Waiting Games
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Sia
Date Posted: 15th March 2025
Characters: Aydhan, Aydhara
Description: Aydhan and Aydhara are both at the mercy of having to wait
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 4, day 25 of Turn 12
Aydhara sat too close to the hearth in her parents' weyr, resting her elbows on her knees as she stared at the clutch that needed to be kept warm and humid until they hatched. The eggs were still, unmoving, a cluster of hardening eggs around the larger gold egg. She'd volunteered as de facto Egg Watch, with everyone else busy with their own duties and their own real dragons.
The door opened somewhere behind her, and Aydhara didn't have to look up to know who it was. Her mother's steps were softer than N'kevyn's, and she wasn't as prone to calling out from across the weyr. With a flourish of skirts, Aydhan sat next to her daughter on the floor, leaning in to pull her in to a side-hug and a squeeze of her shoulders.
"Still nothing?" Aydhan’s voice was calm, gentle.
Aydhara sighed. "Not yet. They're taking their time."
Aydhan settled into a crouch beside her, the gold rider’s posture as easy as if she had all the time in the world. "We don't know how far along they were when we found them. They’ll hatch when they’re ready. No sooner."
"I know," Aydhara muttered. She dug her fingers into the sand beside her, pressing against the warmth. "Doesn’t make waiting any easier."
Aydhan was quiet for a moment. Then: "No, it doesn’t."
Aydhara swallowed. The eggs were one thing. There weren't any dragon eggs on the Sands, either. This was what she had. She glanced sideways at her mother. "Do you ever feel like… like if you wanted something enough, it _should_ happen?"
Aydhan’s gaze didn’t waver. "Of course."
Aydhara exhaled sharply, looking back at the eggs. "And does it?"
Aydhan didn’t answer immediately. "Sometimes."
Aydhara frowned. “That’s not reassuring.”
Aydhan huffed, something close to a laugh. "It’s the truth. You can want something with every bone in your body, but life doesn't work like that. Sometimes it's hard work, sometimes it's luck. Usually it's some combination of the two. You can do everything right, but life is chaotic and unpredictable."
"I don't like that."
"You don't have to." Aydhan squeezed her shoulders again. Aydhara leaned into the hug, resting her head on Aydhan's shoulder. "And it's hard to see how it'll all work out sometimes. But it will."
Aydhara’s throat tightened. "And if it doesn't?"
"Then you’ll decide what comes next."
Aydhara let out a slow breath, watching the eggs. They remained still and silent. "Is that what you're going to do, if Tym doesn't rise soon? She rose around this time last turn."
"I can't worry about what I can't control." Aydhan said gently. "Tymborikath doesn't appreciate a set schedule like we do. She'll go up when she goes up, and that's all we can do about it. She squeezed Aydhara's shoulders again, then got to her feet with a low groan. "It won’t be long now, sweet girl. Just you wait. This is just the beginning for you."
Aydhara nodded, deep in thought and still staring intently at the eggs. At least the dragonets inside these eggs wouldn't find her wanting. At least they were here, now, and all they'd need was a little food. They wouldn't find something wrong with her the way the dragons seemed to.
She didn't _want_ to wait anymore.
Last updated on the March 20th 2025