The Choosing Part 2: Dragon Knights 2

     The pillar Aylin was hiding behind was above the floor where the Choosing was taking place. A long staircase that ran the length of that side of the room lead down to the main floor. From where she hid, she could see all the participants, both dragon and human.
    There about thirty kids of various backgrounds. All of the nation's that comprised the Six Lands were allowed to send their children. The Dragon Knights held the peace between the Six Lands and defended it against its enemies. A Knight was only beholden to his birth country if it did not conflict with the laws and directives of the Dragon Knights.
     Aylin watched as the first dragon walked the line of children. While some of the children stood at military attention while the dragon passed,  a few stood with their arms crossed and in a self-important stance. One girl, Aylin noticed,  stood out from the rest. She was of average height, but thin. She was shaking. 

     As the dragon passed in front of her, it stopped and turned to face her. The dragon, small by dragon standard, had two horns on it's head and pure white scales. It stared at the girl for a moment and the gently tapped her head with its snout. The dragon had chosen it's Knight.
     The girl almost fainted at the dragon's touch, but managed to stay upright. She and the dragon walked to the left side of the hall and stood together. After they had taken their place, the next dragon, a green one with golden horns began to walk the line.
     The Choosing continued in this manner until all but one of the fifteen dragons had chosen a child. The remaining dragon was midnight black. It's scales reflected the light with a midnight blue. Two horns rose from its head and a line of spikes ran halfway down its neck, almost like a mane. Lean and muscular, it was larger than the other dragons who had been part of The Choosing, but was still smaller than the older dragons who had escorted them here. It gave off an air of confidence and power.

     Aylin had heard of this dragon. According to the Baron's son Cedric, who was only a little older than her, this dragon had been at several Choosings and had yet to select a child. While not entirely unheard of, it was rare. This would explain why it was bigger than all the other dragons participating.
     She was so absorbed in staring at the dragon below that she did not hear the one approaching from behind her. She heard a low growl and turned around to face a large brown dragon. It had a scar running over its right eye and the horn above it had been partially cut off. She tried to dash away, but the dragon move faster than her and blocked her way.
     Gently nudging with its snout, it ushered her between the pillars and down the stairs. She was aware that everyone was staring at her. As she descended, she was so busy trying not to imagine what punishment she would endure for spying on The Choosing that she tripped on the last few steps and unceremoniously rolled onto the hall floor.
     She rolled to a stop, dazed. She was aware of feet rushing towards her, temple guards she assumed, and tried to get up. Before she could however, a dark shadow fell over her and a loud boom echoed through the hall. She looked up and was met with a roof of night black scales. The black dragon she had been watching had jumped across the hall and as now standing over her.

The Choosing- Part 1: Dragon Knights 1

     Aylin ducked back behind the pillar and prayed that she hadn't been spotted. Even though she technically had every right to be here, she had been expressly forbidden from coming. She was supposed to be back at Castle Sandorne, locked in her chambers. She was not supposed to be at the citadel in Braewood, watching The Choosing.
     She held her breath as a priest walked by. If she was caught, she would be severely punished. Every three years, the Choosing was held. All eligible children of noble birth we're allowed to attend the choosing, the time when the dragons who had come of age would choose a child and they would become Dragon Knights. Only a few were chosen every year.
     Aylin was an orphan. While not a disqualifying fact in and of itself, it did complicate matters. Aylin's father,  Sir Edward of Hawksrising,  had been a noble He had also been one of the greatest Dragon Knights that had be seen in centuries, earning the coveted title- Dragonfriend. During the last war, he and his dragon had been killed. Wen his pregnant wife Salyne heard the news, she had immediately gone until labor. She died the next night from heartbreak and the rigours of the labor. The baby girl, Alyin, was given to a fellow Dragon Knight to be raised as his own.
     Baron Ambrose was a decent man, when he was sober; and only slightly less when he was drunk. The baroness on the other hand, had nothing but harsh words for Aylin. She had hated Sir Edward for not choosing her as his wife and had despised Lady Salyne. Her hate was so that she refused to tell Aylin anything about her parents and forbidden her from asking about them.
     It was during one of the Baron's rare visits home that she learned the truth. She had been bringing his dinner to him when he had remarked that she had her father's eyes. Even though he was obviously drunk, she still asked if he jab known him. He preceded to tell her that he had served with her father during the war and of how she came to Castle Sandorne.
     Aylin had kept the conversation to herself, never telling anyone. She had quietly researched her father and had grown to respect him and desire to follow in his footsteps. That was why, against her better judgment,  she had attempted to steal the letter containing the names of those from Castle Sandorne who would be attending The Choosing and add her name. She had been caught and beaten. Her back still hurt where the whip had struck it.
     After the beating, the Baroness had ordered her to be locked in her chambers until the Choosing was over. What made this worse was that after this Choosing, Aylin would be too old to participate. So, with the help of a friend in the stables, she had sneaked out and ridden to Braewood. Posing as a servant girl and miraculously making her way to the grand hall.
     A loud gong rung three times, snapping Aylin out of her memories. The Choosing was starting.

Untitled Star Wars 1: Scene-Shot 2

Author's Note:

     This is a very rough series of scene-shots. I apologize in advance to any hard-core Star Wars fans who may read it and find canonical and technical errors and misconceptions in it (especially regarding the Jedi and the Force). I am a big  fan of Star Wars, but have not been able to express that love for some time (a long story that does not have a place here) and this has led to a lack of knowledge about much outside of the movies. As with most of my scene-shots it is mostly un-edited, nor did I do any research for it. In light of that, please forgive the lack of planet names and other species. I simply wrote what came to me based on what I already know. Also, it is not intended to have any relation or bearing to the current or previous cannon. It simply occurs in the same GFFA. (I will say that it would take place some time before the Phantom Menace.) Thank you for your understanding, and may the Force be with you.

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Cast of Scene-Shot 2
     Jedi Knight Wylder Cade - Human
     Jedi Knight Abu Sayeed - Human
     Padawan Kaedyn Jinn - Human


     Wylder bowed to the council and turd of the holocomm he had been using. The Council had been unable to shed any light on what was affecting his friend and had affected his friend's apprentice. They had ordered him to wait there on (planet1) until Kaedyn awoke and speak with her when she did. Then he was to report his findings afterward.
     Later, as he sat meditating, he reflected on what he knew of what had brought Abu and Kaedyn to (planet1).  It had been two year since he had last seen his friend, Abu Sayeed. Friends since childhood, they had completed several missions for the Council together as knights and had made a good team. Two years ago, after returning from a mission, Abu had decided to take a Padawan. Wylder had been sent off on a mission before he had heard Abu's choice.
     He had not heard from or about his friend until the message from the Council came, requesting him to travel to (planet1). They had informed him that the Knight and Padawan had been sent to a mission on (planet2). It had been five months since anyone had heard from them. A look at (planet2)'s spaceport records showed that the ship they had been traveling on had docked safely and Abu and Kaedyn had disembarked. However, they had never met with the contact who was supposed to meet them. Two other Jedi had been sent to (planet2) to take care of the mission while a search for Abu and his Padawan commenced.
     Five months later, a transmission from (planet1) was received. It stated that two Jedi had been admitted to a med-center. They appeared to be physically fine, except for minor cuts and bruises, but had remained in an unresponsive state.
     The descriptions given had confirmed that they were the missing Jedi Knight Abu Sayeed and his apprentice, Kaedyn Jinn. Having just finished a mission of his own on (planet3), which was close to (planet1), he was ordered to report there and "take custody" of Abu and Kaedyn and to see what he could find regarding how they had come to (planet1), light years from where they should have been, and learn where they had been for five months.
     Upon his arrival three days later, he was informed that while Abu's condition had remained unchanged, Kaedyn's had slowly been changing somewhat. Her heart rate and breathing had slowly increased, and her muscles had become tense; but she was still unresponsive. When he asked how they had come here he was told that according to local reports, Kaedyn had stumbled onto a local farm, supporting her unconscious master. Startled farm hands had rushed to her aid. She was barely conscious and only managed a weak, "Help him." before she passed out.
     The farmers had brought them to a local med-center that served the surrounding farms and towns. Then, they had retraced their trail from the farm to discover a crashed and badly damaged escape pod. A search of the surrounding area revealed no other pods or survivors. There was no clue of any kind that could tell him where they had been or how they had gotten here. He would have to wait until Kaedyn awoke to learn any more.

--To (possibly) Be Continued--