The Journeyman's Wife
By
Dragondolphin1990
Chapter 1 – Daughters of the Sea Hold
A/N - The Harper Hall Trilogy have always been three of my favorite novels, and I've had this plot bunny bouncing around in my head for a while now. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
Harper Hall. It was a very forward-thinking place, if the female students were any hint. Ha! Maybe, if forward-thinking was just another way to say stupid. Girls learning to sing and play gitar as simply unheard of! Harper Hall was only a place one could enjoy if they happened to like music. It wasn't the place for me.
Yet, here I was, carefully sliding off the Blue Dragon and onto the ground before Harper Hall, balancing with my hand in Elgion's sturdy grasp.
It all started a few months ago when that old fool Petiron died and Half-Circle got a Half-Competent Journeyman Harper. The only reason father even allows a Harper to reside in the Hold is so that he will follow all the old traditions. We wouldn't want to go against the higher ranking Holds, now would we?
Father did not have much say in who I fell in love with. As one of his middle children, I could sort of slip through the cracks, so long as I did not break any rules or, heaven forbid, dream of being a Harper like young Menolly did. Menolly was a crazy one. Though it was a shame she got caught out in the Thread. Whatever, what's done is done. I don't have need for another sister.
Now, where was I? Ah, yes. Father did not care who I decided to marry. I was only the second daughter, and he had no need to marry me off in some political arranged thing. Somehow, I found myself drawn toward Journeyman Elgion. I normally don't like Harpers who care about inconsequential things like new songs or impossible things like Fire Lizards, but there was just something about Elgion.
Not even two weeks after proposing to me, Elgion was summoned back to the Hall, with a replacement Harper being sent to the Hold in his place. Apparently, the Master Archivist at Harper Hall required his music copying skills. Master Archivist. Wow, that sounds like a lame title. Anyway, Elgion convinced my parents that I wasn't needed at Half-Circle and that I should go with him to the Hall.
I was so love-struck that I didn't even stop to consider that I hated music-- all of the arts, really-- and that I would be surrounded by them in the Hall. But, the second my shoes were balanced on the meadow outside the Hall, the realization hit me, the blood rushing from my face.
"What's wrong? Not used to going Between?" Elgion asked me, noticing my pale complexion.
"I… I don't think I can do this!" I placed the palm of my hand against the big Blue Dragon, partly for balance, and partly to make sure it wouldn't leave me here.
"Come now, Sella, it can't be that bad."
"No! I can't stay here, Elgion! You're the only Harper I don't absolutely hate!"
"You'll be with me. You'll be fine," he tried to reassure me, but I was inconsolable, so he changed the subject, "Do you want to meet the Masterharper? He is Harper Petiron's son."
A wretched sob escaped my mouth, "But I hated that spoony bard! Why would I want to meet his son?"
"Now, please watch who you decide to insult while you are at Harper Hall. I happen to consider my father a very sane man," I turned around to see a tall and surprisingly kind looking man, "Elgion, my friend, how have you been?"
I was glad when the Masterharper turned his attention away from me and began speaking with Elgion. However, the Dragon was heading back to his Weyr and the Harpers to the Hall. I had no choice but to follow behind them, hating every step that brought me closer to what I imagined could be nothing but my own personal hell. At least I would have my Elgion.
Shortly before arriving at the doors to the hall, the Masterharper addressed me, "Miss… Sella, was it? I am sorry to say that we do not get many from the Sea Holds here, but perhaps you will find a friend in one of the few Sea Holders we do have."
"I am certain that I will, Masterharper," I said politely, Father's lessons on manners drilled so far into my brain that I could not let him no of my hatred for being here.
"Oh, please, you aren't one of the Harpers, call me Robinton," he did not seem to notice any of my displeasure.
"Thank you, sir… Robinton," I smiled softly-- he did seem like a nice guy, after all, and it wouldn't do for me to make an enemy out of the most influential person in my new home.
"Now, come, you two. You're just in time for dinner."
Inside the Hall, Robinton made an announcement welcoming the return of a Journeyman and introducing said Journeyman's fiancé. I blushed slightly when everyone looked at me. I sat with Elgion and the other Journeymen and noticed that there was another girl at the table.
I turned to one of the Journeymen, who introduced himself as Talmor, and asked, "Is she a Journeyman's girlfriend, too?"
Talmor let out a hearty laugh and a few specks of food flew out of his mouth-- disgusting-- and replied, "Of course not. That's Menolly. She's a Journeyman herself. Or a Journeywoman…? Whatever the term would be."
There was something familiar about the girl's hair. But this girl, clad in all blue, she couldn't be.
"Menolly?" two voices-- mine and Elgion's-- both gasped out, unbelieving.
From down the table, came a voice, so familiar, too familiar, "Hello, Sella."
I blacked out.
She was there, when I woke up, setting next to Elgion and chatting calmly, as if she hadn't just woken from the dead.
Well, on the bright side, Elgion and I seemed to have a nice room, and all of our stuff was here, judging from the fact that our two bags were sitting in the corner. Father hadn't wanted us living together until after the wedding, but what he doesn't know won't kill him.
I rubbed some sleep out of my eye and groaned a little, "Menolly, what do you think you're doing? Women don't make Harpers."
Across the room, Menolly was laughing softly.