Patience Little One (Rekka)

[E]

Somadin sat beneath the shade tree, his shells laid out on a roll of hide before him. It was not those shells he had his attention on, however. Leaned back against the tree and one leg tossed over the knee of the other, his undivided attention was on the shell and knife in his hand. He had tried the crèche lady’s sewing needles, breaking three of them before giving up. Then he had tried the blacksmith’s nails and had, again, given up after breaking four shell shards.

The knife he had found, he had borrowed off the brown rider L’nuo who had found him beneath that very tree only moments before. Intrigued by Somadin’s attempts, the tall man had offered the small boy his smallest pocket knife. “Be careful, and spin it slowly. It will scrape a hole in it I bet if you are just patient.” Now the brown and rider both swam in the water as Somadin tried his advice.

And so sat Somadin, still on his first shard with this new technique and with his tongue sticking slightly from the corner of his mouth as he slowly twirled that knife round and round on its point. The sun was warm and the breeze was pleasant. Seeing the small point beginning to dig into the shell where nails and needles had failed, he had to concentrate not to try speeding the process up. Patience…

[Rowen]

Rekka was taking a break from her duties, she didn't feel well as it was. She was wandering when she spotted Somadin, and spotting what he was doing she couldn't help the smile that crossed her lips as she began walking toward him. She walked carefully being sure she wouldn't startle him, he had a knife in his hand after all. She crouched down when she spotted him and leaning close noticed he was making progress. She felt excited, Somadin was succeeding he would making the small shards into novelties.

Her gaze moved to the shards and she ran a finger over a few of them, they were beautiful. "Before long you'll have lots of these." She picked one up holding it up to the light before setting it back down. She looked back at Somadin. "I wonder how much riders will pay you for your hard work."

[E]

Somadin had been startled as her hand reached out, entering his line of sight. Careful with the knife, he sat up quickly and blushed at her comment. “I have so many already, it’s just a matter of making them work.” Crossing his legs, he had to cover his eyes to look up at her as the sun poked through the tree just right to blind him. At her question, he lowered his hand and looked down at the shells again.

“I don’t know what sort of price, but I already have a few that have been called for… If I can just get them on a cord.” Leaning forward, he studied the shells for a moment before pointing to a round baby blue one. “That one is saved for a blue rider, he says it’s the same color his blue is.” Pointing next to a green one he said, “That one is going to be a gift to a green rider a weyrfolk man has a crush on.”

Turning to another one, this one was brown as well but a richer shade he finished, “And that one is saved by a brown rider named L’nuo, though he didn’t say why he wanted it.” Looking up to Rekka he smiled and pointed to another one, this one was a swirl of dark green and light green mixed together. “And that one… that’s the one I chose for you, Rekka.”

Blushing he looked down at it rather than at her. “D-do you like it?”

[Rowen]

At the mention of L'nuo her smile almost faltered but she brightened quickly again as she looked at the one Somadin had chosen for her. "I love it Somadin! Thank you." She put a hand on his head and messed it up as she laughed. "You barely even started and you already have tons of people wanting them! Just imagine how it will be at impressions."

Rekka removed her hand from his head as she lifted it to her mouth and coughed before placing it in her lap and smiling at Somadin. "You're creations will be sought after by many." Rekka tapped the piece he was working on in his hand. "This is only the beginning. You'll make your small shards into something big."

[E]

Somadin had been watching her face eagerly enough to notice instantly that brief falter in her smile. His own smile quivered then slowly fell into a frown as he regarded her. “You don’t like L’nuo, Rekka? Do you know him?” Her falter had come with the name, it was the only thing Somadin could think of to make her hesitate like that.

Somadin himself didn’t know much of the brownrider, but the name was a failure one, easy on most people’s tongues. On the few occasions he had talked to the man, he seemed a very enjoyable and very nice guy. In fact, he was nicer to Somadin than most – even if he always ruffled his hair. In the end, Somadin liked the guy, so he couldn’t see why Rekka wouldn’t. Perhaps he was mean to Rekka? But even as he thought it, the idea just didn’t seem right.

Casting his gaze out to the lake where the man and rider swam even now, Somadin frowned out there holding the little knife in his little hand. They said they would be back after they were clean, perhaps he should ask L’nuo what was wrong between him and the nice, hard working Rekka.

[Rowen]

Rekka opened her mouth to reply when Somadin looked away, she followed his gaze to the lake and slowly straightened. There was no mistaking Menith's large gleaming form, and it could only be L'nuo who was with him. She turned her back on the lake and looked back at Somadin. "I like L'nuo. We simply had a.." She cast about in her mind for the proper word. "Disagreement." She settled on that word not wanting Somadin to trouble himself.

She smiled again as she looked down at him. "Everything will be fine." Rekka could only hope. Somadin had noticed too easily her falter, she would have to be more careful with her expressions around little Somadin, he was more observant than most it seemed. Pushing her hair behind her shoulders and tying it back she looked toward the kitchens. She didn't want to go back to work, she still didn't feel well but maybe she should go before L'nuo noticed her and came. She doubted she could keep a smile around L'nuo for long.

[E]

Somadin watched the headwoman eagerly, his eyes nearly shaking with worry. As she phrased the bond between her and the brownrider as a disagreement, he frowned and jumped to his feet. The look in his eyes flashed from worry to anger to concern. What words came out of his mouth next was a surprise to himself and would have been the same to anyone who heard. He held the knife tightly even as he shook ever so slightly.

“But I don’t care if everything will be fine Rekka, he wasn’t mean to you was he? Did he hurt you? Nobody should bully an adult. That’s not right.” Holding that little knife in his hand, Somadin turned to the water a deep frown on his face. “I’ll fix things Rekka. You just leave it to me…” And with that he took a step forward.

[Rowen]

Rekka's eyes widened. Somadin couldn't be serious, even as she thought so he proved her wrong by stepping toward the lake. Rekka reached after him. "Somadin, no don't. He doesn't bully me." If Somadin confronted L'nuo she doubted he would be happy. Somadin didn't even know the whole story, but it wasn't all of Rekka's to tell Somadin. "If you confront him I'll never be able to face him.."

Her heart was pounding if Somadin confronted L'nuo then L'nuo might blame her, she didn't want that. "Somadin, he's really a nice guy we just aren't getting along. It's my fault." Rekka was saying things she wasn't even meaning to, anything that might stop Somadin from confronting L'nuo.

[E]

The feel of her hand on his arm stopped Somadin short, and instantly all tension left his body. He wasn’t a fighter, it was the LAST thing he was born to do, but that did not mean he enjoyed what he was hearing. Now he was just confused, he’d never seen Rekka hurt anyone just as he’d never seen L’nuo hurt anyone – at least not physically.

Turning back to Rekka, he looked up into her eyes, his own holding the look of concern and sincerity. “What is wrong Rekka? What happened? Can I help?” Putting down the knife and the shard in his hand, he took her hand off his arm and held onto it with one of his own. “I can help Rekka, I just need to know what’s wrong…”

[Rowen]

Rekka looked down at Somadin and bit her lip looking toward the lake to make sure L'nuo and Menith were still busy. Then she looked back at Somadin. "I can't Somadin. I don't know what is wrong, I hurt him without trying to." Rekka smiled and ruffled Somadin's hair. "I'm sorry Somadin. I know you mean well and I'll keep that in mind, but right now. I can't even help it." She stepped back pulling her hand free after giving Somadin's hand a squeeze.

She gestured at his shells. "I look foreward to seeing them finished. If you need any help let me know okay?" She patted his shoulder. "Thank you Somadin but I should get back to work." With that she smiled down at him reassuringly before turning and heading back the way she had come. She glanced over her shoulder at Somadin and waved, sure that she would see him later if not today then another day soon.

[E]

Somadin felt his chest grow tight as he quickly dropped his gaze to the ground. No, I should have known… I am too small to put trust into. Feeling her ruffle his hair, he fought back the tears. He never seen her gesture and barely heard her words as she walked away. Several minutes he stood there, letting his hair hide his face as he finally let the tears fall when he knew she was gone.

Slowly he turned his head skyward and sniffed hard to keep his nose from running. The sunshine was warm on his face, but it did not lessen the tension in his chest. It was the warble from the lake that stole his attention. Looking toward the brown playing with L’nuo, Somadin let out a heavy sigh. Maybe someday I’ll be like him. I’ll be tall and strong and smart. Then people will trust in me…

Sighing heavily, he wiped away his tears and sat down heavily again. Leaning his back against the tree, he picked up the shell he had been working on and began to scrape at it again. Letting his mind wander, he carefully closed out the rest of the world. They won’t accept me yet, then I won’t care about them… Rekka came back to mind, however, and Somadin knew he wouldn’t be able to stop caring just yet.


[Thread Closed]