How Do They Know?

Writers: AL, Cali
Date Posted: 24th January 2009

Characters: Meledei, F'gol
Description: The two new weyrlings meet.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 23 of Turn 4

Meledei entered the feast, eyes bright, her entire face lit with a light that only another dragonrider could understand. She had changed, a deep purple dress adorning her form. It was simple, no other ornamentation beyond flaring at the sleeves and at the waist. It suited her though, the deep colour highlighting her complexion. She was immediately overwhelmed by well wishes and shook hands with so many people she was certain she must have met the entire Weyr.

It didn't last forever, however, and she found herself with some room. People seemed to realize that she needed to breathe, so she was left to make her own rounds. Meledei saw Cosani and was about to make her way over to the girl, then saw another face. This one seemed more perplexed, concerned, even confused. It was the boy, the harper who had made his way onto the sands and impressed suddenly. Meledei paused in her steps, turned, and made her way over to him. She offered him a smile as she approached and a soft, "Hey."

"Hey" Figol echoed back at the girl. He didn't know her, so she must not be from the Hall. He wondered if she was a Weyrlingstaff assistant, he'd been told they'd be checking in on him until he figured things out.

Meledei slowly lowered herself into a chair next to him. "You look lost." It was painfully obvious. "Anything I can do to help?"

"Um, no. I was just told we were supposed to mingle and celebrate but I don't really have anyone to mingle with." He shrugged. He should be preparing for his performance, they said he could still play for tonight since Tealth was sleeping, but whenever he thought about his gitar he felt his chest tighten.

"I'll mingle with you for a while, if you like." Meledei offered, hoping her tone and her smile would offer _some_ comfort.

"Are you one of the assistants?" he asked.

"No." Meledei shook her head. It didn't surprise her that he didn't know. He had impressed before her and had gotten rather distracted. Things were a blur for him after that, she was sure, if her experience mirrored his at all. "I just impressed tonight too."

"Oh, sorry." He hadn't really been paying attention to anyone but Jestyn and Sheste so she didn't stick out. "I guess we're going to be in the barracks together then?"

"Yes." Meledei leaned forward to rest her arms over her knees. "I'll be glad to help you anyway I can, catch you up on what you missed out since you didn't get to take candidate classes."

His eyes unfocused for a second, everything was coming at him all at once. Every time he talked to someone it seemed like he was drowning. He pulled himself back together again and pushed the terror down. "I'm Figol by the way."

"Meledei." The girl offered her hand. "What's your lifemate's name?"

Figol took it absentmindedly as he thought of his surprise lifemate. "Tealth. He said he didn't want any of those other boys, that's why he found me. How do they know who they want?"

"No one really knows." Meledei sighed, the sound almost wistful. "If they did, we probably wouldn't have so many people left standing." The girl straightened and clapped her hands against her knees. "So, Figol...or I guess it's F'gol now? How can I take away that confused look on your face and help you smile, hm?"

His brows furrowed as he took in another piece of surprise information, "That's right, I guess my name changes now too." First his craft, his life, his purpose, now his name. "F'gol is as good as any I guess."

"You don't look to happy." Meledei thought that impressing a dragon would bring joy to anyone's life, yet it didn't seem that was the case with the harper.

"I'm just overwhelmed I think." F'gol admitted. It didn't seem weak to be so, everyone must be at least somewhat. "I probably need to eat. They say the Hatching Feast is the best. What's your dragon's name?" He remembered belatedly. It was probably rude not to inquire.

"Elleth." It was so beautiful. The most beautiful name she had ever heard and Meledei couldn't get enough of repeating it. "She's the best dragon..."

F'gol gave a small smile and his eyes stung with happy tears, "I don't think anyone could ever love me as much as Tealth does."

"No. You're right. I don't think anyone could love me as much as my dragon could either." Meledei had no idea _she_ could ever love someone that much. "You should get something to eat." Meledei suggested, returning the bluerider's smile. "Do you want me to get you something?"

"I can get it, thanks." He stood up, steeling himself for the night ahead. "I'll see you around I guess."

"Come get me if you need to talk to someone." Meledei stood as F'gol did, still smiling. She held out her hand to him in a friendly gesture.

"Sure Meledei." He replied, using the old harper trick of repeating a name to match it with a face. She was nice, and he was going to need a few friends now that he was stuck at the Weyr.

Last updated on the January 24th 2009

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