What might have been

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 25th October 2006

Characters: Aivorn, Debrek
Description: Aivorn has to break the news to Debrek that his relationsship with his daughter is over.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 13, day 20 of Turn 3

Aivorn was working, moving heavy grain sacks from wagon to the storage. It wasn't exactly master beascrafter's job but it was exactly what he needed: heavy, physical work, that let his mind free to think.
He noticed the young tanner and gave him a grunt that could be interpreted as greeting.

"Good afternoon, Master Aivorn," Debrek said with a friendly if not slightly nervous smile. "How are you today?"

"Fine," Aivorn grunted and tossed another sack. It was obvious that he wasn't fine. He had been even more grumpy since the visit to Dolphin Cove Weyr.

"I was wondering, sir, if you have heard anything from your daughter. From Aishara." The tanner had been as shocked as everyone when they had heard the Master's daughter had Impressed from the Stands. It was a rare enough occurance that they were all a little proud it had been one
of their own. Only Debrek and Aivorn seemed to be unhappy with the turn...

"She sent letter. She's quite busy, learning to be a dragonrider," Aivorn replied. He stopped working and wiped his sweat. Shards, he missed her.

"Did she... ask about anyone?" He hoped she had.

"Well, she sent lot of greetings to her friends and wished everybody was well," Aivorn replied.

**But did she say anything about _me_?** "She's happy then?"

"She's settling in fine, she does miss home bit, and you" Aivorn said.

Debrek's face lit up immediately. "Me? Did she talk about me?"

"A bit. She was sorry it ended this way," Aivorn told.

"She's sorry it..." It fell just as quickly. "It ended?"

"Look, she's in Weyr, she has dragon. You are here... Did you think you could still continue with your relationship?" Aivorn sounded unusually kind. He understood the lad's feelings.

"But I thought..." Shards, it was stupid to hope... "I thought she... cared for me."

"Maybe she did. But she has dragonet to care for now," Aivorn said and sighed. He put his arm on to his shoulder. "I'm sorry, lad."

Debrek felt as though he had been punched in the stomach and then kicked in the ribs the way breathing came so hard to him at that moment. It was true. It was real. She wasn't coming back. "I thought I was going to marry her..."

"And you would had been happy together, but life had other plans for or. Or the dragons had."

Just like that. In an instant. Not even a goodbye. Not even a word. It was just... over. "I think I want to be alone for a while."

"All right," Aivorn grunted. He thought the lad really hadn't been such a bad case. Might have even made fine son-in-law.

"Thank you, Master Aivorn," Debrek mumbled quietly as he turned to walk away and tried not to think about what might have been.

Aivorn grunted and returned to the grainsacks.

Last updated on the October 30th 2006

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What might have been