Chapter Text
The weyrlingmaster stood in front of his newest batch of candidates. Every single one of the chairs was filled with a boy trying, with varying amounts of success, to hide his eagerness. The rumbling of the dragons’ hum had been incrementally intensifying all morning. He knew from experience that Selgrith would make her announcement any minute now.
“Right,” Gr’lin finally said out loud, clapping his hands together as he addressed the group. “It looks like you’ve all found your robes. They’re pretty darn thin, so this is your last chance to go slip on some underclothes before half of Pern sees your cheeks, and if you need the necessaries, this is your chance. When you’re Hatching-ready, get in a single file line starting at the doorway.” He gestured to his right, where the sounds of an ever-growing crowd was starting to compete with the humming of dragons.
It only occurred to him after the room erupted into chaos that he should probably have told them not to run. Candidates dashed to and fro, barely avoiding collisions while they rushed to take care of the last-minute necessities. Before he knew it they were all standing in line, fidgeting anxiously. When the last boy was in place, Gr’lin went down the line and shook hands with each of them, wishing them good luck.
He reached out with his mind, seeking his dragon’s reassurance. They’re all staring at me, Fendalth. Whatever I say now is going to be etched into their minds for the rest of their lives. I have to get this right. I have to say the right thing.
Or what? The brown sounded calm and unimpressed. They’re going to Impress, or not, whether you say something inspiring or start blathering nonsense. You’re putting too much pressure on yourself.
Gr’lin looked at the empty lines on the chalkboard, wondering which names would be on it by the end of the day. The Candidates are about to go on the sands. What I tell them now, the confidence I give them, is probably the most important thing anyone will ever say in their lives.
The dragon chuckled. What did your Weyrlingmaster say right before you went on the sands?
Uh… the weyrlingmaster racked his brain. I don’t remember. I was too nervous to listen.
Exactly.
Gr’lin stood there looking back at the line of potential dragonriders. Even if Fendalth was right, he still had to say something. He scraped his mind for what he wished his weyrlingmaster had said, rather than what he did say. “Hey. Listen up. Before everything gets crazy, I want to remind you that the color of your dragon is not a reflection of your worth. Being left on the sands does not mean you are worthless. The kind of person you are comes from you and nowhere else - before today and after. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.”
That was lovely. And just in time, because Selgrith says to get them out there.