Spirited Away

Writers: Eimi, HeatherH
Date Posted: 5th January 2007

Characters: Rizona, R'sedel
Description: Rizona is Searched
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 1, day 2 of Turn 4

Rizona stood and rubbed her aching lower back. Ever since she was well enough to work, her father had been working as hard as he could. It was not enough that she was supposed to have been a son, he blamed her for her husband's death in the accident.

"Rizona! Get some ale, quickly girl. We have a dragon and rider outside," her father hissed as he poked his head in the door.

Rizona quickly prepared a tray with refreshements and hurried outside to stand near where her father was talking with the rider.

}:Yes, she's the one,:{ Eniidith whispered in R'sedel's mind as the girl came into the sunlight.

**You can't let me have a mug of ale first?** The greenrider was rather relieved the Holder was being so welcoming. He didn't always recieve such a greeting.

}:You can drink your drink. I'm just telling you what I know.:{ His green huffed and spread herself out in the sun, content that her job here was finished.

"Thank you," R'sedel smiled as he took the offered mug. "As I was saying, sir, I am riding Search today."

"Ah yes. I doubt you will find any likely candidates here. We are just plain holders. We always do our duty to the riders." **What could a greenriding _man_, if he can even be called that, possibly find here?** Theak attempted to smile.

"Is there anything else I can get for you, Sir?" Rizona spoke softly.
She had thought only women rode green dragons.

"No, this is fine for now." He looked at her carefully. She sure was a shy little thing. "What's your name, lass?"

"Rizona, Sir," she answered after looking to her father for permission.

"Rizona," R'sedel repeated with an approving nod. "A very nice name.
Have you ever met a dragon before, Rizona?"

"No Sir. I have seen them flying before, after Threadfall."

"Would you like to meet Eniidith?" the rider asked, tilting his head towards the green who lazed in the sun behind them. "With your father's permission of course."

Theak was not happy with the dragonrider's interest in his daughter, but he would not disrespect the Weyr. "Of course, Greenrider."

Rizona smiled shyly and stepped towards the dragon. "Hello..."

"She likes you," R'sedel smiled.

Rizona shakingly reached out a hand and lightly touched the green's hide. "Oh! She's _soft_! I don't know what I thought she would feel like, but I didn't think she would be soft."

"Well, she was freshly oiled. We have to make sure the skin stays soft or else it itches. And there is a lot of dragon to scratch," the greenrider sighed. Thank Faranth he wasn't the sort to Impress brown or bronze. Just how much more hide _that_ would have been.

}:You said scratch and now I itch! Tell her scratch my chin...:{ Eniidith whined.

Her lifemate chuckled and looked down at the young woman. "She asks that you scratch her chin for her. Don't be afraid. You can't hurt her."

"Oh, um." Rizona reached up and tenatively scratched Eniidith's chin.
"Here?"

"Right there," R'sedel nodded. "You know, Eniidith is a very special dragon. She's a Search dragon."

"She's a...a Search dragon? Why is she here then?"

"Because she's looking for you. She thinks you could be a dragonrider someday."

Rizona took a step back in astonishment. "M...Me?" she squeeked.

"Rider, you go too far! What do you mean, looking for my daughter?"
Theak was barely containing his outrage.

Time to turn on the charm... "Sir, my dragon is a Searchdragon. There are Eggs on the sand and I am charged to Search any of age who shows promise. Eniidith seems to think your daughter has a good chance of Impressing a dragon someday. If she would like, I would take her back to the Weyr with me to Stand as a Candidate."

"My daughter? Ride a dragon?! She is a good girl, not like those...women."

"Those women keep your fields free from Threads, Holder," R'sedel said coldly, straightening up and just daring the man to make a comment about 'those _men_'.

Theak sputtered. "But..." His voice trailed off. This was a chance to get rid of the girl once and for all. He tried to marry her off, and the girl got her husband killed. Perhaps this was the better option.

Rizona looked between the rider and her father. A rider? Could she be?
"I...I want to go, please."

Theak glanced at his daughter. She knew this was not her choice, she had no place voicing an opinion. "Well, Searchrider, " he started, placing emphasis on the title, "if you must have my daughter, then take her. But I will not be sending her with any of my things."

"That's just fine," R'sedel replied sweetly. "The Weyr will provide her with all her physical needs. However, while she collects her _personal_
belongings, my dragon and I will be waiting for her." He looked out towards the herdbeasts grazing out in a field. "Hopefully she won't get distracted too much along the way. Eniidith is starting to get a little hungry," the green's rider said through friendly warning to her father.

Theak glared at the rider. "She had best wait until you get to the Weyr."

Rizona hurried inside. She had very few belongings, just two changes of clothing, a few ribbons for her hair, and a hairbrush. She packed these items into a small satchel. She stood for a moment, just looking at the space she had spent all her life in. It was time to move on. She walked out the door, and too the waiting rider. "I am ready, Sir."

"Well," R'sedel said with a triumphant grin, "it seems your daughter is quick. Seems you needn't worry about your livestock today. Thank you for the hospitality, sir. Up you go, lass. The Weyr is waiting for you."

Last updated on the January 6th 2007

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Spirited Away