Bullies and Friends

Writers: Ames, Len
Date Posted: 19th November 2010

Characters: G'wen, Cardella, Berren
Description: Galwen has to think quick (and talk quicker) to save Cardella's honour from bullies
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 1 of Turn 5
Notes: Mentioned: J'nev, G'nir, E'naer, J'darin, Teseada

Cardella

Stooping down, Cardella broke off another swig of the herbs she was gathering. She knew they would make her dishes extra special. Since her arrival, she hadn't had much time to explore the lands outside the Weyr. The lush landscape almost made her think she was completely alone. That was, until she heard a rustling sound in the bushes nearby.

Galwen had wandered a bit into the woods when he saw his friend
stiffen. Had she found the herbs she was looking for? She had told
him what to spot, but everything just looked like a weed to him. He
was about to call her name when he too heard the movement in the bushes
by her. Not wasting time with talk he broke into a run.

"Oh, look, if it isn't goodie-two-shoes, Cardella. What are you doing out here _all_ alone," the voice was one Cardella had heard before. One of
the Hold-bred candidates that had been trying to push some of the others around.

"You were from a Hold, once, weren't you, Cardella?" The boy said as he broke through the underbrush, standing right in front of her. "Yet, I've seen you with that bronzerider. What's his name?" He tossed a look toward his companion before turning back and sneering at her. "Looks like you're no longer one of _us_." He reached forward and ran a finger along her cheek.

Cardella reached up and swatted his hand away.
"Don't touch me," she spat. Before she realized what was happening, she found herself gripped in Berren's grasp.

"Don't touch me," he mimicked snidely. "I'll touch you alright. There's
no one here to stop me!"

"Berren, you sorry wherry arse, get your hands off her!"
Galwen yelled, still running to help his friend. He grabbed at a
fallen branch to threaten the bully with.

Berren just laughed at the sight of the impish lad wielding a stick.
"Come to defend her honor, have you? I've heard she doesn't have any anymore. She's given herself over to the Weyr. Hey, wait, you're the weyrbrat that Nadden told us about, ain't you?" Berren turned his beady gaze towards Galwen, studying him.

"Leave us alone, Berren," Cardella stammered out, finally finding some courage within herself. "I'll report you to the Weyrlingmaster."

"You think that would make any difference," he snarled, "they wouldn't
dare do anything to me or my pa would be up here roaring mad. I'm not
just some lowly brat like your friend here. Come on, Cardella, you know you'd rather be with me than with _that_ one." Berren reached his hand
up again towards her. Cardella took a step backwards, almost losing her balance as her foot caught on something. She watched as Berren and his friend eyes filled with mocking laughter at her actions.

"Right," Galwen called out, getting their attention back onto him.
"You know I can hear all dragons! Would you want me to call to Genith?
I'm sure the queen would love to know what's been happening to the
people who are suppost to Impress her offspring."

Cardella watched as the boys paused at Galwen's words, uncertain as to whether he was telling the truth or not. Even Cardella felt the same
way. Could Galwen really hear all dragons? That was news to her.

Berren took a step closer. "I don't believe you,"
he spat, but she could see a hint of uncertainty in his eye, so
Cardella piped in. "Galwen doesn't lie and you sure wouldn't want
Genith or any of the dragons coming at his call. They'll defend us
without hesitation and you know it!" Berren narrowed his eyes at
her, but took a step back. He glanced at his companion, as though
the two were deciding whether they should stay or go.

Galwen unfocused his eyes for a moment before shaking his head and
glaring at the Holder lout. "You don't believe me,
eh Berren? Care to test it? Cos I can tell you right now that not
only is Genith bathing at the lakes and would hate to be disturbed in
such a manner, but Nerrith is currently feeding and_he_says he doesn't want his mate to be upset, nor does he want to inform his lifemate
G'nir of what you and your mate seem to be implying with J'darin and
E'naer's star pupil.

"Y'think they want a future top rider to be
roughed up by the likes of you? Do you even_know_what people have
been saying about her? And not about her and some bronze rider.
Shards, he's just trying to swoon at her feet first. They've got
her pegged to be one of the Weyr's top riders and if you
mess with what even the Weyrwoman and the Weyrleader want and are
planning with her, then who cares who your da is, he won't be able
to help you.

"Has it ever occured to you how few female Candidates get
called into a private meeting with the Weyrwoman? Do
you_even_know what that means?" His looked turned pitying on the two boys.

His eyes unfocued again, and he added, "Nerrith wants to know who
exactly has been bothering us. Should I tell him, Barren?"

Cardella simply stared, dumbfounded as Galwen just went on and on. What female was he talking about? _Her_! Surely not, but... she was the only one around. Her
mouth gaped open as she looked at him, totally forgetting the bullies who had tried not moment's before to harm her. She knew that she and Galwen had talked about the chance of getting a gold, but it really wasn't something she had dwelt on much. Yet, to hear him talk, she felt
almost as though she _was_ truly worthy of such a magnificent creature. Yet, _any_ dragon was a magnificent creature. _That_ was what she had learned since her arrival at the Weyr.

Berren took another step back, eyeing Galwen with uncertainty. He looked between the two, cocking his head at Cardella as Galwen's words sunk in. The hesitation was evident on his face. It wasn't until his friend tugged his shirt and whispered just loud enough, "I think we should get out of here," that Berren finally moved. With a nod, and a wary glance back at the pair, he and his friend vanished into the foliage once again.

Cardella all but wilted from the energy of trying to keep
from falling apart in front of the bullies sapped her of her strength.

"Galwen, I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been here to help me," she murmured, turning her gaze to his. Her eyes were filled with admiration and something akin to love for a close
friend. Galwen was that for her, like the best friend she had never had growing up.

"I didn't know you could hear the dragons?" She murmured quietly, still staring at him with wonder in her eyes. She would dwell more on his other words about her later, right now she was too curious not to question him further. "What's it like?" She breathed the question, almost reverently.

"Shards knows. Ask your fella J'nev someday," he said, quickly coming to her side when she looked like she might pass out. Grabbing her arm he continued, "come on now Cardella, don't faint. We need to get you back to the Weyr before they come back."

Seeing the look on her face, he said, "I had to say_something_they were going to rape you! I'm too small to defend you with fists." As he talked he guided them back to the upper lake. There were a few Weyrlings and their dragons about, trying to look for fish in this cold
weather. They were within shouting distance if Berren and his thug mate came back. Laughing ruefully, he added, "as far as hearing dragons...the only ones I hear are my da's and T'bel's snoring at night. And thank the shell those two are too stupid to know that it was Teseada that you met and not the Weyrwoman." He waved at one of the blue Weyrlings who had looked over at them.

Still reeling a bit from the whole encounter, she let Galwen lead her away from where they'd been to a safer location. "You're my hero Galwen. You saved me," she gushed and turned to hug her friend tightly to herself. Perhaps she clung to him a bit too tightly, the scare of what could have happened still with her.

"Let's go back, please. I'll feel safer there for sure." Cardella had never been happier to have a friend like Galwen then she did in that very moment. She'd remember to keep her eyes open for Berren and his cronies in the future. That was for sure!

When she hugged him, Galwen felt all the strength keeping him from falling apart melt. What if he hadn't been able to fool those two into believing all the lies he had just spouted? What would have happened then? He wanted to fall into a heap and cry at the thought of Cardella hurt like that.

And what would they say when they got back? Surely someone had to know what Berren had been implying. He hated being a tattletale, but this was different. This wasn't bulling Sevin and himself for being gay, this was much much worse. Maybe if he quietly went around E'naer's weyr and talked to him, then maybe it wouldn't be so bad. He didn't mind the tight hold Cardella had on him. He was just glad to be her friend.

When she broke away and they started walking to the weyrlings, he said, "erm...about what I said...I hope you didn't believe it. I mean,
I'm sure J'darin and E'naer think the world of you and all, but ah...they never said those words. I just reached for something, anything that would scare Berrn off of you. I'm sorry." He wrapped an arm around her and gave her a quick squeeze.

"Berren's right about one thing," he added, "you have given yourself to the Weyr now. And we're glad to have you." Pointing to the green rider and the blue weyrling up ahead, he asked, "do you know K'var and W'rennen? Come on, let's introduce you to real human beings, not to those Holder thugs."

Last updated on the December 16th 2010

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