Freedom in Weyrs

Writers: Anna, HeatherH
Date Posted: 23rd January 2007

Characters: Qarinoa, Rizona
Description: Qarinoa and Rizona talk about being a dragonrider and the difference between Weyrs and Holds.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 1, day 24 of Turn 4

Rizona took her tray of food and looked for a place to sit. She was still so shy, and it was so crowded in the dining cavern.

Qarinoa had just filled her plate with food and was standing behind a girl about her age, maybe younger, with candidate's knots and seemed rather uncertain of where to sit down to eat. "Hey there," she waited for the young woman to turn around then nodded her head towards a table with two empty seats across the cavern, "there's two spots over there if you'll join me."
she invited.

Rizona smiled. "Thank you." She followed the other girl towards the seats and settled herself down. "I'm Rizona. I'm a new candidate here...I have never been to a weyr before!"

The redheaded Weyrling smiled and reaching across the table gave the other girl her hand to shake, "I'm Junior Weyrling Qarinoa, greenrider to Arminath." she smiled at the girl's excited unease. "I've lived here my whole life, but the way new comers act always reminds me that there's more out side of River Bluff."

Rizona reached out and shook the other girl's hand. "My parents are minor holders. Um...I never knew much about dragons and their riders.
We always did our duty to the Weyr, but that was all."

Qari smiled as she took a bite of her roll, "Well, you'll know what you need to by the time you Impress. They try to make sure nothing's a surprise for us weyrlings." the junior weyrling smiled thinking of all the questions her little green had thought up that Qari could never have anticipated.

"I haven't, I know there are classes and things, but I haven't started them yet. I've only ever met one dragon." Rizona took a bite of her food, finding it plain, but wholesome.

Qari nodded, "I remember the first time I met a dragon." She became somewhat disconnected as she delved into her memory.

"It was a green, and I know they are smaller, but she seemed _huge_..."
Rizona's voice trailed off as she blushed for showing her naivety.

Qari couldn't avoid smiling at the girl's blushing, "There's nothing to be embarrassed about, as long as you understand that greens _aren't_ the biggest dragons."

}:I'm plenty big Qari.:{ Arminath chimed in.

The senior apprentice dragonhealer smiled at her green's comment, **Of course you are dear.**

"Um, I know they aren't. I just haven't met any really big dragons." She nervously took a bite of her food.

Qari patted the other girl's hand, "It's alright to be afraid, fear makes us smart. Just don't let yourself lose confidence, _that's_ important for Impressing a dragon. At least _I_ think so."

"I never even thought about riding a dragon. But one day the Searchrider came and, well, then I ended up here."

The weyrling shrugged, "All the more reason to feel confident. The Searchdragon saw something special in _you_, something that made you stand out. I mean, unlike all the rest of us who have lived here our whole lives you were specially chosen to Stand."

"I...I guess you could be right. I've just...I'm still getting used to the idea of maybe being a rider."

Qari nodded, "Do you know what you'll do if you don't Impress?"

"Well, I have to go back, right? To my father, I mean."

The Weyrling raised her eyebrows and stopped chewing, then remembering who she was talking too finished her bite and shook her head, "No, no you don't have to do anything. It's your choice. You could go back if you wanted, or you could stay here and Stand at the next Hatching. It's up to you." she shrugged, "I guess no one expects you to do anything until you tie yourself down, either as a crafter or a rider. But you can do both as well. Like me, I'm a dragonhealer and a rider. Of course have to have a dragon to be a dragonhealer." she smiled, "It's your choice." she repeated.

"Oh, I see. I didn't know I could stay. I...I think I would like to stay.
I've never thought about having a craft. It's just not something women do."

Qari almost choked on her drink, she sputtered and whipped her mouth, "'Not something women do?'" she shook her head. She would never understand the idea that women shouldn't be crafters, "I'm sorry, I'm just amazed that anyone still thinks that way." she sighed and elaborated, "Frankly women can do almost anything a man can do. Our former Weyrhealer is a woman, she had to quit for health reasons, but she's just as smart and capable as the male healers."

Rizona blushed. "Um, I guess it is different here."

The Weyrling sighed again, "Sorry I sort of spouted off there, I just don't think people should let expectations, especially social ones, keep them from doing what they want to." she took a sip of her drink then invited the other girl to give her opinion, "What do you think? Should those around you keep you from doing what you desire to do?"

Rizona paused for a moment. "Well, no, not exactly. I guess I have never really thought about it before. I mean, back home you just do what you are told, and you know that you will become a wife and mother."

Qari nodded, "Yep, and here they expect you to do as your told, but to make your own decisions as well." She smiled at her new friend. "That doesn't sound too bad does it?"

Rizona smiled back. "No, it doesn't. I think I might like living in the weyr."

The weyrling nodded her approval, "Good! Now pass me the water."

Last updated on the January 24th 2007

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