Disclaimer: Pern isn't mine. If it was, I certainly wouldn't live where I do now!!!
A/N I have made a few changes in this story, and changed the timeline, so I can make up my own characters. I hope everyone likes it. Please review with suggestions and polite constructive criticism. No flames, please. Oh, and please point out any grammatical errors, as I am completely blind: therefore, I might have missed some. And, now, here is the rewrite
The Blind Dragon rider
Chapter 1: Harper hall.
Meera shook her long hair back behind her shoulders, and searched on the counter for a wooden spoon. She began stirring ferociously the contents of the huge pot in front of her. She figured she could take some of her anger out on tonight's evening meal, and it wouldn't mind. She hated being stuck in the kitchens like this. She felt useless, and always had, at least ever since she could remember. Tonight was the Turnover festivities, and, as usual, Meera felt like she was only in the way. So, she did the only thing she was good at, cooking.
A couple of years ago she had been able to play guitar, but that was pointless now. She had burned herself in a cooking accident, and now her hands were stiff and not very sensitive anymore. She had always wanted to be a Harper, but now she thought that was pointless.
Since she could remember, there were dreams of being a dragon rider, but no dragon would choose a blind girl, with stiff hands as a partner. There was no point in hoping, so she might as well accept her place in life, and put all of her childhood dreams behind her. She was always going to be a helper at Harper Hall, never a Harper, and definitely never a dragon rider, so what was the use of pining over something that she couldn't change.
As she stirred the pot, a bugle sounded from outside. Guests weren't supposed to show up this early. The festivities didn't begin until after sundown, So, Meera wondered, what were dragons doing hear, now! Suddenly, there was a loud commotion in the hallway. Seria, another kitchen helper, burst in through the double doors.
"Meera, the dragons are here on search!" she exclaimed. Then she turned around and ran back out, towards the courtyard.
Oh, what the heck, Meera thought. She trailed the wall, following behind Seria in to the warm morning sun. Meera could hear many people already crowded in the courtyard. Seria told her there was a blue dragon, with three more dragons strung out behind him, one brown, and two greens. There wasn't room for all of them to land. They were here to convey the searched candidates back to Fort Weyr.
"I am A'rel, and this is Teerrath. We are here on search. I see we have quite a crowd." The rider of the blue dragon said. "Well, Teerrath, what do you think?"
The blue's eyes whirled as he spoke to his rider. "We may have hit home this time."
Meera couldn't help but hope, though she figured it was probably pointless. Teerrath turned his head to look at everyone in the courtyard. His gaze rested on Meera. "This one has the strongest potential out of everyone I see here." Meera jumped in surprise. She had actually heard Teerrath's voice in her head. Maybe she was imagining things, or finally going crazy. "No, you're not going crazy." Came the voice again. "You can hear us, or at least me." Meera just sighed.
"Well," said A'rel. "We have our first candidate, if she accepts."
Meera felt a push from behind. "The dragon rider is looking at you." Seria whispered.
Of course, Meera had already figured that out, but she stumbled forward. "You mean me, sir? But I can't see. I would be useless for a dragon."
"Well, that's for the dragons to decide," A'rel said. "We've never had a blind rider before, but there's a first time for everything. If you impress, you will have to work harder to do well in your classes. Do you accept the search?"
"Yes." Meera squeaked. She was flooded with many emotions, shock, joy, worry, hope, confusion. She put her hand out, and stepped forward. A'rel grasped it, and helped her up onto Teerrath's back.