You Could Be Mine Pt 1
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Avery, Paula
Date Posted: 16th December 2015
Characters: Lenala, A'kades, F'dal, Alfginna
Description: Vilarth's eggs hatch
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 3, day 21 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Rhosyn, Carin, Ciara; Pt 1 of 2
Lenala sat on the edge of the infirmary bed while Alfginna brushed her hair. Alfginna had brought her her dress, the very same pale pink one she had worn during the Turn Over. She had been so happy then. Could she ever be happy again? Alfginna had also helped her to dress it on. She had done it all without a word. No condolences, no sympathy, false or genuine.
Somehow Lenala found that shy silence more comforting and soothing than Rhosyn's fussing or healers compassion. The healers didn't want her to go, but the eggs were Hatching and she had to be there. She could hear the humming.
"Do you want me to do something for your hair, like braids, lift it up?" Alfginna asked timidly, first words she had said in half a candlemark or so.
Lenala studied her reflection from a handheld mirror. She looked terribly pale. Blood loss didn't look good on her. She sighed. "Leave it as it," she said with indifferent tone. Nobody would care what her hair looked like anyway. They would be gawking and staring her, not her dress or hair. Like predators, watching for any signs of weakness. What she really wanted was to grieve in peace but that wasn't allowed. If she wasn't there, Vilarth wouldn't let the candidates anywhere near the eggs. She could feel Vilarth's nervousness.
}: Are you coming? :{ Vilarth asked. She had been edgy ever since that night.
**Soon, I'm almost ready,** Lenala replied.
A'kades nodded politely as he past the Healers who had been so kind the last day. It seemed like there'd been an outwelling of sympathy for them. Normal compassion from people who worked so closely with life and death? Or had it been so strong because of Lenala's importance as a goldrider and his connection to one of their own? Either way, it had been appreciated.
He knocked on the door of the room she was staying in. "Can I come in?"
"Yes, come in," Lenala replied.
"Thank you for your help," she said to Alfginna, dismissing her.
"Anytime," the woman muttered and after a curtsy, slipped out of the room when A'kades stepped in.
She was paler than he'd expected and his heart twisted at the sight. Should she be up? But he thought if he asked if she felt well, it would just insult her. How could anyone feel well after that?
"Are you ready to go?" he settled on.
"As ready as I've ever going to be," Lenala replied and stood up slowly. She had to lean heavily on A'kades' arm when they walked slowly to the Hatching Cavern. Every step hurt, like her pelvic area had been filled with shards of broken glass. But she had refused more fellis, she needed clear head to deal with Vilarth.
He supported her, remaining quiet rather than overwhelm her with talk.
As they walked, he communed with his bronze to make sure everything was all right at the grounds still. The bronze was hovering at the top, watching the gold and the eggs.
When they reached the Hatching Cavern, they were met quite a sight:
Vilarth had positioned herself between the eggs and main entrance, snarling furiously and preventing anybody entering the Sands. Candidates hoovered outside, nervous and quite a bit scared. The gold was the very image of rage. Only the bravest of spectators had come to the Stands and they were staying as far away from Vilarth as possible.
** Vilarth! You need to stop that! You have to let them in,** Lenala commanded.
Vilarth turned to look at her. }: You're here, :{ She was delighted to actually _see_ her rider.
**Yes, and now you need to let them in. The eggs will Hatch and they will need to find their life-mates.**
"The Hatching will still happen," he told the Candidates. Maybe the gold wouldn't let the spectators start filling in. Maybe they'd miss it all. But when the first dragonets crawled out of the eggs, Vilarth wouldn't be able to keep out the Candidates. Her instinct to see her children safe would let them in. Right?
Volaith added a croon to try to reassure Vilarth. }:My rider has worked with the Candidates. They are good. They would be strong for your eggs. We would not allow bad choices to the eggs.:{
"He's trying to reassure her," A'kades told Lenala. He knew her rider's reassurance would be far better than his dragon's - riders outweighed mates - but it didn't hurt to weigh in.
Lenala nodded, her attention on Vilarth. A clammy sweat covered her face. It was more exhausting than you could imagine. **Let them in. You don't want your hatchlings to die,** she tried to reason with her Gold.
Last updated on the December 27th 2015