To Wait Together
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: Bree, Dana
Date Posted: 3rd June 2006
Characters: Jielta, Ailyn
Description: Amidst the utter chaos and grief surrounding them, Ailyn meets up
with the anxious, scared Vintner Hallmaster's daughter and son, and
decides to take them both under her wing
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 11, day 6 of Turn 3
"Shhh..." Jielta bounced Miyon on her hip and tried rubbing his back, though it hadn't done much good the last several times she'd tried it.
Miyon's wails continued to grow in volume no matter what she did, but the people around them seemed too immersed in their own shock or grief to do more than glance in their direction from time to time.
Jielta wished _she_ could be immesred in her own grief. She'd lost friends in the past days as well as a step-mother, and had been left to her own devices while her father dealt with the Hall. She _knew_ intellectually that he had little time to spare for his own grief, but she couldn't help but resent the fact that he hadn't even made the effort to come see her in the past day while she'd waited with other refugees to be shuffled into their new homes.
Miyon let out a particuarlly loud wail, and she shifted him to her other hip and started bouncing him again, blinking back fresh tears. There was no one to give Miyon to, no one who could take him away so _she_ could curl up in the corner and cry. Everyone was busy with their own families and problems, leaving Jielta and Miyon very much alone. She wouldn't even mind seeing Fieayz right now... maybe her older sister had been annoying sometimes, but she at least would have made sure someone paid attention to them.
"There, there now, little one... Why are you crying, hmm?" a woman's low, quiet voice soothed, her fingers brushing briefly over the crying toddler's arm as she came around to stand before the girl and her brother. She gave the girl a soft, weary smile, holding up a small blanket. "I think he might need this, dear. It might help calm him just a little, to have something soft and secure around him..."
Jielta handed the baby over without hesitation to Ailyn, nearly shaking with her relief. "I don't know what to do with him, and everyone's so busy..."
Ailyn gently wrapped him up in the blanket before cradling him against her chest. "It's all right, dear. I can help you." She gave the girl a reassuring smile, tired as it was. "I'm Ailyn."
"I'm Jielta." Reaching up, she tucked the blanket down around Miyon's head, relieved that he'd finally stopped screaming. "This is Miyon. He's my brother."
Ailyn's green eyes flickered in recognition of the name. "You're Fielton's daughter?" The poor girl... So far away from her father...her home...
"Here, honny, why don't we sit down..."
Jielta let herself be led willingly enough, sitting down next to Ailyn. "I know my father's busy, and my step-mother... she didn't make it out of the Hall. So I don't want to bother him."
A daughter _bothering_ her own father? Especially after such a devestation? Ailyn had never heard of such a thing. She closed her eyes briefly, the lines around her mouth deepening as she thought of how she'd lost her own father just a couple months beforehand. And Firon.... Shards, Firon...
"I'm sorry, Jielta," she murmured softly, her throat tightening in grief as she reached out to touch her fingers lightly to the girl's hand. "I'm sorry about your step-mother. And your father...I'm sure he'll send for you soon."
"Thank you, Ailyn. But I'll be fine... the Hall matters are very important." Jielta grasped Ailyn's hand without thinking of it, trembling on the edge of tears now that an adult was finally taking some interest in her. She'd tried so hard to be an adult and take care of herself and Miyon since the earthquake, but part of her was still a terrified little girl who'd lost friends and family and simply wanted someone else to tell her what to do.
"You can stay with me, if you'd like. You and this little man," she smiled faintly, shifting Miyon to her other shoulder. He was quieter now, the poor lad. Even though they were all refugees here, even though they were all massed together, they were all alone. And Ailyn didn't want these young ones to be so alone. And, to be honest, she didn't want to be so alone either.
"Really?" For a brief moment, Jielta's eyes lit up with gratitude, but the light faded all too quickly and she shook her head. "No, it wouldn't be right. You--you must have people of your own to take care of, and father wouldn't want me to bother anyone."
Unbidden, tears that she'd been trying to keep down filled her eyes as she thought of her husband, and she gave the girl's hand another little squeeze. "You wouldn't be in the way, Jielta. I'd like it if you two would stay with me. I...don't have anyone either." **Yet. He has to be alive...**
Jielta studied Ailyn's face with eyes that were suddenly too old for her turns. Then she nodded, giving Ailyn a trembling little smile that turned her into a young girl again. "Thank you, Ailyn. I think it will be easier to... to wait together."
Last updated on the June 4th 2006