You Still Can

Writers: AL, Cali
Date Posted: 28th February 2009

Characters: F'gol, D'mal
Description: F'gol is told that his life as a harper might not be over.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 28 of Turn 4

D'mal headed for the barracks with long, easy strides. He was pretty sure he had timed it about right, the weyrlings should be having free time soon, if that hadn't already started. He paused as he approached, a young man standing in front of the doors, face lifted up to the sky. His expression was a mixture of sadness and wistfulness and spoke of thoughts that were almost painful. The scene before the brownrider intrigued him and caused him to pause just before the boy - that, and the young bluerider was blocking the way.

"Sorry," F'gol apologized and moved to the side once he realized he was in the way. He'd been straining his ears, sure he'd heard music coming from someplace, and hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings.

"You look a bit distracted, son." D'mal didn't even move to go through the door but continued to stand there and gaze down at F'gol. "Among other things. You all right?"

F'gol nodded, the man looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place from where. "I was just trying to figure out what they were playing. There's music... coming down from the beach I think."

The brownrider tilted his head, then nodded as the soft, barely audible strains of music drifted over the breeze. "Yes, I hear it too. You like music?"

F'gol cringed slightly and looked down at his boots, 'liking' music was such an understatement it was almost funny. "I used to be a harper."

"Used to be?" D'mal's eyebrows arched up at the declaration. "You aren't any more?"

He looked up, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Well, no. I Impressed, I _can't_ be a harper any more."

"Well, that's not quite true." D'mal chuckled. Was this why the young man was so perplexed? "You can be a harper and a dragonrider if you wish."

"No I can't." F'gol snapped at the man, he didn't like this dragonrider making fun of him. "I have to fight thread and drill every day until I die. I can't do that and be a harper."

"That hasn't stopped me from practising _my_ craft." D'mal motioned to his knots. In addition to those that marked him as a dragonrider was one that marked him quite clearly as a senior journeyman woodcrafter.

F'gol clenched his jaw. "But that was from _before_ Thread. Back when you didn't have to drill or fight. Sure in fifty _turns_ I'll be able to, but who wants to be a fifty turn old apprentice!"

"I'm _still_ practising, son." D'mal shook his head. The boy didn't listen very well, did he? "Even now, I still study, I still learn. There are other dragonriders too, even a harper I know of, who are still studying. Younger than me by far, too."

Now F'gol was really confused. "But that doesn't make sense. You can't got to classes, you can't do group projects, you don't have time to study. How can you learn and grow and become better if you don't have the time?"

"You _do_ have time." The brownrider insisted, drawing his arms across his shoulder. "You just don't have as much of it, so you use the time that you have wisely. You're not going to be able to progress as quickly, but you can still study, still learn."

F'gol stared at the ground, his face scrunched as he thought about what the journeyman and dragonrider had said. He wanted to believe him, he wanted to think that he could still be a harper, but he didn't want to be crushed again if it wasn't true. "The only time I really have is restday. And they don't have classes then. And even if they did, I couldn't keep up, I'd miss most of them."

"I wouldn't worry about it while you're a weyrling." D'mal advised, reaching out to warmly grip F'gol's shoulder. "But after you graduate and get settled into the routine of drills and being a rider, I would recommend seeking out training. After all, the Harper Hall is right here."

He considered that a moment. The man said it would take longer, but how much longer? He knew some apprentices got special training and extra classes if they started out late or changed crafts, perhaps something like that could be arranged for him as well. The important thing was this journeyman had said that he _could_ be a harper _and_ a dragonrider. That it was _allowed_. As that sunk in, as he finally started believing him, he felt such a weight lift off his heart. He hadn't even realized it was there, but now that it was gone F'gol wanted to run, jump, holler into the air for all to hear! As it was, he grinned, the biggest grin he'd ever given and that turned into a laughing hollering whoop as he rushed past the journeyman and headed towards Tealth to tell him the wondrous news.

D'mal watched the young bluerider's enthusiastic retreat with a chuckle. The news certainly seemed to agree with him! He was glad that he could help the lad, though that hadn't been his purpose when he arrived. D'mal turned to head to the door, still chuckling. It was time to find his daughter.

Last updated on the February 28th 2009

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