The Order of the Watchers

What she was experiencing was unlike anything she had been through before.

Her heart was pounding franticly as a startled bird and hard enough she thought she may crack a rib. The air seemed thicker and it was an effort to pull it into her lungs.

She was nervous.

This was the day she had been waiting for, but now that it was here she wasn't sure if she could even step out of her  dorm. She took her time to make sure all the straps and ties on her boots were secure and made sure that her simple black breeches and long sleeved shirt had no stray fuzz or fallen hair snared in the material. They were the same type of clothes she wore every day, but these were special. She'd gotten them just for this day so when she made her way to the courtyard that would be one less thing she would be self conscious about. Finally she pulled out the beautiful cloak she had been awarded the night prior at her rights ceremony. It had been her father's, her grandmother's, her great-grandmother's and so on. The thick woven wool was lined with black fur from some of the last wolves, that alone making it special, but what truly gave the cloak value in her eyes were the feathers sewn into it- there must have been nearly a hundred. Feathers of different shapes and sizes, all glistening darkly in the candlelight. Some had streaks of silver, others looked to have dipped in dark grey paint, and others mottled white as if they had been snowed on and never permitted the white powder to melt or escape. She stroked the youngest one, solid black. It had been sewn in with the others the day of her father's funeral by the Maester. She briefly wondered what the feather that would be sewn into the wool at her death would look like, or if she would even be so honored, but quickly dispelled the wonderings. If she thought such gloomy things she would never step out of her small room. She swung the cloak over her shoulders and fastened the dark onyx brooch that was shaped like an outstretched wing. It was heavy and uncomfortable at first, but she knew she would grow used to it quickly. There was nothing left for her to do here, no more excuses for her procrastination. She blew out the single candle on her nightstand and walked out of her room, through the labyrinth of corridors that made up the chateau until she found the grand courtyard where she took her place in the surrounding cloister, next to her lifelong friends and classmates.

The cool winter's fresh air should have helped calm her, but this day the hush brought by the new snow beneath the permanently veiled and dark skies only made her skin crawl.

Today would be the day she would either follow in her family's footsteps as a Watcher or be the first of her house in over a century to… she actually had no idea what would happen if she wasn't chosen.

A soft noise drew everyone's attention upward to the dark mauve skies. A tom who had crept into the cloisters quickly ran into the shadows of the hall, claws scraping against the iced stone in his haste to escape causing a brief and unwelcome distraction from the majestic sight before them. A huge pegasus defended from the sky with a coat the color of sand and wings flecked with dark brown splotches. On the mare's back was a pelt of a huge white bear long since extinct and the rider, the Grand Maester. It was the first time any of them had been honored with seeing a pegasus- for many would be their last. Today approximately five young pegsi would fly to the courtyard to choose their rider of the fifty students. Her black eyes nervously peered through her equally dark hair at the people standing in line around her, taking in their awed faces. All were dressed in their family color, most a light color taken after the snow, others dark reds, violets, or blues to much the sky, though none were as dark as hers. Others whose family had been a part of the Watchers wore fur trimmed cloaks with feathers sewn in, but with a shock she realized that none bore as many as hers. It suddenly felt as though a great weight were pressing on her chest and she tried to ignore her racing thoughts by looking at the awe-inspiring creature before them.

The Grand Maester dismounted, his usually tall and muscular frame swarmed by his mare's, whose name she did not know, nor would she ever know. The name of a pegasus was shared only with the rider and pegasus, never to another. With a voice as soft as it was commanding, the Grand Maester recited the Pledge of the Watchers and explained what was going to happen, words everyone in the cloister knew by heart. As he finished, silence fell once again, the Grand Maester looking at the line of graduated students who were collectively holding their breath. As everyone waited for the young pegasi's arrival a light snow began to fall, though only the Grand Maester dared move, pull his white cloak that matched his mount's riding furs close around him.

After what seemed like a small eternity another hushed whispering noise came from the sky and a colt appeared by the Grand Maester with a coat the color of a dying fire, his legs and feathers accented with black. The firecolt shifted his wise eyes to look consideringly at the line of possible riders before choosing a cloakless girl dressed in bright red. The new pair were led by one of the Maesters to an exit on the far side of the courtyard where measurements would be taken for a cloak and riding furs would be chosen. Once they both had their furs, the girl and pegasus would take off for the Ice Keep of the Watchers where they would work to protect the other people and creatures of the realm. Moments after they disappeared, a spirited filly came diving from the clouds, her coat a shimmering amber, who quickly went up to a young man whose cloak was lined with coyote fur, a fitting pairing indeed. Next was another fire red colt, though this one had no black, who chose a girl dressed in the vivid color of evergreens with a cloak lined in the fur of red foxes. A light gold colt followed, his wings and legs decorated with an even paler gold, who found a girl in light cream to take with him. As each pegasus left, a growing sense of unease filled her. It had been hard enough imagining a taking a different route in life, but after seeing such majestic creatures, doing anything else was impossible. She would never be able to put her heart into any other work, and she could not return to her mother's household disgraced.

 Finally, a dark dappled gray colt came down, black splashes dancing on the tips of his wings, legs, and even his face. The colt took his time deciding, but when he moved it was in her direction. Her breath caught as she watched the colt move, his longer fur and hair flowing around him in the soft breeze. Her eyes widened. This could be it. This had to be it, he was the fifth young pegasus to show up. The colt was almost within touching distance, and as he moved closed, she realized something. Her stomach lurched and she felt a piercing in her eye that was more than just the cold wind's bite. Somehow she managed not to let a tear fall or allow herself to vomit and even managed to smile at her best friend next to her and whisper a "Congratulations!" to the girl now petting the pegasus. After that last pair had disappeared into the far hall, the Grand Maester announced that the ceremony was over and the remaining 45 graduates would have to depart on the morrow and find occupation elsewhere. The Order of Watchers had no use for those who could not take to the skies and watch. Those left turned from their spots to return to their rooms and pack their few belongs, several faces spotted with frozen tears, others bright red, and still more who like her were pale as the snow they walked on. Her paces were long and fast, carrying her away from that place of disappointment and the disappointment of the others who had also failed. She was moving so quickly and had made it far enough to where she could hardly hear the Grand Maester's order to reassemble. She very nearly didn't turn back. She was never going to be a watcher and as such The Grand Maester of the Watchers was no longer her master, but for years she had held on to every word any of the maestros had said in her dreams of being paired with one of the mystic equines and the old habits died hard. She saw the conflict play across other graduates faces before they too turned back.

The sight that met those who returned was bittersweet to her. Another colt had joined the Grand Maester and his mount, a large black with silver hair across his back, snowdrop markings, and silver bands on his feathers. She didn't dare hope that he would choose her; she couldn't let one more hope fall to the ground to shatter around her. Instead she saw the colt as one last beautiful sight to behold before she saw no more, The colt stood proudly while the returned awkwardly walked back to their places, taking in all his possibilities. When finally everyone was still and the colt began to move, she dropped her eyes to her boots. She didn't care who the lucky rider was and instead turned her mind to what would happen when they were dismissed once again. As she was no rider, she had no right to the great black wolf cloak she falsely wore. She would have it sent to her mother who may know of some distant relative of her father's to pass it to. That was really the only possession of hers worth anything, so nothing else mattered.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a warm gust of wind that ruffled her hair. Surprised, she looked up  from the black leather of boots and found herself staring straight into the eyes of the black, which only added to her surprise. The colt nuzzled the dark fur that trimmer her cloak and sudden comprehension filled her. She had been chosen! She would b a watcher after all! No longer bothering to act stoic and hide her emotions, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him, the tears pouring from her black eyes getting absorbed into his black fur. The colt twisted his head over her shoulder to press into her back to return the hug. They stayed like that for a moment, her breathing in his earthly scent, and then together they walked proudly to receive the riding furs that matched cloak, the ones that had belonged to her father's mount. In no time at all she was atop her black pegasus, soaring through the clouds on their way to the Keep. Her dreams were true, She had her pegasus, and nothing would ever be able to bring her down again.