Should I Stand?

Writers: Ames, Emma
Date Posted: 27th June 2013

Characters: Fitchan, Ameala
Description: Fitchan and Ameala talk about her being Searched and settle into their new life at the Weyr
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 1, day 14 of Turn 7

She looked around their new home. It was so different than the little
cothold they'd had at Amber Hills. Instead of the freedom of open air
around them, she felt confined by the rock walls of the Weyr. The bags
had been brought in, unpacked and put away. Now Ameala simply walked
around the space, her fingers trailing on the furniture. What was
their life going to be like now?

She moved to the sofa that had been provided them and sank down into
it. Her eyes looked up towards her husband.

"This is all so different," she said quietly, not sure she could
broach the subject that was eating at her the most. The dragonrider's
words still rang in her ears. A Candidate? Her? Impossible, she wanted
to say, but he had been so sure.

"I know," came the reply as her husband sat beside her and took her hand.
"We'll get used to it soon," he said gently.

"What about what the rider told us? About me?" She asked, uncertain.
She looked up to meet her husband's eyes. What did _he_ think of what
the rider had said.

"I don't know what to think," he admitted. "I'd say it was a great
compliment to be searched, if nothing else. I've never met anyone who was
before." Fitchan had always thought that the dragons tended to choose among
the bloodlines of their riders, that it was rare for anyone else to be
selected.

His words made her feel good, proud, of what had happened and less afraid.

"What do you think I should do about it? B'sil said I didn't _have_ to
Stand just because he searched me. I don't know what it would be like
to Stand for a dragon. I've never even _considered_ something like
that before." Ameala felt a twinge of excitement at the idea, but her
life was with Fitchan now. Her decisions were not just hers alone, and
what if she hated it after she agreed to follow through with it all?

It was a decision they would have to make together, he knew that. Part of
him wanted to say not to, she was his wife, not weyrfolk and they had
family to go back to, and perhaps a family of their own in the future. On
the other hand they said the newly hatched dragons could die if their match
wasn't there for them. Could he be responsible for that if he said no?

"I know you've never thought about this before," he began slowly. "I haven't
either. Maybe you should go for it, just the once."

She frowned and fidgeted with her hands. "You really think I should do
this? What would happen if I _do_ Impress a dragon? What would that do
to us?" She didn't want to ruin what they had between them, but she
_was_ curious about what standing for a dragon hatching would be like.
"I doubt I would Impress a dragon anyway. I mean, I'm just a simple
holder lass."

"You are not just a simple holder lass," he said with a smile. "You're my
wife, and I love you, and that won't change no matter what," he assured her.
"But I heard that dragons can die if they don't find their special person on
the sands, or in the crowds watching. If that's true, then surely you should
try."

"Just this once?" She looked up at him, hearing exactly what he had to
say. "What about...I've heard that we might not be able to stay
together during the whole thing? I'm not sure what all they mean, but
I don't want to be away from you."

That he hadn't totally realised, but he thought about it for a moment. It
would be hard, really hard to have to let her go and do this if she felt she
needed to. And even harder if they would have to live separately for a time.
"Maybe we should speak to someone here about what it actually means to be a
candidate and then a weyrling?" he suggested. "Get some more information on
this."

"Alright, I think that sounds fair," she replied. "I can ask around
and find out who I should talk to when you start working again." She
didn't know what more they could do at the moment.

Glancing around the room, she sighed. This was her new home. She
looked over at Fitchan. "We can definitely make the most of our time
now though, can't we?" She should have been exhausted from the days
events, but instead she found herself eager to make this _truly_ their
home by sharing it as husband and wife.

"Well that bed does need making up," he said with a grin. "And there is only
one way to test it."

"Sounds like fun," she murmured, rising from her seat to join him.

Last updated on the July 2nd 2013

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Should I Stand?