The twang from the gitar was accompanied with a soft baritone as Revel went through the song he was to perform at the Gather for the hundredth time. The melody rose and fell, the instrument adding depth and harmony to his words and the young man sung about the dragons...

...So fly ye high and fight ye strong,
Far away the flames will sear,
Thread from skies will blacken and fall,
And dragonrider return to Weyr.

Gold and bronze and brown and blue
And green to fill the hearts and eyes
Of Weyrfolk, Holdfolk, crafter, drudge,
And bring the days to mighty highs

Filled with laughs and joyous smiles,
Food and wine for young and old,
And children running through the aisles
Of our home, our Dragon Soul.

He finished on a poignant note and let the echoes fade, then nodded in satisfaction. He had it.

The song Revel had written especially for the Gather was one of his favourites, he'd decided. The tune reflected the mood of the song, which comprised of six verses and two sets of the refrain, and he rather liked the way the rhyming had come along.

Having walked the tables to senior apprentice just recently, Revel was an aspiring young musician with a lot on his mind just at the moment.

The day before he had been Searched.

Ordinarily this was an exciting time for a youngster - a chance to become one of the mighty dragonriders of his songs - but Revel was more confused than ecstatic. He had always been thoughtful - everything he did was on the 'think before you leap' concept. And it worked. He came across as a sombre young man, serious and dedicated, and his few close friends relied on him for help with decisions and problems they were having. He liked the maturity he had developed from his upbringing, and enjoyed his position in life. Everything had been going along so smoothly.

And now this. He had accepted, of course. There was no way he would risk a hatchling being stranded at the Sands un-Impressed because he was too pig-headed to accept the chance of a lifetime. But... It was a big step. That was the crux, he supposed. It was new and sudden and although his heart and soul urged him forth, his mind shied away. He was afraid. Of what, he didn't know. Failure, perhaps? Or success. Could he really be a dragonrider? Could he ever live up to that name? Dragonrider. But he couldn't let fear rule him. He wouldn't worry, he wouldn't run away.

Words came unbidden to his head, and Revel hastily grabbed a quill, scribbling in his vast sprawling hand...

Candidate, don't fear the day
When lives will change and you will take
Your place amongst the mighty ones
And fight along side dragon flame
And join to save the world from Thread
For days are quick, and chances slim
And soon your time is gone and lost
And fear will be your enemy
For life will live without your soul is cold.

Revel felt a shiver pass through him. It was true. What kind of a man would he be to deny the chance to fulfil himself? To become whole when now he was but half a man?

At the thought, Revel felt a smile cross his features, and his mind calmed. Like a drug. Realisation. He would stand for this clutch, and he would - perhaps - Impress a mighty dragon. And then he would see.