Old Friends

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 1st July 2008

Characters: Leisenn, Minara
Description: Leisenn visits her former journeywoman friend, Minara.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 10, day 19 of Turn 4

"Did you hear my news?" Leisenn asked as she entered the suite of rooms for the regular supper meeting with her long-time friend. She had no doubt that the news had preceded her - it always did in the self-obsessed environment of the Hall's permanent staff.

"Good evening, Leisenn," Minara smiled to her old friend, then bobbed her head in a nod. "Aye, I've heard."

"I've yet to find anybody who hasn't," Leisenn said settling herself in a deep armchair that was supremely comfortable but a struggle to get out of. No matter, she didn't intend to move for some time. "And _I_
only heard this morning." She grinned. "Surprised?"

"Yes," Minara's face took on less happy tone to it as she regarded her friend. "Happy for you, and a little sad at the same time."

"Sad? I hope you mean you'll miss me." Leisenn would miss her friend, too. They had been apprentices together in what felt like a different world sixty-six Turns before. Senior apprentices, then journeywomen.
Their lives had separated once or twice before Leisenn won her mastery, and they had made different choices in their lives then that had taken them in seemingly opposite directions. It hadn't affected their friendship, though.

"Of course I'll miss you!" Minara laughed softly. "How could I not?
You've been one of the few constants in my life. It will very strange without you."

"And without you." Always before there had been an expectation that after Leisenn's posting or that of Minara's husband, they would end up back at the same Hall again some time in the future. This time, though, they were both nearly eighty and Leisenn was unlikely to move on from a Hallmaster position. Many things could stop the usual interweaving of their lives - especially as the natural end of those lives had to be drawing closer.

"At least we can write one another." Minara laced her hands together and let them rest in her lap. "I know Erinden will let me use Sor."

"Hmm. And remind me again how to catch the little winged terror?"

"Just make sure you have some dried fish." Minara laughed. "He likes that better than other kinds of meat."

"All right, but you remember it's going to ruin my newly achieved authority if I'm seen chasing around after the creature waving handfuls of dried fish." The master dolphineer sighed. "Better than not getting messages, though. And you can always send letters by ship.
More reliable, I'm thinking."

"But it takes longer." Minara pointed out with a sigh. "I don't know what I'm going to do here without you. It's going to seem so empty."

"What about your children, and grandchildren, and their children?" the other woman teased. Leisenn's own two boys had been fostered with their paternal aunt and she knew little or nothing about their families, something that would never have happened in Minara's family.

"Oh they'll fill my days, that's for certain." A softness rounded Minara's features as her family came to mind. "But it's not the same.
A good friend smooths out the rough spots in one's life."

"We'll still be good friends," Leisenn assured her.

"Oh yes, I know." Minara assured her, "It's just not going to be the same without you here physically present."

"No." After a moment Leisenn added: "Nothing we can do about that, though."

"Well, I'm sure I can visit from time to time. Perhaps you could visit here on occasion?"

"I don't know. Do Hallmasters ever leave their Hall?" She chuckled.
"Except to work. It doesn't sound that good, does it? But I will visit if I get the opportunity. Dolphin Cove has a Weyr right there, after all so there may be a little more opportunity than at most places."

"That would be nice. I've never been to a weyr." Minara said thoughtfully. "I wonder what it's like."

"I've been to one, once. They'll be interesting neighbours, that's for sure." She craned her neck to peer at the low table between their chairs, eyeing the cloth covering a variety of dishes with a hopeful expression. "Do you think we're ready for supper yet?"

"I could eat." It saddened Minara to think that this would be one of their last meals together. "And I'm sure they're ready enough. Why don't we get things started, hm?"

"Why don't we. We'll always be friends, Minara. No matter which side of Pern we end up on." Hadn't they said something like that when they were just newly promoted journeywomen?

"No matter which side." Minara echoed, smiling. She would miss her, but she knew that distance could never break a friendship such as theirs.

Last updated on the July 3rd 2008

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