Certainty

Writers: Beth
Date Posted: 1st September 2005

Characters: F'lik, Denala
Description: Felarik Impresses bronze Padorath and Denala Impresses green Veiyath
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 1 of Turn 3

Glittering and sparkling in the dim light of the workshop, Felarik's vase took on new life as he carefully worked the design. He'd blown it the day before, and today he was working on cutting a pattern into the rim. He was just starting to feel settled in, and he loved working. On this day, he felt especially happy for some reason, almost as though he was tingling all over. He hummed to himself as he set to make another cut.

Suddenly, three things happened at once. Felarik realized what was happening just as a weyrbrat came bursting in shouting the news. And his hand slipped, knocking the precious vase across the table and off the other side. The boy fell silent, and the other smiths in the workshop, turned to look. Felarik couldn't help feeling that perhaps this was a bad omen. He started around the table to clean it up, but Garrew, a friendly journeyman stopped him.

"I'll get it. You get yourself to the Hatching ground.
I want to see you find your dragon today."

Felarik nodded gravely at the other young man. "Thank you." He put away his tools, and left, trying not to run, trying to know that he could get there in a dignified manner and still be in time.

He found the Candidate barracks almost entirely deserted and in a complete disarray. As he cast around for his white Candidate's robe, the curtain dividing the sides was flung back, and Denala stepped through, looking flushed and a little worried. "What took you so long?"

"I was in the--aha!--in the workshop." He began stripping off his clothing and threw on his robe before she could respond. 'Well, let's go, then."

They did run this time, and caught up with the rest of the Candidates as they prepared to walk onto the Sands. They stood still for a moment as the adults made sure everyone was accounted for. Felarik took Denala's hand and squeezed. Who would have guessed that she'd be there with him on this day that he'd always known would come? She smiled back at him.

Denala was not nervous for herself. She knew that she'd be happy if she Impressed or if she didn't. She did hope to stay with Felarik, though. Her parents would probably be taking her home with them if she didn't find a lifemate today. The Candidates arranged themselves, just before finally entering the Sands, girls on one side, so they could all present themselves to the queen egg. What a glorious opportunity. She squeezed Felarik's hand before they parted, then focused her attention forwards.

As they walked in, the dragons' humming seemed to increase 100 times. Added to it was the sound of an immense crowd of people above them. Denala almost wanted to go back where there weren't hundreds of pairs of eyes watching her. She closed her eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and went on. The girls spread out around the golden egg, some gazing longingly, others looking on with trepidation. Denala looked behind her to see where Felarik had ended up.
He was halfway across the Sands from her, but he saw her looking and smiled with a certainty that heartened her.

Felarik was beginning to feel nervous, though he wasn't about to let anyone see it. Soon the eggs were moving in purposeful lurches. He tried to guess which one would be first to hatch. As he was just about to settle on one of the largest ones, a smaller egg burst, and the green found her way to a surprised young boy. Felarik reveled in seeing the joy of Impression that he'd only heard about before.

Denala heard the first egg hatch, and turned her head to watch. The young dragon seemed so certain, and Denala wondered if they would all be so. Soon, more eggs were cracking, and Denala turned around completely, wanting to see whether Felarik was Impressing and forgetting entirely that she was there for the same reason. She saw a blue heading in his direction and wondered, but it swerved and went to a boy on his left. Denala felt his disappointment keenly when the first bronze didn't even glance in his direction. She kept her eye on the biggest egg. It was starting to crack, and she thought she saw a glint of bronze. Trying to keep his mind open, Felarik watched each new dragonet find its perfect mate. He hoped that one would be his, but each time someone else Impressed, he felt a little less certain. About two-thirds of the eggs had hatched, and he still hadn't found his dragon. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Opening them again, he found a beautiful blue dragonet looking at him. He stepped up, offering himself, and held his breath, but the blue looked away seeming disappointed. As the blue moved out of the way, Felarik saw the egg he'd picked as first finally breaking. The brilliant bronze dragon struggled out of his shell, squawking loudly, seeming to announce his presence. Suddenly, the squawk turned higher to a sound of pain and annoyance as the dragonet fell on his back. Felarik knew what to do. He rushed forward and got behind the young dragon, pushing him up onto his feet. Once up, the dragon turned and Felarik saw his eyes glittering like the pattern on his lost vase.

"I've been waiting for you," he said.

The tiny dragon responded, his voice sounding in Felarik's, F'lik's, mind. }:And I was looking for you.:{ "Padorath..." F'lik said to himself. Then, remembering where he was, he called it out for the whole Weyr to hear. "Padorath!"

Denala lost herself in Felarik's Impression. She'd never seen anything so beautiful. All else forgotten, she gazed at the new pair, noting every detail, feeling more love and joy than ever before. She was certain that she'd never be so happy again.
Seeking to prove her wrong, a damp nose prodded her thigh. Denala looked down, a bit confused for a moment as to why she was there. The tiny pale green dragonet made an impatient noise, bringing Denala to her senses. She dropped to her knees in astonishment, staring into the young green's eyes. "Me?" }:I knew you were here. I'm Veiyath.:{ "Yes," Denala breathed. In the rapture of Impression, she missed the entrance of Pern's newest queen.

Last updated on the September 3rd 2005

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Certainty