Letters to a Friend

Writers: Estelle, Lexy
Date Posted: 31st October 2005

Characters: Anaia, Ryndel
Description: Anaia exchanges letters with Ryndel about why she was sent away from EFH and he tells her about how Reilina escaped.
Location: Harper Hall, Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 8, day 10 of Turn 3

Dear Master Ryndel, I hope this letter finds you and your family well. I also hope that your new home is hospitable to you and your Hall. How are things going with you there?

I'm not sure if you are familiar with the rumors or not, but I have been sent away from Emerald Falls and now find myself living with my family at Bayside hold. My family has welcomed me with open arms and I have settled in, realizing how much I have missed seeing everyone on a daily basis.

However, I find myself realizing yet again that this is no my 'home' any longer. I wish I could find some way to return to Emerald Falls, but I'm not sure that my husband would agree with that, regardless of what I say. It seems he believes me responsible for Reilina's leaving Emerald Falls.

Faraline, Alalia, and I, however, are doing our best to settle in here at Bayside. Faraline will be a full Turn old soon. I find myself amazed at that. They grow so quickly as I'm sure you know.

I will close this letter for now. Perhaps in time everyone will settle back into life and find that there is not constant upheaval in all we do.

Sincerely, Anaia
~*~*~*~

Anaia sealed the letter with her seal and sighed. It was a subtle letter that didn't come right out and ask what had happened, but she hoped that Ryndel would be able to read what she hadn't written. What she'd been half afraid to put down on paper in case someone else were to receive the letter.
Not that she truly had to be so circumspect now that the Harper Hall was no longer located in Emerald Falls, but at times old habits truly did die hard.
Besides, if they had nothing to do with it, she didn't want to come right out and ask if they had helped Reilina to escape.

Attaching the scroll to Sweetie's leg, she fixed in her mind a picture of Master Ryndel. Then, silently, she told her gold to find the Hallsecond, hoping that she might have an answer soon enough.

***

Ryndel read the opening paragraphs of Lady Anaia's letter with regret, though it came to him as no shock to discover that she and her husband had once again been parted - and, he guessed, on unhappy terms. Lord Enrizial was not a man that he could endure politely for more than a minute or two, let alone a lifetime.

It was when he came to the sentence about Reilina that he stopped short. He knew for a fact that Lady Anaia had not been involved in the girl's escape from Emerald Falls. Furthermore, in aiding that escape, he was indirectly responsible for this latest rift between the lady and her husband.

No matter how many times he told himself that helping Reilina had been the right thing to do, that Lord Enrizial would no doubt have found some other foolish reason to banish his wife if not for this, and that Lady Anaia would have a much happier life away from her arrogant husband, he still felt uncomfortably guilty. He knew that Anaia was innocent of having deceived Enrizial, but what could he do to mend matters? He was the very last person on earth who Enrizial was likely to believe.

The Lord Holder might, of course, believe Reilina if she said Anaia had not helped her. But he could not ask the girl to return to Emerald Falls or face its Lord. There had to be some other way...

***

Dear Lady Anaia, My thanks for your letter - it is good to hear from you again. Please wish Faraline a very happy birthday on my behalf! It's hard to believe she is already almost a year old now - I imagine she's growing very fast and surprising you with what she learns day by day.

The pleasure of receiving your letter was tempered by regret as I read of your husband's mistaken belief that you are responsible for Reilina's departure from the Hold. I can assure you that the girl made her escape entirely without the help of anyone, stowing away aboard one of the riverboats carrying the harpers to the Weyr with the help of her firelizard.
We did not discover her until several days after departure, and I take full responsibility for helping her to leave Emerald Falls territory after that.

I will do everything I can to convince your husband that you were not involved, though the relationship between myself and Lord Enrizial has never been warm and I fear my words will have little effect. Still, I intend to seek out proof and will send whatever I find to you, to use as you wish.

My children are well, as is my wife - though she is adapting to Weyr life more slowly than they are. Neither of us ever imagined we would live among dragonriders, even if only temporarily, but we have been shown the greatest of courtesy by the weyrfolk and that warm welcome has made up for our regret at leaving our home behind us.

With best wishes, Ryndel
***

Ah, so that was how she'd managed to get away. If Anaia remembered correctly, Reilina had always been a resourceful girl and she could easily see her managing to get away on her own. Anaia sighed and stared out at where the younger children were playing, including Faraline toddling along behind them.

She took up the pen she'd been using to write with and laid out a new sheet of paper on her small slate and began to write.

Dear Master Ryndel, Thank you for your quick response. I know that Reilina is quite resourceful enough to do just what she did and I truly wish her all the best in her new life. I also can not blame you for the help you gave her once she was discovered. I'm sure she will be much happier where she is, though I'm sure it's quite an adjustment.

I also wish to thank you for any and all help you could possibly give in the situation with my husband. Yes, I am aware of the disagreements the two of you have and hope that despite that he will listen. Though, both of us know how strong headed he can be at times.

Children seem to be more able to adapt to new surroundings much faster than we adults do. I can't imagine what it is like there at the Weyr, but I'm sure your wife will settle in as well. It has to be difficult for her after all these years at Emerald Falls. I'm not even sure how I would adjust to a move such as the one you have made. Please let her know I am thinking of her and hope she settles in.

You take care as well and please keep me informed as to the progress of your finding a new place for the Harper Hall. Perhaps when all is settled I can bring Faraline and Alalia for a short visit.

Your friend, Anaia
***

Dear Lady Anaia, Please excuse my delay in writing to you - we have only recently arrived at the Weyr and all has been confusion and hard work in transferring the remains of our belonging to our new quarters. It seems that great changes have occurred in the Weyr itself, as a new queen and her rider have arrived and taken the place of Lady Kalina and Moriath quite by accident. I'm not certain as to how this could have occurred, but it has and not all are pleased by the turn of events.

Fortunately the new Weyrleader, J'darin, has been happy to honour the agreement made with Weyrleader T'moran that the Harpers should make their home temporarily at the Weyr, and we were greeted on our arrival by a great feast and a concert put on by those harpers who had already arrived.

The Weyrfolk have all been more welcoming than I ever could have expected, and it is a pleasure to live and not be regarded with suspicion by conservative holders. All the same, the culture of the Weyr is not quite what my wife and I are used to, and we have been considering taking a posting to a hold in a rather more liberal territory than Emerald Falls.
There are many opportunities in the territory of Topaz Sea Hold, where people are rebuilding after the devastating effect of the hurricane. As soon as we are settled, we will send word and you and your daughters will of course be welcome to visit!

I have explained the circumstances of Reilina's departure from the Hold to Hallmaster Almonteo, and perhaps he will succeed in convincing your husband of the truth of what happened where I might not. I do hope that you will find the life for yourself that brings you the most happiness.

Yours, Ryndel
***

Ryndel signed his name and sealed the letter, feeling a little regretful as he contemplated the last sentence. He did wish the young woman the very best, for she had become almost as close to him as one of his own daughters, but he was not at all certain that she would find that happiness with Lord Enrizial.

Last updated on the November 1st 2005

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Letters to a Friend