The Time Has Come: Walking the Tables

Writers: Suzee, Paula, Jelena, Heather, Chelle, Ames, AL
Date Posted: 26th June 2014

Characters: Thayde, Pierka, Kirten, Cyradis, Milga, Veerona, Naton, Aslvor, Famell, Jylanya
Description: Promotions take place at the Dolphin Hall
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 6, day 3 of Turn 7
Notes: Note: Late due to Ames' LOA

Thayde

Pierka

Cyradis

Jylanya

Famell was dressed in his finest today. It was to be a big day for the
entire Hall. Preparations had been underway for some time now, but
today was finally the big day.

As he emerged into the main entryway of the Hall, he saw many of the
Dolphin Hall residents milling about excitedly. They, too, were
dressed in some of their finest attire. They didn't often have such
large to-dos, but this was the annual Walking the Tables ceremony.

Many had been invited and he knew even more would show up. He grinned
as he headed into the main gathering hall to find Jylanya and see that
all was ready to begin the ceremony.

Aslvor, meanwhile, smoothed her skirt repeatedly. She didn't often
wear such fancy clothes, preferring instead the more basic garb of a
dolphineer. Yet, today, if all went well, she would walk the tables to
sit with the older, more experienced senior journeyman. It was hard to
believe that such a day had arrived. She looked around at the other
faces gathered in the entryway, waiting to be let in to fill the
tables. She was nervous. More nervous than she remembered being at her
last ceremony. This one seemed bigger. It was the last step before
Mastery for her. Something she had hardly even dreamed of, and knowing
that Thayde, whom she'd come to care so much about was also moving
forward only added to her excitement and nervousness.

Jylanya had positioned herself to have a good view of the reception
area so she saw the Weyrwoman and her Weyrmate come walking up the
beach from the Weyr.

"Master Famell," she tugged his sleeve and pointed.

He turned and looked and then smiled. "Looks like we better formally
open the doors and let the guests in, eh?" He glanced around.
Everything looked ready. There was a table set for those who deserved
a place of honor. Tables for each level of dolphineers to sit together
with their fellow apprentices or journeymen, and tables for other
guests who might not be with a formal dolphineer. He always enjoyed
the moment when they called out the names and that dolphineer got to
stand and walk from their current ranked table to the next rank. It
was one of the few times that the crafters actually sat by ranks.

He moved to the doors leading to the entryway and opened them wide.
"Come on in, everyone and feel free to begin get settled." He greeted
all those who spoke with him, but he waited mainly to greet the other
dignitaries that were coming.

Thayde's dark eyes flicked back and forth over the crowd as he watched
them pile in. He didn't have any family that would be watching this
happy occasion, and it really did not bother him, he was proud of the
work that he had done. Gaining Mastery had been a long time goal ever
since he became a dolphineer. Briefly his eyes touched in Aslvor and
he smiled. He had no doubt that he would be watching her become a
master some day.

Naton felt nervous jitters in his stomach, even though he knew there
was no reason to be nervous. He had gotten the Masters' approval,
today was just a formality. But it was an important formality, the
moment where he would finally gain his knots and become a Master in
name. So he figured he had every right to be a bit anxious. No doubt
he would feel better once the knots were pinned to his chest.

Milga had bow in her hair (thanks to Vee) and her best dress. She took
a seat among the other junior apprentices. Her turn wasn't yet. She
still had a full Turn of studies ahead of her before she was ready to
be promoted. She felt strange in her finery.

Kirten came into the room and slid into a seat next to Milga. They
were almost the same age and he looked at her with a smile and then
looked again. "You look very nice today Milga," he said. Of course the
Headwoman had made sure he was in nice clothing for today. His
trousers had been a bit short but then he never wore them so she'd
taken them for a smaller boy and given him new ones.

Cyradis finally made her way into the Hall and smiled at Master
Famell, "Very good to see you today Master," she smiled.

Pierka had arrived earlier since it wasn't so far to come and sat in
the back. Her eyes were aglow with delight at the thought of these
promotions. It was a very big thing at the Hall and she was certain
everyone deserved it. Of course it had been awkward and she was hugely
pregnant but she wouldn't miss this. Some of her friends were being
honored.

Squirming, Veerona had understood this was something special and she
was supposed to keep quiet and still but so far this was the boringest thing
ever. If only she had a book to read or something! Casting glances at Naton,
she wished he'd hurry this up, whatever it was, so she could get out of this
hot dress.

"Hi, Kirten and congratulations," Milga replied, blushing when he
complimented her.

"Thanks," he smiled and blew out a deep breath trying to calm his
nerves. "Exciting," he said not realizing his knee was hopping up and
down as his foot thumped against the floor.

Jylanya slid into the seat next to Naton and Vee. Everything was
working well and she have promised herself she'd sit down and watch as
Naton finally achieved his lifelong goal. She hugged his arm and
smiled.

Naton looked relieved to see Jylanya, he wanted her to be a part of
this special moment, but part of him had been afraid her duties would
keep her away. "I'm glad you made it," he whispered softly.

As the crowds gathered and settled, Famell took his place at the front
of the room on a slightly raised dais.

"Welcome everyone," he greeted them all. "Today is a special day of
honor for all those who are part of the Dolphin Hall and for all our
special guests. Today, we promote many of our own after hardwork and
many Turns of service to their craft."

He paused while the crowds responded to his words. "The feast will be
served following the ceremony, and as I know you all must be hungry, I
shall not delay any longer."

He turned to the fellow Masters who were gathered by his side.

"Let us begin with our apprentices." Famell indicated to a man on his
side who came forward with a tray containing knots for each who was to
rise in their rank. As Famell called out their name, each one came
forward. The Master beside him removed their junior knots and
presented to them their senior apprentice knots. The crowd clapped and
cheered for all as the newly appointed senior apprentices took their
seats with their fellow seniors.

As another joined the rank of senior apprentice, Famell called out the
final name for this group. "It is with great pleasure that we call for
Kirten, now promoted to the rank of senior apprentice." He waited for
the young dolphineer to come forward.

Kirten grinned at Milga before getting up and hurrying to the front.
His grin continued while Master Terefen pinned his new knots to his
shoulder.

"Congratulations son," he said reflecting the smile and shaking his hand.

"Thank you sir," he said and almost giggled. He waved to his mother
who'd come for the ceremony and she gave him a thumbs up sign as he
walked back to his seat.

Famell watched each promotion with pride. He moved through the next
set of promotions as the senior apprentices were promoted to
journeymen and women. There was quite a lot of applause as each
received their new knots.

He was soon calling forth the junior journeymen who were advancing to
seniors, a rather impressive feat after so many Turns of study.

"Aslvor," he called, and watched as the young women made her way to the front.

When her name was called Aslvor turned, grinned toward Thayde who was
nearby, as well as her fellow journeymen, then hurried to the front.

"Congratulations, my dear," Master Terefen told her as he pinned her
new knots to her shoulder.

"Thank you, sir," she replied, then turned and beamed a smile at the
Hallmaster before turning back to the crowd with a smile that was as
wide as could be. She walked with her head held high towards her new
group of peers.

Famell finished up the promotions of the journeymen, then took a
moment to pause.

"Some Turns, we never reach this point, and in fact it has been many
Turns since we've had the pleasure of discussing those who have worked
so diligently that they deserve the highest recognition without our
field. It is_always_ an honor when we can name another of our

dolphineers to the rank of Master, and his Turn, it is truly my honor
to name not one, but_two_ men to join the elite ranks of those of us

gathered here." He paused and gestured to the men and women who were
seated behind him. Each of them stood and moved forward to form a
receiving line. They would each greet and congratulate the newly named
Masters as they approached the Hallmaster himself. For while one of
the others had pinned the knots onto the apprentices and journeymen,
it would be Famell, himself, who had the honor of welcoming the newest
masters by giving them their knots.

"It is after Turns of study and hard work that those who wish can
reach the highest rank within the craft. Not only that they must
contribute to the craft in ways far beyond the norm. We," he gestured
towards the other masters, "have reviewed the work and projects of the
men to be named master today and it is with the greatest joy and honor
that we welcome them into our ranks."

Shilara applauded politely with the others that had packed into the
hall that night. It was no secret who the two new Masters would be,
and it was with wistfulness that Shilara looked at them as they waited
for Famell to call them forward. Her own mastery project was still in
its infancy stages, and with all honesty, Shilara couldn't even begin
to put a timeline on when she hoped that it would be finished. She
wanted to gain her master some day, but Shilara also was a realistic
and knew that it could never happen, which is why she contented
herself with doing the best she could as a senior journeyman.

Milga applauded especially hard when Kirten was promoted. She liked him.

Naton joined in on the applause for Kirten wholeheartedly. He was a
bright young student and certainly deserved the promotion. As the
meeting progressed, so did his nervousness and finally it was time for
the two master promotions. This was his moment! Well, his and Thayde's
of course.

It was finally time. The time they had all truly been waiting for. The
promotions to Mastery. This time around there were two. Famell stood
and began to address the group.

"It is not always that we even have the chance to witness a promotion
to Mastery. Today is an even more special honor as we will witness not
just one, but two promotions. Having worked with both men for some
time now, it is_truly_ my honor to get to invite them to join the

elite circle," here he gestured to his fellow masters that were
gathered in the front of the room, "of Master Dolphineers. At this
time I would like to invite up both Thayde and Naton. Gentlemen,
please come forward to receive your knots and to be greeted by your
fellow masters." Famell's grin was wide as he made the announcement.

The rest of the master dolphineers were lined up beside Famell ready
to shake hands and congratulate each of the men as they came forward.

First, Famell would change out their knots, and then they would
proceed down the line to greet each of the other Masters before taking
their own place in the two empty chairs that had been moved out for
them.

Irabel applauded with as much sincerity as anyone, but she had to
admit, she wished it was her up there. Granted, she was specialising
in two fields which meant more work and more turns before she could
walk the tables to Mastery, but she couldn't help but look forward to
the day it would actually happen. Of course, it would help if she
could think of a worthy project for at least one of her specialties.
She would certainly be putting more thought into it.

Jylanya watched with a giant smile and a great deal of pride as Naton
was called forth to accept his new knots.

Cyradis too applauded each of the promotions. Being raised in a Craft
Hall she knew how important and special these ceremonies were and made
sure that she caught the eyes of each of the honorees as they came
back to their seats. Especially the young ones. They needed to know
how important and valuable their accomplishments were in the eyes of
the Weyr.

Last updated on the July 3rd 2014

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The Time Has Come: Walking the Tables