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Shoulders back, head up. Grace, poise, you are a Holder's daughter - no. You are going to be a weyrwoman and you have to act like it! Hands tugged at the bodice of her pale blue linen dress, though every stitch of it was perfectly in place and embroidered with the little birds she put on almost all her things in white thread. Inaari had even bothered to brush her hair that day, braiding it into a coil at the back of her neck. It had been stressed over and over at the Hold that appearances were very important, and the young woman didn't think that this was any different at the Weyr.

Even Ianath had been scrubbed to shining and oiled beautifully - nobody could say that Inaari was neglecting her dragon to spend time with T'ron! Or climbing the Weyr. Or the several other things she did that sent her all but spinning into bed at night only to wake up and repeat in the morning. Now there were going to be lessons with the Weyrwoman, and she did not know how to approach this at all!

Mine, you have to go in. You cannot stand here all day. I will go in first if you would like! Ianath's concerned yet prodding voice pulled Inaari out of her mental status check and she mentally reached out with the utmost love and thankfulness to her Bonded, accompanied by a scratch over those favored eye ridges. Ianath was always certain of what needed done at least! Reaching out to the tapestry, the chestnut-haired young woman twitched it aside only so that her voice would carry inside. "Weyrwoman? It's Inaari, I ah...I had a few questions if you've time for me?"

Apprehension both sharpened and dwindled as the Weyrwoman welcomed them in. Inaari remembered keenly from the Hatching Feast that she was a kind woman who had a deep understanding of what it was like to be overwhelmed and then set apart. It was one of the things that was bothering her so much, something she intended to ask about almost immediately. A pleasant smile moved across Inaari's face and she stepped into the room, followed very closely by Ianath, who was wholly obsessed with the queen that was her mother.

Dragons were never wholly impressed with familial ties, but nonetheless this was the Senior queen and someone that she very badly wanted to emulate herself after. Were they supposed to sleep so much? How much did she sleep? Eagerly responding to the greeting, Ianath went as close as she dared to the larger queen. Thank you, Feynath! I am very happy to come up here now! Mine is very nervous, but she is very smart and very concerned with important things like she should be. Pride for her rider was inherent in her voice. I am growing very fast because of her. Really, if that didn't settle Inaari, Ianath was at a loss!

Inaari was not quite settled, but did smile a lot wider and even let out an adoringly exasperated sigh at her dragon, watching the half-sized queen next to the fully grown one. "Thank you, Weyrwoman. I was worried that I might have been a little off, that happens sometimes when I start talking to Ianath." Or when she was off outside the Weyr, but she didn't really think that was entirely relevant. "I'm actually very grateful that you've offered to take on some of...well. Some of this." Fingers motioned back and forth between Ianath and herself. "It's not really something that the Weyrlingmaster knows a whole lot about." She'd asked. Often.

Ianath was thrilled to be so very close to the larger and darker queen, to have her attention only reinforced that she and Hers were doing well and that she should keep on the same as always. Inaari caught some of this and gave her dragon a bemused glance. The weyrling, happy to show off and receive compliments, stood up and stretched as much as she could in the area.

I eat quite a lot more than everyone, and Inaarimine sands and oils me every day so that my hide does not crack. We also stretch every morning, she says it will make me taller, faster. I think it worked. The last comment was almost comically sober, causing the brunette to burst into giggles, wrapping arms around her dragon's neck as much as was allowable. "Pardon Ianath, she's a bit of a showoff. Probably rightfully so, she's very pretty, but still a showoff." Arms only hugged tighter when the playfully indignant young queen tried to shake her off, and the girl released a moment later to straighten her skirt and sit down against the gold.

The mention of putting a Lady Holder to shame made her smile a bit sharper than usual at Eirlyn. "That should please my mother. She was somewhat...incensed when she found out that I'd come to the Weyr. Mama always hoped I'd marry a well-to-do merchant and help take care of the family - but I'm afraid I've proved a disappointment." This was accompanied with a rather careless shrug. Inaari and her mother had never had the best relationship, probably due to spending every waking hour together inside their small cot. Then, her mind meandered to 'boys'.

This brought up thoughts of Therion, and fidgeting, she blushed. Ianath, who had been happily soaking up glances from Feynath, swerved her head around to look at her rider sharply. Ask her. You cannot keep being nervous, mine. You are my rider, you can do anything! Buoyed, the girl nodded and squared her shoulders again, looking up at Eirlyn. "I have to ask...ah. What happens if you like a certain boy, but his dragon does not fly yours? Or can't?" The pretty silver seemed blithely disinterested in Ianath as anything other than someone to talk to, and T'ron did not seem reassuring that this would change.

He avoided the subject a lot, in fact.

Disconcerted, she kept on. "And what if...well. You can't stand the person? Do you have to stay with them for a long time if their dragon flies Ianath?" This did not appeal to her at all, but for Ianath, she would do anything. Or so she was militantly telling herself, reasoning that the dragon's love and companionship was worth the price paid to spend a few hours a day with someone she could not stand. After all, hadn't she done so back at the Hold?

By the First sharding Egg. The round oath sounded in the Holder girl's head while her jaw dropped slightly as she was educated fully for the very first time on exactly how intense the process of her lifemate's flight would be. It banished the pleasure of the fact that she would be able to tell her mother, in writing, that she was higher in rank than a Lady Holder. That would probably silence some of the criticism, perhaps soften the woman's relentless grip on the family that had remained so uncharacteristically silent towards their younger member. All of that was wiped away by the fact that no matter who the rider was, they were apparently going to rock the foundations of the Weyr when it came time for Ianath to rise.

It was easy to shake her head, a bit of hair coming loose in the strength of the motion and Ianath came down to soothe her rider. Feynath's is right, Inaarimine. I would not ever pick someone you did not like, their dragon would not ever catch me! I have the perfect dragon in mind, and he will catch me and we will be happy! The naive reassurance helped, and again Inaari hugged her dragon and thanked her wordlessly. "No...I don't want to be Weyrwoman. That means you and Feynath would not be here and that is not at all a nice thought. And I don't think any bronzeriders will want to hang around me after....that. I ah...haven't got any experience in that area." It was the most polite way to say she was a virgin, and her freckles stood out against the red suffusing her tanned cheeks.

It did, however, need more to say and it was probably better to ask the rest of her questions while they were talking about relationships. "That was my other question, about relationships. But ah..not those kind!" Another fidget and another nudge from Ianath. "Is it always going to be this way, living apart from everyone? Being higher than a Lady Holder is a nice thought, but it's so...lonely?" Her head tilted as she searched for the word, then nodded slowly. "Yeah, lonely. Everyone is really nice, but I sometimes feel like they are sorta stepping carefully around me. That's new. I'm used to being invisible to everyone, and now people stop talking sometimes when I come in a room." She hated that the most, the very most.

Ianath, however, could not be more pleased with this. Explaining to Feynath was easy! I told her this is very silly, they are all looking at me, and being respectful. That is how it should be, yes?

Ianath was slightly puzzled by this information from her mother, eyes whirling just a bit as she processed. So it is very nice that they go quiet, but I should want them to talk to us when we come in instead? Pay attention like Cavenath's rider? Of course T'ron paid attention when Inaari came into a room, and he seemed keenly aware of her problems with some of the other Weyrlings. Inaari all but loved him for the effort he was putting forth to include her, and thanked him as often as possible with sweet kisses and baked goods.

Chewing on her bottom lip, Inaari's good common sense aided her in nodding at the wisdom of Eirlyn's words. "Yes, that'll have to be something I put first. It would not be well for myself or Ianath if I were overwhelmed on her first flight. She might go between...no. That is unacceptable." It was better to process things in a practical manner, the way she had always handled difficult subjects at home. Process, stow, have a nervous breakdown alone later. Already though, she was forming a plan on how to get the silver dragonrider on board with this idea. It shouldn't be too hard....hopefully.

The suggestion that she go between to rid herself of children was something that Inaari could not, and would not comment on. It went against everything she had ever learned or been taught, and not even her jaded life outlook could encompass such a thing. It was something that would come up when it was an issue, and never otherwise. Some riders had children, otherwise there would have been no weyrbrats. But that was a topic for such a time as when it was applicable, which was not this one.

"Maybe if I made them a pie or something, that might smooth the way? I have found that with a little effort in the kitchen, anything can be made possible." Her lips twitched. "My father, at least, holds true in this. As do what friends I Have already." It was how she was planning to propose the issue of her inexperience to Therion at least - with a pie in his mouth so he didn't start yelling at her.

The word 'scapegoat' hit the young woman's ears, and fire lit up her chocolate eyes. "However, I am not so concerned with friends that I will idly sit by and be a convenient blame-settler. Responsibility for my own actions I have never minded, and take as well as I can, but I refuse to take it when it is not mine to take!" Surprised by this change in mood, Ianath made a curious sound, agreeing with her Bonded without really knowing what it was she was agreeing to. But it made Inaari smile, just a second before she had another thought. It niggled at her mind and caused a small problem. "I...oh dear. I think I just realized that there are not so many bronzes as all that. What happens if Ianath is flown by the Weyrleader? Does that happen? I swear it's not my intent!" Now Ianath knew what was being said, and added in her own reassurances.

I do not want bronzes that belong to Feynath! I want my own bronzes! It was probably the wrong way to reassure, but it was the best the young dragon could do with such little time to react to her lifemate. Sometimes it was hard to keep up, Inaari's mind always flitted about like some sort of firelizard!

Shaking her head again in that strong denial, her head whipping from side to side in an almost childish gesture, Inaari agreed. "No, it won't be a problem." A thought crossed her young mind, and was quickly suggested up. "Perhaps you could take him with you when you go away as well. That would be more than reassuring. I am of a like mind with Ianath, I do not want to step even remotely into your shoes. It will be enough for me to step into your footsteps paces behind for a long time." The quick assessment and comment did not offend the young woman - she understood guarding what belonged to you. Faranth knew that she'd seen enough girls at the Hold fighting over a boy, and had never touched on the desire to do such a thing. Especially not with the Weyrwoman!

Ianath shrunk back a bit and her own eyes grew lightly distressed, taking up the submissive position in every stripe of muscle she possessed. I do not think Firieth will try, if he has you to catch. I do not want him to try. He is not what I want. The ideal in her mind was set, and though Firieth was a nice bronze certainly, he was not hers. He was Feynath's and Ianath did not want to share. Certainly Feynath understood this!

Switching back to a lighter and much less dangerous topic than the one the Holder had inadvertently put her leg deep into, the topic of leadership was again broached. "So what you're saying is that sometimes no matter whose fault it is, it will be our fault, and we're to take it graciously?" This did not sit well, but then she amended this statement. "Graciously in public."

"And never let them see you cry. Ever." There were women that found tears a useful tool, but those women had always earned the jaded young woman's quick distaste. There absolutely were ways to get what you wanted without resorting to girlish tricks, and you always lost respect when you did such a thing. "They teach that one in the Hold, if you know who to ask for the lesson." Inaari did indeed catch on quickly, it was one of the reasons that she had been so unsuited for Hold life - it bored her.

Thinking back on the matter of a proddy gold and Eirlyn's leaving the weyr in her hands, it was probably wise to ask a few more simple questions. "So, inevitably you will leave for a few days when Ianath is proddy. What all will I be learning for that? I understand that the Weyrwoman is generally in charge of the resources of the Weyr, but past that I admit to not knowing much. I'm sorry, I'm sure having a Holder isn't ideal." Another one of those shrugs clearly saying that while she knew she wasn't exactly the best, there was nothing to be done about it now except learn all she could.

Ianath had been cowed into silence for a time by the rustling of Feynath, but was slowly coming out of the self-imposed submissiveness with a rustle of her wings. Mine has it much harder than I do, but she tries very hard. She is just as good as weyrwoman as any of the other Candidates! It is why she is mine. Of course! Ianath chose her, and she could never choose wrong for the good of the Weyr!

Ianath settled into her frame to think, closing one set of eyelids briefly when Inaari curled into that immense bulk, at ease a bit more now that she and the Weyrwoman had gotten a bit truer stock of each other. Cavenath is very sensible about His, he is very scruffy and silly. He is a bit silly too, but he also thinks he is important so we get along well. Eyes swirled and her amused air changed to something softer and much more interested. I like Pioth very much. He is always very nice to me and does not say anything when I make mistakes. Filanth does, but she is a green and not very smart, so I ignore her. What does she know about being a queen? This was obviously very important to Ianath, who was obsessed with appearances and 'living up' to her role as a queen.

Inaari lightly poked the jaw of the senior weyrling at the comment about Filanth, shaking her head. "She doesn't mean anything by it, Tiepet is the same way and is just trying to help. If you know what you are doing wrong, you don't do it the second time, right?" Yes but Mine, she is very - "Yes exactly." Expression prim but eyes twinkling, Inaari turned back to the Weyrwoman as the draconic exchange ended with her winning for a change. Usually, Ianath was telling her to hush!

The mischievous side of her nature showed itself again as she thought of the help she might garner with a proddy gold and flirtations running high. "I'm sure I'll have all sorts of help - wanted and unwanted while you are gone. They'll probably be all standing outside my weyr every morning, inquiring about Ianath and if they could perhaps be of service for the day. Then when she rises, they will just happen to be close by." Boys always followed the pretty girl when she seemed receptive, just in case she felt inclined to pay attention to someone, they were right there! How extraordinary! "It's interesting the unknown similarities between Weyr and Hold - dragonriders aren't so very different. They're just forced to deal with certain problems that Holders have never needed to concern themselves with." Like becoming pregnant while your dragon mated to produce her clutch, sometimes with a man you'd barely spoken to.

That's certainly something they didn't teach in the Holds!