The birthday gift

Writers: Paula, Yvonne
Date Posted: 4th September 2008

Characters: U'das, Tsaera
Description: U'das has little something for Tsaera to celebrate her birthday.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 11, day 4 of Turn 4

"Tsaera?" U'das asked and peeked in to the Weyrwoman's
office. "Do you mind if I interrupt you for a minute?"

"If its you? Never." Tsaera set aside her pen and smiled. "How
are you, U'das?"

"Me? Just perfect. How about you?" the bronzerider replied and
strolled causually in. He was keeping his hands behind his back and
grinning with anticipation. He had never been good at hiding things.

"I'm having a lovely day." A warm cup of chai had been waiting
for her first thing in the morning, drills had gone off flawlessly and she'd
cancelled afternoon drills as a reward, and her hidework had
diminished considerably now that she'd been at it for a couple of
uninterrupted candlemarks. And it was her birthingday, but when you
were 68 turns, that didn't matter so much anymore. Still... "You look
as if you have something to say to me, U'das, and I can't imagine what
it might be!" she said lightly.

"Really? Perhaps it is: Happy birthday, Tsaera, " U'das replied
and pulled his hands behind his back, revealing a small wrapped parcel.
"It's not much but I thought you might like it," he said and
handed his gift to her.

"Oh, you shouldn't have!" Never the less, the Weyrwoman was
grinning as she folded back the fabric that wrapped her gift. A stone
winked at her from its folds, and she grinned as she pulled the necklace
from its wrapping. "A fire agate! U'das, where on Pern did you come across
one?" Neither she nor her stone-hunting firelizard had ever found an
agate with such a rich, red hue.

"From Far Island actually," U'das replied with a grin. He was
happy that his gift was well received.

"Far Island..." It had been quite a few turns since Tsaera had gone
visiting. The demands of her own Weyr and the Pass made anything but
diplomatic visits a luxury, and River Bluff and Far Island were
geographically too far apart for intimacy. "It's lovely. Thank you so
much." She rose to her feet to kiss the bronzerider on the cheek. "I
feel positively spoilt."

"You've been your Weyrwoman so long that you deserve little spoiling
now and then," he grinned.

"Ah. You just like me because I'm old." She fastened the clasp
around her neck and patted the stone into place around her neck. "There. How
does it look?"

"Hey, I'm only few Turns younger! We are not old," U'das
protested."It looks lovely."

"A testiment to your good taste. Thank you again, U'das." Tsarea said
with a smile.

I like doing nice things to people, especially ladies," U'das said.
"Part of my bronzerider's charm, no doubt," he continued lightly.

Idly the Weyrwoman wondered how many times in a goldrider's life she
heard that bit about a bronzerider's charms, but grinned anyway.
"Something like that. Are you busy this evening?"

"I don't think so," U'das said.

"F'lin and I are having dinner together in my weyr tonight. Care to
join us? I can have the kitchen send up three plates as easily as
two."

"Do you mind if I brought my niece with me?" U'das asked.

Tsaera shook her head. "Not at all. She could make up a fourth for
bridge, if she plays. Come by around seven."

"All right, I'll see you then," U'das agreed.

"Until then," Tsaera said. Apparently her birthday wouldn't be as
quiet as she'd planned!

Last updated on the September 5th 2008

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The birthday gift