A Visit

Writers: AL, Jane
Date Posted: 3rd August 2009

Characters: Irlani, R'haran
Description: R'haran runs into Irlani when visiting Dragonsfall Weyr
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 4, day 4 of Turn 5

The tall, dark-haired man sporting the colours of another Weyr left the
group, laughing with them as they obviously tried to convince him to
stay, but moving away despite their reluctance to let them go. As he
got free, though, he went past only a few tables before stopping to
greet the woman seated there.

"Hello Irlani. This is a rare thing - you being on your own."

"Ravyan is with his mother." Irlani sipped at her tea before she
continued. "And Gyta is spending some quality father-daughter time with
J'gen. It's good to see you again, R'haran."

"Kind of you to say. I'm only here to tidy up some hidework that turned
up after I left, but it's turned out to be a longer visit than I
anticipated." He waved a hand to indicate the crowd he had extricated
himself from. "And I hear congratulations are in order for you and
J'gen. Weyrmates, I believe?"

"Yes, thank you." Irlani motioned for R'haran to sit so he wouldn't
tower above her as they conversed. "You left behind something? I'm
shocked."

"So am I. But no, it was something somebody else had, finally unearthed
from their desk and ... Oh dear. R'haran has gone." He smiled. "No
harm done. Evie might not be the flier she's proud to be able to take
me places, now and then. And coming back is delightful! I seem to meet
up with scores of people who've missed me. How flattering!"

"See, you shouldn't have left." The chide was good-natured for Irlnai
knew that R'haran had done what was best for his family. "Obviously the
Weyr needs you."

"I think it's more along the lines of 'absence makes the heart grow
fonder'," R'haran admitted with an exaggerated show of regret. "And I
don't think any Weyr actually _needs_ an old greenrider on a barely
flying dragon. Or even the Weyrharper for that matter. But children
need their parents, don't they? Even foster-parents and adopted ones
like you and I."

"Yes, they do. They do indeed." Irlani knew that, and it was so
important to her to be a good mother to the children she knew needed it.
That was why she had focused so much on troubled children. She had a
heart for them even when others did not. "So how are your children
faring?"

"Ahh," R'haran said with a rueful smile, "I was expecting a period of
being unsettled. Adjustment to a second new place in little over a
Turn. Perhaps some problems? But, no. It's like home to them - both
homes, now, I suppose. If I can't find them around the Weyr they're off
down at the Dolphin Hall watching the boats. They're completely at
home, doing fine with their new foster-parent, and - well, blossoming is
about the only way to describe it."

"Then it was a good decision you made." Irlani's smile brightened.
"Obviously it was what they needed and you knew that. You didn't need
advice regarding it at all."

"I needed advice to push _me_ out of Dragonsfall after all these Turns,"
the harper greenrider said with a smile. "And I appreciate your help
with that. Even Evie seems happier there. I think the warmth and the
warm water eases some of the aches she never admitted to."

"Warmer weather can cure a lot of things, aches and pains among them."
Not always, but Irlani had heard healers say the same thing to others,
usually to aunties and the like. Perhaps they would say something
similar to her some day. "I'm glad things are working out well for you,
though it's quieter without you and them around."

"Perhaps only you would miss that," he said, more warmed by Irlani's
missing him _and_ the children than many of the people who had greeted
him on his return. "J'gen's very lucky to have you in his and Gyta's
lives. I hope he appreciates you."

"He does and he makes it well known to me." Irlani's expression warmed
at the mention of her Weyrmate. She was very appreciative for both of
them as well for they had enriched her life greatly. "He's a good man."

"Indeed he is. Well, please let him know I was asking after him and let
him know that things are working out for me and the children at Dolphin
Cove." The greenrider got to his feet. "It's been good catching up
with you Irlani."

"I will let him know." Irlani stood out of politeness, offering a smile
of farewell. "And I do hope you will come and visit us again from time
to time."

It was a promise R'haran wasn't prepared to make, even in small talk.
He'd seen, in the Turns after the other Weyrs had been opened, how some
people clung to their former home and did themselves no good by
returning to their old haunts and friends. He didn't want to be like
that; his children belonged at Dolphin Cove and he would have to, too.
"I'll see how things go," was all he said with a smile of farewell for
the foster-mother.

Irlani knew what that meant. She didn't insist however, simply lifted
her hand to bid him her own silent farewell.

Last updated on the August 16th 2009

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A Visit