So That Happened

Writers: Halyonix, Steel
Date Posted: 10th February 2026

Characters: T'thalin, I'serin
Description: Tathalin delivers some records to the Weyrleader and has an interesting conversation
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 15 of Turn 12

I'serin

Notes:

~*~

}: There is someone approaching with books, :{ Aluneth warned his rider as he watched the youth nearing the office. }: Are you expecting a visitor? :{

**Yes. Provided that they are a harper bringing me the records I requested,** I’serin answered as he continued to jot down notes.

The _Weyrleader_. The _actual_ Weyrleader. It was fine. It was going to be fine. Right? He just had to deliver the records like he'd been told, and maybe wait for further instructions. Yes, that sounded like a plan that might work. Yeah.

Tathalin shifted the records to one arm, took a deep breath, and then knocked. “S-- Weyrleader, sir! H-harper Apprentice Tathalin here with… the requested records?”

“Come in,” I’serin said with a final scratch of his quill. His gaze lifted to look at the apprentice. He noticed the Candidate knots and tilted his head. “You can put the records on the table there. Are you new to the craft or the Weyr?” he asked. There had been such an influx of Candidates over the last few months that I’serin had been unable to keep track of their faces.

“I… Yes?” Tathalin hazarded and set the records down carefully. “Um. I mean-- Yes, sir!” He straightened, offered a salute. “That is… Yes and no, sir? I… just, um, apprenticed recently. But… I've, ah… been here sincethefloods.”

The rush of those last words brought a shift in the Weyrleader’s aura. Outwardly, nothing really changed -- I’serin still wore that politely curious expression, ready to converse -- but inwardly, his mind added another tally mark to the number of Holdless that were staying. “Since the floods,” he repeated steadily. “Then you came to us from the Holdless encampment?”

Tathalin swallowed, and then nodded, gaze firmly on the floor between his boots. “Yes sir. Um, I mean… Weyrleader.” he responded. “I… I like it here, and. And I want to be _useful_. I’m n-not… trouble.”

I’serin was very careful to keep any chill out of his tone as he asked, “Will you tell me then why you were Holdless please?” He had learned that many of them had stories that did not confirm the biases he had previously held. But not all of them were good.

“My… my parents, sir.” Tathalin responded. “They were Holdless. I, um. I _want_ to stay, sir. Weyrleader. I like it… at the Weyr.” He paused, hesitated, and then added, “I want to, um… be a dragonrider.”

Aluneth softly rumbled. I’serin, quietly mulling over the implications and outcomes, heard the plaintive note in the boy’s voice. How many of the Holdless were eager for the opportunity, the chance to start over, and all they needed was the chance?

It was all a risk and I’serin disliked how he was unable to minimize that risk. Not without compromising his morals.

“Many a young lad wants to be a dragonrider,” he answered, leaning instead into that shared dream that most boys held about being chosen by a dragon. “It is not an easy path though. Training is difficult, Threadfall is peril. And many who want to be a dragonrider are not chosen. So you are apprenticing in a craft as well?”

Tathalin nodded. “The… um. The Harpers, sir. Weyrleader.” He responded. “They… um. They don't mind _too_ much. And I… I'm a hard worker, sir, I promise.”

I’serin paused, carefully picking his next words. He felt that the Holdless situation required him to delicately navigate so much. “I am certain that you are,” he agreed neutrally. “That is a valued strength here at the Weyr. Are the harpers teaching you mathematics and reading as well?”

Tathalin nodded once more. “There's… some things I don't know, sir.” He responded. “And some things I didn’t know that I didn't know. If, um… that makes sense?”

He considered, and then added carefully, “I, um… if… if it was you that made the decision to save us, Weyrleader sir… thanks.”

I’serin felt as though the floor had been knocked out from under him. The Holdless -- and the dragonriders -- had offered him a range of opinions about the Weyr’s decision to save them. _His_ decision as Weyrleader. And in all of those meetings, discussing the future of those lives saved, the gratitude offered had always seemed coated in wariness, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But here was a moment, a definitive moment, where I’serin was offered none of that caution. Just…heartfelt gratitude.

Clinging mentally to Aluneth as he composed himself, the Weyrleader of Dragonsfall Weyr nodded weakly. “You…are welcome, --” He reached for a name but had none. “I did not catch your name.”

Tathalin looked torn between sinking through the floor, making a run for it, or standing taller. The Weyrleader wanted his name.

The Weyrleader _wanted his name_.

Tathalin swallowed, anxiously. “... am… am I in- in trouble, sir. Weyrleader?” His shoulders hunched. “I… I'm Tathalin, sir. I… I promise, I didn’t break any Weyr rules.”

“Tathalin,” I’serin repeated slowly, committing it to memory. “No, Tathalin, you did not break any rules. I merely…wanted to know your name.” Something that I’serin could keep for himself whenever he felt doubt about his leadership decisions. “You may call me I’serin when we are in my office. Thank you for bringing me these records.”

Tathalin swallowed again, but nodded slowly. “Yes sir.” he responded. “Um. I mean… I’serin, sir.” He hesitated, and then added, “You _did_, um… send for these records. Is… is there anything else I can-- that you need someone to go get?”

He shook his head. “No, but I do, I will definitely request you again. Thank you, Tathalin.”

Tathalin ducked his head and backed toward the door, offered another nod. “... Yes sir. Um, I mean, I’serin.” He responded. “I… Thank you, sir.”

Last updated on the February 21st 2026

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So That Happened