You Can Go Home Again
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: Clancey
Date Posted: 9th January 2010
Characters: J'darin
Description: J'darin completes his move to Dragonsfall, taking up the position of
Weyrlingmaster.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 12 of Turn 5
They arrived into the cold of Dragonsfall, and memories came flooding back. Hasaarth Hatching, his proud father watching. Knowing the people, going through the training, learning to be a bronzerider. It had taken Hasaarth and he to a warmer place, a different place, burning them on the outside, but also on the inside. Changing and molding them into what they were today. Whatever that might be..
}:We are together. That is enough:{
Landing on their new weyr ledge - received on their first trip earlier this day - J'darin took the last bags from Hasaarth and set them with the rest. Hasaarth took off, down to the Weyrbowl, leaving J'darin to find his own way to T'mahl's office. But he knew the way. He knew the way very well indeed to the Weyrleader's office, having visited D'wrayt many, many times in that same space.
He would report to T'mahl and tell him he was ready to begin work first thing in the morning, though it was early afternoon here still. He would take the rest of the day and unpack, and settle in, so he could jump right into the piles of work he knew - hoped - were waiting for him.
He knew the way so well that his mind wandered as he walked, remembering his last flight over Dolphin Cove, just a few minutes ago now.
But it seemed like turns and turns, and it had been late evening there, with the sky darkened by night.
***Memory Begins****
It was late evening at Dolphin Cove, the starts shining brightly. The last bag was packed and ready.
J'darin turned around the weyr he'd shared with Hasaarth for around half a turn now, checking for any last things. The furniture he'd used belonged to the Weyr, except for a few pieces, like the beautiful - heavy - oak box that carried his woodcarving tools, and a lighter chest that he had bought for himself to put blankets and warmer clothing inside when he did not need them in Dolphin Cove's warmer climate.
The bed, the rugs, the tapestries - all belonged to Dolphin Cove. He had very little that was _his_, though he tended to the heavy on clothes, and had several items that he'd bought himself.
Everything was on Hasaarth and ready to go. One trip had been made already, to get their new weyr and drop off most of the packs, leaving this last trip with less packs but more emotions.
He was leaving.
Really leaving.
He had walked the entire Weyrbowl earlier today, saying goodbye. The sad part was, there weren't very many people that had sought him out to say goodbye, or even really noticed he was leaving. Maybe they had and just hadn't mentioned it, but he figured that someone who had been so .. busy.. at this Weyr would have attracted a little more interest on his last day.
But no.
And why was he surprised? He had never had many friends before becoming Weyrleader. He'd had even less then. He had thought he'd come to terms with that lack in his life, but today, it didn't feel like he had. The pain was as fresh as it had been when he'd found out a few green and blueriders though he was purposefully holding them back.
Even after the hurricane and the sad events following it, he'd thought some of those connections healed, forgiven. But he'd never forgiven himself, really, for I'ster's death. For the 'Scorings and wounds that had come under his watch. So why would he expect anyone else to do so?
All Weyrleaders had to deal with wounded and 'scored riders during their time as Weyrleaders, and all Weyrleaders had to deal with death. Dragonriders must fly when Thread is in the sky. They must fly.. and they would die. The young Weyrlingmaster N'vanik had found, T'kob, would learn that the hard way. It had been harder, almost, when he was Weyrlingmaster. Deaths touched them all.
He wondered how N'vanik dealt with the keening, suddenly. He had known how T'moran dealt with it, had learned from him how to _be_ a Weyrleader. He had had Kalina at one time in his life to help him deal with the grief. Everyone found their own way... and now he had Hasaarth, Oak, and a future at Dragonsfall.
That was all.
With a last look out over his ledge at the beautiful, crashing waves of the sea below, shining in the starlight, he mounted Hasaarth, who was eager to be away, laden as he was with the last packs.
They dropped down, fighting those strong winds along the cliffs with the ease of practice, and turning to soar out over the Weyrbowl and the busy scene there, even in this relatively cooler month of the turn. Night was often a busy time at Dolphin Cove, a welcome respite from the heat of the days.
They flew a few times around the Bowl, and finally, and with great reluctance, gave Hasaarth the vision of Dragonsfall.
A new weyr, but not a new home. An old home, hopefully welcoming them back with open arms.
The tears were dried as the cold of /between/ enveloped them, and vanished from his face, but not his heart.
***memory ends***
He arrived at T'mahl's office just then, his face carved with the memories of his turns and his experiences at Dolphin Cove.
The experience was a part of who he was, now, and there was no sign of tears on that handsome face. He left it behind with the knock on the door, but he would never forget.
Never.
Last updated on the January 15th 2010