Love and Acceptance
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: Devin
Date Posted: 17th January 2009
Characters: N'vanik, Cosani
Description: Cosani Impresses, and N'vanik congratulates his daughter.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 23 of Turn 4
For the second time, she pulled on the white robes and joined the Candidates marching toward the Hatching Grounds. For the second time, she went out onto the hot Sands. For the second time, she faced the eggs. But this was the first time there was a gold among them.
Cosani hovered near the group of girls that moved toward the large gold egg. Out of fear or respect, or both, they stayed well back from the protective Queen. When Nyith moved back, the girls stepped closer. Cosani focused all her attention on that egg, willing the dragonet to chose her. She was the daughter of a Weyrleader. She was smart, and brave, and yes, even stubborn. She was worthy of being a goldrider. The sudden silence pulled her attention away and she realized the dragons had stopped humming. Then she heard an egg begin to crack. This was it. It would all be over in a few minutes, and she would walk off the sands with a shining gold by her side.
She turned her attention back to the egg, ignoring the noise all around her. There were eggs cracking, dragonets creeling, shouts of joy from those that Impressed and cheers from the crowd. But all that mattered was the egg in front of her. It started to rock.
}:It's you! It's you!:{ Cosani blinked. It sounded like the voice came from inside her head. Something bumped against her leg. She looked down to see that it was a green hatchling.
}:Don't you want me, Cosani?:{ the green cried piteously.
"Want you?" Then realization hit her. "Of course! Of course I want you!"
Love flooded her. Love, and acceptance, and perfect understanding. Cosani fell to her knees and put her arms around the green.
}:I am Shalith, and you are mine!:{
Cosani found herself shouting her dragon's name. Her dragon, who would always love her, who would never abandon her. A moment passed while she held tight to her green, tears running down her face.
}:I love you, but I'm so hungry!:{ The girl realized that she was hungry, too. "Oh, yes. I'll get you something to eat." She led Shalith off the Sands, not paying any attention to the gold egg that was now rocking violently.
~ ~ ~
}:More!:{ Shalith opened her mouth wide.
Cosani tossed her another piece of meat. She glanced over at some of the other new riders. She stifled a laugh as she saw Eddron patiently feeding a blue. There would be quite a few disappointed girls -- and a few pleased boys.
}:Why?:{
"Oh ..." It was strange having someone sharing her head. **I'll explain later.** Then she distracted Shalith with another chunk of meat.
"She's beautiful."
She turned to see her father standing there. "Thank you," she managed, unable to sort out her emotions. Shalith closed her mouth and a soft croon escaped her.
"You're not ... disappointed, are you?" she asked.
"Disappointed?"
"I didn't get the gold."
N'vanik snorted. "I couldn't give a flaming dung heap! You Impressed, you got what you wanted, and you're happy. I could see the joy on your face from up in the Stands."
She looked up at him, still confused, and the green crooned again.
"It's the best feeling in the world, isn't it?" He smiled. "That first moment when you're together, when you find your other half. When you know someone will love you, no matter what." He sent love to his bronze, perched on the heights, and Loseth returned it. There was so much to feel good about today.
"Yeah ..." Cosani turned and rubbed her hand on Shalith's bloody muzzle. The green's croon took on a pleased tone.
}:I will love you forever. You are my lifemate.:{
"I'm safe now," Cosani said quietly. "No one can ever take me back to the hold."
N'vanik laid a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him. "No one could take you before, but now you know it," he said.
She nodded, turning back to her green. All the assurances people had given her hadn't made her believe, in her heart, that no one could make her go back to the hold. But Shalith had changed that, had changed her whole life in an instant. Cosani would never have to get married, or be forced to have children. She was free, and she was loved. She would also have a duty, though. She would have to face Thread. Although she had thought about it before, now it was a certainty. She was going to risk her life to protect Pern.
N'vanik laughed and Cosani let out a surprised squeak as she was pulled into a hug. "I'm so happy for you!"
She went stiff, not knowing what to do. Then she eased, letting herself believe he meant it. Wanting it to be true. Cosani returned the hug, her head pressed against her father's chest. Shalith crooned her contentment. For the second time that day, tears rolled down Cosani's cheeks.
Everything was different now.
Last updated on the January 21st 2009