Some Things Take Time

Writers: AmajoS, Emma
Date Posted: 16th February 2007

Characters: Thanja, Narrala
Description: Thanja advises Narrala on how to deal with the trials of being a female apprentice.
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 2, day 4 of Turn 4

Narrala pushed at the door to the Hallsecond's office, which had been standing halfway open, with her foot. Her arms were full of hides and papers. The journeyman who'd asked her to return the papers and hides for him hadn't actually said where to put them, so she'd been ready to just set them onto whatever empty surface there happened to be available so she could get to the Dining Cavern before the line got too long. She honestly hadn't thought the Hallsecond was going to actually be there and when she caught sight of the woman sitting at the desk, the girl froze.

"Come in." The Master Printer watched the girl. An apprentice by her knots, and not one she recognised.

"I, um, a journeyman," Narrala blushed, mortified at her stammering.
Of course her embarrassment made the situation worse. She -hated-
making a bad first impression. "I mean, he said to return these here.
To you, I mean." She nodded her chin towards the papers and hides in her arms.

"I see. Come in and put them down."

She entered the office further and then paused, "Just anywhere?" She looked around for a likely spot, her plan of just putting them in the easiest available space thwarted by the woman actually being here to direct her.

"Let me clear a space for them. If you can hang on to them one moment..." Her voice trailed off as she waited for the girl to supply her name.

"Narrala, Hallsecond, thank you." She shifted the papers just a bit in her arms, watching as the older woman began clearing a spot for them.

"You didn't come with us from Emerald Falls, right?" asked the Hallsecond.

"No, ma'am. I transfer ed from the Weyr."

"This Weyr?"

Narrala blushed, feeling suddenly and inexplicably as if she'd said something foolish. "Yes, ma'am. I was training under the Weyr's...
Dolphin Cove Weyr's Harpers before the Harper Hall came here, and I decided to transfer."

"The harpers here are good, you have no worries on that score." She smiled at the girl, wondering why she looked so nervous. "I'll bet that you've slotted into regular classes along with the rest of the young ladies here. Probably even met some of the Printer apprentices too?"

"I have." In fact, the Printers had actually been some of the more pleasant encounters she'd had since transferring. They were often a lot less difficult to deal with than most of the Hall trained and largly Hold bred Harpers anyway.

Narrala smiled a bit, feeling more at ease now that the ice had been broken a bit and the Hallsecond actually seemed rather friendly. "I've really been enjoying the classes too," she added.

"You'll find that the Journeymen and Masters here have between them been stationed all over Pern, it means that they bring more perspective to your classes, and will have different ballads and techniques to teach you. Take advantage of that while you can."

The girl nodded in eager agreement, "Oh, yes ma'am. That's one of the reasons I wanted to transfer. I mean, not that the Weyr's Harpers were bad teachers, of course not, but I thought it would be wonderful to expand my learning."

"And you will. But don't study too hard, talk with the other apprentices, make friends, learn about them. That will make you a better person and a better crafter."

It suddenly occurred to Narrala that this woman might be able to give her some advice in making just that very thing easier. After all, she was a woman, and the Hallsecond. Surely she'd found some way to deal with the more unpleasant of the male attitudes especially prevalent among the some of the older Harper apprentices - not to mention the journeymen and Masters.

"Could I," she paused, not sure how to ask about something she'd already made up her mind to just deal with. "I mean, I was wondering if I could ask you something."

"Of course Narrala, ask away."

"Well, I was wondering," she paused, considering the best way to word the question. "How do you get all the... I mean... Well, you're a woman, and you're the Hallsecond." Narrala stopped again, feeling suddenly unsure about the wisdom of even bringing the issue up. But it was too late now, so she quickly pressed on. "Do the men give you a difficult time?"

"That's a very good question." The Hallsecond paused to gather her thoughts, thinking how best to answer. "Where I grew up, in the North, women are encouraged to craft if they want to. I grew up at the Printer Hall, and it seemed right to continue in the family tradition.
In the South, things are different, but if you prove yourself they will accept you and treat you as you deserve."

Narrala couldn't help but think that the Hallsecond was overly optimistic on that point, but she mentally shook herself. The woman was the second most powerful person in the Hall. If she said that it was possible to gain acceptance, then it was. Though it was doubly difficult for Narrala sometimes; she was female and the more traditional of the Hold bred males looked down on her for that and she was also Weyrbred and didn't endear her to them anymore.

"Of course, everything just takes a little time, right?" She smiled, telling herself that it was true and everything would work out and she just had to keep working hard as she had been. And it wasn't like she'd thought it would be easy - she'd just thought it would be difficult in a different way is all.

"It will take some time, but it'll be worth it."

Narrala smiled, setting her arm load of papers and hides down in the spot cleared for her. "Thank you Hallsecond, I'll just keep doing my best then." She did feel better having spoken with the Master Printer, even if she wasn't completely convinced. Now free of her load, and feeling more relaxed, she remembered it was time for lunch and the line was probably going to be out the Dining Cavern by now.

"Thank you for the talk too. I've got to hurry if I'm going to get lunch before my next class," she paused, "unless you need me for anything?"

"No, you get to your classes."

Narrala smiled and nodded before turning and hurrying out the door.
She might just have time to grab a quick bite before class, if she was fast.

Last updated on the February 17th 2007

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Some Things Take Time