A Hard Truth

Writers: Clancey, Dana
Date Posted: 30th August 2005

Characters: Solieira, Ciara, R'yin
Description: Solieira helps Ciara tell R'yin a very hard truth, but it's his dragon that finally convinces him.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 7, day 15 of Turn 3

Ciara

Well, they had decided tonight was the night; she and Ciara were going to go and fetch R'yin to U'val, and let the Mindhealer see if there was hope for the brownrider. He was beginning to crack up just a bit too much for comfort, and soon enough, it would affect his flying, though Ciara seemed to think that he and Aerrath were still meeting Thread as well as they ever had.

Unhappy with the need, but knowing it was there, the Headwoman made her slow and steady way up to Ciara's Weyr. They would visit R'yin's on the way back down, and then end up at U'val, who was waiting in the Infirmary.
R'yin had no idea they were coming, but faced with the pair of them, both women hoped that meant he wouldn't resist.

Finally arriving at Ciara's Weyr, she knocked on the inside door and waited, knowing this was going to be hard for her greenrider friend, too.

"Hey, Sol," Ciara smiled quietly as soon as she opened the door. "I'm glad you're coming with me today."

Solieira put one arm comfortingly around the younger woman's shoulders as they walked down to R'yin's Weyr. "Of course, lass. I'm as worried about him as you. I remember when Aerrath first flew Ellianith, and the smiles on both your faces." Almost, she fell into memory just then, but they were already getting close to R'yin's Weyr.

"Well... here we are... do you want to knock or shall I?"

"I'll do it." The greenrider raised her hand and knocked twice, wondering if R'yin already knew they were there. She and Solieira didn't have to wait for him long, and she found herself looking up into his eyes.

R'yin looked like a startled wherry when he found the two ladies at his door. This was not going to be fun, his instincts told him. "Sol...
Ciara? Good evening, ladies. I certainly wasn't expecting company tonight... Do come in." He said with a false cheer, wondering what on Pern they _wanted_.

Solieira exchanged a glance with Ciara, and they followed the brownrider inside his Weyr. "Good evening, R'yin. I'm afraid this isn't a social call in the true sense." She paused as the brownrider turned questioning, fearful eyes on his 'guests'. She would go on and tell him, if Ciara didn't want to.

"We're here because..." Ciara glanced at Sol. This was going to be much harder than she thought. How did one go about _doing_ this? "Because we're concerned. About you."

Solieira picked up the thread of Ciara's words. "We want you to go to the MindHealer, R'yin. You've been scaring the char out of Ciara and that is _not_ something you do to people you love."

R'yin was struck silent by this bold, plain speech from two women he trusted. They wanted him to go to a _MindHealer_ ? There was nothing wrong with him! He was just being denied the woman he loved, and without knowing why. "There isn't anything wrong with me at all." He said firmly.
"Aerrath would say something, or Fall!"

"Not if you were closing your mind to them, they wouldn't," Ciara responded quietly.

"I would never do such a thing!" He cried, defensively.

}: You do. :{ R'yin was struck by this thought - if anything could reach him, it was the promise that he was neglecting Aerrath somehow by shutting him out of his thoughts. The brownrider sagged with the weight of it all.

}: You do not listen to me, R'yin, not like you used to do. Perhaps a human will help where I cannot. :{ Tears stood out in his eyes with this simple pronouncement, sent as it was with great love.

"I do not want to go the MindHealer, but if I am even remotely hurting Aerrath..." He trailed off.

"Right, lad. It's about time you showed some sense." Sol offered bluntly, with a faint nod to Ciara.

"We think you should see U'val... He's a kind man, R'yin." Ciara was having a hard time looking at him, but she managed to meet his gaze without flinching away.

R'yin looked at her for a long moment, hurt of all sorts standing out in his eyes, but also a faint understanding. There was something to be salvaged in this brownrider, after all.

"U'val? Yes, he is kind enough, and I trust him. Yes, I'll go and see him." But he looked somewhat defeated by the admission, instead of energized.

Ciara inclined her head, then nodded before looking up at him. He wasn't the only one who was hurting...

Solieira sighed a little and put her arm around Ciara for a moment, then around R'yin. "Children, it will be alright."

Or so she hoped.

Last updated on the August 30th 2005

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A Hard Truth