Reminiscing Quietly (Garrett)

[lyonza]

Garret smiled kindly. “I say so,” he said with quiet authority. “And its not like we’re asking another pair to move here permanently, so don’t worry about that. We still have some time before the Pass starts – winter helps with that for now. So, I’m going to put feelers out to the other weyrs and then have Talaria formally request a white pair to come and give you more information.” He cocked his head sideways. “That OK?”

He listened as Midneal talked. “Maybe she knows that the weyr isn’t like home used to be. You are now among friends who will love, support, encourage and assist you in whatever way you need. And I doubt Fin wouldn’t like Norpoth, he’s much nearer to her in size. I had a friend who’s lizard thought his bronze was her hatchling and she used to scold Mortanth when she thought he wasn’t behaving. He’d tolerate it with good humor and J’oran thought it was the funniest thing ever. A little green scolding a bronze dragon.” He grinned at the memory. He didn’t want to add that J’oran and Moranth were casualties of between training. It was never pleasant to think about that and he was afraid that there would be similar casualties in this weyrling group with they got to that stage of their training.

Garrett gave Midneal a significant look. “I haven’t had to throw a punch in six turns,” he said.

[missing]

"It's not really my decision, but it would certainly be a big help," Fin flew over to land on Midnael's shoulder, apparently having forgiven him for sending her away earlier. He reached up to rub a finger against the side of her head.

"Anything is possible, I usually just prefer to be left alone though in all honestly. Norpoth too, not that it's really been possible for him. Everyone seems to want a look at Western's first White."

I still don't see why it matters.

Well you can see the difference between the other colors right?

No, I don't care either which way.

Not even Queens?

Why should I?

Norpoth listened to Garrett talk about his friend, He's sad now, and scared.

Midnael turned to Norpoth, How do you know?

I just do.

It was no use trying to get a reasonable answer out of Norpoth about the matter, so Midnael dropped it, "Well most of the people in my hold know who I am, but a every time we go somewhere to trade there always seems to be some drunk fool or another. Guess I don't have to worry about that for a while."

[lyonza]

Garrett gave a decisive nod. “Consider it done.” He decided that it was a good time to change the topic. “How are you doing with the training? Are the lessons at least interesting?” He had to ask since he had found some of the lessons they had to endure as weyrlings quite mind-numbing and a little repetitive of their Candidate lessons. But it was to be expected – not all weyrlings were Candidates for very long before they Impressed. Some only found out on the day and that was special in itself.

He gave a sympathetic sigh. “I can relate a bit. It’s not every day that a Grey chooses a guy. Definitely not here at Western, so I’ve had my fair share of scrutiny and frankly I sometimes just wanted them to all go between and leave me alone. Actually, there are only two other male Greyriders, so I can understand the feeling very well. You were clever to come and search for it here on the Hatching Ground. It might get a bit busy around here for a while after Iroth rises and has laid her eggs, but even when her eggs are here on the sands, if you want to come and sit here I don’t think she’ll mind very much.”

Garrett shook off the sad feeling and smiled again. “Well, at least for a while you’ll have some peace and quiet in that regard.”

[missing]

"It's training I suppose, and most of it is new so it's good to learn," he kept his answers... Diplomatic as it were. He realized the importance of the lessons, but most of what they had done so far had just been simple things that he knew in smaller proportions from raising Fin, and the rest seemed to be bonding exercises. It seemed to Midnael that bonding should be allowed to happen naturally, dragon or otherwise. But then with thread to fall soon he could see the need for them.

Why should it matter who you picked? Yours is Yours, Norpoth was asking the Grey questions again.

"An interesting idea... maybe it could be arranged," he joked in response to the between comment, but his voice was rather serious and deadpan, "Thank you for the offer, that one I might have to take you up on."

"Didn't really have any problems at the Hatching feast. Before any of the visiting holders could get drunk enough that girl from the new Weyr hauled me off for a dance and I guess they just either realized from that that I was a guy... or possibly they just thought that I preferred girls... "

[lyonza]

Garrett laughed. “Now you’re just being nice. Nyx would be the first to admit that some of those lectures are boring and she’d rather be teaching you other stuff, but its necessary stuff no matter how boring it is.”

Iroth opened the eye nearest Norpoth. You will not find a dragon anywhere that will question my or your choice. It is our riders that have the problem with accepting the choices made since they sometimes do not think that the person one of us chooses is worthy of such honor or the person would not be up to the challenge of being a rider.

“Iroth would be quite obliging,” he bantered back before sobering. “Well, you’ll have the sanctuary for a while longer. She won’t lay the eggs for at least twelve sevendays after the mating flight. Who knows, she might even welcome the company, its not like she’ll chatter your ears off,” he joked.

Garrett nodded. “Well, I’m glad you enjoyed the feast. We don’t get enough reason to have a gathering, so it was a welcome respite.”