Priestess of the Linen (open)

[hrsegrl]

The younger woman had heard enough love stories to make her want to vomit. Her sister insisted on love and loyalty to husband and family. Love was not something she would willingly enter. It required giving too much of oneself away. “Love is dangerous. To give so much of yourself to someone else leaves you vulnerable and what if this person never feels the same way you do. You would have to live life in the most acute pain there is.” In her mind she could see that love was agony. She would be better off loving a dragon, Faranth willing. No, human love was far too changeable.

Although Lirian was right to want to feel loved, Rishka knew also how improbable it was. Then when the other girl she only wanted fondness, Rishka smiled. “No, you really do want love. I would not settle if that is what you want, for less. Fondness would never make up for the love that you say you want. Some men are the type to give of themselves I guess. You're just going to have to find a very special man to be that person for you.”

Love was possible for some people, she admitted to herself. If she ever found it perhaps she would not reject it as easily as she said she would. Men here were much more changeable than at the Holds so she was not sure she would ever find a man she trusted enough to be in love with. Or maybe love had so little reason that she would love a man who never desired her. Cruel but likely. She shrugged and looked back at the clothes she was washing. Life was unpredictable, somehow women had been falling in love for centuries and it had not seemed to slow down. No one was any wiser now than they were then. Maybe women were too driven by emotion to realize and men too driven by physical attraction to care? She did not know and she doubted she would ever understand.

“Oh. Hello Jarna...” Rishka said, the woman seemed a bit intimidating to her. Probably used to pushing around newcomers like herself. Too young to know better mentality there. Rishka followed Lirian's suit. “Here you are.” She put the wet clothes into the basket and went back to her conversation with Lirian. Dragons were definitely the number one thing here. “Dragons are a good reason to live here. I grew up not knowing they still existed, so its like a myth come to life.” A dream come to life too. Impressing or not, she liked the idea of the impossible being possible. Dragons were just that to her.

“Oh I'm sure you'll do an excellent job despite the Hatchlings. I doubt there will be another Gold so soon after Nisurath. That seems a rare occurrence in the Records I've read.” Hopefully that would keep Lirian from dwelling too much on Gold dragonets. That they were dangerous, Rishka understood, that they were beautiful, she had yet to see, that they killed young women like herself, she knew too but given the chance she would tempt fate and try for a Gold hatchling. The danger factor only made her want to do so more. Besides the old Queenriders mentioned that not all Queens were so vicious at birth.

[omg!itsbrim!]

"I'd rather feel pain than not feel at all," The young woman's shone with passion, "I overheard a rider say once, 'the man who eats nothing but sweets will taste Kerja's bubbly pies and think nothing of it, but a man who knows bitterness will taste and recognise it's brilliance and appreciate it more.' I believe him, and I believe you must love blindly to be loved so strongly back! If you never give so fully of yourself, you have not lived all of life's spectrum! Not to mention to give with all of your heart is a good trait."

"My mother once told me a story, she said, 'There once was two neighboring cotholds. The first cotholder was a proud but foolish man. The second was hardworking and compassionate, he loved the first cotholder like a brother, but the first cotholder seemed to be blind of it. One fall, the harvest was more than plentiful. The cotholds had much food and resources to spare. The first cotholder celebrated all winter with his family with the abundance. The second was smart, and rationed like any other winter. That spring, after the new plantings were put out, a late frost came and whiped out the crop. The first cotholder had barely any food because he and his family had splurged. The second holder had more than enough, because he was frugal. The second cotholder, out of pity, some say, but I say out of compassion, gave extra rations to his friend so that they would not starve or go with out. Other cotholders near-by heard about his deed and praised the second man for his good sense, and his love.'"

She gave a half smile, "I think my mother taught me that story to teach me not to be foolish and to teach me that it is good to work hard and not play all day. But I see it a bit differently. You see, the second cotholder could have left his fellow brother starve and then take over that cothold, too. The second cotholder could have used the first man's blunders for his advantage, but he didn't. The second cotholder didn't save the first because he thought he would get anything in return, he just did it because he loved him. I like to believe that the first man learned from this, and realized his brotherhood with the second man. I also think that the community had more respect for the second man and used him as a role model not because he was wise, but because he loved so unconditionally."

Lirian rose to her knees with a light laugh, "I hope I have not sounded too much like a lecturing harper. I am sorry, perhaps I got carried away. You probably have heard such a story before and I am boring you."

She looked around briefly, "I am free until those clothes are dry this afternoon. And speaking of bubblies and harvests, I am getting hungry for lunch. Would you care to join me?"

[hrsegrl]

She had heard it all before from her mother and sister and her personal drudge. It was a bunch of bunk if you asked her. Men loved power, women were secondary to that. She however was smart enough to keep her mouth shut about the issue. It was clear that they had completely different ideas on the concept of love. Once a man had all of a girl there was no escaping and he would use this emotional hold to make the girl do whatever he wanted, even to the point of breaking her heart so he could have the freedom to have other relationships.

That was all well and good for other people. Maybe this was one lesson she did not want to get right. Love was for other women but not for her. No one could convince her otherwise, especially not at this moment. People could say what they wanted to. A dragons love was much more stable and easier to trust in. Maybe that was really what people wanted but this unconditional love was not found among humans.

“I've heard variations...” Rishka said trying not to let on that she did not agree with Lirian. She had seen things go quite the opposite way in the real world and perhaps thats why these were just stories. Maybe Lirian was holding out for something that was out of a fairy tale rather than what was real. Rishka was not going to be the one to ruin it for her. Let a man do that later. That was something she would not like to see but had no doubt would happen. Especially if she never impressed a dragon. Dragonmen under flight lust slept with whomever and their weyrmates took it as them being their dragons which had nothing to do with the women. Well, Rishka tended to think that was a bit wrong. Of course she did, she was a holder. Promiscuity was not something she looked favorably upon.

She dried her hands on the skirt of the dress she was wearing. “Food does sound like a good idea right about now.” Her stomach was rumbling but not loudly enough for anyone to hear. “What do you think is the best meal they serve here?” Rishka liked to know so that she knew which meals to get to the hall early for, in case they ran out of it.

[omg!itsbrim!]

Lirian smiled politely, seeing that she had little effect on the other woman, and just rubbed her hands in her skirt. "The kitchens are this way..." She started to lead Rishka down one of the stone corridors. Of course she, like Rishka, would never be dissuaded from her beliefs, though she might be convinced that love might not happen, she knew that it was possible, and worth more than a thousand marks.

"The best meal? Hmm... well I do like stuffed and roasted beast, when it is done correctly it is moist and the flavor is superb. I like roasted and seasoned tubers. But their cold meats and bread is a suitable luncheon." She smiled, leading down the hall, her fingertips brushing against the cool stone. She caught a glance behind her to make sure Rishka was still there. Could she count the girl among her friends? Possibly. She would see if Rishka kept her promises first.

((shall we say thread ended?))

[hrsegrl]

(Sounds good to me)