Astrin sat at a long table alone in the near-deserted Lower Caverns. In front of him was a wooden bowl full of stew from the heavy iron cauldron at the end of the hall. A chunk of bread lay beside him on the table, pieces occasionally torn of and soaked in the stew and then eaten.

It was near a month after the Gather, and Astrin had been staying at Kharasi helping an old Harper copy out records that needed to be added for the new Weyr's library. Mostly Astrin carried the old hides and Records that were on loan, or the new Records that the old man was producing. It wasn't much, but they Weyrwoman let him stay and eat for helping the old man. When the last caravan had left he hadn't found a new job, despite his previous record.

Maybe the old Weaver had something against me. He must have poisoned the others against me. Ah well, I'll get a ride with the next tithe trains and then onwards.

Saphyre's stomach growled mildly, encouraging her to get something to satisfy its needs. She sighed, somewhat irritated that she had to get up from her comfortable position on her couch. She hadn't done much socializing since the Gather, but the Smith Master had kept her quite busy. This was the one chance Saphyre could rest and relax, and NOW her body needed something to eat? Absurd! She shook her head, her mane of curls swishing around her ears from it's captive ponytail.

"Oh well," she muttered. "I think I smell stew!" Her mood that had been souring changed as she bounded down to the Lower Caverns.

Her deep eyes flicked over at the lone figure seating in the great dining hall. Who...? She started to wonder, but the something inside her knew instantly. That shaggy blond hair and the way he slumped over his soup bowl, gave to mind exactly who it was she was gazing at. A blush creeped across her tanned face as she realized that it was indeed Astrin. She hadn't seen him since the Gather and now there he was, sitting there eating soup as calm as can be. How could he not have let her know that he was at the Weyr? After that splendid evening they had shared that time? Well, people did have things to do, she supposed. She decided not to hold it against him for real, but wanted instinctively to tease him.

Saphye walked up to him and placed her hands on her hips and gave a haughty stare. "Were you planning on letting me know you were here?" she demanded with a twinkle in her radiant eyes.

Astrin chuckled a little, surprised to see the girl.

"I wasn't exactly hiding, just finding work. None of the traders would take me on when they left, so I've been fetching and carrying here for a while. I haven't seen you around, and I figured you'd left with the Gather."

Astrin took another spoonful of stew, then swallowed.

"The stew's good, if you've a mind to get yourself a bowl. I doubt you came her just to look for me," he said with a grin. Astrin stretched, then got up from the bench. "I'm going to refill my bowl myself."

"Well maybe, it's because you're meant to stay at Kharasi," she said, a little shyly. "I've been swamped with training from the Smith Master. He keeps me busy in the forge a lot. It's just now that I've found some time to myself."

She followed him, with every intention of getting some tasty stew.

"Meant by what? Or who? No, I won't believe something like that. I'm here because I am here. I've been ambushed and in far to many raids on traders to think that there's some reason that Arran next to me got the arrow instead of me. Things... just are. Wondering about something more, or what ifs are pointless."

Astrin turns to grin at Saphyre to take some of the sting out of the comment.

"Being busy is good, at least for the smiths. Being bored is far better for a guard any day. Right now I find I'm enjoying my boredom at Kharasi."

The guard bent to grasp the ladle for the stew. He refilled his bowl, then held the ladle, waiting to fill Saphyre's bowl.

Wondering about something more, or what ifs are pointless.

The comment hit Saphyre harder than she would have thought. Things just are? Imagining things that could be is somehow pointless? Since when? When Astrin grinned back at her, it only made her madder. She snatched the ladle from his hand and helped herself to the stew. Sighing, she turned to face him.

"Does that mean you believe that dreams are pointless as well? Hopes? Desires?" Her face was expressionless as she waited for Astrin to answer.

Astrin gave little outward reaction when she snatched the ladle from him, but inside his mind was reeling. What? Was there something I said?

"Dreams... Dreams are different. Hope is too. They can move you forward. They're completely different from wondering how things could be different if something had happened another way, or trying to come up with some higher power that 'means' for us to do one thing or another. I don't believe in fate."

"Interesting. That's not exactly what you implied a moment ago. I'll accept your revised comment," she smiled, a bit forced. "It's your choice whether or not you choose to believe in fate, and I'll not fault you for it."

She set the ladle back into the stew pot and turned toward the table. Why was it everytime she ran into Astrin, they had some sort of sour moment? Well, no one was perfect, especially not herself. She decided she would sit down and eat with him and then return to her duties and just resume her life.

"It was perfectly clear in my mind," Astrin said and chuckled. "I didn't 'revise' myself, only clarify." Astrin paused for a moment as they walked back to the table. He was rolling around in his mind her comment, especially the final words, and I'll not fault you for it.

"But really," he said as she sat down, "who are you to find fault with what I think? That's kind of a high position to set yourself in, isn't it?" Astrin stood above her, waiting for her to reply. Really she had no right to say anything like that, and if she could pick over his words, he could pick with hers.

"High position?" she laughed. "I never said I was faulting you for anything! Don't make it into a bigger problem than it is. I'm sorry if I insulted you, Astrin."

It was true, his comment had angered her to the core, but such petty things were better resolved quickly. She pushed a stray curl from her face and took a bite of her stew.

The laugh sounded a little hollow to Astrin, but he let it go and accepted her apology. Sitting back down across from Saphyre, he tore another piece of bread from his loaf and dunked it in the stew. Taking a bite of it, he reached for his cup to find that it was empty.

"I'm going to get some more to drink, would you like me to bring back a pitcher of something? Your choice, and if they have it, I'll bring it."

"Anything would be fine with me. Something cold, if you would." She thought that he seemed a little angry still, and she resisted teasing him for the time being.

Astrin got up wordlessly, heading back to the kitchens to find a pitcher of something. A few moments later he reviewed the choices. Klah was hot, and therefore out. Milk didn't set right with stew for him. It was really too early for wine. Finally he settled with simple water, and brought a cold pitcher out, setting it on the table in front of Saphyre.

"No hard feelings?" he said, keeping his face neutral.

"Shards! Of course not!" Saphyre laughed at the expression on Astrin's face. "You're so serious looking. It's really no big deal, or are all guards this serious about misunderstandings?" She really did like Astrin, even though he had some things that irritated her. She was certain she probably irritated him at times as well. You couldn't have a good friendship without having times where the other frustrates you to no end.

She poured the cold water into the glass and took a long gulp. It was good and chilled her body after the hot stew. Setting the glass down, she grinned back at Astrin.

"Good to know. And no, not all guards are this serious. Most are fun guys who would love to buy a pretty girl a drink. Then dance with her, and end up with a tumble in bed," Astrin finished with a laugh. He poured himself a cup of the cold water, and drank it down, pouring another. He took another spoonful of stew, then set the spoon aside. "And what about smiths? Are they all such idealists?" He asked it with a smile, hoping she wouldn't take offense.

"Idealists? I really wouldn't know. Believe it or not, the only person I talk to in the forge is the Mastersmith. For some reason the others are fairly anti-social and are more focused on their craft than getting to know their fellow apprentices. It actually gets kind of lonely at times. When I came to this Weyr, I was hoping for something different from my life at the Hold. And while I find myself with something enjoyable to pass the time, I still find myself with few friends and companions. I just thought Weyr life would have a little more to offer. Not that I'm ungrateful to the rider who brought me here at all!"

She flushed when she realized she was rambling. "Sorry for spouting all of that at you. I really didn't mean to."

"A rider brought you here? Then why are you spending so much time with the smiths and not in the Candidate's Barracks. I thought everyone the rider's grabbed was supposed to be a dragonrider."

Astrin had worked to clear his bowl as she spoke, and now was sopping up the last remains of the stew with the chunk of bread.

"I suppose I'm the exception then. The rider seemed to think I was a bit old to be lazing around the Hold. At least, that's the impression I got. Aren't all of the Candidates young anyway? I just naturally assumed...it does sound exciting though, doesn't it? I even saw two queen dragons on the morning of the Gather. It was incredible!" Her eyes lit up and she recalled the great golden queens and their lovely riders.

Astrin smiled at her enthusiasm for the golden creatures. True, he'd seen half a dozen at some of the larger Hold's gathers, but he wouldn't spoil her fun. He was glad she had such a hope, but then again, he would hope that he hadn't spoiled her dream by telling her it was possible. Most every child at some point dreamed of being a dragonrider, and for young adults like he and Saphyre the dream was nearly over. They had a few more years, and then they really were too old.

"I know that the riders tend to prefer older Candidates during a Fall, so that they'll be able to fly the Fall when their dragons are old enough. Near the end, or during the interim they take younger Candidates to keep the numbers up for longer. But they say its always the dragon who chooses." Astrin took his spoon and pushed it around his bowl, then gulped down some water.

"I'm trying to decide whether or not I want another bowl."

"I suppose that's true. I would like to see the next Hatching. I've never been to one. Oh, and I'll go with you if you're wanting another bowl. I'm still hungry and my bowl is empty too!" She held it up with a grin. Saphyre wasn't one to be ashamed of her appetite, especially since she had been working up a big one all day.

*Astrin chuckles, and takes her bowl, meaning to go and refill them both himself. A moment later he returns with both bowls, some more bread, and another pitcher of water a few minutes later*

"I'm sure you didn't mean for me to get it for you, but still, I figured I'd do something nice. I mean, I was a little raw earlier."

"Ah, I told you it was no big deal." She accepted the bowl with a grateful nod.

"So, do you plan on staying here at Kharasi for a while, or do you plan on heading elsewhere?" She grabbed a hunk of the bread and took a bite. Saphyre really loved fresh baked bread even more than the stew.

"I really have no clue right now. I was thinking on hitching a ride on the next tithe trade out of here." Astrin sops up some more stew with the bread. "Would you rather I didn't?"

"Would I rather my one and only friend to stay here with me? Of course I would! I have a right to be selfish every so often don't I? Or am I far too idealistic?" She grinned, teasing him some more.

"Not too idealistic. Am I really your only friend though? Is that the only reason?"

Astrin couldn't be sure, but he thought there might be something...more...at stake here. He couldn't say for sure though. And even though he wasn't sure why, his heart picked up a little.

When Astin boldly asked if there was another hidden reason, Saphyre's heart plummeted into her lower gut. She couldn't yet fathom the truth of her thoughts, so she had to let them lie until she was certain. "There may be another reason, but I'm afraid it's much to early to know for sure. But please, stay here my friend. You really are the only one, although there are a few acquaintances here I know of."

Astrin's heart dropped a little, but he covered it.

It was a silly thought anyways. And besides, what do you know of her? She's good looking, certainly, attractive, but you barely know her. Fool.

"I..understand. I'm sorry, that was a very awkward thing to ask. I presumed too much." Astrin took another drink of the water, welcomingly cool. He kept himself from speaking for the next few moments by eating quietly from his bowl. A little while later, he set the spoon aside, took another drink, then set the cup back down.

"I'll stay until the next tithe train comes. Then I'll know. I can make up my mind then."

Saphyre lowered her eyes. He still wasn't sure whether or not he would stay at the Weyr with her. Well, she couldn't blame him. She didn't exactly give him a very good reason. Please stay she silently asked. She couldn't pressure him into doing something he didn't want to do in the first place. And she wouldn't give him false reason by lying to him when she wasn't sure herself what feelings she had for him. She fancied him, it was true, but not enough to force anything onto him.

"All right. I hope you do decide to stay here though."

"Astrin? Astriiin? Oh there you are. I've just finished copying another set of hides for the Weyr's library, could you be so good as to carry them up there for me?" Daxter, the Weyr's aging Harper, stood in the doorway to one of the Lower Caverns' many staircases.

"I'll be there in just a moment," Astrin said, his eyes on Saphyre. "Maybe I'll see you again sometime soon," he said, gathering his bowl and mug to take back to the kitchens. A moment later he was gone.