Note: Well, I'm really sorry I haven't updated this in FOREVER. My life seems to be sabotaging my writing attempts. Anyways, I like this chapter better. It's a bit longer, and delves into the characters a bit more. Also, I have no clue when I posted the third chapter for the first time, because I don't remember doing so, and it's unfinished.
Disclaimer: Anne McCaffrey owns everything Pern-related (As does Todd McCaffrey, I guess). I am doing this purely for fun.
Okay, I'll shut up now.
But despite Nirami's match-making ideas, romance did not seem to be in the cards. It was only a few hours after Niraven had returned. He was sitting at ease, talking with his mother. Amiven was a tall woman. Unlike her children, she had wiry red hair that she kept it short and as organized as possible. Suddenly, a man approached.
"Niraven! You're home!" His dark eyes crinkled into a smile. He had a bushy, pale gray mustache and the wisps of a beard. His hairline, a widow's peak, was receding, but his hair was still quite bushy.
"Dad!" Niraven leapt to his feet and hugged the shorter man.
"It's good to see you, Niraven! I would have come sooner, but the ship needed one last touch!" Then he stood back and looked at his son, a smile of approval on his face. "You've grown, Niraven. How is Harper Hall treating you?"
"I'm doing fine, Dad."
"How would you like to come with us on the next fishing trip?" The stout man beamed as he sprung the question on his son.
"Niranor! Calm down!" Amiven exclaimed, a little laugh on in her voice nonetheless. "The boy's just home and you're already dragging off to sea?"
"No, it's fine, I'd be glad to. I haven't been on the seas much, and certainly none like the waters here at home. I'll be ready anytime you want."
"What about tomorrow?" Yet another question was thrown at Niraven.
"That would be fun. If it's okay with you...?" He looked at his mother. She smiled, and put up her hands.
"Go ahead."
Meanwhile, Leanin was being crushed by the amount of food they were preparing. Nirami was doing her best to get Leanin out of the kitchens.
"Cooome on, Leanin. You've working for hours! Let's just relax for a little bit!"
"No, Nirami, I can't. Have you seen the amount of food? It's like we're preparing for a Hatching!" Then, with a little gasp, her mouth snapped shut and a large blush spread over her cheeks.
"Aha! Now you have to come! You gave away a secret! And look, even Kyarei wants out!" It was true. The little Queen was perched at a window, head hanging slowly, eyes almost closed.
"Fine." Leanin agreed reluctantly. Laughing at her unexpected luck, Nirami pulled her best friend out of the kitchens.
The two girls found themselves sitting in the tall coarse grass of a nearby field, heads turned toward the sun, eyes closed.
"So, you've prepared for a Hatching?" Nirami opened one eye, peering at the blonde, a mischievous grin on her face.
"Yes. I lived at the weyr when I was younger." And then Leanin clamped her mouth shut, hoping her friend would forget the questions. No such luck. The dark-haired girl was curious.
"So...how old is Kyarei?" She asked.
"About eight months old, probably. I can't quite remember." A larger blush spread over her slightly burnt face and she looked away.
"Hm." Nirami replied. "So...what is your brother like?"
Leanin looked at her, a bit shocked at the direct question. Then she relaxed a little.
"Well, I don't know him very well. We were...not close...as children. But he's tall, and thin and he has blond hair kind of like mine, but paler. And he has dark eyes, chocolate-colored. He's not too bad. I just don't know him very well." And then suddenly Leanin was captivate by a small golden patch of Kyarei's hide, refusing to meet Nirami's eyes. To her surprise her younger friend was silent, just stroking her little green Beach and watching Nolory preen.
They remained that way for some time, letting the sun travel across the rich blue sky. There were no clouds, and the heat pounded down on them. Finally, Nirami looked up, meeting Leanin's eye, her eyes sparkling.
"Let's go swimming!"
In an instant the two girls were sprinting towards the beach, pulling off shoes, socks, and skirts. Finally, they dove in. The cool water was a true relief. They swam for almost an hour, and were eventually joined by a few other children and young adults, all driven to the water in hopes of relief from the heat.
Niraven himself was still caught indoors, talking to Zinda, the eldest in the Hold, who was scolding him for not coming to visit her sooner and asking about 'that lunatic sister of yours'. Zinda was a bit oblivious. He smiled and apologized and assured her that everyone was quite fine. Then he was called away, and with many promises of good behavior, he was free from Zinda. His mother had called him away.
"Niraven! You're leaving tomorrow! You need to pack!" And so he was sent off, completely oblivious that his sister was having a wonderful time while he was talking to Zinda. He was trapped, anyways. The fishing trip was tomorrow. While he prepared, he had time to think- the first quiet moment since he had arrived home.
This new girl, what was her name again? Oh, right, Leanin. Who was she? Aunt Numuna and Uncle Dalohny simply said they found her, invited her home, and she never left. They liked her. And as her father's elder sister and as the woman in charge of the Hold, Numuna liking her was important. Apparently she was staying in their guestroom. She seemed nice. And then his thoughts began to stray back to Haper Hall.
Because truth to be told, Niraven hardly knew this place. Their family had only joined Aunt Numuna and Uncle Dalohny when he was around eight, and he had left for Harper Hall apprenticeship five years later. Harper Hall had become his home. He felt uncomfortable here. It was different for his sister. She had been young enough to accept the move from Fort easily. She hardly even remembered it there. But he did. And he always liked it better than in the south. Not to mention that the people here were wonderful, but it was very overwhelming, and he did not really like to fish.
And as his thoughts were on Harper Hall, they naturally settled down to thinking about Elixa, his betrothed back at Harper Hall, though his family didn't know. She was not to be known, she had insisted. He was not quite sure why, but there would be a good reason. Elixa always had a good reason for everything. Elixa was a journeywoman Harper, though she was the same age as him. She had just started her apprenticeship a bit earlier. He would be a journeyman soon, and then he would have an excuse not to return here, which would be wonderful.
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by a shout.
"Niraven!" And then there was his sister. Her long hair was damp and tied back in the usual ponytail. She wore a loose blue tunic and a pair of rather tattered brown pants. Her feet were bare. She smelled of salt and was quite out of breath. Nirami sat down on his bed.
"I haven't had any time to talk to you since you got home and you're already leaving with Dad?" His sister frowned a little.
"It will only be a day or two. You've managed fine without me, haven't you?"
"Well, I suppose." She sighed a little.
It was then that Niraven realized how much his baby sister had grown up. He had not really noticed it before, but Nirami was developing quite a personality. It had not shown in her short, rather emotion-deprived letters, but she was not the dependent, quiet little girl he had known. She was really becoming a spirited, self-dependent young woman. It really shook him, as such realizations are prone to do.