"The Final Chapter"

Writers: Chelle, Heather
Date Posted: 1st July 2014

Characters: Chaysea, Chupsin, S'avn
Description: Chaysea comes to visit her brother only to find out that Chupsin is gravely disappointed in her.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 11 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Cyradis, N'vanik, Sinla, Genna

"Thanks again S'avn for helping with the heavy lifting," Chaysea said
as she watched the bluerider heave the last trunk into place and strap
it to Mayfeth's side. The dark blue stood patiently outside of the
Vintner Hall, eyeing the place with curiosity.

When Chaysea had left for the Weyr and the temporary position of
Headwoman there, she had been unable to take all of her things. That
had changed, of course, when N'vanik and Cyradis had agreed to let her
stay on as the permanent Headwoman of Dolphin Cove. Having been
married to a Master Vintner for several Turns, Chaysea had acquired a
few things that she didn't want to leave behind.

"S'avn, would it be possible to go up to the Hold for just a moment? I
would like to say goodbye to my brother properly. I did not have much
of a chance before."

"Of course, ma'am," S'avn nodded, although he sounded a bit winded
from having lifted the heavy trunk, "if you will hop back on Mayfeth,
we'll fly you up there and save you some walking."

Chaysea smiled gratefully as she placed one gloved hand in S'avn's and
gathered her black skirts in the other hand. The bluerider lifted her
smoothly to sit in front of him on his lifemate, and he strapped her
in while she arranged her skirts modestly around her legs. She could
have had even a brown or bronze take her to the Amber Hills, but S'avn
had escorted her the first time she'd left the Hall and she felt
comfortable with the young rider.

S'avn found the Headwoman's modesty amusing, and a travesty at
the same time. He had caught glimpses of her legs as she had gotten on
and off of Mayfeth and he could not fathom why she was trying to keep
them hidden so badly when they were _obviously_ meant to be shown off.

"Here we go." He told her.

In a matter of minutes Mayfeth was settling down in front of Amber Hills
Hold, and S'avn dutifully helped Chaysea to the ground.

"I will just stay out here with your things." He told her, crossing
his arms over his chest and leaning back against Mayfeth. Holders didn't
normally care for blueriders anyway so S'avn preferred to just keep
his distance.

"Thank you. I will only be a moment." Chaysea assured him before
disappearing into the Hold. Her feet took her along the familiar path
to the Healers' infirmary, which was, fortunately, empty except for
the figure of her brother.

"Chupsin!" She smiled.

He heard the voice and his back stiffened. **What is she doing here?**
He turned and his face didn't break out into a smile. Instead, the look that
greeted her was the one he reserved for patients. Chupsin regarded her with
something closer to detachment but inside, several things were going on.

Anger was threatening to choke him. How dare she! And why? Why would she
leave her family who had shown her nothing but kindness and support? Why
would she bring so much shame on them all? Why would she ruin any chance
she had at another life and family? Not willing to watch what he thought was
his sister's self destruction, he ignored the feelings of disappointment and hurt
he also felt. She was leaving him. After what had happened with Alivya, he had
relished their talks and easy time spent together. No more. "Chaysea."

The tone of the man's voice made Chaysea stop short, her head tilted
to the side. She had expected a little more happiness upon her return,
after all, they hadn't seen each other in a while. Chaysea had
certainly missed her sibling and the lunches they used to have
together, "Is it a bad time? I just wanted to come by and see you for
a few minutes."

He didn't answer that. How could she act as if she didn't know what she'd done?
He knew she wasn't stupid. "Don't bother." Indeed, what she had done would have
effects on Sinla, himself, his other sisters, and their children. Who would let their
sons and daughters marry into such a family? Who would want to marry him now?
His genes were tainted. Disgusted, he really just wanted to back away
from her but something in him wanted to know. "Why would you want to
do that? You left, remember. For a Weyr. A Weyr, Chaysea!" His voice was a whispered hiss.

Chaysea recoiled as if she had been struck, "Being the Headwoman of a
Weyr is a very respectable position, Chupsin, certainly much greater
in authority than being the Headwoman of the Vintner Hall. How could
you begrudge me that opportunity? I can't have a craft like you and
someday be promoted to be a Master, but being accepted as the

Headwoman of Dolphin Cove.... That is nothing to be ashamed of! I am a
widow here that most men view as too old to bear them any children!

You know that! At the Weyr no one cares if I can or cannot have
children or if I am a widow. They respect me because I work hard and
am good at my job!"

She did not have to ask if Sinla felt the same way, she was sure that
her sister, who had pushed her own daughter away, would side with
Chupsin, "I came because I love you and I have missed you."

"There are plenty of men here at the Hold who would have had you if you had looked enough. And yes, a Headwoman at a Weyr is a respectable position at a Weyr, but it is not a position for a woman who wants to be married and have children. Women of the Weyr are not proper, Chaysea. You could never come back. Never. Genna was saved by Impression, but you can't be. You've ruined yourself and your family. Everyone is laughing at us. They call you a whore." He shook his head. "Your nieces and nephews will find it hard to be married because their Aunt is faithless."

"I don't know why you would do such a thing. Especially after everything that has happened. I hope for your sake that it is what you want it to be because it is all you will have. Because I love you, I weep for you. There is nothing I can do for you now, though. You are of the Weyr." His blue eyes were clearly full of anguish. "I couldn't save my wife and now I cannot save my sister. Perhaps I should find another profession." He sighed, laying his hands across the table, but he didn't come any closer. "And I will not be married again either. No woman would ever want my blood. Did you not think of us? Did you not know what would happen because of your actions?"

Chaysea shook her head, not quite believing what she was hearing
coming out of her brother's mouth, "I am still the same person I was
when I left Amber Hills. I haven't changed. I have not been...
'faithless' as you put it. Your niece will bed strange men in those
'mating flights' and yet she is redeemed by the color of her dragon?
What if she had Impressed green? I have not opened my legs to anyone,
nor do I plan on it, and yet I am the one disgracing the family? Why
must you make everything about you? You are so selfish that you cannot
even be happy that _I_ am happy! I have finally found meaning and
purpose for my life and it is not being chained to some man that I
care nothing about in the guise of 'marriage'."

"You could have found purpose anywhere but at the Weyr. Anywhere.
Genna is saved because she is a rider. She has a duty to Pern and does
not have a choice, whether she ride green or gold. And it doesn't matter
if you do or don't, you will always be seen as such outside of the Weyr."
Chupsin was not judging it right or wrong-it was just what _was_. And now
he had to reap the repercussions of her decision. She was the selfish one,
not him. "You are the selfish one. You are happy at everyone else's expense.
Am I supposed to be smiling in the face of my family's suffering? I don't know
how you could be."

"I have worked so hard and so long. To make contacts, to save people, to advance myself to achieve rank so that I could make mother and father and the rest of you proud. I wanted to bring honor to my family name and make it easier for the rest of you. To have all of my toil thrown down on the ground..." He shook his head. He had sacrificed so much. It was like she was stepping on his life.

Chaysea found her jaw clenched together, "I may not ride a dragon, but
I _do_ have a purpose and a duty to Pern. Someone has to make sure
those dragonriders are fed, clothed, and have a proper place to lay
their head at night. Someone has to make sure that the pregnant
dragonriders have what they need and connect them with good foster
families to take care of their children. Someone has to make sure that
the Candidates are cared for and prepared for the Hatching Sands to
fight the Thread that falls above while _you_ hide down here in your
infirmary. That 'someone' is ME, Chupsin! My decisions have nothing to
do with you nor do they affect you in any way. All of this nonsense is
what you have dreamed up in your mind. Maybe your wife's death
affected you more deeply than I realized because you are truly delusional."

She took a step back from the person she had thought she knew, "You
are right, I guess I am not family any more. I won't waste my time
asking you to tell Sinla I came, I am sure she is just as disgusted as
you are. Good day, Journeyman."

"Do what you will." She had already broken their mother's heart, but he didn't tell her that. Nor did he tell her what their father had said. It was like she had become a different person in a few sevendays or so. She would have never said those things or acted like that. This person was not his sister. Chaysea the holder would have put their family first.

Last updated on the July 3rd 2014

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"The Final Chapter"