Nothing for a Friend

Writers: Cali, Emma
Date Posted: 16th December 2008

Characters: Sorsha, I'lan, Raise
Description: I'lan comes and offers Sorsha a ride to the Weyr.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 13, day 10 of Turn 4

Sorsha gave Railen a quick kiss on the cheek before he mounted his runner and took off towards the neighboring hold. The plan was simple; Railen would pass the letter for J'far, requesting transport for herself and Railen to the Weyr, off to the runner at the hold to take to Topaz where a dragonrider could pick it up and take it to the Weyr. Hopefully J'far would receive it in a few days and be able to take them. Karai and Serend weren't completely supportive of their decision to go to the Weyr, but when Railen explained it was just precautionary and it would give them a chance to look out for Lenlee, they agreed. They were going to go ahead and leave for Green Bend as planned, and instead of going north to Topaz for the wedding, they'd take Balisor's ship South to Dolphin Cove and meet them. Then, after the hatching, they could get married.

She couldn't help but feel slightly uneasy about the whole thing. She knew that she probably wouldn't Impress. She'd stood already and the dragons didn't think her a good match. Still, if one _did_ want her... she pushed it out of her mind as she walked towards the garden. She had lunch to help ready for, and Railen would be back by sundown, they didn't have to be apart for long.

~ ~ ~

One of the duties that I'lan liked was sweepriding. It gave him a chance to get out of the Weyr and fly around, just him and Naath. 'Thinking time' was how I'lan referred to it.

}:Is that her?:{ Naath broke into his rider's thoughts. }:The one you like.:{ I'lan looked down, seeing a small figure waving in the distance.

**Do you want me to see?**

}:Yes, she makes you happy,:{ stated the bronze.

**She's marrying another.**

}:She makes you happy,:{ repeated the bronze, not understanding the odd tone behind his rider's words, as he turned to head down to Sorsha.

She looked up from the book she was trying to read, a bit unsuccessfully since there were so many big words, when she heard Raise yelling and running through the courtyard waving her hands high in the air. She stood up, setting the book down in the chair, and looked around. Railen should be back soon, maybe that's what she was carrying on about. The young girl was looking up though, so Sorsha's eyes followed as she saw a large bronze dragon come in to land.

"Sorsha look!" Raise squealed with delight as the girl raced to her soon to be sister. "The dragon came to Search me, just like Lenlee!"

"Raise, I already told you, you're too young to be Searched." Then she recognized the dragon and rider and sighed. Railen would not be happy about this. "Hello I'lan."

"I was in the area," he said, aware of how lame it sounded.

Raise ran towards the dragonrider. "Tell your dragon to Search me. I want to go to the Weyr!"

Sorsha was mortified and she raced after the girl before she got herself stepped on. "Oh, I'm so sorry! Raise, please. She's just got the dragon fever I'm afraid. Her sister got Searched by G'len a few sevendays ago, and she's gone to the Weyr for the hatching."

"I'm sorry Raise, but bronze dragons like mine don't search for candidates," explained I'lan gently. "Another time and another dragon and you might be lucky."

Raise put up her most pouty face and turned to go back to her mud pies, "Stupid bronze dragons..."

"I'm sorry I'lan," Sorsha apologized again, still extremely embarrassed, "I'll talk to her mother about her, she won't be flagging down dragons again."

"She wasn't to know," he said, not revealing that it was Naath who had brought them here.

Sorsha looked over at Naath, his large head turned towards them. Anything was better than looking at I'lan, her stomach still did flip flops when she looked at his face, and that made her feel very guilty. "Well, I don't want to keep you then, have a good day."

"Haven't you got a few minutes to talk?" he asked. "It's been a while."

She shouldn't. Railen wouldn't like it. "A few minutes I guess."

"I was wondering if you'd come to watch the hatching, as my guest. With Railen of course." If she was there and in the stands, she stood a chance at least.

She might as well tell him, he'd see her on the sands anyways. "Actually, I'm going to Stand. Railen left this morning to request transport from his cousin, a greenrider."

"You're sure? You're coming to the Weyr?"

"Yes." She didn't want to give a reason why, the nightmares were too personal.

"There's no need for Railen to go all the way to send a runner to get a message to his cousin. I can take you."

Well if she'd have known he was coming... "He's probably already on his way back, he said he'd be home before sundown."

"Well we could go then. Sorsha, I'm not being presumptuous, but there are classes for candidates that you should attend, it has been a while."

She looked down at her dusty overdress. Leaving sooner rather than later made sense, but she couldn't just jump on Naath and fly off with him. "I'lan, I can't leave without Railen, he's coming with me to the Weyr."

"You could have Raise tell him where you are going and his cousin will bring him later." It sounded logical.

She couldn't do that. If Railen was told that she'd left with I'lan without him, he'd feel so betrayed. "You could stay awhile? Serend would be honored if Naath ate from his herds, and Railen promised he would be back before sunset."

"I could come back later?"

"Okay." She allowed herself to look at his face and give him a smile. "That's very nice of you I'lan."

"It's nothing for a friend."

She was glad that he could still consider her that. She'd worried after the last time they'd talked that he would hate her for choosing Railen over the Weyr. Maybe it was just that now she hadn't... "Anytime after sundown, we'll be ready."

"Naath and I will be back."

Last updated on the December 18th 2008

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Nothing for a Friend