Alexandreta leapt up from her chair and ran for the door. Pulling it open she said, “Come in quick! You’ll catch cold if you stand out in that snow any longer.” She let a cloaked figure step past her and then she pushed the door closed again.

“Thanks Alex,” the figure said as it took the cloak off and handed it to her.

She took it and hung it by the door. “No problem Prevan. I can’t believe you even came out in this weather though,” she said as she directed her friend to sit in the chair she had so recently jumped from.

He shook his head as he sat and said, “Any weather is worth going through if it’s to see you.”

She felt herself blushing and turned around quickly, busying herself with the klah that was made that morning. “Klah?” She asked him, knowing he wouldn’t want any.

He shook his head again and said, “No thanks. I’ve never really liked it.” He gestured to the chair next to him and she sat down, holding the warm cup of klah in both hands. “You’re cold?” He asked her.

She shrugged and said, “Kind of, but I’ll warm up.” She smiled and took a sip thinking, If he tries to pull anything like last time I think I’ll go insane and have my firelizard pull at his face a little.

She must have laughed slightly because Prevan placed a hand on her shoulder and asked, “What’s so funny?”

She looked up at him, smiled slightly and said, “Nothing really. How is your father doing?”

He frowned in the change of subject but said, “He’s doing better. I don’t think he’ll be working in the mines for awhile though. He’s still a little bit uneasy about the whole thing. I think he’s going to try to work above ground now.”

She nodded and said, “Well wouldn’t you be a little bit worried about returning if the mine had collapsed around you?”

He nodded and said, “I suppose so.” He stroked his chin, running his thumb across a scar on the side. After a moment he looked up at her again and said, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something Alex.”

Alex coughed and nearly choked on her klah “Oh really? Like what?” She set the cup down and waited for what was coming. He scratched his head and smiled shyly. Oh spit it out and get it over with, she thought with annoyance.

He laughed slightly and then said, “I’ve been talking to your father, and he thinks it’s a good idea too.”

“Prevan, what are you talking about?” She asked in confusion.

He smiled and said, “Oh I’m such a dimglow for waiting this long Alex, but I don’t think it will make a difference. I’ve asked your father for your hand and he said yes.”

She burst out laughing and said, “No really, what did you want to talk to me about?”

He rubbed his chin again and said, “I was being serious Alexandreta.”

She stopped laughing abruptly and said angrily, “You didn’t think about how I felt about this arrangement?”

He blinked a few times as he tried to process her reply and he said, “Well I thought you wouldn’t have a problem with it. I mean, we spend all out time together and such, I just thought…”

As he trailed off Alex sighed and said, “Prevan I’m sorry I’m just not ready for this. I had no idea you felt that way and to tell you the truth it’s a little overwhelming.”

He rested his chin on his hands and said, “Well I’m sorry Alex, but what’s done is done. I don’t know what to tell your father now.”

She threw her hands up in exasperation and said, “Oh don’t tell him anything! Let him figure it out himself.”

He opened his mouth to say something else but decided against it and turned to look out the window, watching the snow swirl by. He was just about to stand up when Alex’s firelizard, Loris, flew into the room, chittering excitedly. He landed on his owner’s shoulder and continued to chitter away. “Oh what do you want Loris?” She asked as she got up from the chair and refilled her cup.

The white pictured a green dragon, obviously having a hard time landing with the snow. Alex picked Loris up from her shoulder and placed him on the table, kneeling down so she was at his eye level. “You’d better not be playing games with me again Loris. If I go out to that courtyard and I don’t see a dragon I’m going to be very upset with you.” The white warbled and looked outside, crooning in answer. She sighed and said, “I guess there’s a green dragon in the courtyard, trying to land.

“In this snow? I doubt it. They’ll probably just turn around and go back to their Weyr, coming for the tithe later.”

She shrugged and said, “Yeah I guess. Do you think she is on Search though?”

He shook his head, “At our Hold, highly unlikely. And besides, you wouldn’t be able to leave.”

She crossed her arms and looked at him angrily. “And why not?” She asked hotly.

He rolled his eyes and said, “Because you’re now pledged to me.”

She narrowed her eyes and said, “You’re forgetting I didn’t agree. You just try and stop me from leaving Prevan.” She ran for the door, grabbing her cloak and wrenching it open.

Prevan got up and grabbed her sleeve, pulling her back roughly. “I said you’re not leaving, and you have to listen to me now Alex,” he said as he tried to close the door.

She wrenched free of his grip and called out to Loris as she ran blindly through the snowfall. The white lizard landed lightly on her shoulder, as she was halfway to the courtyard. After a few more feet she ran into something hard. “Shard it! When in the reign of Faranth was that sharding pole there?”

A deep laughing met her ears and she stepped back a few steps. “Well I can tell you that I’m not a pole but I sure am glad I ran into you. Is there a place where we can go inside and get out of this weather?”

She nodded, not realizing that the man wouldn’t be able to see him. “Yes we can go to the Hall, follow me,” she said as she grabbed his arm and led him to the Hall.

When they reached the eating hall Alex shook the snow out of her hair and looked at the man. “I’m J’den, rider of green Askamath. I’m on Search from Talis Weyr. There’s a spot open in out gold’s clutch. Would you be willing to stand?”

She blinked in surprise and asked, “Really? I’d love to… but I can’t”

J’den raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why not?”

She sighed and stroked Loris, who was shivering on her shoulder. “Because I was pledged to a man, I’m not exactly happy about it but I can’t leave now.”

He shook his head and smiled. “You’re wrong there girl. You’ve been Searched and nothing can keep you from going to the Weyr, even your would-be future spouse.”

Her eyes lit up and she asked, “Really? They can’t stop me from going?”

He shook his head and asked, “Really. Now, would you like to stand for us?”

Alexandreta smiled and said, “Of course I would!”