New Directions

Writers: Estelle, Francesca
Date Posted: 11th May 2019

Characters: Arrilon, Tahlie
Description: Arrilon and Tahlie talk about the changes to their lives since they were Candidates.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 10, day 20 of Turn 9

Arrilon set down his bag carefully, hearing the clink of wine bottles
and glasses as the bag settled in the sand. As always on the evening of
a Clutching, he found a quiet spot along the beach about a quarter
candlemark's walk from the Weyr and waited for his friend. Their eyes
had met earlier in the dining cavern and they had nodded in silent
confirmation of their evening plans. Even over two Turns later, it was
hard to be surrounded by the excitement generated by an upcoming
Hatching when he was no longer a Candidate. And so here he was, ready to
find solace in conversation with someone else who understood the pain of
Turns of Standing without ever Impressing.

However, this time there was one difference. As he kicked off his
sandals and sat down his green firelizard, Joy, glided to the ground.
She was almost two sevendays old and he still marveled whenever he felt
her thoughts and emotions projected towards him. She played excitedly in
the sand, alternating between grabbing the sand in her claws and trying
to jump over his legs. It was hard to sink too deeply into any sad
thoughts with her constant youthful exuberance.

As a familiar figure approached, Arrilon raised a hand in greeting.

"Arrilon!" Tahlie hurried over, clutching a cloth-covered basket close
to her which she placed in the sand beside his bag. Pushing back her
short golden-brown hair, she sat down in the sand beside him, kicked off
her sandals and stretched out her long legs. "Ahh, that's better. It's
been so busy today. I've been running up and down stairs, fetching
bottles of wine..." She noticed the little green peeking out from behind
her friend's legs and smiled in surprise and delight. "Is that Joy?
She's grown!"

Joy hopped over to the newcomer, giving a little chirp. Then she eyed
the basket curiously. Arrilon grabbed her before she could get into any
trouble, giving her a piece of jerky from his pocket. She settled
happily on his lap, eating. "She seems to always be hungry. I didn't
think firelizards needed to eat so much." His voice was affectionate as
he looked down at the little green. Then, turning his own attention to
the basket, "What were you able to bring from the kitchens?"

"I've got quite a haul this time, and it's pure comfort food. Rolls and
pastries, some fruit, and..." Tahlie pulled back the cover, took out a
wrapped cloth parcel and carefully unrolled it. "Bubbly pies! I know you
shouldn't eat your dessert before your main course, but as it's today,
and they're best when they're hot, we could have at least one to start."
She offered them to Arrilon.

"You know me so well," he said, eagerly choosing one and taking a big
bite. Luckily, Joy was too occupied playing with her tail to pay the
food much attention, at least for the moment. "Mmm," he said
appreciatively, allowing himself to enjoy the almost-too-hot dessert.
They were silent for a few moments, eating. After swallowing another
bite, he gestured towards his bag. "I have wine, but I'm all sticky. I
can pour it in a few minutes."

"I brought a cloth. Sometimes I'm so organized, I surprise myself." She
licked fruit juice from her lips and reached into the basket for it.
"So. How's life as a harper treating you?" Tahlie knew, better than most
that there were some days when you wanted to talk about life after
Candidacy, and others when it was too raw. Clutchings were second only
to Hatchings in that regard, so she kept her question deliberately open.

Finishing the pie, Arrilon took the offered cloth and wiped his hands as
he answered. "It's going well. I think I'm getting close to walking the
tables. Finally. Maybe not by Turns End, but hopefully within a few
months." It was exciting to be so close to the milestone. He had been an
apprentice for so many Turns. "How about you?"

"Same as usual. Still in the kitchens, still lots of scrubbing pots and
peeling tubers, just like the old days. But try this." She handed him a
pastry roll, wrapped to protect their hands from the heat. "I've been
learning some new recipes! And I've been helping the head cook make out
lists of supplies she wants from the traders. That's been an education.
You can't just expect the holders to send the exact things we need in
the tithe, and there's a lot of planning and sums and calculations. It's
worse than harper classes." She smiled. "Not what I thought I'd be doing
with my life by now. But it's satisfying in its own way."

"That's really good," he said after taking a bite. He paused for a
moment, not quite sure how to phrase what he was about to ask. "Is it?
Satisfying? I enjoy being a harper and think it was the right craft to
choose, but I can't help but wonder if my life is wasted since I didn't
Impress. Or," he stopped to think, "not wasted, but that it doesn't have
the sense of clear purpose that all dragonriders have." He hoped she
understood what he was getting at. Joy, sensing the change in his mood,
crooned for a moment and rubbed her head against his free hand.

"I remember feeling like I had a purpose when I was a Candidate." Tahlie
looked out over the waves, crashing on the shore, as she thought about
his words. "Even up until the last shell cracked at the last Hatching. I
was going to be a greenrider like my mother, and fight Thread alongside
all my friends. And then, afterwards - I know what you mean." She fell
silent for a moment, remembering that day. "But just in the last Turn or
so, I've been starting to realize that now, we can do anything we want.
You can be a harper, but you don't have to. I can be a cook, or learn a
craft, or get married, or run away with the traders. Anything. Sometimes
it scares me. But it's also kind of...freeing."

Nothing Tahlie said was particularly new to him. Similar phrases had
been said by others, especially in the months after the two of them
Stood at the last Hatching they were eligible for. However, they
resonated differently this time. Other times, he had ignored them, or
silently disagreed, or maybe even said something to indicate his
disagreement. This time, he let himself sit with the words, turning them
over in his mind. Knowing Tahlia was comfortable with silence, he went
to his bag, took out the glasses and wine, and poured some for both of them.

After a minute, or perhaps two, had passed, he spoke. "I don't do very
well with freedom, or choice," he admitted. "While I did make the choice
to come to the Weyr after being Searched, the ultimate choice of
Impression wasn't up to me. And, that made it easy. Now," he paused to
take a sip of wine, "everything is more complicated." He turned to look
at his friend, wishing he could view his own life in the positive way
she seemed to view hers. Well, he could at least try. "You know,
speaking of freedom and choices, I'm thinking of leaving the Weyr once I
become a Journeyman; maybe see if the Harper Hall will let me continue
my studies there. That's something no dragonrider would be able to even
consider."

"Oh." Her eyes widened a little. "Well, that would be a change." Tahlie
had never been outside the Weyr, and it seemed like a huge step to her,
though she knew that often, unsuccessful Candidates from the Holds and
Halls did leave. And it was true, the Harper Hall would be the best
place to study for a young journeyman. There were many more masters
there to learn from, and other students from all over the continent to
practice with. She managed to smile, covering her surprise. "I'd miss you!"

"I'd miss you too," he replied sincerely. "I think I'm getting closer to
being content, and even excited, about life as a harper, but being
surrounded by dragons is still hard. I think I need to get away from the
Weyr, even for just a Turn or two. And then, who knows? Maybe I'll come
back. Besides," he added, his tone light, "you can always hitch a ride
with a dragonrider and visit. Or, if you run away with a trader caravan..."

She laughed in delight, raising her glass so that it caught the light of
the setting sun. "Well, I have always wanted to see more of the world.
This could be my chance. Do you think you're getting close?" she asked.
"To being a journeyman, I mean."

"No one has given me a date, but I should be walking the tables near the
beginning of next Turn. Which," he realized, "isn't that far away." Joy
stirred at his excitement, seeming to remember that there was food
around. When she saw that Arrilon's hands were empty, she headed to
Tahlia to see if she had anything good.

"It's not. We'll be starting to get ready for the Turn's End
celebrations before long." Tahlie noticed the little green approaching
her and watched, entranced, as she hopped out of Arrilon's lap and
tilted her tiny head up towards the girl. After looking to her friend
for permission, she peeled the pastry from around a meatroll and held
the inside out to Joy in the palm of her hand.

Joy gulped down the meatroll quickly, making small sounds to express her
enjoyment of the food. Arrilon rolled his eyes, but his look was
affectionate as he looked at the green. "Seriously, she never stops
eating. At least she likes some of your cooking."

They settled into a comfortable silence for a bit, enjoying the wine and
food. Turning towards his friend again, Arrilon's voice was
appreciative. "Thanks for putting up with me over the Turns. I know I've
been," he stopped to think of the right word, "moody. But, seeing you
settle into a new role here, and find happiness, gives me hope. And, I
think I'm getting better." He gestured to Joy, "And, it's only been a
few sevendays, but she's helping too."

"It is kind of hard to be moody around her. She's well named." The
little green flit had quite melted Tahlie's heart. She smiled and raised
her glass. "To the future, eh? And new directions."

"To new directions."

Last updated on the June 15th 2019

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