Life at the Weyr

Writers: Bree, Victoria Voss
Date Posted: 5th August 2005

Characters: Arima, U'val
Description: Arima seeks comfort from U'val after she learns that Marza wants to become a dragonrider.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 7, day 13 of Turn 3

Arima sat heavily in her chair. Marza hadn't come out of the vineyards since their conversation that morning. Arima had made a point of checking up on her, but the child had just been polite and had walked away as soon as possible.

The master vintner shook her head, her granddaughter, her pride and joy...
how could she want to be a dragonrider! Arima knew what Marza was trying to tell her that morning, but even the thought of Marza on a dragon brought up memories of G'zel.

** Oh G'zel! ** Arima groaned and reached for a skin of wine. ** I miss you so much! ** It was bad enough when Garima stood on the stands, but now Marza! At least Arzel had followed her into vintning. Why couldn't Marza?!
Vintning is such a safer pastime! Memories of G'zel threatened to overwhelm her and Arima uncorked the wineskin to take a mouthful. Realizing what she was doing, Arima re-corked the skin and gathered up 2 glasses. ** I need company tonight.** she thought as she moved towards the door. Pausing briefly by the door, she slung a second wineskin over her shoulder and headed towards the weyr proper U'val opened his door after the second knock, his eyebrows going up when he saw Arima there. "You look like you've had a long day. Come inside..."

"Thanks." Arima shuffled into the room and sat down on the first chair she came to. She put her head in her hands, "U'val, I can't do this again, I can't!"

After spending a brief moment weighing his friend's distress against the state his joints were in, U'val sighed and knelt next to the chair with a wince. "What is it, darling? It's not like you to fall apart like this..."

Arima sobbed, "U'val, she's done it ... I don't know what I'm going to do!
First G'zel, then Garima, now Marza! I can't risk losing them all! She _can't_ want to impress!"

"Arima!" U'val took her face between his hands and looked at her. "You're not thinking clearly! Garima and Marza are fine."

Arima shook her head, not looking at U'val, "They won't be, I just know they won't. Thread's going to get them just like it got my G'zel!" She looked hopelessly up at U'val, "I can't lose them!"

U'val pushed himself to his feet with another wince and pulled Arima up after him. He couldn't manage too much longer on the hard floor with his aching joints, and it didn't look like Arima was going to be feeling better in the near future. The couch was only a few steps away, and he pulled both of them down on it, wrapping a friendly arm around her shoulder. "I can't say it won't happen, Arima... but you can't protect everyone you love from danger all the time."

Arima turned towards the bluerider and put a hand on his chest, her eyes almost overflowing, "She went to J'an without telling me, U'val."

"She's old enough to do so," U'val replied, his free hand covering hers.
"Marza cares about you, my dear... but she is going to make her own decisions. She hasn't even stood at a Hatching yet, much less Impressed.
There will be time to talk to her about it."

Arima nodded, "You're right," She took a deep breath, "She may not impress ... or maybe she'll change her mind."

"Or she might be like her mother... a dragonrider who is too skilled to get caught by Thread." Arima looked sideways at U'val, "I _still_ don't like it that Garima flies thread! It makes me nervous every threadfall!"

U'val tightened his arm around her, kissing the top of her head gently. "You can't stop them, Arima. You just have to trust that they'll do their best...
those of us who make our lives at the Weyr can do no more."

"I know," Arima took another deep breath, "I know ... " She reached around and hugged U'val, "Thank you, U'val"

He tilted her head up and kissed her softly. "Any time, my dear vintner."

Last updated on the August 30th 2005

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