A Place of Comfort and Safety
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyrhold
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Elsewhere on Pern
NPC Weyr (NPC)
River Bluff Weyr
Seacraft Hall
Writers: Eimi, Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 8th February 2019
Characters: Enamra, Jylanya, Naton
Description: Enamra is accepted into the Dolphin Hall.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 5, day 26 of Turn 9
Enamra stared at the food that was placed in front of her. It was more
than she'd ever been offered before and she was starving. She didn't
know what to grab first. She ignored the eyes on her, felt her stomach
clench in hunger, and grabbed at a tuber, uncaring that it was hot.
She'd wanted it so badly and all she could think of was eating it. The
young woman shoved it
her mouth, burning her tongue, then grabbed for a piece of bread.
"Slow down," Jylanya urged in a soft voice, "The food isn't running
away." She set down a bowl of creamed vegetable soup in front of the
girl. "If you keep stuffing food in like that you're just going to
throw it back up."
Naton watched as his wife set food in front of her and suddenly
wondered, had he had lunch yet? He crossed his arms over his chest,
pondering that question as well as just where this girl had appeared
from. She sure could pack away the food in a hurry. Shards, it
smelled good. **Just let Jylanya had this...**
Enamra dropped the bread immediately and withdrew her hand, staring at
the woman across from her as she tried to swallow the mouthful. Her
eyes darted between her and the man, hesitating as the bowl was placed
in front of her. Once it was swallowed, she was able to speak in a
voice a little above a whisper. "I'm sorry." The sight of the soup
made her stomach growl even more. It wasn't satisfied with just the
mouthful of tuber.
"It's alright," Jylanya assured her. "You can have as much as you
want, just don't stuff it all in one bite." She smiled at the girl.
"Thank you." Weren't they going to eat? They were both looking at her
and all of this food couldn't possibly be just for her. She should
have felt wary of the situation, but she was far too grateful.
Hesitating for only an instant more, her hunger took control and she
began eating once again. It was difficult to force control and it
tasted so wonderful. She eyed the bread, wondering if she should wait
until they weren't paying attention to stuff it in her skirt some
where. Who knew when she'd have another meal. She might have to risk
it. Maybe some of the meatrolls too.
"When you're done, we'll find you a room and get you cleaned up."
Jylanya also wanted a healer to take a look at the girl. Beyond the
obvious lack of food and her pregnancy obviously unmonitored. "How far
along are you dear?"
"A..a..room?" She put down her spoon and looked between the two
people, confused. "You'd let me stay?" There was a flash of hope, but
when her hand touched her belly, she jerked it away and looked down,
her fingers winding against each other. Her gaze flicked up to Naton,
uncertain of them both. Her voice dropped to a meek whisper. "Five
months, ma'am."
"Of course we'll let you say," she nodded. "I'm Jylanya the Headwoman
and this is my husband Master Naton. You're at Dolphin Hall. We'll
give you a place here at least until you deliver, then you can decide
what happens next." She thought it might help if she could explain a
little. "We're very close to the Weyr here. So our Hall Master is
more accepting of Weyr ways here." She hoped that wasn't too
ambiguous.
"You're from the Weyr?" Naton asked, suddenly confused by his wife's statement.
That she could have a place to stay, gave her some measure of hope.
She wouldn't be without shelter. She could have a roof over her head
and food. The few days without both had terrified her. She was about
to thank both of them with a hesitant smile, when Jylanya's next words
came.
Enamra shrank a bit as her arms wrapped around her swollen belly and
her face flushed. She had heard whispers about the ways of the Weyr,
secret giggles from the few friends that she was able to see often,
and the thought of being an object of those giggles and rumors was not
only humiliating, but even more shameful. Her eyes lowered down to her
belly, hated it even more, and hated Doroon for planting the unwanted
baby in her. With a shaky voice, she shook her head and answered. "I'm
not from the Weyr." A sudden surge of grief for the separation from
her siblings caught her and she covered her face with her hands and
began to cry with hoarse, heaving sobs. **I want to go home. I want to
see my sisters. I want to see little Mornem and give him a hug. I want
my Papa, even if he doesn't want me anymore.**
"That's fine," she said easily. She only twitched at Naton's question.
"All I meant is that we are understanding here and will not toss you
out just because you're pregnant. We're not going to make you holdless
dear," she reached out to try and place a comforting hand on the young
woman. "You're welcome to stay here." Of course, all residents had
jobs to do at the Hall but she didn't need to address that now with
the girl's current condition.
The light touch of comfort was all it took. Enamra turned towards the
woman that had offered her a place of safety. She had been so scared,
so tired, and in desperate need of some sort of comfort that she
grabbed at the first bit that was offered to her. She leaned over,
somewhat precariously, in her seat and pressed her covered face
against the woman's shoulder. Her reply was stuttered she tried to
calm her tears. "Thank you. Thank you."
Well, now that a plan had been put in place, Naton was ready to
actually do something. "Do you have people that need to be told that
you're safe? Do you have things that need to be collected from
anywhere?"
She shook her head. "Papa doesn't want me any more." The sobs slowed to
soft hiccuping sounds.
Jylanya held the crying girl in her arms and gave Naton a sorrowful
shake of her head. How could a father do this to his daughter, yet she
also knew she'd been in much the same boat when she'd escaped from the
hold she'd been in. Now she had a far better life because of the Weyr
and this Hall but most especially Naton. "Well," she comforted the
girl. "We're going to find you a place here. His loss is our gain."
"Well," Naton said, uncrossing his arm. "I'd better let the
Hallmaster know we have a guest."
Last updated on the February 26th 2019