I Don't Want To Answer

Writers: Dana, Eimi
Date Posted: 30th July 2006

Characters: Larken, Ojisan, M'tone
Description: Larken and Ojisan join M'tone for dinner, and the brownrider gleans rather personal information from the couple
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 13 of Turn 3

"I'm glad you didn't have to stay late tonight," Larken told her husband as they weaved in and out of the throng of people waiting in lines for their dinner.

"Me too, my dear," he smiled down at her, covering her hand with his. "I was looking forward to spending some real time with you tonight."

Smiling, she rubbed her thumb against his affectionately. "Where do you want to sit? It's kind of packed..."

The journeyman turned around scanning the room for an empty couple seats. He spotted a couple right next to a man wearing a very familiar-looking shirt. "Larken, isn't that your friend? The one who helped you carry our laundry down that day?" he asked, pointing to the man wearing the shirt with the brown dragon embroidered on the back.

Her heart gave a hard little bump as her eyes followed Ojisan's finger. "I believe it is." Thank Faranth her voice was steady!

"There seem to be some seats by him. Why don't you go save them for us while I get us some dinner." He bent down to kiss her forehead softly. "I never got a chance to thank him for his kindness, after all."

Larken watched him turn and join the rowdy mob of hungry dragonriders and Hall folk, feeling conflicted. Of all evenings for M'tone to wear that shirt--why did he choose _today_? Taking a deep breath to steady her nervousness, she approached the brownrider. "M'tone?"

"Larken," the brownrider smiled. "Are you looking for some dinner company?"

"Actually... my husband and I both were." Carefully she perched next to him. "He wants to meet you."

"Oh, well, good," M'tone said, trying to make sure his smile was not forced. "I've been wanting to meet him too."

She gave him a wary glance. "Oh yes?"

"But of course. I have to see who this man is who was lucky enough to get to you first." The brownrider's smile was only half teasing.

Blushing, she lowered her eyes. "You've seen him before, M'tone."

"True, but I haven't _met_ him yet." And he was certainly interested in finding out more about the man...

She could just imagine what M'tone would think when he saw Ojisan... "Here he comes."

"Ah, welcome journeyman," the brownrider grinned as he reached out to take a try from him. "Here, let me help you with that. Those look rather heavy."

"Thank you, brownrider. My duty to you and your lifemate," the harper smiled as he gratefully relinquished the tray before spilling it.

"I've heard so many wonderful things about you from your wife, sir.
It's an honor to finally meet you."

"No no, the honor is mine. I have hoped for some time I would have a chance to thank you for the kindness you have shown my wife," Ojisan smiled as he laid a hand on Larken's shoulder.

"His name is M'tone, Ojisan," Larken smiled demurely, looking down, amazed that her voice was still steady. "He rides Encourth."

"And you're Journeyman Ojisan, I take it?" M'tone asked with a broad smile and offering his hand to the harper.

"That's right. Pleasure to meet you," the older man smiled, taking the offered hand and giving it a firm shake.

"I've heard you play of course. I envy your talent," the brownrider said as he released the hand and reached for a skin of wine to pour them each a glass.

"Oh, please, it's not talent, its just a lifetime of practice," the harper replied humbly. "Just half a glass for us, thank you."

Her eyes flickered to M'tone, watching him as he poured the liquor. Ojisan was right of course... She had to watch her intake. She'd never forget the Hatching feast and how disappointed he'd been with her. Though there was a twinge of bitterness that he'd spoken for her. It hadn't bothered her before.... "But it takes talent to keep up with practicing, my love."

"Oh no, just discipline," he said, reaching over to give her shoulder a squeeze. "But thank you for thinking so."

M'tone watched the little exchange between the two of them quietly as he poured their glasses. "So how long have you been together? If you don't mind me asking."

"We've been married five turns now, but I've known Larken practically all her life," Ojisan said with a tender smile and glanced towards his young bride.

"You seem very happy together," the brownrider smiled. "One hears so many horror stories of marriages out in the Holds and Halls, being Weyrbred sometimes I don't know what to believe. But I'm happy to see that it's working so well in your case."

"Horror stories, M'tone?" Larken couldn't help the sudden--if slight--challenge in her voice.

"Well, yes," he shrugged, grabbing up his fork and pushing around his fingerroots. "We hear of loveless marriages, of women being treated as little more than workers or breeders, of women bought and sold like livestock. We've even heard of a daughter who ran to the Weyr for sanctuary and Lord Holder helping his Holder kidnap her back so that she could be married off to a man for marks even though she was under the legal age of marriage."

"Yes, unfortunately that did happen," Ojisan nodded solemnly. "I can understand why Weyrfolk would hear such stories and accept them as the way all marriages work in Hold and Hall. Sensational rumors always spread faster than boring truth."

"Like I said, obviously your marriage does not seem to support the rumors.
You are obviously fond of each other," M'tone said, bringing a fingerroot to his mouth.

Larken took a sip of her wine to hide her discomfort. This wasn't sounding like the M'tone who had spoken to her out on the beach. She glanced at her husband when he didn't reply right away. "We are."

"Yes, indeed," Ojisan nodded, giving his wife a loving glance. "We are very lucky in that regard."

"Tell me, if its not too personal, how did you two find each other?"
M'tone asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

"Oh, I've known Larken since she was a very young girl," the harper said with a smile, turning back to look at the brownrider. "Her father and I have been good friends for turns."

"He knew me when I was still hiding behind Mama's skirts, thumb in mouth."
Larken glanced at Ojisan again, her expression genuinely fond.

M'tone tried not to smile at the pretty picture his mind was conjuring. "Now this might be an inappropriate question so feel free to tell me so, but there does seem to be quite an age difference. Was this an arranged marriage or by choice?"

Ojisan cleared his throat. "Well, in the Hold or Hall that would probably be considered inappropriate and far too personal, M'tone, but seeing as you were Weyrbred, it is our job as Harpers to educate you about the outside world as much as to educate them about all of you. So, let me just say it plainly. I approached Larken's father first, as he was my friend and that is the custom when one intends to marry a man's daughter, but the choice was Larken's."

She blushed when both pairs of eyes turned to her. "Not all women are so lucky to have a say in the Holds and Halls, M'tone," she added, her voice quiet.

"Yes, that's what I hear. I won't be so uncivilized as to ask you your reasons," the brownrider said, turning his eyes back to the Harper. "It is obvious that it was a happy choice for _both_ of you."

"Indeed it was," the journeyman nodded and looked down at his plate. "Oh, forgive me, my love. I seem to have forgotten our forks. I will be back in just a moment. Excuse me, M'tone."

"Of course," the brownrider smiled as he watched the journeyman walk back towards the crowded line. His eyes turned back to the young woman now that they were alone. "I am curious, however, what lead you to say _yes_."

"I had no reason not to." She looked down. "I never had any sweethearts growing up, M'tone. And Ojisan was--is--such a good friend to my father, and I'd known him all my life..."

"Was it love?" the brownrider asked, not hint of apology in his eyes for asking such a bold question.

The question startled her, and she stared at him. Just what gave him the _right_ to ask such a thing? Despite everything that had passed between them, he had no right! None. "Was it your intention to act uncivilized once he was out of earshot?" Larken was glad her question came out calmly distant.

"Your in a Weyr now, Larken. The question may not be 'civilized', but it's honest."

Her eyes flashed. "Is that what you're always going to tell me when you step out of bounds?"

"Well, I'm not going to lie," he shrugged. "You don't have to either, if you don't want to tell me the truth. Just say you don't want to answer that question. Enough said. But hurry, because he's at the fork basket now."

She glanced over at Ojisan, his gray hair making it easy for her to spot him in the much younger crowd moving around him. Unbidden, the thought of when he'd pulled her off to the side of the lane to give her her first kiss came to mind, and of the considerate way he'd held her and touched her... Then she thought of her first night spent as a wife, and how he'd told her he loved her over and over to soothe her maidenly fears--but he had meant it. He hadn't murmured it in her ear as his hands caressed and coaxed her just to ease her....he had truly meant it.

Swallowing thickly, she didn't take her eyes off of her husband when she answered the brownrider. "I don't want to answer."

That was all the answer the brownrider needed as the journeyman returned with two forks in his hands. M'tone's smile was especially welcoming...

Last updated on the July 31st 2006

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I Don't Want To Answer