How Did We Get Here (4): A Great Sacrifice

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 18th December 2017

Characters: G'nir, J'darin, Hygalia, U'kaiah, Teseada, D'ale, P'nal, E'naer
Description: Hygalia and U'kaiah make their decision official...
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 1, day 14 of Turn 9
Notes: Part 4 of a storyline
This is a revised version of "DFW: A-Bomb" Part 1 & 2
(m7d11t7). As only G'nir, Hygalia and U'kaiah's responses were
edited, only their signatures are required.
Mentions: Tavia, U'kaiah

G'nir

~~~ FLASHBACK TO m7d11t7~~~

G'nir took a quick head count. "Everyone's here, good. Now, to the
business at hand. We received yesterday a letter from North," he
nodded towards Hygalia to indicate they both received it. "There was a
disasterous Fall in one of the Nothern Weyrs, something called micro
burst. It left them leaderless and their ranks badly depleted with
many injuries or deaths. The Weyr is asking help from all the Pern's
Weyrs to rebuild their Wings. Mostly they need ranking dragonriders:
bronzeriders, a gold, blues and greens with leadership experience,"
G'nir paused and let the letter to go to circulating among the
wingleaders and their 'seconds.

"If any of you are interested to go, let me know. There's a good
chance for a bronzerider to become a Weyrleader," that was meant for
the other bronzeriders. G'nir already knew he was not going back to
North. He was Weyrleader here and now. Even if next gold Flight might
change it. Besides, Dragonsfall was _home_, in way the Northern
continent never was.

J'darin considered the offer for less than a second. This _was_ his home
and even if training Weyrlings was all he did for the rest of his life, he
supposed that someone had to do it and he, at least, trained them well and
loved them even more. Devyn, too, would keep him here. Forever. He would
do whatever it took to make her happy.

There was a long, painful silence as the riders glanced around the
room, wondering if any would take up such an offer. Hygalia looked
only to one man, her eyes pleading. U'kaiah had his ambitions to be
Weyrleader here with the riders he had fought and bled with and not in
a far off Weyr to which he had no tie. But he was a dragonman,
through and through. It didn't matter what he wanted. His first duty
was to Pern, before Weyr, before even family. He looked deep into the
goldrider's eyes. **Remember your promise, Hygalia** his mind
whispered as he leaned forward in his chair. "I will go, for as long
as I'm needed."

G'nir nodded as a response to U'kaiah's gesture. He was more than
happy to send him away. He wouldn't even mind if he became Weyrleader,
as long as it wasn't in the same Weyr he was living in.

Hygalia's eyes closed for a moment as she felt a wave of immense
relief. It was a huge loss for Dragonsfall, she knew. But it meant
her northern home would be saved. His leadership was just what they
needed now. Opening them, her gaze and soft smile were filled with
gratitude to the bronzerider. It was her turn to make her intentions
know. "I'm going, too."

Teseada stifled the gasp that threatened to escape. "But Genith just rose,"
she managed after a moment.

D'ale's mind whirled and his eyes shifted from one to another of the
people seated around the table. This was huge. "Wow," he mused.

Now that was something P'nal had not ever expected to happen. Was Dragonsfall
perpetually going to be bereft of Weyrwomen during the Pass? What had G'nir
done that Hygalia would just up and leave like that? His eyes slid over to the
Weyrleader, not exactly warm at the moment.

E'naer swallowed and shook his head. He was not going anywhere and
Hygalia, leaving now...was out of her mind.

G'nir had decades of training for not to show too much emotion. Still,
enough showed to make it clear he did not agree with Hygalia's
decision at all

"Are you sure?" he asked. He hadn't missed the way she was looking at
U'kaiah. He couldn't wrap his mind around the idea, was there
something going on between them?. He had thought all was fine between
them. They worked well together and he felt they were a perfect match.
Admittedly, there had been times when Hygalia had been annoyed or down
right angry with him. "Hygalia..." his voice was choked. Three small
words from her and he was feeling betrayed, like his world been turned
upside down, and perhaps... a piece broken off his heart.

"I'm sorry, G'nir," she said softly, turning to face her Weyrleader.
"I _am_ sure. I'm needed there now, much more than I'm needed here."

Hygalia rose to her feet to address the group. She was silent a
moment as she gathered her strength, very much aware of the fact that
her decision impacted them all directly, and they deserved an
explanation. "What Weyrleader G'nir has not told you, what should not
be discussed outside this room but which will be known around Pern
very soon, is that their Weyrwoman, Lady Lutsia, is dying. Their
Weyrleader was badly injured in this Fall, his Second and a Wingleader
killed, and soon, their Senior Gold will also be gone. They will be
left without a leader. It is a position no Weyr should be in during a
Pass. I came to Dragonsfall from that Weyr. The riders know me.
They trust me. They will follow me. And I believe they would follow
U'kaiah, too. At least," she said with an understanding nod in his
direction, "as long as he wishes to stay." Hygalia would not forget
her promise.

"Genith did just Rise," Hygalia continued, acknowledging Teseada's
protest. "Her eggs are needed far more there than they are here. I
know," she said, raising a hand to stop any further protest on that
point, "that Dragonsfall needs eggs too. But a new Weyrwoman will
come, and I am certain that her queen will Rise quickly after her
arrival. There will be eggs on Dragonsfall Sands. They will just be
delayed a month or two. But you will have eggs. Of that I am
certain."

The golderider turned to look at the Junior Queen directly. "In the
mean time, Teseada can take care of the Weyr as acting Weyrwoman. She
has proved herself capable and has been taking on more responsibility.
I don't think she is yet ready to lead the Weyr herself, but it will
come soon. And this is a good chance for her to stretch her muscles.
I have every confidence that I am leaving the Weyr in good hands."

"I am very sorry, to all of you. This is a great sacrifice that
Dragonsfall is being asked to make. I have loved being your
Weyrwoman. Of being _G'nir's_ Weyrwoman," she said looked at the
bronzerider as she acknowledged the partnership they had. "But my
first duty must be to Pern. I hope you can forgive me someday."

With a bow of her head, she took her seat once more.

D'ale pulled the hides toward him with a deep sigh of resignation.
These decisions were all out of his hands but he would do whatever was
necessary. The stunned look on G'nir's face spoke volumes about how
the stoic Weyrleader felt about their now former Weyrwoman. He knew
he'd have that precise look on his face if Yanley ever left him.

Teseada's face flushed with the praise, but then she turned to the other
goldrider. "Are you really sure about this Hygalia? It's a big decision, and
I'm not sure I'm ready for this."

The Weyrwoman gave her a small smile and nod. "Quite sure, Teseada.
You are capable of more than you give yourself credit for. This is a
chance for you to see just how much."

P'nal himself was thinking more along the lines of the Weyr was in a bad
place. Teseada had done well with the last clutch, sure, but what about the
one before it? That hadn't been too long ago. No, they needed a strong
senior queen with turns of experience. And if her leadership was temporary,
then who would they get to fill in the gaps. Who would come to
Dragonsfall? In his mind, the answer was no one. And Genna was of
course too young to enter into any equation. And then-U'kaiah? They
were going to lose an experienced Wingleader as well? **Well this is
just great.**

G'nir tried to keep his disapproval out of his voice. "Fine, D'ale will be
acting as wingleader," G'nir said. His mindset was such that he didn't
care even if a greenrider had led Cyan wing as long as someone
did. "We need to ask for replacement for Hygalia. We need experienced
goldrider, no offense Teseada, to train Genna and obviously we have also
spots opening for bronzeriders too. I shall write letters to other
Weyrs." He still kept wondering if there was something going on between
Hygalia and U'kaiah he hadn't been aware of. Didn't U'kaiah already
had his plate full with Tavia and Aileyan?'

"There are some Junior Queens I would like to recommend that you
contact first. If you would like to hear them," she added softly,
knowing very well that she and G'nir would not be parting on the best
of terms. But she knew whatever conversation they had in private
after this meeting broke up would be nothing to compared the ones
U'kaiah would be having with his family that night.

Last updated on the December 21st 2017

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

How Did We Get Here (4): A Great Sacrifice