Patience
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: Yvonne
Date Posted: 22nd November 2013
Characters: Vell
Description: Vell's patience is wearing thin.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 3, day 11 of Turn 7
Stony Field Beasthold was shaped like a runner's shoe. Two large wings extended from either side of the main hold, which was a story taller than either. The windows were narrow, the drafts notorious, and the courtyard existed in an almost permanent muddy state despite the fact that it was sensibly cobbled with not a hint of green between the huge paving stones. At this time of the evening, the sun sparkled off the flecks of mica in the otherwise dreary grey of the building's exterior, giving it a subtle sparkle that would disappear with the light.
Vell stood with her back to the building, staring past the barns and down the road until it disappeared into the smudge of green that was the forest. Stony pastureland spread out like a rumpled blanket, full of rocky outcroppings that appealed to the ovines her family bred and guarded, and not much else. The Hold had a few struggling orchards, a goodly number of stony hay and straw fields, and a large, rather fecund garden that flourished on ovine dung, but they had to import much of their grain and other goods.
No wonder Yarron had left.
She heaved a sigh and closed her eyes, letting the familiar smells and sounds of her home envelop her. The bleating of ovines, the whine of wind through the eaves, the chatter and laughter of the small group who called this place home. There were fewer than fifty living in the Beasthold proper, and another hundred or so who lived in the cots and shepherd huts scattered throughout the valley. After living at the Harper Hall and spending time at the Weyrs and major Holdings, Yarron must have found Stony Field provincial to the extreme.
And her. What must he have thought of her?
Curling her hands against her chest brought no relief from the sharp pain the thought evoked. "He loves me," Vell whispered. "He does. He does. He does."
Eventually the pain subsided beneath her chant. Yarron _did_ love her, and while the Beasthold might be provincial in his eyes she would have gladly moved anywhere with him. He had to be delayed, or hurt, or trapped somewhere. The Harper Hall was hiding him for some reason, perhaps while he spied on another Holding, or did some other sort of secret work.
But in the meantime, she had to be patient. To wait and endure the pitying looks the rest of the Hold cast her way. To go to bed alone every night and wake up disappointed each morning when Yarron wasn't lying beside her. To have to fend of marriage propositions when she was already married.
She'd given it a lot of thought and come to the conclusion that her brother Elor was right?her father didn't really expect her to marry Prucius, he'd only entertained the suit to prepare her for the eventuality of remarriage. Someone else would come along soon enough that her father would insist she marry, and this time her opinion wouldn't matter.
Patience was a virtue, her mother said.
She stared down the road until her eyes began to water, then turned away and walked slowly back to the Beasthold. Patience might be a virtue, but her supply was limited. If something didn't happen soon Vell didn't know what she'd do, only that something had to be done to find Yarron.
Last updated on the December 5th 2013