If There Was Something I Could Do

Writers: Ames, Suzee
Date Posted: 24th June 2015

Characters: Bryvin, Danrina
Description: Danrina expresses her frustration that her father and future husband will soon arrive, and Bryvin expresses his desire to help if he could
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 13, day 1 of Turn 7

Bryvin

Danrina

She was flustered. The letter she held in her hand was proof that her
freedom was at an end. She hadn't found a husband, and she hadn't
found a way to escape the plans her father had in place for her. Could
she run away? Did she want to? Where would she go?

Danrina was not used to living on her own in squalor, trying to fend
for herself. She may not have had love in her life, but she certainly
had had plenty of _things_ and _servants_ to help her. If she ran away
she likely wouldn't survive long.

Frustrated, she ripped up the letter she had carried and flung it off
the railings of the Hold into the grass below. She knew people were
watching her, but she didn't care. Her life was over. She would be
nothing more than chattle now, bound to a greedy, cruel man for all
eternity. Maybe her life would be a short one and she could be free of
him that way. Dare she consider _that_? She shook her head. No, she
would rather take her chances in the woods.

Her eyes scanned the distance, wondering where she could go and hide.
Her choices did not look promising. Heaving a sigh, she flopped her
head down on her arms on the railing, wishing somehow her predicament
could be changed.

"Well that doesn't look good," Bryvin said as he walked out onto the
wide area. Of course he didn't approach too closely. There were always
eyes watching and he was very aware of it.

She whirled around at the sound of the voice she knew so well. Seeing
him, standing there, made her want to throw up her hands and cry. He
had been her ticket out, but now that couldn't happen.

"It's not good," she remarked with a frown. She felt like a little
girl who wanted to pout about not getting her way, but she knew that
wouldn't help her right now. She decided to tell him her news, "My
father is coming."

"I promised I'd take care of you Danrina." He knew the man she would
marry and knew the kind of person they were dealing with. He could be
bought and Bryvin could make sure she had a measure of independence.

"I don't see how," she huffed out. "There's really nothing you can do.
_You're_ married now, and I've not met anyone else my father would
accept in place of Galrad." She pouted and wrapped her arms around
herself.

"I'm so sorry Danrina," he said with feeling. "If I could have chosen,
I would have chosen you," he added in a low voice only she could hear.
It was the closest he'd ever come to a declaration of feelings since
Elarie. "I have harpers go over your contract to see if there is a way
out of this for you."

Her breath caught at his words, and she actually felt the sting of
tears in her eyes, though she quickly blinked them away. He _would_
have chosen her if he could. Those words made her heart glad and sad
at the same time. She cared for Bryvin, but he could not be hers.

"There won't be a way out. I know my father and unless he, himself,
were to change things, that contract will be written as if its in
stone. I'm lucky I got this Turn away. He only let me come hoping it
would profit him more." She paused and looked longingly into his eyes.
"I wish things could have turned out differently."

"If wishes were runners..." he shrugged. "I'm having you moved to
another room," he said. He'd already arranged it with Yriadha. "It
will be closer to Lady Xeladrie." **And me** He Looked out at the
hills beyond the sliver of water that flowed from inland. "Galrad is a
hard man Danrina. But I'll do something if I can."

She gave him a quizzical look when he mentioned the new room. It
seemed pointless to her as her time at the Hold was rather limited,
but still she wouldn't argue with his decision. She would do what she
could to help the Lady Xeladrie while she was still here. How much she
wished she could be in her shoes, and yet she couldn't dislike the
Lady Holder, for they had developed a friendship between them. She
would miss her as well as Bryvin when she had to leave Sunstone.
Danrina found she had to swallow past a lump in her throat at the
thought. She _liked_ it here. She didn't want to leave.

"I'll do what I can to be of assistance to her while I'm still here,"
she said the words with a sadness in her voice. The life she had
always wanted was here, and she was losing it. It wasn't fair. "I
don't want to go, but I don't see what choice I'll have," she mumbled.

"Thank you," he said. He didn't reach out to her or move closer as he
wanted. Instead he just smiled. "I won't say goodbye just yet." he
nodded. "At least not permanently but just for now." He turned and
took note of the eyes watching then went on his way as though he
hadn't noticed.

Last updated on the July 8th 2015

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

If There Was Something I Could Do