Nothing to Worry About

Writers: Estelle
Date Posted: 27th January 2018

Characters: R'fal
Description: R'fal and Marlath meet his parents and other holders after the Hatching
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 2, day 17 of Turn 9

The last Impression had been made, and crowds of spectators were spilling out of
the Hatching Grounds. Some of the visiting parents were delighted, others
putting on a brave face for their disappointed offspring - and one father was
carrying on a frantic conversation with his companion in a low voice.

"I told you! I knew this would happen." He tugged nervously at the collar of his
tunic. "What in the name of the First Egg am I supposed to do now?"

"You could start by acting the way any normal father would when his son's just
Impressed," his wife replied, exasperated. "Try to be a little bit proud of him.
Or if you can't manage that, at least stop drawing attention to yourself.
Standing up and groaning in front of everyone!"

"But if he tells his dragon, and the dragon tells the queen..."

"Tells her what exactly? I hardly think the Weyrwoman's going to care about a
few missing wherries." She folded her arms. "Or is there something else you
haven't told me about?"

"Ssh! We can't talk about it here - " Terren cut himself off abruptly as he saw
Renfal waving to them from where he crouched beside a small brown dragonet, and
managed a lukewarm smile.

"Ma! Da! Did you see? Come and meet Marlath!" There was nothing half-hearted
about the boy's wide grin. "Marlath, these are my parents..." He paused and
tilted his head towards the brown as if listening. "Parents. Like Panitath and
Loseth are yours."

"He's beautiful, Renfal!" Lirena watched as the dragon turned his head to regard
them, his eyes whirling blue-green. "Oh - sorry. What should we call you now?"

"R'fal." The new name still sounded strange to him. "I hadn't even thought about
it but then Marlath called to me and I knew it was my name, like I knew his. I'm
not sure whether he came up with it, or if I knew it all along - or both!" He
stroked the little brown's head, and Marlath responded with a soft croon,
leaning in to his side. "What do you think, Da?"

"He's - he's a very fine young dragon." Dismayed as he was by the turn of
events, Terren couldn't bring himself to say so when confronted with his son's
radiant expression. "He wasn't hurt when he fell?"

"His nose hurt a bit at the time, but he's better now. I felt it too! It's...I
can't even describe what it's like. He's with me all the time, in my head, and I
can tell what he's thinking and feeling, and he can do the same for me."

Terren gave his wife a meaningful look.

"Oh, and he says he's very glad to meet you."

"Well, we are both pleased to meet you too, Marlath," Lirena said firmly,
ignoring her husband, "and we hope you'll come and visit us on the farm when
you're grown."

"We will. Da - I know I won't be able to work with you any more..." R'fal
remembered how his father had named him heir when the search riders had come. It
seemed such a long time ago, although barely two sevendays had passed. "But soon
I'll be able to take you places. To the Gather at Emerald Falls, if you like, or
other Holds."

The man frowned. He couldn't deny it would be good to see the Hold again, but
what if the boy brought friends with him? The prospect of even more dragonriders
in his hold was distinctly unsettling.

Oblivious to his father's unease, R'fal looked indulgently down at Marlath as
his jaw dropped and he yawned widely. "He's a little sleepy. I think it's being
stuffed full of food. Yes, you are!" he said firmly. "I can feel it, and you're
making me tired too. I know it's all very exciting but the Weyr will still be
here tomorrow."

"Go on and get him settled. We'll see you later." His mother handed him a bag.
"I packed some of your clothes and your spare boots, since you...left in haste
after the Search. We thought you might be needing them."

"You must be the only two who did. I certainly never expected this - but it's
wonderful, isn't it?"

Lirena and Terren watched the pair depart, following another boy with an equally
drowsy-looking green towards a building that must be the weyrling barracks.

"You see? Nothing to worry about." She did her best to project a confidence for
her husband that she hoped wasn't misplaced.

"Weren't you listening? That dragon can tell what he's thinking..."

"And he's not likely to be thinking about hunting wherries, or anything other
than his training from now on. Unless you remind him."

"Hmm." Terren brushed sweat his brow with the back of his hand. He was hot and
uncomfortable, and there were dragons and riders everywhere. Despite trying to
tell himself that no-one would be interested in an obscure herder, he had a
nagging sense that people were eyeing him with suspicion.

"I need a drink," he muttered.

Lirena just watched him go, her lips pressed into a tight line. There was no
point in saying anything. No matter what she did, she knew in her heart that it
was only a matter of time before he got himself into far more trouble than his
son ever could.

***

With Marlath sleeping, R'fal hurried back in the direction of the Hatching
Grounds, and found his mother talking to Gienah and a man he recognised as
Gienah's father.

"Oh..." He hesitated, embarrassed, when he realised there was no hatchling by
her side, but she didn't seem too downcast.

"R'fal! Your Ma was just telling us about Marlath." She handed him a glass. "I'm
so glad for you. Is it really wonderful?"

"Yes! He fell out of his egg and suddenly I could feel everything he was and
then he spoke to me, and it was like I'd found a part of me I'd never realised
was missing. Next time, I know you'll find yours and see what I mean..." He
glanced uncertainly at her father. "There is going to be a next time, isn't there?"

He smiled. "Well, Gienah says she likes it here, and who am I to argue with a
Search dragon's choice?"

"Da's going to ask if there's any work for him here, so we can stay together.
Even if there isn't anything now, maybe they'll think of him when a place opens
up." The girl's eyes were bright with hope.

"But let's keep that between ourselves for now, until it's certain," Lirena
said. "You're a good worker, Bergien, and Terren will be sorry to lose you."

"I won't say anything," R'fal promised. "Where _is_ Da?"

"He's gone to toast your success, I think..."

"Perhaps I'd better go and find him. Wouldn't want the Holder challenging a
dragonrider to a drinking contest - he might get more than he bargained for."
Bergien bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement of the gratitude in Lirena's
eyes. "Come on, Giennie - you can point out the chief herder on the way."

Mother and son looked at each other as the other two turned and headed off into
the crowds.

"I'll make sure we leave before he has too much." Lirena sighed. She'd hoped to
stay longer, but even if she hadn't been concerned about her husband, there
would be work to do tomorrow, just like any other day on the farm.

"Ma..." R'fal wondered if he should ask, but the question had been bothering him
all the time he'd been at the Weyr and there likely wouldn't be another
opportunity to speak to his mother for a long time. "What did you say to Da,
when I was Searched? I mean, to make him change his mind?"

As much as she wanted to give R'fal an innocuous reason for his father's change
of heart, she knew her first son was too bright to believe any such thing after
all that had happened. She glanced at the crowds of weyrfolk and visitors
surrounding them, and lowered her voice. "I told him that if he didn't let you
go, I'd tell Galveden what really happened to his prize ovine, that everyone
thought was taken by wild felines."

"That was Da?" The boy's eyes widened. He'd wondered, when the animal went
missing, but never dared ask. Hunting was one thing, but stealing stock was more
serious. Surely his father wouldn't get involved in anything like that?

"It must have been, because it worked; he stopped arguing right away when I said
that. But _you_ don't know anything about it, do you hear?"

"No, Ma." R'fal turned his glass in his hands. "It's funny. I thought you'd be
the one who'd want me to stay home, and that Da would let me go. He's always
telling about his adventures. I don't see why he wouldn't want me to have one too."

Lirena sighed. "Well, we're in a Pass, so this is a bit more than an adventure.
It's not surprising he's concerned." If only, she thought, her husband's
objections had that unselfish a motive. "R'fal, I want you to enjoy your new
life at the Weyr with Marlath, whatever happens, and not spend time worrying
about us. But you're old enough now to understand a bit about what goes on in
this family. One of these days, your father is going to get himself into trouble
that he can't wriggle his way out of, and when that happens, I'm glad you'll be
far enough away that you can't be accused of being involved."

"Oh - but Da would never..." The boy's voice trailed off. His father was so
smart and resourceful. He'd always find a way to turn any situation he found
himself in to his advantage. Wouldn't he?

"Now, don't you worry. We'll be all right for the moment. I think having so many
dragonriders visit in so short a time has put a dampener on any little schemes
he may have been planning." She winked at her son. "Your job now is to work
hard, look after Marlath, and learn to be the best young rider that this Weyr
has ever seen. Show these weyrfolk what a holder can do!"

R'fal's thoughts were all in confusion - his mother had given him a lot to think
about and he wasn't at all sure whether he could live up to such expectations -
but he wouldn't have to start until tomorrow, and there was still the feast to
come. "Yes, Ma. I'll be back to visit before you know it. I promise!"

Last updated on the March 2nd 2018

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Nothing to Worry About