Face From the Past (1/2)

Writers: Paula
Date Posted: 31st July 2008

Characters: Aileyan, Ednan
Description: Visiting the dolphin hall, Aileyan meets someone she used to know very well.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 11, day 17 of Turn 4

Aileyan's duties had taken her to Dolphin Cove Weyr. It was always nice to
get a chance to visit other weyrs. After hearing about dolphins from local
dragons, her green, Kjarliheth, convinced Aileyan that they should go and
meet these creatures. That's how Aileyan found herself walking around near
dolphin hall, followed by a curious dragon who was poking her snout into
things and asking questions that Aileyan couldn't answer.

She spotted the figure standing at the pier. She stopped. She could
recognize that copper-red hair anywhere.

~*~ flashback ~*~

Aileyan was on her favourite spot: on a tree. The old tree had thick,
sturdy branches. She sat on one of them, leaning against the trunk, feet
tangling in the air. She could watch the comings and goings of the harper
hall unseen.

"Hoy, Ails! Are you there?" A voice called and Aileyan peeked down. It was
Ednan. Her best and probably only friend. They were both solitary, shy
persons and their mutual loneliness had drawn them together in a first
place. They had recognized a kindred spirits in each other. They played
together, talked and confided each other and sometimes just sat quietly
together, sharing the silence.

"Yep, up here Eddy," Aileyan replied and the boy climbed easily up to join
her. Aileyan could sense an excitement bubbling from him.

"She gave in and I got permission. They accepted me and now I'm going!"
Ednan was babling already before he was seated.

"Who? What? Going where? Slow down, your not making sense,2 Aileyan
scolded. She felt her guts tighten with ominous feeling.

"The dolphin hall! They replied and informed that they will accept me as
an apprentice. My mother finally gave her permission too. So, I'm going to
go to the Topaz Sea hold as soon as dad can arrange it. I'm going to be a
dolphineer!" his voice was jubilant and face shone with joy.

Aileyan felt her heart sank. She didn't feel that joy, even if she knew
how much it meant to him. They had shared their secrets, their dreams.
(Well, most of them. Aileyan had kept few just to herself.) But Topaz Sea
hold was far away. Her Ed was going away. She would stay and be more alone
than before. They would probably never meet again. She managed to squeeze
a forced smile. "I'm happy for you," she said quietly.

Ednan realized suddenly that she wasn't as ecstatic that he was. He looked
at her, a little girl with big, wild, tangled hair and large sad-looking
brown eyes. Why did she have to look him like that, like he had just torn
her heart out from her chest? Then it dawned to him what his happy news
meant to _her_. "Aaaw, Ails, I wish you could come with me."
~*~

Aileyan rushed closer. There couldn't be that many people on Pern with
that kind of red hair. Just him and his siblings. And isn't here where he
came to be an apprentice?
"Eddy? Is that you?"

Ednan swirled around. Now there was a nick-name he hadn't heard for a
long, long time.
He stared the approaching woman. At first he didn't recognized her. She
was young woman, _beautiful_ young woman, with greenrider's knots and
dragonrider's wher-hide jacket. Brown hair was braided to single long
braid. But then he noticed the eyes. The eyes were the same: large, brown,
sad, although just now they sparked with joy. "Ails?" he asked
incredulously and then she was on him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Eggs and shells! It's been so long!"

"Six sharding turns!" Aileyan cried.

Last updated on the August 1st 2008

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Face From the Past (1/2)