Not the Way He Imagined

Writers: Emma, Rochelle
Date Posted: 20th July 2006

Characters: D'rue, Oria
Description: Daiirue is searched.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 13, day 1 of Turn 3

Oria

Daiirue leaned against the stable wall, his eyes closed as he waited for his runner to be saddled, Vree crooning in his ear. Either he was coming down with something, or something he'd eaten at the feast hadn't agreed with him. He knew Stryor would let him stay a few extra days, but if he did that he would be caught on the road during Threadfall.

It wasn't like he wanted to stay. He had come at Stryor's request, held his nephew, and listened to the official confirmation of Gaiiteure as Stryor's successor. Afterwards he had sat through the feast, and endured Daiite's insistence on denying him wine. He had done his duty. It was time to leave.

Faranth, but he was ready to leave! He wanted to be in front of a loom again, to let his fingers dance in the weave as his mind wandered on the adventures he would never dare to have. To be away from the endless intrigues of his brothers would be worth having to pull over a few times to be sick.

"Daiirue! Daiirue!" Daiirue opened his eyes as Vree vanished in surprise to see one of the hold boys run panting up to him. "Dragons! In the courtyard!"

}:Saryeth senses something,:{ reported Degrorth to Oria as they over flew the hold. }:I can feel it too.:{ She gave the green a loving pat, **Then lets go see what it is, let Saryeth know.**

The two dragons spiraled out of the sky towards the hold where a small gathering of people was building. **There's a welcoming committee,** she teased her green.

Daiirue followed the excited boy at a sedate trot, trying not to unnerve his stomach further. Threadfall wasn't for a few days, so perhaps they rode on Search...? Some of the boys he knew had friends who had been searched from the holds. He arrived at the courtyard just in time to see Stryor exit the hold. Gaiiteure was already in the yard, watching the dragons land.

"Better see who the Holder is here," said A'rie as he dismounted. "She's sure one of those lads has something."

Oria nodded as she unclipped her straps before dismounting herself.
"This one agrees, at least one of them has potential, just not sure which ones yet."

Daiirue watched as Gaiiteure stepped forward, only to step back again when Stryor cleared his throat. Stryor came forward, walking directly up to the older man, ignoring the young woman entirely. Daiirue wondered if that was wise, but said nothing.

"Welcome dragonriders." Stryor said courteously, if gruffly. "What brings you to Crooked Rapids Hold?"

"We ride on search," replied Oria.

Stryor started, and glared at the young woman for a moment, almost visibly wanting to chastise her for speaking in front of her superiors, but instead he turned his gaze back to the older man again. "If you ride on Search, then my hold is open to you."

"Thank you Holder," replied A'rie courteously. "If you could ask your young people to come out and line up here, and our dragons will do their best."

Stryor gestured stiffly at Gaiiteure, who sent off several people to assemble the hold's youth. Daiirue's stomach jumped nervously as the small crowd was quickly assembled and sorted into a line beside him, his mind doing rapid calculations. He was still young enough... But he didn't dare hope. Real life was never like stories. He would be passed over, and forgotten yet again until his brothers found it convenient to marry him off to some wherry-faced cow with the proper bloodline.

Still, he watched the dragons as intently as some of the children, aware that he might never again see one so close. The greens were beautiful
-and _huge_. He knew the greens were the smallest, but surely the colored dots he saw in the sky couldn't be that much bigger...?

Degrorth lifted her head, and scanned the line of young people. Oria stood beside her as she did so, a smile on her face wondering which of them would be on the sands soon, waiting for that special moment.

Daiirue's stomach moved queerly as he watched the massive green heads slowly scan the line, sometimes pausing for an agonizing moment to stare at someone before moving on. Closer. Closer. His stomach was ready to revolt with nervousness now, and he clamped his jaws shut, reminding himself firmly that _he_ would never be chosen. They would take someone else, and he would leave within the candlemark on a runner. _Not_ a dragon.

}:That one!:{ Degrorth was very definite in her choice. }:He could do well.:{
**What does Saryeth think?** asked her rider.

}:She agrees,:{ came the reply after the briefest of moments. }:She says hers will tell them.:{ As Oria received that message, A'rie was approaching the lad they'd agreed on.

"Congratulations, both our dragons think you would do well at the Weyr.
You've been searched."

Daiirue looked up at the man, his mind suddenly blank with shock. If he hadn't already clenched his jaw, his mouth would have fallen open. Him.
The man was standing in front of _him_! Unbidden, his eyes flicked quickly to the line beside him, confirmed that the man was not talking to someone else, and caught sight of Stryor and his brothers. Daiite had arrived and looked thoughtful, Gaiiteure annoyed. Stryor was frowning.

**No! You will _not_ stop me! This is my only chance!** He thought fiercely at his foster father as Daiite came forward and began murmuring urgently to Stryor. **Please Daiite, for once in your life be on my side!** "My thanks to your dragons, sir. I am honored to be chosen." He said smoothly. "What do I need to do?"

"You have a choice, you can come with us now, or we can come back nearer the time and fetch you then." A'rie smiled. "Or you can choose to stay. It's your decision as to whether you accept the search."

"Then I accept." He said quickly, watching as Daiite stepped back from Stryor. His foster father looked upset, but didn't say anything. Daiite looked smug. **Of course -if I Impress, I can't inherit if something happens to Gaiiteure.** "If it is not a problem, I will go with you. I was returning to the weaver hall anyway, so my things are packed." He certainly wasn't going to let them have a chance to forget him!

A'rie nodded. "We can give you a few minutes, if you need time to make farewells."

Daiirue smiled his thanks, and nodded graciously. He had already said his farewells, but as Daiite sent a man off to fetch his things from the stables, he moved toward Gaiiteure. **Manners and appearances at all cost.** He thought resignedly. **All that mother ever taught me.**

Gaiiteure and Daiite said some empty words of congratulations as they gripped his hand, and Stryor unbent enough to give him a rough hug. It was as he swept a gracious bow to his foster mother and Gaiiteure's wife that his stomach revolted, and he faltered with the effort to keep it down, swallowing the bile as the world spun crazily. He straightened up, hoping that his face wasn't as white as he felt. Avaia looked concerned, as did Savai when he held Tevai for a moment, but stayed silent.

Finally his things were brought, and he turned to the riders, his heart sinking as he realized what his stomach was going to do to him when they took off. This was _not_ the way he'd imagined being searched! "I'm ready to go."

"Then we'll go now," stated A'rie. "Your family will be able to attend the hatching, should they want to."

Last updated on the July 23rd 2006

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Not the Way He Imagined