Melisande laughed as she ran towards the weyr with her brother. He feet pumped, her heart raced and her breath caught in her throat, and yet when they both collapsed at the gates to Adanuk Weyr, they both still had the strength to laugh. Melisande stood tall and laughed. "Bet ya again."
Iltar, her brother, laughed as well. He was two years older than her and lived at Adanuk Weyr. Melisande was visiting from Devor Hold. Melisande’s parent and their parents and their parents and their parents, as far back as anyone would care to remember, were all from Devor Hold. No one had ever left. Iltar had left though. When he was 15 turns Iltar fell in love with Weyrs. He had a half-hearted dream to be searched, but his heart was really set on becoming a runner trainer. He loved the animals more than anything else on Pern. Melisande smiled and entered the weyr. Too bad he can’t run like one.
Melisande was 17 turns and tall for her age. She stood easily 5'9" and was well built. She’d grown up around her parents, who were both herd beast masters, and her brother, who was trying to become runner trainer. Her mother joked that Melisande had been able to ride a runner before she could walk. Her parents had high hopes that Melisande would follow in their footsteps and continue their families long history in Devor Hold. Melisande had other ideas.
As she entered the Weyr, she stopped to stare in awe at the sight before her. The huge Weyrbowl spread out before her, filled with people, flits and dragons. Melisande smiled and waved to some people she knew, and some dragons she knew. The girl watched the magnificent creatures move around the Weyrbowl with grace and ease. Their bulk didn’t take anything away from their gracefulness. Melisande’s family may have wanted her to be a herd beast master, but Melisande wanted to be a dragonrider.
Iltar saw the look on his younger sisters face and sighed. "Mel. You know that dad and mom would never let you be searched. Your getting your hopes too high. They’re going to come crashing down around your ears and your going to feel horrible."
Melisande snorted. "If I’m searched mom and dad can’t stop me from going. And I’ll put my hopes where ever I want to."
Iltar put his arm around his younger sister. "Hey. I’m just watching out for your feelings. Don’t snap at me."
Melisande laughed and was about to reply, but was interrupted by Media. "‘Shards is that you Melisande." The older Headwoman rushed over and embraced the girl. "I haven’t seen you in over a turn! Step back and let me look at you."
Melisande obediently let Media examine her. Her long brown hair was tied up in a bun on the back of her head. Let down, the mass of brown tangles hung to just above her knees. Her eyes were deep green and she had a big smile and wide mouth. Her skin was tanned and burnt in spots from staying out in the sun too long. She had a collection of freckles around her nose and cheeks and a smile on her face. Media sighed. "I barely recognized you. You must grow two feet every time I see you."
The girl laughed. "Media, you just don’t see me often enough."
The Headwoman laughed. "I know, I know. You should visit more often. Oh, by the way, Iltar, Master Undil is looking for you. Something about a breaking in a new runner."
Iltar quickly bobbed his head. "Thanks, Media." He grabbed Melisande’s hand and ran off. Mel was pulled along after him whether she wanted to see this new runner or not.
She waved at Media as she was dragged off. "Hopefully you’ll be seeing a lot more of me."
Media waved and returned to her duties. "I don’t doubt it child. I don’t doubt it."
"Mother!" Melisande raced into the door of her house and dropped her bag. Her mother quickly ran to give her only daughter a hug.
"How was your visit with Iltar? Is he well?"
Melisande smiled and broke the embrace. "I had a blast, and Iltar’s fine."
"It’s good to see you again Mel." Her mother squeezed her shoulders. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, but I’ve got great news." Melisande could barely contain her excitement at the news T’nir had whispered to her right before she left Adanuk.
Melisande’s father entered and smiled. "What news?"
"Dad!" Melisande quickly embraced her dad. "Guess what!"
Her father smiled and shrugged. Melisande looked to her mother who simply nodded her head.
Unable to wait any longer for an answer, Melisande blurted it out. "In a sevenday, Searchriders are coming to Adanuk."
The smiles disappeared from both her parents faces. The looked at each other nervously. Her mother fiddled with the edge of her apron and her father stared off blankly. Melisande wondered at their odd behaviour. "What?"
"Mel." Her mother started. "You know how we feel about you wanting to be a dragonrider."
Melisande gave her parents her best pleading look. "Please. Only this once. Let me try. I may not even get chosen. It’s just one chance." She latched onto her father. "Please."
Her father looked at her mother. Her mother looked out the window. Melisande looked hopefully to both of them. Finally, her father cracked. "There’s no harm in letting her try, just this once, is there?"
Melisande whooped and jumped with joy. "But," Her mother said in her don’t-argue-with-me tone. "If you aren’t searched this time, there will be no more talk of dragons. Okay?"
Melisande hugged her mother. "Of course not." She was sure she would be searched this time. She had nothing to worry about.
Melisande watched the blue dragon descend from the sky with fascination. The Searchrider dismounted quickly and walked over to the group of youths in the Weyrbowl. Melisande watched as he quickly talked with Weyrwoman Magika and his dragon scanned the crowd. She could feel the dragon’s eyes on her and quickly straightened. She wanted to make a good impression. She looked to Iltar. He smiled and gave her the thumbs up sign. She held her breath and waited for the dragon to call her name. And waited, and waited, and waited..... When the blue leapt to the sky and disappeared between Melisande finally accepted the face that she’d been left behind.
Iltar ran to her side and hugged her as she cried on his shoulder. "There, there Mel. It’s okay. Shhh......."
Mel sobbed on his shoulder. Eventually Iltar had to pick her up and carry her to his room so she could lay down. Melisande cried herself to sleep on her brothers cot.
"Mel? Hey Mel. Wake up. You’ve got to eat something."
Melisande raised her head at the sound of her brother’s voice.
Iltar was standing over her with a plate of steaming food. Melisande was about to say she wasn’t hungry when her stomach interrupted her by growling. She reluctantly took the food and started eating. She still felt miserable.
Iltar sat down beside her. He gave her a sympathetic half-smile and rubbed her back. "I’ve got some news for you. Weyrwoman Magika just let everyone know now. The Searchrider was only looking for guys. Magika didn’t know until he landed, otherwise she wouldn’t have let you get your hopes up like that."
Somehow the new didn’t make Melisande feel that much better. "It doesn’t matter." She murmured softly. "Mom and dad said I only got one chance. Now I’ve blown it." A single tear ran from her green eyes to her soup.
Iltar wiped away a second tear that threatened to take the same path. "If you explain it to them they’ll let you try again."
Melisande sighed. "What’s the use? Did you see the searching? Out of thirty guys the Searchrider takes two. What are my chances honestly? No wonder mom and dad didn’t want me trying."
Iltar hugged his sister. "C’mon Mel. If it’s destined to happen, it will happen. Have a little faith."
Melisande snorted. "In what?"
Iltar grinned. "The abilities of your older brother. I’ve already talked to mom and dad. They totally understand. They said you can stay on with me here at Adanuk. You can live here if you want to."
Melisande looked up quickly at her brother. "You’re serious."
He grinned, glad to see her in a better mood again. "Do I ever kid you?"
Mel hugged her older brother. "Thanks Iltar."
He hugged back. "No problem. By the way, I’ve got something else for you." He reached for a bag on the desk. "Something I picked up as a ‘congratulations, you’ve been searched’ present or a ‘better luck next time’ present."
Melisande hit him gently on the shoulder. "What?"
Iltar gently tipped the bag over and something round and smooth fell into his hands. He carefully handed it to Melisande. "A firelizard egg."
Melisande’s mouth fell open as she stared in wonderment at the tiny egg. "Oh, Iltar."
"It’s hatching. Mel get your butt up here. The egg is hatching." Iltar ran down the hall holding the quivering egg and searching for his sister.
Melisande, upon hearing him, dropped the buckets of water she was carrying and ran to her brother. She grabbed the egg and headed off at full run to the kitchens. If this egg hatches and I have no meat, I’m sunk. Her legs pumped even faster. She burst into the kitchen to find a small pile of meat already cut and Media smiling.
The Headwoman laughed at the surprised look on Melisande’s face. "I heard your brother shouting and thought I’d help out." The older woman explained.
"Thanks." Melisande grinned and pulled up a stool. She watched the egg rock back and forth and finally, just as Iltar rushed in, crack. A tiny gold hatchling spilled out and Melisande quickly stuffed it full of meat.
Iltar looked over her shoulder and smiled. "Lucky. What are you going to call her?"
Melisande smiled and watched as the small firelizard curled up in her arms. "Faith." She turned her head and grinned at her brother. "That way I’ll always have ‘faith’ with me."
Iltar laughed.
Turns later......
Background from Jolie’s Joyau Web Graphics
Melisande impressed Faith from Blue Star Weyr
