A New Hope

Writers: Halyonix, Heather
Date Posted: 7th October 2024

Characters: I'serin, Saibra
Description: I'serin and Saibra's first clutch arrives on the Sands and it's better than they could have imagined.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 22 of Turn 12

I'serin

Saibra

Normally when Chioneth moved to the Hatching Sands to clutch, it
brought Saibra excitement and anticipation. There was something about
new life that brought with it a sense of rightness around the Weyr.
This time, however, when she felt Chioneth leave her weyrledge and go
to the Sands, it brought a sense of trepidation.

I'serin and his Aluneth had not been Saibra's first choice for
Weyrleader, she would be the first to admit, well, only to herself.
Their lack of experience had shown in the first Threadfall they'd led
as Weyrleaders.

What if their first clutch was as much a disaster as that first
Threadfall had been?

**What if they're just a bunch of dud eggs?** Saibra thought to
herself, sinking back into her office chair and staring into space as
she imagined the horror of it.

}:Quit being so ridiculous and get down here.:{ Chioneth snapped waspishly.

**Yes, ma'am,** Saibra smirked. **Are you allowing I'serin?**

The gold seemed to debate this for a moment.

}:I will allow it,:{ she finally said. }:I will tell Aluneth.:{

Aluneth's deliriously excited warble startled I'serin so much that he
almost toppled out of his chair. His focus broken, I'serin prepared to
demand a peevish answer from his lifemate when Aluneth said, }:
Chioneth is clutching! :{ Cold panic washed over the young Weyrleader
for a moment. A dozen "what if" questions, all with equally negative
outcomes, flowed through his mind. And of course, Aluneth shared none
of these worries. He was absolutely certain in his genetic abilities
to sire a healthy, strong clutch.

He had also, in his excitement, left his rider behind, so I'serin used
the walk to calm his mind and compose himself. He arrived seemingly
moments after Saibra had and, after a quick look to check that they
were alone (for now, since the news would most definitely spread like
wildfire), he nodded with a soft smile and said, "Saibra. This is
quite the way to begin the day."

"Isn't it, though?" Saibra said, gesturing to the chair next to her.
"Might as well get comfortable. It could take a bit." Chioneth was
still sifting the sand about with her snout and wings to make the
perfect wallow. A drudge had already brought up a tray of refreshments
to place on the small table between the chairs.

I'serin looked up at Aluneth, who was perched on a nearby ledge,
watching Chioneth's every move, as he took a seat. "Does she require
your presence with her at all times once she clutches?" he inquired,
having heard that some queens were particular like that.

"Fortunately, she does not. She likes me to be here for the spectacle
of the delivery, but then she won't need me around as much after that.
She _will_, however, be pretty demanding of Aluneth. At least, that's
how she's always been before."

There was some movement as Chioneth produced the first egg and covered
it protectively with sand. Aluneth made a soft crooning sound at his
queen.

I'serin helped himself to a drink from the tray as they watched. "I am
certain he will endeavor to avail himself throughout her stay on the
Sands. He considers it his highest duty to see that she lacks nothing
when it comes to their clutch, if I read his mind correctly."

"She'll certainly love that." Saibra lifted her drink to her lips,
enjoying the dim lighting and peacefulness inside the Hatching Cavern.
It felt cozy, she thought. It was certainly the opposite of what the
hatching would be.

"What was the clutch like that you Impressed from?" Saibra asked I'serin.

"Small," was his answer. He elaborated with, "Though that would
shortly change. The dragons always know when a Pass is nearing. Mine
was the last clutch for a long while to contain only one bronze." He
looked up at Aluneth and his usually ruminating face softened into
that beatific look that all dragonriders had when they thought back to
their Impression. "And yours?" he asked, drawing that moment to a
close.

"It was small as well. It had been a few Turns since Far Island had
clutched a gold egg so there was a lot of fanfare about Chioneth. I
honestly had zero expectations of Impressing. I only became a
Candidate and Stood because my current crush was doing that and I
wanted to be near him." When she had been a younger goldrider, her
lack of ambition in regards to Impressing had been a source of
embarrassment. So many other goldriders made it seem as if impressing
gold had been their life's dream. Now, however, she saw her goals as a
fifteen turn old for the teenage innocence that it had been.

I'serin's expression became boyishly curious. "And your crush?"

"Oh, he turned out to be a greenrider in every sense of the word,"
Saibra laughed. "Much to my disappointment. We became really close
friends, though, through Weyrlinghood."

The smile faded from Saibra's face as her eyes narrowed on Chioneth.
The Queen was gently mounding a new egg into place, but this egg was
significantly larger than any other egg that had been laid so far. And
the color... It seemed....

"I'serin..." she stood up. "Is that what I think it is?"

Was that...a sheen of gold?

"Unbelievable," I'serin whispered as he stood up next to Saibra. A
gold egg? Was it truly a gold egg? "Does Chioneth...will she allow us
near?"

Saibra didn't even hear his question. She was squealing like a young
girl while clapping her hands together and bouncing up and down on her
feet. Their clutch wasn't a failure! They wouldn't be the laughingstock of all Weyrs! Dragonsfall would be strengthened because of them!

"Oh, I'serin! We did it! We did it! A gold egg!" The Weyrwoman threw
her arms around I'serin's neck, still trembling with excitement.
"Chioneth's _first_ gold egg! Oh, thank Faranth!" She kissed I'serin's
cheek.

"Come on, let's go!" Grabbing the Weyrleader's hand, Saibra struck out
across the Sands. Aluneth could be heard warbling proudly.

"His first gold flight _and_ a gold egg?" I'serin said as they strode. He chuckled. "He shall be insufferable now."

"As is his right!" Saibra declared.

Chioneth was accommodating. She swept one great wing out of the way so that her golden egg could be admired.

It was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen, since Chioneth's own egg, Saibra decided. The complex gold hues that swirled over the outside of the egg reminded Saibra of gold in its raw form. A few sevendays of heat and this gold, too, would be purified and ready.

"Quite the way to begin the day indeed," I'serin murmured with an incredulous chuckle. "When shall we announce it to the Weyr?"

**Chioneth?** Saibra questioned.

}:Wait until I'm finished. I don't want nosy peepers trying to catch a glimpse before I'm ready.:{ Chioneth had only clutched fifteen eggs, excluding the golden one, and she knew there were still plenty more to come.

"Chioneth wants to wait until all the eggs are here."

I'serin nodded. He looked up at Aluneth, who was still trilling proudly. "Do cease your excitement, Aluneth. Let your queen clutch in peace," he said aloud, though without rancor. He could hardly fault his dragon for being so proud and it showed in the open smile on his face. With their secret still kept until Chioneth was ready, I'serin caught Saibra's hand for a moment to give her a courtly bow. "Shall we return to our seats until she's ready?"

When the Weyrleader and Weyrwoman were finally ready to go to the Dining Cavern and announce the Weyr's good fortune, there were thirty-seven beautiful eggs hardening on the sands.

Last updated on the October 11th 2024

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A New Hope