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Writers: Devin, Yvonne
Date Posted: 8th September 2014

Characters: N'vanik, Alina
Description: The Weyrleader comes to visit Alina in the Infirmary after the Hatching
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 12 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Cyradis

N'vanik

Alina

After visiting with the other new weyrlings, N'vanik went to see Alina. He'd been assured earlier that the injury was minor and the girl would be fine. "Hi, there," he said as he stepped into her room. "Alina, is it?"

Alina looked up from the dragon in her lap. Her eyes widened a bit when she saw who her visitor was. "Y-yes, Weyrleader?"

"Are you doing okay? The healer said you weren't hurt too bad but Cyradis and I were worried." Hatchings were exciting enough but this one had really been something.

Alina's looked down at Imarith rather than at N'vanik. It was an odd sensation to have drawn the attention of the Weyrleaders, and it was for something as stupid as letting a dragonet knock her over and sink its talons deep into her thighs. This wasn't how she'd imagined meeting the man. What must he think of her? He certainly wasn't worried about her. "I'll be fine," she said after a moment.

"Good." He smiled. She was obviously uncomfortable and he wanted her to relax. "And how is your lovely new lifemate?"

_Lifemate_. A whole lifetime, irreversibly altered. She brushed the top of the dragonet's head with her fingertips, careful not to wake her even though she knew it would take more than a light touch to rouse Imarith. "Fine.She's-- fine. Asleep."

"It's the most amazing feeling, isn't it? When they find you." He relived that moment at every Hatching.

Was it? The Weyrleader was asking a lot of difficult questions. Alina didn't remember much-- hadn't allowed herself to-- since she and Imarith had met on the Sands. Concentrating on _now_ was easier. Memories included her sister, and the future-- no. But there had been something. Something wonderful, just for a moment. N'vanik obviously expected her to agree with him, though, so she did. "Yes. It was."

Was she nervous, or was there something else going on? "Did the healer give you any felis?"

She shook her head. "Just numbweed, for the stitches."

Maybe she was just overwhelmed. "Did your family come to see you?"

"Yes. They were very proud." Alina drew a light finger along Imarith's eyeridge, and the sleeping dragon twitched a little at the touch.

"Where are you from, Alina?" He thought he'd heard she was holdbred, but he might be remembering wrong.

"Nadol Cothold."

Dazed, he decided. The injury and her Impression, and maybe some other factors at play. Maybe she hadn't expected to Impress. "Why did you decide to come to the Weyr?"

Alina was beginning to hate that question. "I was Searched for the last Hatching," she said quietly.

"But what made you choose to come? You didn't have to accept the Search."

For a crazy moment Alina didn't want to answer. The Weyrleader could take his stupid, nosy questions and choke on them. Everyone kept asking as if she had a choice in the matter when she hadn't had a choice at all - there were consequences for everything. If she hadn't accepted the Search, she'd have humiliated her family, shirked her duty to Hold and Weyr, and probably have been unmarriageable forever since the taint of 'dragonrider' never really washed off. And she'd have never had the opportunity to get out of Nadol Cothold, although now that she'd gone and Impressed a dragon, she'd blown her chances for a happy marriage and a normal life.

And it was none of N'vanik's business anyway. Telling him off was on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed the urge. As much as she wanted to, insulting the Weyrleader wouldn't do her any good in the long run. "I know my duty to the Weyr," she said instead, her gaze focused on the arch of Imarith's neck. "And if I wasn't here..." She trailed off. The phrase was rote, something that was drilled into them by the Weyrlingmasters. If she hadn't been on the Sands, what would have happened to Imarith?

"It's a good thing you were." Maybe the green would have found someone else. Maybe she wouldn't have. "We're glad to have both of you."

She was quiet a moment. "Thank you, Weyrleader. I appreciate you coming to see me."

"Take care of yourself, and her." N'vanik smiled. "Good night, Alina."

She stared after him as he left, not quite knowing what had happened or what it meant. After a moment she returned her attention to Imarith, and let herself sink back into a haze of nothingness.

Last updated on the October 3rd 2014

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