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A True Love of Mine


Date:  September 7, 2004
Place:  Telgar Weyr Lake Shore
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  The love referred to in the title is not quite 
romantic love, though romance has a small part to play (in a way)
in this scene.  Emilly, green Sionath's rider, has returned to the
Weyr of her birth temporarily after the cheating of one of her 
weyrmates caused the end of their relationship.  I'sai has taken 
her on as an aide in the interim.  An evening's wandering takes her
to the Lake, where she comes across Kassima; the two greenriders
discuss one of the true loves of their lives--their children--and
touch too on Emilly's sorrow.

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The Log:

Emilly heads over from the central bowl.

Emilly strolls along the lake shore, hands stuck in pockets, humming very
softly under her breath.

Kassima has nestled herself and the young child she holds in the hollow of
the crescent formed by Lysseth's protective curl, her back supported by the
warm curve of the green's side. She's toying with the little boy's flyaway
black hair and singing to him in a soft and clear, true voice. "If'n he
tells me he can't, I'll reply--parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme--let me
know that at least he will try, and then he'll be a true love of mine...."

[Editor's Note:  The verses in this pose and Kassi's next are
borrowed from 'Scarborough Fair.' :) ]

Emilly turns toward the sound of singing, head tilted slightly to the side
and smiling for the old tune. She doesn't speak as she approaches, merely
lifts a hand out of one pocket to wave a little and then puts it back in.
Her own humming ceases in favor of listening, though her smile broadens
with fondness for the greenrider, a hint of softness to it for the little one.

"Love imposes impossible tasks; parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme. Though
nay more than any heart asks, and I must know he's a true love of mine."
Kassi's head is still bent towards her son on that verse, but a glance up
spies out Emilly and a smile of welcome lights on her face. She doesn't
stop singing quite yet, though. "Dear, when you have finished your
task--parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme--come to me, my hand for to ask,
for then you are a true love of mine." The song finished, she strokes hair
back from Kaisan's brow and greets, "G'deve, Emilly. You're wandering late."

Emilly smiles and crouches down to wiggle her fingers Kaisan's way. "Heyla
little one," she says softly. Then she looks up again and nods. "Not so
late at Reaches ... I haven't adjusted to the difference in times," she
explains straightforwardly. "I love that tune ... I remember when one of
the Harpers used to sing it here when I was wee little. And you? Can't sleep?"

The boy in question, a small, rather plump three-Turn-old bundle who bears
more resemblance to father than mother, has evidently been sung--at
last--into mellowness, since he blinks blue-green at Emilly and affords her
a sweet and sleepy smile. "What," Kassi teases her son, "you're nay going
t'screech and deafen her? Try t'steal something from her pocket? Aught?"
Kai considers the question and finally shakes his head with a murmured
negative. "Lucky, lucky lady. Adjustment must be the trickier, nay being at
one place or the other full-time--I don't think I'm envious. But 'tisn't me
whose sleep's troubled. Kai had a nightmare." She nods down towards the
child. "Thought I'd see if'n I could get him t'sleep out here... it worked
with some of m'others, t'drowse off somewhere other than bed, but somewhere
peaceful."

Emilly smiles and then checks the ground behind her taking a seat
carefully, removing herself slightly from Kaisan's line of sight so she
doesn't disturb his drowsy state. "Yes ... we've done the same with ours
sometimes ..." she says quietly."Walked to and fro across the Bowl many a
night to help them settle down from colic ... or bad dreams ... or too many
sweets at a Gather." She leans back on her hands, tips her face back to the
starlit sky. "Beautiful night to be out by the lake too ... reminds me of
walking here with my mother when I was small."

"Oh, aye, that I've done too many times t'count--for colic; hadn't tried it
when they nightmare. I thought Kaisan might escape nightmares entirely,
with the Interval, but--" Kassima laughs, low and soft. "Turns out he was
dreaming about B-O-V-I-N-E-S. With fangs. Naught the Pass's end can do
about *that*." Her long fingers continue to stroke her son's hair as his
dark lashes start to droop, the fight with sleep beginning to lose some
appeal. "Was it here? Must've been--'twere young when the move happened,
weren't you? Or am I misremembering and 'twere born here?"

Emilly's mouth curls up into an amused smile. "Goodness ... that's a very
strong imagination," she says softly still. "And aye ... who wouldn't want
their little ones to escape nightmares ..." she muses then casts back into
memory. "I was born at Benden ... yes ... but very little when Mum made the
move, only two or three Turns I think. I don't remember too much from then
... just faces mostly ...impressions ..."

Kassima's voice shades into dryness as she observes, "'Twould help if'n his
sisters and brother didn't let him listen in when they decide t'be trying
t'scare each other witless. Kiss apparently challenged Kim--that's Kisai
and Kimlyn--over who could tell the most terrifying tale, and Kyjain got
into it hoping doubtless t'make Kiss wet herself in fright or something...
according t'Kiss he couldn't come up with something that'd frighten a
new-hatched chicken if'n his life depended on it, but consider the source.
These bright three decided t'let their two youngest brothers listen in. But
Kazy just worried about how fanged you-know-whats would chew cud without
biting their lips. It figures." Her head tips to one side; her expression
is curious. "What sorts of impressions? Or faces?"

Emilly listens to this recital with a look of understanding and confides:
"With Padraig, it's who can do the most, always egging his younger brother
on, even though there's 5 Turns nearly, between the two. Oh the things he's
dared Giremi to do ..." She shakes her head a little then fixes the
greenrider with a mirthful grin. "Kassi's knives of course," she says with
a wink. "But other things too ... dragons looming over me ... so high above
... K'nan goosing Mum in the kitchen and chasing her about with a slotted
spoon ... Master Ofira and Mum going at it over the best way to cook a
herdbeast ... Eo the day he and Elyandra left ... crying ... other faces I
have no names for, only ... feelings of fondness or ... in some cases
discomfort."

Kassima rolls her eyes skyward and nods her comprehension. "Kazy and Kai
get that way now and then, though Kazy mostly goes his own way--there's
only a bit over two Turns separating 'em, y'ken. Kim and Ky are nineteen
now, but I don't think Ky's ever going t'be too old t'try and irritate
Kisai. They just don't get along. Has Giremi done many of them, and has the
Weyr recovered?" There's a teasing note threaded through the question.
"M'knives? Among your earliest recall? Methinks I'm flattered. Or afraid,"
she laughs, "one of those. I recall K'nan being fond of your mother; I
hadn't realized you knew Eolan--E'lan, I should say--when he was here, but
that's logical. Discomfort?"

Emilly chuckles softly. "Giremi ... has more sense in his little toe in
some ways than his older brother. He takes after E'lan ... whom he's not
related to blood-wise, than his Da. Or perhaps me, at that. He's more quiet
and thoughtful, but sometimes, Padraig's high spirits get to him and rises
to the bait. I think the silliest thing he did was cannonball off the
diving cliff at Reaches. Had a sore bottom for a week for that one," she
says with a rueful grin of her own. "He's not much of a pranker though, and
Padraig is ... still Paddy's got a good heart, for all his humor." One hand
rubs over the cloth of her trousers, plucks away a hint of lint. "Mmmm - I
remember sitting in the living cavern, eating my porridge and you striding
in and pulling a knife ... how it flashed. I wasn't scared ... but I
remember the way the light hit off the blade." One side of her mouth quirks
up. "Mum was pretty fond of -him- too. Eo? Yes ... Mum and Elyandra were
friends ... Eo used to keep me occupied while we chatted." For that last
there is only silence for a while. "Yes ... at Benden and here later ...
there were always some who made me feel ... I don't know ... just not
completely at ease."

"Faranth protect us all from pranksters. Giremi sounds a bit like m'Keveris
when he was still wee. Or now, come to that." Kassi flashes a grin. She's
pleased, clearly, to discuss her children. "Though Kris has ever been too
shy t'be goaded into much... shells, though, don't bring your lad here
then. We've a couple in the Barracks now who dive for fun--saw J'len take a
leap from quite a height when he was a Candidate still. I'm hoping he or
M'tri might teach me the trick of that once they've graduated and m'leg's
up to the climb. I don't doubt she was." Her smile doesn't fade, but does
acquire a rueful cast. "We had a row of sorts once, K'nan and I, over his
flirting with your mum while he was still Aph's weyrmate. A'course, we were
both proddy at the time. I guess that sort of thing's natural; 'twasn't
because they *did* aught, though, was it?"

Emilly smiles, nodding. "I think Giremi learned his lesson about high dives
... though Eo and I -are- planning to bring them around to visit soon ...
hmmm I'll have to make sure J'len doesn't pull any tricks while 'Remi's
around." Then there's a lifting of hand to forehead and a soft groan for
the question about her mother. "Oh dear ... you're asking the wrong person
- I tried not too look too hard at what Mum was up too ... funny thing how
she was always warning me to guard my virtue ... but hers? Well ..." she
makes a face. "Best to turn a blind eye."

Kassima agrees, "J'len and M'tri. M'tri might be more the one t'watch
for--I don't think J'len would want t'corrupt the young, but M'tri might
get a kick out of it. And never mind the kick in the tailbone from I'sai
that he'd *also* likely get out of it." Her brow furrows briefly in
confusion; eventually she figures out the crossed wires, and says, "Oh,
nay, nay, I meant that last bit about the people who discomfited you--I'd
really rather nay know if'n K'nan was cheating on Aph so early. Isn't the
sort of behavior I like t'think on, coming from a mentor and friend or at
another friend's expense."

Emilly nods along. "Mmm - I can see M'tri being a bit of a prankster, yes,
he's certainly got some humor on him. P'raps T'bay ..." There's a chuckle
then for the tailbone kicking. "Yes ... he wouldn't stand for that." And
then, Emilly's face turning red for the misunderstanding. "Oh -dear- I'm
sorry Kassi ... err ... right. No ... no one every did anything in
particular ... it's just people you know ... and sometimes riders can be
... well more intense I guess we can be, than other folk. I didn't much
like raised voices when I was little ... still don't really, but I can
withstand it now as I couldn't then."

"Is T'bay's humor of the pranking type?" Kassima wonders. "I don't think I
know him well enough t'guess, really; though what I do know, I like well
enough. Ah, now, that I'm understanding. I doubt we're more intense than
all other folk--you should've heard m'grandsire Simevran in full bellow!
But raised voices and tensions of all sorts happen, Ramoth and her lovely
green descendants know."

Emilly shakes her head. "I'm still getting a feel for all of them," she
says with a hint of fondness. "But the humor is definitely there with T'bay
... " There's a long puff of air out from the younger greenrider. "Yes, you
can say that again," she says with a low chuckle. "Weyrs definitely have
their share of human panorama." Shoulders lift slightly and drop again. "I
guess it was something of a dream of mine as I was growing up ... that
things were calmer outside of the Weyrs ... I used to want to run away to a
Hold of all things, when so many seem to prefer coming the other way. It
just seemed like things were simpler for holderfolk. Now ... well ... now,
I wouldn't really change a thing ... except maybe the proclivities of
certain bronzeriders."

Kassima lets her mouth curve in a rueful half-grin. "I don't think simpler.
Nay really. I've ridden since 'twas fourteen, a'course, so m'knowledge of
Hold life isn't that keen for all that I lived it--but people are people
everywhere, y'know; and it just isn't human nature t'be *simple*. As
t'that--the man's a fool, Em. I hope it doesn't offend you that I say it,
but I won't apologize either road."

Emilly nods. "I've never lived in one either - born at Benden, raised at
Telgar, Impressed at Reaches ... Weyr, Weyr, Weyr," she grins a bit
sheepisly. "It's more that that's what I dreamed of when I was younger. Mum
was so ... well all over the place with what she expected of me ... I found
comfort in the idea of ... well a stricter approach to life, or so it
seemed to me, in the holds. Now ... well ... now is now." Eyes travel out
across the darkened lake and then there's a soft. "It's all right Kassi -
I'm ... well I'm inclined to agree. Mostly."

"I loved Greystones and Da's Holding while 'twas there, for all I left
it... I still love it now. But I doubt," Kassima confesses, "that I'd truly
have been suited to that life. Or that I'd be the same person now, had I
stayed. I probably would still have eight children if'n nay even more than
that, but that might be the only similarity." She's silent a moment,
reflecting, absently playing with Kai's hair again. He's fallen asleep some
time in the interim, cuddled against his mother and blissfully ignorant of
the drool he's getting on her shirt. "Mayhaps everyone yearns for a bit of
whatever 'tis they don't have. Freedom, if'n you're raised strictly. Order,
if'n you're brought up in seeming chaos. I think I'm glad that you agree.
It seems... better, in m'opinion at least, for you t'realize him a fool--or
think him so, if'n you'd rather--than start thinking ill of *yourself* for
his antics."

Emilly folds legs up to chest and arms atop them, resting her cheek there,
as she watches the older greenrider describe a bit of her life before
Lysseth. "Mmmm ... I still dream of more children actually ... and I think
I might have been well suited to handfasting and domestic chores ... I
still do a lot of them ... when I can. I clean everything in sight when
Sionath is proddy," she notes with humor. She considers the words on
longing and nods. "That makes sense ... for me it was a lot of chaos and
changing mid-stream and Mum never really knowing what she wanted, but
wanting me to be sure I had it all figured out. She sniffs slightly then
she closes her eyes with a slightly pained smile. "No ... it's easier to
just be angry for now ... still. The shock's worn off finally ... it's what
pushed me here. But I'm glad I came - I'm really enjoying getting to know
the Weyrlings and helping them through learning to be a rider ... even if
they'll never fly Fall."

Emilly looks up as, in the distance, up around the Star Stones, an
insistent warble winds down on the wind: Sionath, making her desire for a
bit of oil and a couch to sleep on known. "Please excuse me Kassi - Sionath
calls," she says simply and slowly rises to her feet. "Rest well ... and
sleep dreams for little Kai," she wishes for the young one and blows a
little kiss for the sleeping child, before she's padding off to see to her
lifemate.

Kassima glances down at her treasure, drool-intensive though he be, and has
to grin. "Truth? I'd nay mourn at another m'self, should fortune favor me
so, though every time it seems less likely t'happen than the last. And if'n
it doesn't, I can't complain that I haven't wealth enough in the bairns
I've had already. I have t'agree on handfasting, though. It might have
suited me too. If'n I'd been allowed or able t'wait for a man I loved; if'n
I'd *found* one I loved... and that leisure isn't always as available in a
Holding. I suspect. Mayhaps your mother hoped you'd have the centering that
she didn't." A new smile follows the other's last. There's understanding in
it. "The working vacation may be a help. Distraction seems a blessing at
such times, I'm thinking. And Fall or nay Fall, we're all riders
still--'tisn't the fight that makes a rider, is it? All we need's the dragon."

Kassima bobs her head then. "A'course, a'course, and m'regards t'her. May
good dreams find you both when 'tis your turn."

Emilly heads in the direction of the central bowl, leaving the shimmering
lake.