Search Story of Caiseal Caiseal leaned forward in his seat, flashing a brilliant smile at the woman sitting across from him and enjoying the way he made her blush. The small dimple in his left cheek seemed to amuse her, and she watched it as she talked, blushing further when her dull brown eyes met his sharp blue ones. He smiled further and raised an eyebrown in expectancy, but she seemed to have become flustered and lost her train of thought. Caiseal gave a half-hearted smile and leaned back in his chair, her eyes wandering over the crowd in search of someone worthy of his attention. The giddy woman in front of him obviously wasn't. Rising from his chair, the muscles in his arms and chest flexed against the leather jerkin he wore specifically for the occasion, the woman almost swooning in her chair as he hurried away. A woman of slight build watched him intently as he crossed the crowded room to reach her, a similar dimple marking her fair cheeks. Caiseal shrugged a massive shoulder at her fair frame as she raised an eyebrow and she sighed and rolled her eyes, pushing her blond-streaked brown hair out of her face and glaring at Caiseal. "What's with you and women? You find one you like, and you decide that you want something else. You find another, and she's too much like the last. Can you ever make up your mind?" "Like you, you mean?" Caiseal teased his twin sister, watching a pretty blush creep up her neck and into her cheeks. Caissene swung a fist around and hit him, hard, on the arm. He barely flinched and she rolled her eyes again, leaving Caiseal to wonder how he was twins with such a scrawny woman. Someone caught her attention and she was gone, leaving Caiseal standing with her friends. Caiseal was the youngest son of his parent's, who were the Clan Leader's. The celebration they were holding wasn't for anything inparticular, but just because. His parent's were like that, willing to celebrate just because they felt like it. Looking at his brother's, roaring at the head table as they poured themselves more drinks, Caiseal figured they had passed it on. Excusing himself from Caissene's friends, Caiseal moved easily through the crowd and out the door, taking a deep breath of the fresh air into his lungs and closing his eyes, letting the gentle breeze run it's caresses through his light brown hair and around his deeply tanned body. "I almost think you enjoy the wind more than your girls." Caissene whispered, dropping from the roof and standing beside him, a smile playing on her lips as the breeze tossled her hair. "I almost have to agree." Caiseal said seriously, wondering what it was that he was looking for. He glanced sideways at Caissene and smiled. At least he wasn't the only one looking. "Are you really going?" Caissene asked softly, turning to watch her brother with troubled eyes. The bond they shared was close, and Caiseal hated seeing her so upset after he tried so hard to protect her, but he didn't have a choice, sometimes. "Tomorrow." He said with a nod. Caissene gave a sad sigh and stood by Caiseal, her lips pressed tightly together. Caiseal closed his eyes again, letting the air fill his lungs and clear his mind. There was nothing for him at the Clan, or the Holds. His brother's had taken over and produced many heirs before Caiseal and Caissene had been born, and their father enjoyed the small piece of land he still ran even more than when he all of it, and would most likely give it to his oldest son once he no longer felt fit. His elder sister's had married off as well, though they weren't present at the feast, and only he and Caissene were left. Caiseal wasn't worried about himself, but about Caissene...... "What are you thinking about?" Caissene asked, slipping down the stairs and walking slowly across the long, grassy strip that ran along the path to the front doors. Caiseal joined her and thought about his answer for a moment, not wanting to worry her, but not knowing what to say if not the truth. "Caiseal?" "You, 'Sene." He said softly, looking up at the moons and shivering in the warm air. "Me." Caissene repeated, smiling softly at her brother and giving a tiny sigh. "You can't protect me forever, Cai. If you're leaving and I'm not, I'll defend myself just fine." "Even against the suitors father has lined up?" Caiseal asked bitterly, wondering if he should hunt the men down and threaten to break their necks if they ever hurt his sister, or just kill them and be done with it. He then realized that Caissene was no longer walking beside him and stopped, looking back at her. He sighed. "He didn't tell you?" "Why would he? He still thinks of us as small children, Cai. We're the babies." Caissene said softly, rubbing her eyes with the heels of her palms and starting to walk again. "Why'd he tell you, though?" "He asked my opinion." Caiseal said good-humouredly. Caissene laughed, a soft, gentle sound that Caiseal would miss hearing. "You're the only one who knows what I like." Caissene said with a shrug of her slight shoulder, smiling and shaking her head as she and Caiseal shared a knowing glance. "But you should get inside and to bed. If you're leaving tomorrow, that is." "You know I am." Caiseal muttered, squeezing Caissene's hand and turning back to the house. Caissene shook her head when she waited and he left her to her thoughts, trying to deal with his own. ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ The beast beneath him pranced happily, stretching it's long neck out to try and get more slack in the reins, but Caiseal was an experienced rider and didn't fall for it. His parent's had seen him off that morning. His mother had cried, even though his father looked oddly relieved. Probably happy he wouldn't have to split his land up further because of an unplanned son. Caiseal shook his head and thought to Caissene's tired face. She had bid him farewell also, though her words were hollow as she wished him luck in whatever he planned. His father hurried him off, shooting hungry glances at Caissene as he probably planned her iminent marriage. "Keep in touch." Caiseal had pleaded, holding Caissene tightly around her shoulders and giving her a tiny shake. "Of course." She had replied, though her eyes showed the anger and pain she was holding in. "You're my twin brother, Cai. I'll miss you." She had added when she saw his troubled face. Then she hugged him, kissed his cheek, and went inside. Caiseal had left without looking back. And now, hours later and on the outer rims of his brother's land, he was still thinking of her, and how she was coping. He missed her already. "'Ho! Where's a lord like you going, sir?" Caiseal looked up, his thoughts broken, and smiled at a farmer. "Away from here, good sir." He replied, stopping his horse and resting his arms. The horse stopped reluctantly and snorted, the farmer stepping closer. "Wouldn't go that way, sir. Dragoners that way, and horses like 'em dragons of theirs none at all." "Dragoners, sir?" Caiseal asked, a thought forming in his mind. "Searchers, if I'm right." The farmer said with a nod. Caiseal quickly thanked the man and spurred the horse over the hill and down the stretch, watching closely for any dragons. When he came to the end of the trees and his horse started, he stopped it and stared. Never in his life had he seen two such beautiful dragons as he was seeing, and slipping from his horse, he moved slowly towards them. One swung it's head around to watch him coming and warbled softly, making both riders look over and watch his approach. "You're searchers?" He asked quickly, holding his breath as he waited for a response. "We are. And you're Caiseal." One said, smiling when he stared at her in astonishment. "She told me." She said, pointing behind her to the green. "Uh, yes." Caiseal said, more uncertainly then before. He hesitated. "Can we help you?" The man asked, an amused smile on his face. "Perhaps." Caiseal said slowly, looking from one to the other. "How so?" The woman asked, staring at him with piercing green eyes. He swallowed and cleared his throat. "Well, ma'am, sir, you said you were searchers, and I happen to be looking for something to do with my life. I'm afraid I don't know much about dragons, but I'm willing to learn, and, Alskyr help me, I wish to bond." Having said it, something in Caiseal settled down, clearing his mind fully for the first time in years. The woman smiled gently and looked at the man, he looking back at her. "You can come with us at once." The man said, turning to his dragon and looking over his shoulder at Caiseal. With a sigh of relief, Caiseal followed, leaving his horse to find his way back home. Wait till he told Caissene! He was going to bond to a dragon. Caiseal is a bonder at the Healing Den