Test of Siberys - Welcome to House Lyrandar

Gwyn clasped her hands tightly around a cup of tea that her father had brewed to help calm her nerves. The warmth seeped from the ceramic and helped keep back the chill of her small bedroom. She could hear the muffled noises of her family moving below on the main floor of the lighthouse making their preparations for the day. Today was a big day for the community, but there were still chores that had to be done. The world didn't stop just because House Lyrandar decided to hold their Siberys test for dragonmarked candidates.
 
Her father had joked that she would take any excuse to shirk her duties, but he had shoved a cup of tea and a local map of the bay into her hands and told her to go up to her room and study. Though it was well past sunrise, the sky was dark with ominous storm clouds. Heavy drops of rain pounded against the windows as the wind howled. The weather was absolutely awful, which she guessed was the point.
 
[At least the Raincaller's won't have to work too hard today. Mother nature took care of setting the stage.]
 
Looking down at the map she chuffed. This was not a test she could study to pass. The goal was to fail so superbly that a dragonmark would manifest. Ariawyn explained that she would be stranded on a dinghy out in the middle of the bay as a storm raged around her and her task was to find her way back to land safely. It seemed wrong. Most of their community was raised on the water, it was their second home. It wouldn't be the first time she had been out in the water in poor conditions. However, Ariawyn did manifest her mark during the test from the sheer stress of not sure if she would drown or be lost at sea. Kieran had capsized and still did not manifest a mark.
 
She was oddly calm and wondered if the other two candidates who were being tested today felt the same way. Then she did feel jittery butterflies. One of the candidates was Bastian. Her cheeks flushed just thinking about the young man. He was a tall, lanky red-haired half-elf whose family worked the docks. He had yet to grow into his height and gangly limbs, but she found him so attractive. When you're thirteen infatuation is truly blind.
 
........................................................
The water was cold. Why did the water have to be so cold? She gripped the tiller tightly as the dinghy bobbed up and down on the rough waves. The wind howled around her, whipping hair into her face and stinging her skin with artic droplets of rain. She strained to see through the hammering rain, trying to make out the shoreline, but everything was shrouded in mist and darkness. Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the sea around her. She could smell the burning air.
 
How long had she'd been out here in the storm? It felt like ages. Waves continued to crash over the sides causing the dinghy to take on more and more water. Soon she would need to start bailing water to keep afloat. She felt a sense of panic rising in her chest. What kind of pompous assholes would put a child through this?
 
"Focus on what you can control Ion-nín," her father's voice echoed in her head. "Keep your eyes on the horizon, not the waves. And never let fear take control." She was starting to tire. Her muscles ached and her hands were numb from the cold, but she refused to give up.
 
As if to test her resolve, a sudden gust of wind caught the sail causing the dinghy to rock so hard throwing her into the icy depths. For a moment she floundered in the water, disoriented. She remembered her father's training and kicked her legs hard. Breaking the surface she grasped for breath, coughing up saltwater.
 
Looking around she spotted the dinghy thankfully still afloat not too far from her. Digging deep she found a reserve of strength and determination. She swam toward the small vessel and pulled herself back into it. Exhausted, she took stock of her situation. She knew she couldn't control the storm or the sea, but she could control how she responded to it.
 
"FUCK!" Her voice cracked as she screamed into the wind. Then set to work of bailing water from the bottom of the boat, adjusted the tattered sail and got the boat moving through the waves. Despite the continuing storm she felt the fear subside almost completely when she spotted a slight glimmer of light off in the distance. The lighthouse, her home, a beacon of hope that she was nearly done with this nightmare.
 
As quickly as it had started the storm stopped and she could see the beach lined with the figures of the proctors and Raincallers administering the test. As she approached the beach her father ran out into the water and helped her pull the boat onto the sand. He smiled knowingly. "I knew you could do it Ion-nín. You're a natural on the water, just like your old man."
 
One of the House Lyrandar delegates, a pinched-faced woman with a bored look, approached her. "Follow me for inspection. The mark can manifest anywhere on the body. Hopefully, at least one of you will have it. Otherwise, what a waste."
 
She was led to a large tent that was kept warm with a large fire in the center. There were tables full of fruits and meats and drink. The other two candidates sat patiently in large fur lined robes in Lyrandar's blue and silver house colors. She briefly made eye contact with Bastian who gave her an encouraging smile. Blushing, she turned away quickly and followed the delegate behind a privacy barrier.
 
The woman gestured for her to stand in the center and to disrobe. The pinched-faced woman did not seem to even notice Gwyn's nudity as she examined her body looking for a dragonmark. It was thorough and humiliating. She had never been in such a state of undress in front of anyone other than her mother or sisters. Ariawyn had prepared her for this step, so she swallowed her embarrassment and prayed for it to be over quickly.
 
Finally, the woman stepped back, a look of annoyance on her narrow face. "Not surprising, nothing. Go ahead and get dressed and sit with the other candidates."
 
Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror, and she couldn't help but let out a small laugh. Her wet hair was plastered to her face except where the woman had pushed it back to check her scalp, and her skin was flushed from the inspection. She looked like a mad person. She quickly donned the fur-lined robe, grateful for the warmth and comfort. She attempted to finger combed her hair and composed herself. Taking a deep breath and straightening her shoulders she left the small room to go sit with Bastian and Ivellios.
 
To her surprise the tent had filled considerably with members and delegates of House Lyrandar and spectators who had come to watch the test. Bastian grinned at her and waved her over to the empty spot next to him. A plate heaping with hot food placed on the table for her. Her face grew hot as butterflies began to flutter wildly in her stomach.
 
You were just naked in front of a complete stranger, but seeing your crush makes nervous?
 
Sliding into the chair she eagerly dug in, grateful for the warmth and sustenance. As she ate, she listened to the murmurs and whispers, trying to get a sense of the atmosphere. The Siberys test was always a small celebration, but she could tell the delegates were disappointed another group of candidates did not manifest a dragonmark.
 
"That must have been terrifying"
 
"I'm sorry, what?" She snapped her attention to Bastian. He laughed and she felt the butterflies again, her face growing hot. She just hoped she hadn't turned the same color as his red hair.
 
"They were saying you were thrown into the water, but were back in the dinghy before the Raincallers could even react to calm the storm. That must have been terrifying. When I went in, I thought I'd never see land again. Thankfully they ended my test shortly after that."
 
"Oh," she smiled and looked to her nearly empty plate. Why is my face so freaking hot? "Yeah, it was pretty scary. I just remembered what my dad told me about not letting fear control me, so I pushed through it. I'm pretty sure a lot of it was luck too."
 
"Honestly, that's super cool." He placed his hand on her arm and leaned in close. His warm breath tickling her neck. The butterflies in her stomach could not be calmed. "If anyone was going to get their boat back to shore, it was going to be you. You're that amazing."
 
He closed the distance completely between them and placed a gentle kiss on her right cheek. Suddenly her face felt like it was on fire. A burning sensation crept over her cheek and up her temple. She cried out and clasped her hands to her face. A wave of panic and confusion washed over her as the burning sensation subsided and was replaced by a warm tingling. She looked over at Bastian whose face was a mix of confusion and worry.
 
The whole tent turned to look at her, and she dropped her hands. There was a collective gasp until the pinched-faced woman stepped forward with a smile on her face. "So today was not a waste after all. Welcome to House Lyrandar, Gwyn."