May You Find Your Happiness, Dear Daughter

Writers: Ames
Date Posted: 20th June 2013

Characters: Royan, Faldrimme
Description: Faldrimme talks to her father about her dreams and her future
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 16 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Benaroy, Arippa, Zathris

Faldrimme

Biting her lip, Faldrimme entered the small room where her father had
his personal study. It was late. Things had been busy and hectic with
Arippa's wedding. She'd wanted to talk to him for some time, but
hadn't known how to approach the topic on her mind. Then with the fast
paced wedding, there hadn't been time.

"Father?" She asked, poking her head into the room.

Royan looked up from the hides he'd been reading. He enjoyed his quiet
time in the evenings. His study was one of the few places he could go
to get away from the family for a spell. He loved them dearly, but
with so many bodies together, there were times _everyone_ needed a
break.

Looking up, his eyes met that of his daughter. "Ah, Faldrimme, did you
need something?" He could tell from her look that there was something
on her mind. Truthfully, he'd known there was something eating away at
her for some time, though she'd not spoken of it. He figured she would
come to him or Arippa sometime or else work through whatever was on
her mind.

She swallowed, chewing nervously at her lip, and took a step further
into the room, shutting the door behind her.

**She clearly wants to talk now,** Royan mused, noting she'd closed
the door for privacy. He always spent time with all his children, but
something he wasn't sure how to handle the things his daughters
brought to him.

"Can we talk?" Faldrimme asked, feeling a bit awkward and uncertain.

"Of course, daughter. Sit down," Royan felt a clenching in his
stomach. She looked so nervous. **Please don't tell me you're
pregnant,** was the only thought that raced through his mind at the
uncertain look Faldrimme cast his way. It didn't fit her character,
but it was hard to know what had been going through her mind of late.

She sat, feeling anxious. Faldrimme clasped her hands together in her
lap, chewed on her lip a bit more, then finally sat up taller and
prepared to tell her father about her dreams.

**Here it comes, whatever it is,** Royan thought, feeling his own
stomach flutter with nerves at the seriousness he saw on her young
face.

Faldrimme swallowed, opened her mouth, closed it again, sighed, and
started all over again. Nothing came out. Finally heaving a frustrated
sigh and dropping her shoulders in exasperation at herself, she
blurted out, "I want to craft." There, she'd said it.

Royan had grown more and more anxious with each passing second as he
watched her struggle to tell him whatever it was. When the words were
out, he felt the wind rush out of his sails. **She's not pregnant,**
he wanted to sigh with relief.

"You want to craft?" He asked her cautiously. "Okay, we can arrange
that." Royan thought back to his own childhood and how he'd wanted the
same thing in his life, but it hadn't been easy then to convince
Benaroy such a thing was wise. In the end he'd been able to fulfill
his dream. A part of him felt pride that his daughter had dreams of
her own and had been brave enough to share them with him.

Faldrimme shook her head, her face falling. "You don't understand. I
want to craft, but I can't. I'm not allowed. I want to be a
beastcrafter like you." She looked at him pleadingly, almost as though
she hoped he could change the world for her.

"Oh, I see," Royan replied, realizing that he wouldn't be able to give
his daughter exactly what she wanted. "I can arrange it that you can
work with me, but they will not allow you to actually apprentice." He
knew it wasn't what she wanted, but it was the best he could offer.

She nodded solemnly, but didn't smile. "I know," she replied glumly.
"Uncle Zathris had some suggestions."

"You've spoken to Zathris about this?" Royan was surprised his
daughter would have approached the Lord Holder without having
discussed it with him first.

"Well, he sort of pried it out of me. Someone offered for my hand, and
when he sensed I was unhappy, he pressed me for details." She frowned.
"I wanted to talk to you first, but it just sort of came out."
Faldrimme looked down sadly at her hands, then back up at her father.
"I'm sorry."

Royan reached for her clasped hands, "It's alright, Faldrimme. I
understand. Sometimes our dreams and desires burn so brightly we
cannot hold them in. What did he suggest?" Royan was curious.

She was glad her father wasn't angry with her. "Either I give up my
dream, travel North, or try out crafting at one of the Weyrs." She
looked at him anxiously.

Royan contemplated her words. He didn't like any of the options, but
he knew what a difficult predicament she was in.

"Well, I would have to agree with him. We could find someone who will
tolerate your interest, but you will never be able to truly craft
unless you follow the other choices." His voice got a bit lower as he
dared to ask, "Are you considering those?"

She looked up at him with anguish in her eyes. "I don't know what to
do," she blurted out, close to tears. "I don't want to go away, but
how do I give up the one thing I _do_ want?"

"Ah, Faldrimme, I don't know what to tell you. You've put yourself in
a difficult place. I don't like the idea of you leaving, especially to
go North. 'Tis too far and a different world up there," Royan spoke.

"What about the Weyr?" She asked, afraid, hopeful, uncertain, and anxious.

"Hmmm," Royan replied. "The Weyr is also a very different world
Faldrimme. It's not like life here." He worried about sending his
innocent daughter into such a place.

"Uncle Zathris says he has family there. I could go for a short visit
and see if I like it?" She was asking, almost hopeful for his
permission.

Royan sighed. He saw the look in her eyes. He hated to dash her hopes
and watch the spark he so loved about his daughter dwindle and fade
away as her dreams were crushed.

"It wouldn't be my first choice for you, dear daughter. I know Zathris
has a brother there and cousins. I've met his brother. He's an
honorable man. He's at River Bluff I believe. We're not beholden to
them, but I would prefer to see you under his watchful eye if I had to
choose." Royan still didn't like the idea, but he at least had met
Z'lred before.

Faldrimme was surprised her father was even considering her request.
She was worried about going to the Weyr, but hopeful she might get to
pursue her dreams. She swallowed nervously.

"Alright, I'll agree to let you go and _try_ it out, though I'd prefer
you find a good man to settle down with around here. As long as
Zathris can promise you will be safe, and I will have a chaperone
accompany you so you won't be alone." Royan wasn't certain this was
the right choice for her, but he wanted _her_ to live a life she could
be happy with. He knew she had to go and see for herself if this was
where she belonged.

"At least at the Weyr, you will be able to get transport back home
easily enough," he added with a slightly glum smile. He'd just given
one daughter away, it was hard to imagine sending another off to the
Weyr of all places.

"Oh, father!" Faldrimme cried out eagerly, rising and throwing her
arms around him. She was nervous as well, but she _needed_ to know if
this could work for her and she knew she wouldn't be happy until she
gave it a try.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Faldrimme gushed, kissing him on the cheek.

"Now then," Royan said with a smile. **It is nice to see her happy
again. That's what I want for all of them. I want them to be happy,**
he thought as he watched her prepare to leave. **May you find your
happiness, dear daughter,** he added as a final thought while he
watched her leave the room, and perhaps their lives for a future that
was very uncertain.

Last updated on the June 27th 2013

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May You Find Your Happiness, Dear Daughter