==== July 9th, 2013
==== Lendai
==== Lendai has kept a big secret from everyone.

Who Lendai
What Vignette
When 1 turn 9 months and 15 days until the 12th pass
Where Weyrwoman's Office, Southern Weyr

lendai_playful_icon.png


"Senior Weyrwoman?"

An unfamiliar voice draws Lendai's attention away from her task at hand, which was getting her office in working condition. Usually a drudge's chore, but there was a slight shortage of them at Southern Weyr at the moment, so for once, the finicky goldriders was content to do the job herself. Though being disturbed when she finally found a few free moments to do so has her less than pleased.

"What?" She snaps out, looking up to the doorway. Though her irritation changes quickly once she sees it is a nanny that has darkened her door. Exasperation takes over, knowing full well what this is all about. "Well, where is she?" The nanny has the decency to look chagrined as she pulled her arm forward, it was hidden in the shadows beyond the doorway. Connected to the woman's hand is a smaller hand being dragged inside, then an entire body soon following.

"I'm sorry, Weyrwoman, but she's been asking for you for days. It's… it's making it hard with so many people in and out of the playroom to keep the… the secret." The nanny's words start out strong, but is hushed as she gets to the end of her sentence. Her head swiveling behind her, just to ensure that there is no one listening in. "She is quite insistent, ma'am. Also quite loud. People have been asking questions."

Lendai grits her teeth, her eyes taking in the little girl looking quite smug with herself for getting her way. The goldrider is about to snap at the nanny, demand she take the problem away and leave her be! She has no time for this kind of personal delay. Southern Weyr is still on shaky grounds, even more so with Q'fex now situated as the Weyrleader. A five turn old is the last thing Lendai has time to deal with. Her mouth opens… and then shuts. A resigned look overcomes her features.

"Fine. Fine. You win." This is stated to the miniature version of herself. "Leave her here with me. If people ask anymore, simply tell them the truth." The nanny's eyes widen in surprise, totally not expecting this turn of events. "Ma'am, are you positive? Perhaps if you foster her to another We—"

"This is no longer your concern. You've done your job, I thank you for keeping her safe all these turns, even jumping forward with us. I have no more need of you, however. Should you decide to leave Southern, you have my blessing." And with that, the woman is freed from her five turn long task. There is not much more for her to say, she simply bows to both Weyrwoman and child, turns, and leaves. What happens to her? Lendai has no clue and generally does not care.

And the child? Well, she makes herself right at home, zipping into the Weyrwoman's Office with the energy only children have. Getting into everything within the first fifteen seconds of being freed from her slaver. The crashing sound of what was Lendai's glass of wine has the woman wincing and letting out a snarl. This? This was not going to work. At all.

Wracking her brain for options, Lendai now stalks back and forth across the room, the little girl watching from the seat she found behind a big desk. What to do, what to do. Senior Weyrwoman do not watch children, do not raise them. Shells, she could barely even care for her younger sister… a pang of wistfulness fills Lendai briefly. Iili, her half-sister, possibly dead, possibly alive, 400 turns in the past. How she wishes Iili would have come forward. She would have taken this problem off of her hands! She was the mother figure Lendai would never — could never — be. Much like Tye, Lendai was not created with motherly instincts.

A sidelong glance goes towards the top of her desk, numerous hides waiting for her perusal… well. They were on her desk. Now they are scattered on the ground as an apparently overly hyperactive child is stomping all over them. Lovely. Just lovely.

"Crackdust!" Lendai swears, "Stop that this instant! Can't you sit and stop? Shards! I-I-I have no idea what to do with you, if only your worthless, dimglow of a fath—" Pause. Stop. Rewind. Father. That's right! This… this wasn't only Lendai's problem after all! It took two people to make the little beast, so why should it all be heaped on her shoulders?

"Talicanitath!" Lendai speaks out loud, for her own benefit as well as for the child's, whose interest has no moved away from destruction and is now concentrating fully on the older woman's next actions. "Bespeak Dhioth, tell him to inform K'ane we will be visiting shortly. Do not tell him why." Somewhere in the Weyr, a golden dragon does as she is bidden, her sudden amusement tickling at Lendai's mind.

In a super sweet voice, Lendai turns towards the little girl, her hands on her knees as she stoops over to be eye-to-eye with the child. "Aikari, sweetie."

"…yes, mommy?" Finally, the child speaks, her large, round eyes full of curiosity in her mother's sudden change of mood. She's used to misplaced anger, not so much this nice tone.

"Let's go get your riding leathers on, darling, we're going to go see your daddy."

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