The Weyrleader's Daughter

Writers: Roxanne, Stasha
Date Posted: 16th January 2008

Characters: D'wrayt, Reyina, M'delon
Description: D'wrayt stops to talk to the candidates about the upcoming hatching.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 6 of Turn 4

D'wrayt had just entered the dining cavern when he spotted his youngest daughter sitting with some of the other candidates. He decided to stop by and make sure they were all ready for the hatching that would be any time now.

Reyina was enjoying being around the candidates, but was nervous about standing for the first time. Everyone said that it was not a big deal, but she was just a little bit afraid. "Hey Madelon, what is it like being so close to the eggs as they start to hatch?" she asked her friend since she thought that he had been on the Sands before and could answer her question without making her feel silly for asking it.

Madelon hesitated before answering, that was a good question. Madelon ran his hands through his shaggy hair trying to find a way to answer her without sounding rude or callous. "I don't know. I missed the last hatching. Enrad?" He glanced across to the other auburn shaggy haired candidate of the table.

"Anyone who tells you it's nothing is full of crackdust," he responded in a quiet yet aggravated voice. "When you're out there your feet are burning in the sands and it takes for ever for the eggs to hatch. Then when they do you're looking at ever dragon on those sands. 'Does she want me?' 'Does he want me? Maybe he does.' It's all you think about. And if you do Impress then luck you. Be happy, be marry, drink, dance, but if you don't," Enrad waved a finger in front of Reyina emphasizing his final thought. "It's like feeling your heart getting ripped out."

Enrad's words started to make Madelon think twice about attempting to stand. Was it worth the embarrassment and pain of rejection?

"It's not that bad, Enrad," Raset retorted. He turned back to Madelon and Reyina. "Don't listen to him, he takes it too personally."

"Yeah, he cried after he didn't Impress last hatching," Nicalos remarked with a wide grin.

"No, I didn't," the candidate denied as he muttered an inaudible insult under his breath.

D'wrayt had listened to the candidates discussion about what it was like to stand and decided to put his thoughts out for discussion. "It takes a lot of strength to stand time after time watching your friends as they find their lifemate, but those who keep standing know that there is a dragon waiting for them somewhere. I was twenty-one when Treadoryth found me." he said with an encouraging smile.

The encouragement lightened Enrad's mood, and then Nicalos spoke.

"I won't have to wait that long," Nicalos pointed at his chest as he looked up at D'wrayt. He turned back to Reyina, Madelon, Enrad, and Raset. "I'll Impress this time, you'll see, and it'll be a bronze too!"

"I think Raset was right," Enrad whispered to Madelon while Nicalos was still consumed with himself. His lips curved into a subtle grin.

"Yeah," Madelon agreed and sat back in his chair. When he peered back at Reyina he mouthed "He'll Impress a green."

Reyina nodded and laughed softly. "I can't wait to be that close to the hatchlings. It will be very different from sitting in the stands." she said excitedly.

"Well, good luck to all of you. It won't be long now before we learn who will be in our new weyrling class." D'wrayt said amused at the banter going back and forth and how his youngest daughter seemed to fit right in.

Madelon smiled at D'waryt's comment, admiring the Weyrleader's words of encouragement. Would he get to fly in his wing someday? He found the question drift into his thoughts. But then he quickly realized **You have to Impress first** "Thank you, Sir," Madelon dipped his head to the Weyrleader respectfully.

Enrad and Raset quickly followed his example, thanking the Weyrleader for his wish of success to them.

"You're quite welcome. Feel free to come by my office if you ever have any questions, that goes for you too Reyina." D'wrayt replied with a grin.

"I know, da. I know." she replied hoping that the others would forget that she was related to the Weyrleader.

Once the Weyrleader left the table, Nicalos quickly opened his big mouth. "So Reyina. What's it like to be the Weyrleader's daught-"

Raset quickly elbowed him.

"What?" Nicalos protested.

"It's the same as you being your parent's son. No different," Raset replied bitterly to Nicalos's stupidity. "Forgive him," he apologized for his friend as he turned to Reyina. "He thinks too much, expect for when he speaks."

It was very true, Madelon thought with a grin across his face.

"That's okay, I've gotten used to it. It's not Nicalos's fault he's unable to think before he speaks. That is something everyone should learn how to do." she replied with a grin. She hoped they realized that there was more to her than simply being the daughter of the Weyrleader. She was a person too, who had interests and abilities all her own.

Nicalos opened his mouth to defend himself, but Raset cut him off. "Nicalos, you sure you want to say what you were going to say..."

He closed his mouth promptly.

As Madelon went to speak however, Raset quickly bypassed him. "But what you were asking about earlier. About the hatching."

He was flirting now! Madelon realized as Raset leaned in with his unique slyness, keeping the maneuver subtle. And why with her? Well, she was sort of attractive...

"It is really nerve wracking, especially when you step out there."

Even Enrad was rolling his eyes too.

"But when you're walking out there, and you see the eggs rocking," Raset sighed as he relived that moment. "It's really cool. I just hope I'll Impress this time."

"That would be neat to see them rocking up close. Sometimes it is hard to see from the stands. I'm sure we all have a good chance of Impressing this time as it will be quite an event." she replied smiling at Raset.

How infuriating that he could not do the same as Raset! Madelon always seemed to get his foot stuck in his mouth when it came to talking to a girl he liked, and make a complete arse of himself when he tried.

"We'll see about-" Raset kicked Nicalos under the table to shut hip up.

"Ouch!"

"Pay no heed to Nicalos," Raset continued. He reached over and poured Reyina a glass of water, noticing her glass was empty before he spoke onward. "The only thing that gets to me about the hatching is that the sands are so hot, they burn your feet, so don't forget to bring a pair of shoes. I'm only telling you because some candidates forget to sometimes." His eyes glanced at Enrad.

"I didn't forget them," Enrad protested. "Nicalos took them because they thought they were his, and he had lost his own."

"I never did find them," the boy sighed. "And I like that pair too."

Madelon found himself tucked in a corner, while Raset continued on.

"He gets it from his father," Enrad whispered to Madelon. "Pay no heed," he scoffed. "You really think he came up with that on his own?"

The comment carved a long grin in Madelon's face. He would just sit back and observe Raset. Hey, maybe he could learn a thing or two, that is unless Reyina did not like the attention. Then it would just be interesting, and potentially hilarious.

Reyina turned to Madelon, "It's great to be able to learn from other's past mistakes is it not. I've learned quite a bit talking to these experienced candidates. They provided much less useful information than my sisters did, but it is good information to know nonetheless. Would you like to go for a walk with me later?" She found that she didn't care for Raset or his friends, but she had liked Madelon for awhile even if she couldn't bring herself to tell him. What if he didn't like her back?

D'wrayt had been watching his daughter and the boys she sat with from afar after his conversation with them. He hoped that his youngest daughter had better judgement than her oldest sister who had quite the reputation throughout the Weyr. Perhaps he needed to have a chat with those boys later to make sure they would treat his daughter as a young lady should be treated if they had any hopes of Impressing. Not that he had any control over that, but maybe they didn't know that.

"Wait, me?" Madelon quickly felt his face heat up as he blushed fiercely. Did she just ask _him_ to take _her_ back to the barracks? He looked over to his friends to see their reactions. They were just as shocked, and stared at Madelon, waiting for his reply. What should he say? He found that he wanted to say yes, but... In the heat of the moment, he quickly dared a glance at the Weyrleader, who seemed to be eying him. Shards! If he said yes then D'wrayt might take offense... but if he declined, Madelon quickly realized that D'wrayt might take even greater offense. What should he say? And then he felt it. He did want to take her back, as he realized the growing crush for Reyina.

"Um...okay," Madelon he replied in an intimidated tone. He stood up, attempting to be more confident, and offered his arm to Reyina, just like B'shen had taught him. He did not even dare to look at D'wrayt now, afraid the wrath he would endure for this later.

Reyina's eyes lit up with excitment. "Wonderful." she replied oblivious to the fact that her father was nearby and seemed very interested in what was occuring at their table. She took his arm and smiled at him.

}:Do not say anything.:{ Treadoryth cautioned his rider from his ledge. He had heard his rider's thoughts and decided to try to disuade him for his own good.

**Allright. If anything happens....**

}:It won't. You'll see.:{ the bronze replied.

D'wrayt simply finished his meal and left the candidates to their activities.

Last updated on the January 19th 2008

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The Weyrleader's Daughter