"Hey! Flower-boy! What do you think you're doing?" A large, burly weyr-brat grabbed Amar by his collar and flung him aside. "Real men eat first wimp. Not flower men."
Amar bit his lip and tried not to attack his peer. He'd been at Golin for a turn and a half and he hated it. He didn't fit in, he had no friends except Aliana and she only came to visit him every now and then. He sighed. And now I don't even get to eat... He flopped himself down at a table and munched on a bun. I miss Roza and Lilika. His thoughts had been centered around that one thought for sometime now. I miss them so much... He sighed again, finished his bun and went to his room.
He laid on his bed and began to run his fingers along his harp. The music was beautiful and sad and noone ever heard it. He hid the harp from the other boys, knowing that if they bugged him for his name, they'd bug him for his harp. The only person who'd ever heard him play at all in the last 1 and a half turns was Aliana, and that had been an accident. She'd snuck in on him, like she was doing now. She sat on the end of the bed and politely waited for him to finish. "That's pretty."
Amar replaced the harp in it's hiding place. "Thanks. How did you know I'd be up here?" It was the middle of dinner, most people were eating.
Aliana smiled. "People are downstairs eating and having fun, I knew you wouldn't be there."
Amar gave her a half-smile. "Am I that depressing?"
"Oh, far worse." Aliana reassured him. "What's wrong? You've been acting far more depressed than usual."
"Nothing." He laid on his bed and stared at the roof.
Aliana waited for more, but realized that, as usual, Amar didn't want to talk about it. She sighed and stood up, preparing to leave him alone with his thoughts.
"I'm leaving." He whispered it quietly, but Aliana heard it.
"Why?" She sat down beside him again.
He grinned. "Because I hate it here. Because I don't fit in. Because I'm a gypsy. Pick your reason."
"You don't fit in because you don't try to fit in. Look at you." She twirled the big mirror in the corner of the room to face him.
"So?" He was puzzled. He looked almost exactly like he did when he left his friends, aside from the fact that he was dressed more appropriately.
"You look like a gypsy!"
"I -am- a gypsy!"
"Then act like one!" Aliana felt like hitting him with something, but nothign was within reach. "For Faranth's sake Amar! You tower over everyone here, but you take all the crap they give you!! I don't know what happened to you before I met you and I realize it must have been hard, but grow a backbone!!! When I first met you Xynoth wanted to Search you, now she feels sorry for you!!! Weyrwoman Magika's been sending Golin all the Searchrider's she gets to see you and you are so depressed you don't even turn out for the searching! GAH!" Words finally failed the greenrider as she threw a pillow at him for lack of anything else.
Amaryliss was shocked silent for a moment, but a smile slowly spread across his face. In another instant he was doubled over laughing.
"What?" Aliana demanded.
Amar was laughing so hard he had problems breathing. He waved his hand at her as he struggled for words.
"What?!" Aliana demanded again.
Amar stood up, kissed the greenrider on the forehead and, still snickering, left the room and headed down the stairs.
Aliana stood by herself in his room, really confused. "WHAT?!?"
* * * "Well," The bully who'd kicked Amar out of the dinner line snickered. "If it isn't flower..." That's all he managed to get out before Amar punched him.
I should have done this a long time ago... Amar thought to himself as he took on his tormentors. I don't know what was wrong with me...but Aliana pointed it out. Roza and Lilika, where ever they are, wouldn't want me to put up with this. They wouldn't want me to mope around. I'm going to stay at Golin Hold. I may not fit in, and I may not have any friends but by Faranth... He grinned as they fell before him. I'm gonna have fun.
* * * "Aliana!" Amaryliss came sweeping down the stairs and hugged her.
The greenrider couldn't believe how much he'd changed in the half a turn since her lecture. She'd finally caught up with him, seen his handiwork and ushered him back to his room where she'd finally weaseled the entire story out of him. His dispostion had improved marvelously since that date and he was almost as cheerful and humourous as when they'd first met. At least now she understood why he was so depressed sometime. Aliana had promised she search for Roza and Lilika, but she'd had no luck so far. "Amar!" She hugged him back. "Long time no see." She noticed that his harp was strapped across his back.
"Any news?" Amar tried to hide his hopefulness.
Aliana hated breaking his heart. "Not about your friends no." His smile fell, but quickly returned.
"But you do have other news?" He lead her up to his room and shut the door behind them.
She kissed him as soon as the door was closed. "I'm a full Searchrider now."
He kissed her back. "That's wonderful!" He kissed her again.
Xynoth sighed. I don't know why you two bother hiding it. I'm pretty sure everyone at Adanuk and Golin know about you two.
Amaryliss smiled. "It's more fun this way." Sometime shortly after the two had begun seeing each other, Xynoth began bespeaking Amar.
Aliana smiled stupidly. "Uh-huh." They looked lovingly at each other for a few seconds before kissing again.
"Dinner." Amar murmured. "If we're late, people will wonder."
"Let them." She ran her fingers through his long hair.
He grabbed her hands and kissed them before getting up and walking out of the room. Aliana sighed and followed.
When are you going to tell him the other good news? The dragon spoke only to her rider.
Aliana smiled and went down to dinner. Later.
* * * Xynoth burst out from between above a secluded strand of beach beside the ocean. The dragon bathed herself in the waves while Amar played for Aliana. When he'd exhausted his fingers, Amar laid down on the sand beside Aliana. She took his hand in hers and rubbed his fingers.
"Did you used to play like this with Roza and Lilika?" She kissed the tips of his fingers.
He grinned. "Not like this. They never kissed me."
She swatted him. "I don't know how anyone puts up with you."
He shrugged. "I couldn't tell you. I've never had to put up with myself."
Aliana laughed. "How did you ever go so long moping around?"
Amar grinned. "It was hell. I thought of so many funny things to say and no one was around to say them to."
She grinned. "I bet. It's what you deserve to for being such a pain." She moved to swat him again, but he caught her hand. She swung at him with her other hand, but he caught it to. He kissed her.
We should be going. We'll be late. Xynoth shook herself dry and stretched on the beach.
Aliana sighed and got up. "Okay."
"Late?" Amar was confused. "For what? Where are you going?"
Aliana grinned. "You'll see. Don't worry."
Amar mounted Xynoth easily. One would almost think that he was a rider himself. "I'm coming?"
"Of course. I've already talked to Headwoman Marielle about it and she says it's fine. She got a drudge to pack your bags and send them on ahead.
"I need bags?" Amar was really confused.
Aliana laughed. "Of course." Xynoth disappeared between.
* * * Xynoth set down in the Weyrbowl of Tarizal Weyr. Amaryliss dismounted looked around and smiled back up at Aliana who remained on Xynoth. "I give. Where am I?"
"Tarizal Weyr." A unfamilar man said as he approached. A woman was walking beside him and two dragons were walking behind. "My name is Sh'cril and I'm the Head Searchrider here. This is my weyrmate Amanthyst, a Jr. Searchrider."
"Oh." Amar leaned in close to Aliana. "And I'm here because..." He whispered to her.
She leaned in and whispered back. "I searched you."
"Oh." He said, turning his attention back to Sh'cril and Amanthyst. They smiled and waited for the new to sink in. "Oh! OH!" Amar whirled to face Aliana agian. "You're joking."
"Remember that long lecture I gave you?" Amar nodded. "Remember what I said?"
Amaryliss looked to Sh'cril for help. "Tell her she's crazy."
The Head Searchrider laughed. "She may be crazy, but Azuth agrees with her."
Amanthyst smiled. "So does Sorkith. Welcome to our sands."
Amar looked at Sh'ril, Amanthyst and Aliana in turn. "I'm never going to find them you know."
Sh'cril and Amanthyst were confused, but Aliana knew that he was talking about Roza and Lilika. "Why?" She asked, hoping he wasn't going to sink into another bad mood.
His grin banished her fears. "Because never in a million years will they think to look for me on a dragon."
Aliana grinned and kissed him. "Then I guess you'll have to find them."
Amaryliss has impressed!
* * *
Amaryliss is a candidate at Tarizal Weyr.
Amayrliss' picture from Chibi Ningyo's Adoption Center.
Background from Myrror Images.
