Part 7: Looking the Part
The armor was done at last, and Simon was sent to pick it up.
He was the first White Rider to wear plate, as it was considered too heavy for a rider. But there was much speculation that he would never be able to ride anyway, so he was given the best protection that White Fortress could afford.
The standard Rider uniform was leather with the White Order's rampant white dragon on it. On each shoulder would be a white drake with wings closed to indicate a drake rather than the wings-spread Dragons.
But Dugan had taken some liberties with Simon's shining plate armor. The rampant dragon on the chestplate was gold rather than white, as white would not have shown.
Rather than the typical shoulder badge of white drakes, an incredible likeness of the copper-colored Pip graced both sides of Simon's helmet and the backs of his gauntlets.
Simon stared at it in awe.
"Let's see it on, boy," Dugan told him.
With Dugan's instruction, Simon was able to buckle and lace the armor, until he stood gleaming.
"That ain't half bad, if'n I do say so myself." Dugan rocked on his heels, grinning at Simon. "Ye look like a hero, lad."
Simon's heart sank.
"What's troubling ya, lad? You don't like it?"
"It's incredible! It's not the armor at all. It's the finest thing I've ever owned!" Simon sank onto the bench nearby. "I always wanted to be a Gray Warden. Like Alistair before he became Justice, or like Xander. I can never even try, though. I'll probably never get to ride Pip because I'm too big. The woman I love won't look at me, come around me, or even acknowledge that I exist. I'm just not good enough for her." Simon covered his face with his hands, nearly jabbing himself in the eye with the helmet.
"I should be happy. I have Pip. I'm not the toilet-man anymore. I now own some of the most beautiful armor I've ever seen—and I never even thought I'd get to wear armor."
"But ye ain't."
Simon shook his head.
"Give it time. Wait and see if you're gonna get to ride him. The rumor mill says he's growing faster than any of the other drakelings. He's certainly not a runt anymore. How can ye be so certain you'll never fly him?"
"I'm scared of heights," Simon told the dwarf. "Even if he could carry me, I'd be petrified. I'd probably puke all over us both."
"Do ye trust him?"
"What? Yeah, of course I do."
"Then I wouldn't worry about that. He'll forgive ye if ya puke a time or two before you get used to it."
"That's comforting." Simon tried to feel the joke, but it came out flat.
"Well, I can only make ya some armor and weapons," Dugan said. "The fear, you're gonna have to figure out on yer own."
"It's amazing armor, Dugan. I expect these pictures of Pip to pop off any second and start demanding a brushing."
Dugan beamed, and Simon found himself grinning in response.
"He's a handsome one, your drake is. Was a pleasure to work on!"
Simon gripped the dwarf's forearm and went on his way. As he walked back towards the fortress, he got open stares from every direction. He grinned and put the helm on. Let them see Dugan's armor in all of its glory!
"Simon!" Darin greeted him as he came back up. "Wow! Dugan sure outdid himself."
"How'd you know it was me?" Simon asked, pulling his helmet off.
"Who else would have a bronze drake on his armor?"
Simon grinned, feeling a bit like a fool. "I guess my anonymity is gone, huh?" Darin's attitude towards him since their fight had changed almost 180 degrees.
"What anonymity? I don't know if you noticed, but you're a good six inches taller than everyone else—minimum."
"There is that," Simon conceded wryly.
"You don't say." Darin was openly grinning now. "Man, that's some incredible looking armor. Makes me want to be a Rider myself. Provided I wouldn't actually have to ride, that is."
At Simon's strange look, Darin clarified. "Scared of heights. Never wanted to be a Rider. Can't stand the very idea, really." He looked wistfully at Simon's armor again. "That armor would make it almost worth it, though. It's quality, not just easy on the eyes.
"More than I could ever afford," he concluded.
They parted then, Darin off to Stander duties, and Simon up to check in on Pip. He had taken his old room back, since no one had moved into the small quarters. They'd once been guard quarters, but no one guarded there anymore, since the drakes were there.
