Settling In
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Eimi, Trishtar
Date Posted: 21st December 2007
Characters: Junvia, Almonteo
Description: A Nervous Junvia Meets the Harper Hallmaster Almonteo
Location: Harper Hall
Date: month 7, day 18 of Turn 4
The Hallmaster snuck quietly into the apprentice choir room, waving to the Master to continue and ignore his presence. He could see a few eyes turn nervously in his direction. Just the nature of his office posed a slight distraction. It was unavoidable. Soon they were back on track and Almonteo could sit back and just enjoy the beautiful, if yet unrefined melody.
"Very good, very good," the Master nodded as he waved his hand. The voices stopped as one. Well trained, Almonteo noted with approval.
"Right, that's all for today."
"If I may, Master Diktar," the Hallmaster interjected before the students could disperse. "Very good job, apprentices. I am most impressed. You are to be commended, and you Master, for an excellent rehearsal. Now, could I please speak with Apprentice Junvia once classis dismissed."
The choir master nodded. "Junvia, please remain. The rest of you, good practice! You are dismissed."
Junvia twisted her hair at the command. Her dark eyes flitted from the other apprentices as they left. Pulling, her hands down beside her, clenching and unclenching the fabric of her dress, Junvia took a weary step towards the Hallmaster. It wasn't that she was scared of him, but well, he was the Hallmaster.
She gave a clumsy mixture of a bow and curtsy as she greeted the Hallmaster, her eyes fixed solidly on the wall behind his right ear.
Junvia mentally ticked off the things she had done that day and in the past week to result in this private meeting. Nothing. She couldn't a recall breaking the rules or doing anything outstandingly wrong during lessons. Her stomach was doing flips in her stops as she hesitantly stole a glance at the Hallmaster.
"Umm... yes, Hallmaster Almonteo?"
"Please, don't worry, you are in no trouble," the Hallmaster assured her, noticing her fidgeting nervously. "I just would like to speak with you about how you are settling into our Hall."
Her arm muscles quickly relaxed to release the strained tension at the question. Junvia gave a tired smile. She slowly swiped her clammy hands on the skirt of her dress, tossing her mass of klah hair behind her, they had fallen out of their braids at her constant twisting.
"Doing well enough, sir. Though I don't know anyone really yet," well the matter of fact was that she hadn't really tried to get to anyone yet and so the lack of friends were her own upbringing, but she didn't dare say that to the Hallmaster and rushed a reassurance, "but I'm sure I'll make some fast friends soon, Hallmaster."
"I'm sure you will," Almonteo nodded, smiling encouragingly. "Is everyone being nice to you? No one is making you feel uncomfortable?"
That was the Hallmaster's true concern. After all, female apprentices were still a novelty in his Hall, and some felt strongly about the situation.
"No, sir," she replied instantly. The girl had to have talked to people in order to have made enemies or friends. No one talked to her or teased or anything. She was just another voice in the loud hall. "I mean, no as in no one is making me feel uncomfortable, sir." Junvia wanted to smack herself upside the head for abusing the title of _sir_ when she should be addressing the man as the Hallmaster.
"I'm glad to hear that. How do you find the Weyr? It must be different from where you came from." He certainly hoped a girl this young had not yet been exposed to _every_ difference at the Weyr. There was no avoiding it, of course, but Almonteo was himself a father and would not have wanted his daughters to learn too much at too early an age.
Junvia's brows furrowed slightly as she gave yet another weak smile, "I'm not sure. I haven't really had the chance to look around yet. I've been exploring the rooms for the Harper Hall here for the most part. But I'll make sure to look around the other parts of the weyr too. I'm sure it's different since I heard so much from the people who stopped by our tavern. Like I said sir, I'll make sure to take a good look around the weyr real soon." The girl had barely stopped herself from rambling on in what she felt to be a childish language.
She closed her eyes and clenched at her skirts once more before taking a deep breath and sneaking a look at the Hallmaster. She really wished that she could go in between as dragons could. If not that then to run and hide under the covers of her bed.
The Hallmaster could tell the girl was nervous, and he couldn't blame her. It must be unnerving for a girl so young and new to the Hall to be talking to a man with his knots on his shoulders. "Have you seen the dragons yet?"
The apprentice shook her head, "When they're flying over the weyr. Oh and the watch dragons too."
"Well, you will be able to see many dragons of all colors here at the Weyr. You may even find a chance to ride one some day." The Hallmaster leaned forward and whispered conspiritorially. "Don't tell anyone I told you, but my wife is deathly afraid of riding dragons. I think she's silly. I _love_ riding on a dragon."
Junvia's chocolate brown eyes had gone wide at the idea of riding a dragon. Just the idea of it drew an excitement out of her that she nearly forgot to the nervous around the Hallmaster. Her nerves disappeared instantly though when the Hallmaster bent over to whisper in her ear. Small little hands with long fingers flew to muffle the giggles that were brimming. Whether they were from what the Hallmaster said or the tickling breath on her ear, she wasn't sure, but a smile appeared on her face.
Almonteo smiled, glad that the young apprentice could relax enough to give him a genuine smile. He certainly wanted to seem approachable to his young charges. After all, his office wasn't only good for discipline. "Well now, Junvia, if you have any problems, if you feel homesick or you see something you don't understand or someone makes you feel uncomfortable, you know you can talk to your teachers or the Master of Apprentices or myself at any time. All right?"
"Yes, sir." There was that _sir_ again, but this time it wasn't from a shaky voice rather a cheerful one. Junvia dropped her hands from her mouth and gave the Hallmaster another smile.
Last updated on the December 23rd 2007