The children from Vroengard walked in single file their plain white robes swishing in the cool night air. The Moon shone over the lake, casting a pale light over the lake.
At the edge of the shore was a raised platform of smooth stone, gem like eggs shining in the moons white light. The night was quite, the only sounds to be heard were the soft wingbeats of three dragons circling overhead, watching the procession unfold.
The three elders slowly came to a stop, knealing infront of the stones. They all followed, some being the first time, some well aware of the process that comes next, hoping that they will finally get their chance.
They rose in unison towards the waiting eggs . The eggs waiting for their rides.
From the front of the line they each placed their hand on the surface of the stones. Hoping, anticipating and waiting for one to choose them. Some eggs may hatch here tonight, some might wait a while and some may stay in their egg for years to come, waiting for their rider.
The line moved down as slowly as a turtle that just woke up. And still no shouts of surprises or gasps of wonder . No riders chosen yet.
She moved quietly, with no nervous steps or excited smiles. Her long brown hair obscuring her face from site.
She reached forward placing her hand on an egg before quickly retreating it. "Not right," she mumbled . It didn't feel right. She moved onto the next egg . The same result.
People were looking at her, staring, wondering why she draws her hand back before they came even find out if it is a match or not. But she knew, her dragon was here somewhere, waiting for her to find them.
The girl repeated this process until she got to the last set of eggs.
She placed her hand gently on to the cool surface of the gem , the silver white vains shining under the moonlight. As she pulled away the egg shook, as if asking her not to leave. "Found you,"she whispered.
One of the Elders, Oromis took the egg from its place on the round stone table and took the egg to the side , where other riders sat with their trembling eggs. The girl sat beside the egg, singing a soft tune, encouraging the hatchling inside the come out. All night she sang, waiting for her dragon to hatch.
Finally as the first rays of light broke the horizon a crack broke through the surface of the beautiful stone and slowly a tiny snout pushed off a piece of shell.
She emerged, small but spectacular dragon of sapphire blue scales that twinkled in the morning sun.
"Hello Moonlight, " she whispered, naming her after the Moon that shone over her egg as she hatched. "I've been waiting."
The dragon cooed as if in satisfaction at the name.
She slowly reached her hand out but her dragon seemed to have other ideas. She twisted her neck around her riders hand , dodging it and placed her snout on her riders forearm, close to her wrist.
A searing pain shot through her arm. She let out a high screem. Everything hurt. She could barely see anything, but could make out the faint glow on her hand , the gedwëy ignasia.
That was the last thing she saw before everything went black. Her dragon called for her to wake up, not knowing why her rider wasn't moving.