Melisande uncomfortably shifted from foot to foot. She knew that most candidates were nervous on the Hatching Sands, but this was ridiculous. She saw some of the other girls crowd together and couldn't help but smile to herself. She was 36 turns, twice as old as almost all the other female candidates. Twice as old as almost all the candidates. She wondered how the teenage girls would react if she went over there and stood with them. She grinned remembering when she'd been introduced as a fellow candidate. They'd tried to treat her like normal, but they'd run into a few problems. Not the least of them being Melisande happily took over the role of mother for all of them. That amusing thought in mind, Melisande turned her eyes back to the eggs.
She found herself questioning whether she was awake or not. Everything seemed to be happening in an odd dream state. The eggs rocked and cracked and candidate after candidate impressed. She knew she should be excited or anxious or .... something other than what she was feeling. She watched Tiaryna, one of the other female candidates, nervously pacing. She smiled, knowing that the girl was worried. As person after person impressed, her chances got slimer and slimer. Melisande silently congratulated the girl as she impressed.
The older woman wasn't nervous or worried about not impressing. If there was an egg out there for her, so be it. If there wasn't..... She shrugged. Maybe wisdom does come with age... She sighed. Everytime she thought of the past she couldn't help but think of I'wen. She missed him every moment of every day. Ever since Kath left, it felt like she'd lost her last bit of contact with him. Somehow it seemed more final now. He was really gone. Everything about him was really gone. Tears welled up in her eyes and she quickly blinked them away. A small hand forced itself into hers. She squeezed Kamlin's hand and then realized what she was doing. "Kamlin? How in the name of the red star did you get down here?"
Melisande's son wasn't paying attention. He pointed to the last egg. Melisande had been preoccupied with her own thoughts, she hadn't realized that she was the only one left on the sands. She turned her attention to the last egg.
A golden wing tip thrust it's way out of the shell and into the world of Pern. It was quickly followed by a darker snout and the rest of a tiny queen hatchling. Melisande smiled as she examined the beautiful creature. She'd lived almost 19 turns at Adanuk Weyr and she could tell a beautiful, healthy hatchling when she saw one. The gold's eyes were whirling a happy blue/green and her extra long tail swished contently back and forth. Melisande was not surprised when it bespoke her.
Melisande, you have waited long enough. I know there is sadness in your heart. Let me take it away. I am Arkinith. What is that little thing near you? It smells of you, and . . . Arkinith tilted her head and examined Kamlin. Kamlin. I'm honoured to meet you, I'm Arkinith. Kamlin nodded, stunned silent for the first time in his short life.
Melisande was about to take her hatchling off the sands when Arkinith halted her. There are more rider-mine. More people close to you. Someone call I'wen and a fellow dragon called Kath. Melisande froze. Tears came to her eyes. What? Arkinith, if this is a joke it isn't funny...
The gold smiled at Melisande. I wouldn't do that to you rider-mine. Listen... he wants to talk to you. He loves you very much Melisande. He misses you and Kamlin... Melisande collapsed crying onto her lifemate's shoulder. She reached out with her mind. I'wen?
Mel... Melisande....My love... I'wen's voice was faint, but definately there. My love, forever... She could feel her departed husband smile. Kath says hi.
Melisande, Kamlin and Arkinith had to be carried off the hatching sands. Arkinith because bespeaking between was tiring and the tiny queen had kept it up for almost a candlemark, Kamlin because all the excitement had tired him out and he'd fallen asleep, and Melisande because she'd sobbed herself near hysterics and now didn't want to move for fear that this was all a dream and if she so much as breathed she'd wake up.
Faith, Melisande's golden firelizard, landed on her owner's head and squaked angrily. She'd been forgotten in all the excitement of the hatching and was now quite upset. She nipped angrily at her master's neck. A few drops of blood ran down Melisande's neck and stray tears found their way down Melisande's cheeks. I'm not dreaming. Even dreams aren't this wonderful. Oh I'wen. Arkinith.
The golden hatchling wearily raised her head. Melisande?
Melisande continued to lay on her back, watching the sky, barely breathing. I'm so happy.
Arkinith smiled and rested her head on Mel's stomach. Kamlin lay on Melisande's right side and Faith curled up next to the sleeping boy. Arkinith sighed happily. So am I.
"Where are you?" Kamlin stomped his foot and continued to search for Faith. Melisande smiled and rubbed Arkinith's eye ridges. The pale queen had grown over the last two turns to a healthy 38 metres and (according to Melisande) was easily the best looking queen at Adanuk.
I'll give you a hint. The queen easily bespoke to Kamlin, although he was not her rider. Arkinith had a knack for bespeaking anyone. Kamlin momentarily gave up the hunt for the golden flit. The golden queen shut her eyes and searched for the flit. Faith's never far from your mother's heart.
The 12 turn youth swatted at Arkinith. "Ark...you just like being phillisophogle....phillysophy....phillisophicil...."
Melisande smiled and interupted. "Philosophical, dear. And Ark's giving you a pretty good hint." Melisande smiled as she watched her son try to figure it out. Every night, Faith and Kamlin played hid and go seek. Every night when Kamlin finally found the gold flit he'd give her a treat. Every night Melisande sat and rubbed Arkinith's eye ridges as she watched the game.
Melisande cringed as Faith squeeled. "Gotcha!" Kamlin yelled and grabbed at the golden flitter. She'd been hiding in Melisande's long hair.
"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Melisande muttered and winced as the firelizard freed herself and flew to Kamlin's shoulder. He promptly gave the creature a treat. Melisande smiled. Just like every night...
Kamlin tried to supress a yawn, but his mother caught him. She stood up and walked over to him. "Bed. Now."
Kamlin sighed and whined. "Awwwww.... mom. I'm not tired."
"I am." Melisande picked her son up. "So bed." She carried him to his bed and laid him down in it. Within minutes he was asleep. Melisande smirked. Not tired eh? Faith curled up beside the youth. Mel rubbed the gold's head. "Sometimes I think your his, not mine." The golden flit yawned and ignored her master's sarcasm.
The gold rider stretched as she walked back to her dragon. Arkinith hadn't moved from the dragon couch. Her head was slightly lifted, just high enough for Melisande to sneak back under and resume rubbing. Mel laughed. "One tract mind."
Arkinith sighed happily. Many tract mind, one thought.
Melisande laughed quietly, careful not to wake her son or flit. She stared out her window watching the sun carefully slip beneath the world. She smiled. Time for one more daily ritual. A ritual that began the first day Mel met her lifemate. One that still held meaning, even two turns later. "I'm so happy Arkinith." And she meant it, every night.
Arkinith smiled. So am I. Every night... from her hatching, to today, to forever. Happiness for all of them, finally, every night.
Read Melisande's Candidate Story!
Melisande impressed Arkinith from Baeris Kshau's Healing Den.
Melisande impressed Faith from Blue Star Weyr
Background from Jolie’s Joyau Web Graphics
