New Chapter!
J’eel watched as R’gul got drunk and couldn’t help but bite back a smirk and laugh that wanted to take over. He’d heard how R’gul was attempting to get help to take over the position that day instead of letting F’lar continue to lead. When Lessa was walking through the groups and exchanging good mornings he stood smugly in the shadows. As the meeting got underway, he watched and he listened, he kept his eye on those from the past as well as those from the present. He wanted to make sure that none were tasked with things they shouldn’t. He knew the stress of travel through time even those who came forward and would not have the duplicate them living at the same time.
The statements to the leaders about the Queen’s Wing caused a smile to stretch across his face.
Told you!
Yes...I know you did dear heart... J’eel smirked as he looked at the departing leaders before his eyes followed F’lar as he walked determinedly from the meeting room to the Queen’s Weyr.
From the Weyr and from the Bowl,
Bronze and brown and blue and green,
Rise the dragonmen of Pern,
Aloft, on wing, then unseen.
J’eel watched as they ranged above the Peak of Benden Weyr, it was only three hours after dawn, while two hundred and sixteen dragons held their formations as F’lar on Mnementh inspected the ranks. J’eel was all but bouncing in his seat as he watched. Lessa and Ramoth were already off to Fort Weyr where the queens’ wing was gathering. He could tell that many were concerned that she and Ramoth were going to be joining the battle he was excited for her though. When F’lar gave the signal to go between J’eel jumped with his squad.
Like the rest of those who had been in this time originally it was awe inspiring to watch as several thousand dragonwings filled the air from north, west, east, and their own south. The great V’s of dragons and riders was something that would be spoken of for generations to come. J’eel watched in awe as the golden queens appeared glinting in the air.
As the dragons called out the war cry against Thread J’eel and the others prepared to fly into battle once again. Feeding Chiar firestone while keeping an eye on the sky for Thread he paid attention also to everyone around him. He saw K’net tightening the straps of his jacket and gloves. They’d worn more protection after the last battles. As the savage joy of coming battle against Thread filled J’eel and Chiar they watched it flow through the rest as well.
Battle was waged with flames and flight. J’eel was close to F’lar when he shook his fist to the sky toward the Red Eye of the Star that rained its Threads upon the world below. He knew in his heart that change would come with the leadership of F’lar he just prayed that the changes wouldn’t bring about pain for many.
Seven years, it was crazy how much time had passed since Lessa had successfully brought forward the ‘Oldtimers’. J’eel watched in the background as always taking in the information and the conversations. He listened and he watched as the talk turned to the big wedding that was about to happen. He listened as whispers spread through the people and discontent lay upon the shoulders of the leaders and those who’d come from the past.
“What are you up to dear-heart?” K’net asked as he stepped up behind J’eel and wrapped his arms around the young man that had stolen his heart as fully as he’d stolen bread in the past.
“Worrying...” J’eel shrugged. “I wish we didn’t have to face the horrors that fall with the pass of time. My dreams have been dark of late...” He leaned back against K’net, he knew that many looked at the pair of them with disbelief for it was not usually the way of the riders to have one own their heart but J’eel just shrugged as it was the way of his family and always had been. “Chiar and the others are restless...”
“We’ll figure it out...Have you thought of the options...” K’net asked carefully.
“Moving to a different Weyr?” J’eel vocalized what K’net wasn’t saying. “I’ve thought of it, but I can’t...This...” He waved his arm to encompass the whole of Benden Weyr before them. “This is home it is where my father and his father and so on for generations have lived. To leave is to admit defeat and I...”
“I understand dear-heart...” K’net whispered as he continued to hold his love. “I just worry for you...”
“I understand...” J’eel sighed, he’d been hearing several whispers from those that had known his father and others and how he wasn’t following in their footsteps. There were whispers of him trying to get between the Weyr Leaders and everything, though he still was upset about F’lar stepping back a bit and letting an Oldtimer have more say. “It will just take time...”
“Yes, I believe that things are not lookin so good for the Oldtimers...” K’net whispered still they didn’t want anyone overhearing what they were discussing.
F’nor is injured at the Craftsmanhall...T’reb of Fort Weyr drew blade. For a bauble. Chiar snarled in J’eel’s mind.
“F’lar will not stand for the insult...” J’eel responded sitting up from where he’d been lounging in his nest like bed wrapped around K’net.
“He’ll call a meeting of Leaders...how T’ron answers will lead to a lot...” K’net responded, showing that his own Pyanth had explained what was happening at the moment.
“I’ll go before and get the lay...” J’eel looked at his heartmate.
“I know dearheart.” K’net nodded while J’eel was quick to stand and dress, he’d have to slip through between at enough distance to not alert the watchers.
“Bastard...” J’eel narrowed his eyes when he learned the time that T’ron had set for the meeting. He knew that something was going to happen. It had been only a short time upon reaching Fort Weyr to learn the time that T’ron had agreed to meet but also to find out more of what was going on. He watched as the wine was poured and prepared for the meeting. As the other leaders arrived, he curled his lip. Have the all the Weyrs’ been notified...two are still missing from the meeting...
They’re refusing to come saying that the matter is between Fort and Benden. Chiar explained after a short time of silence.
J’eel watched the argument and followed F’lar as he left with T’bor into the night. He mentally snorted at the disbelief at the statements from T’bor about the way of things with the Oldtimers and while he partially agreed his mind cast back to the dreams he had of another world and time where he dealt with those of a similar pompous attitude as the Oldtimers.
I think my dear Chiar that we need to begin a whisper campaign in the Oldtimer Weyrs...Can you send word to Ramoth and Pyanth that we’ll be gone for a bit. It’s time to start making some changes for the betterment of Pern. J’eel slipped out of Fort grateful that he was able to slip through the shadows so easily as he joined his dragon a decent distance. “We’ll start at Igen...”
Are you sure about this?
“It’s what needs to be done.” J’eel was once again dropped close to the edge of the other senses before slipping into the Weyr lower caverns where he was able to slip through the day-to-day hustle and bustle and slipped gentle comments in the women and children’s ears before doing the same in other areas.
“The timing’s off...” J’eel’s brow furrowed as he was picked up by Chiar, he’d been on his way out of the caverns when the call from Ramoth about thread fall in Lemos reached them. “And F’nor being down...Come to battle...” He prepared himself to go between he had Chiar send out a call for firestone as he went and caught the bag from the weyrling as they moved into battle.
Chiar cried out in pain as he was scored before jumping between. J’eel didn’t even feel as he was lanced with thread across his back bent over Chiar to check on his dragon. Chiar did though feel as not only was his wings scored toward the end of battle but that one of the deviations lanced across his bonded’s back in a way that burned down to the bone.
J’eel! Chiar cried out in a trumpet of shock as he appeared over the Weyr, and they were quick to lower to the grounds below as J’eel started to lose consciousness it was a bad wound.
“J’eel!” K’net appeared beside Chiar echoing the call of the dragon, having come due to his own scoring though not as bad as J’eel’s. He caught his heartmate as he slid unconscious from the back of his dragon. “Easy luv I’ve got ya...” He winced as he saw the damage, he’d gotten a full bunch of Thread on his back not a bit of which was left un-affected as it cut through the riding leathers. “Easy...” He looked around with tears in his eyes for J’eel wasn’t responding even though the pain had to be immense.
In between things were bitter cold and unforgiving, it stole the breath and the heat from one’s very soul of the count of three. J’eel was still expecting that feeling when he opened his eyes but instead of seeing the stone ceilings of the caverns or the darkness of between he found himself in a meadow with several paths that reminded him of dreams he’d had through the years.
“Hello young J’eel...” A beautiful woman stepped forward with a soft grieving smile on her face. She had a serpent wrapped around her and two hounds standing guard beside her while she held a flaming torch in one hand while the other had a dagger. Upon the woman’s head was an inverted crescent moon crown.
“I remember you...” J’eel whispered as he blinked looking at the woman before looking around the space, all the paths were blackened but for the one he came down and the one leading forward under a glowing arch.
“I know child...” Lady Magic whispered softly. “You weren’t supposed to come back here yet...but you have been badly injured...”
“I remember the burning pain of Thread score...” J’eel looked back toward where he’d been he could vaguely feel the arms of his bondmate and the comfort of his dragon. “If I go back...”
“You’ll never fly again...you’ll be bound to a chair...it scored your spine through.” Lady Magic said with sorrow in her voice.
“K’net? Chiar?” J’eel asked with tears in his eyes.
“Chiar will join you as you know...K’net will love you to the end of his days even if he finds comfort in other bodies his heart belongs to you.” She answered walking closer though her hounds remained behind.
“Do they win...” J’eel asked with tears filling his eyes as he looked back again.
“They’ll conquer the threat and F’lar will see the Red Star burn...” Lady Magic responded softly.
“What awaits with the path forward?” He kept his eyes on Lady Magic.
“Your family of both your lives wait for you in my sister’s realm. K’net will join you there as will Chiar...” Lady Magic responded with a proud smile.
“Then I go forward...If I can’t help due to thread score...If I can’t do what I need...What I’m drawn to...” J’eel said with sadness in his posture but also pride. “Then I go proud of how I fell fighting the scourge that is Thread.”
“A true warrior no matter the life you lead...I’m proud of you, my child.” Lady Magic laid a kiss upon his brow as she stepped forward to embrace her child. She then wrapped her arm around his shoulders and helped him take that last step away from the path back.
Within moments of doing so Chiar appeared above them landing and walking behind while nuzzling at both Lady Magic and his rider. A large white owl soon swooped down landing on Chiar’s head and preening from her perch.
“Hey Hedwig...I’ve missed ya...” Harry turned J’eel looked up at his first companion perched on top of his second with a smile as they passed through the arch in the fields of the afterlife where he was greeted by those that had been his true friends and companions in both lives. “It’s good to be home...” He sighed as he was held in the arms of both sets of parents looking at all the uncles and aunts that surrounded them. “I’m happy...”