling the eyes of the entire hall on her.
"Please, if you could go and tell Lord Ishek the news... I'll have to rearrange the High Table to make up for the gaps."

"Yes of course," he nodded and he rose to his feet. Penryn briefly covered her hand with his. "If there is anything more I can do, please don't hesitate to ask."

Thalia managed a tremulous smile and nodded, before turning and fleeing to the relative safety of household management. She could feel Penryn's eyes on her back as she picked up her skirts and mounted the steps to the dais where the High Table stood, and caught the attention of the nearest drudge. "There is a slight change in attendance, so we'll need to rearrange the seats," she told him. Once she was done explaining what needed to be done, she glanced back at the middle of the hall. Penryn was gone, and she suddenly felt very alone.

Last updated on the January 14th 2006

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No Time To Say Goodbye