A Gift at the Gather

Writers: Len, Suzee
Date Posted: 4th October 2011

Characters: D'ale, G'wen
Description: D'ale makes good on his word to find G'wen a well made guitar at the gather
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 3, day 21 of Turn 6

D'ale

G'wen pressed against Neath's green hide as he watched the faces
turned their way. He and D'ale had come to the gather to look for a
gitar and to have fun, but outside that one trip to the tavern with
Sh'lua, this was the only time he had been in amongst Holder people.
They seemed happy enough to see D'ale..more than a few women were
given him admiring glances. But for G'wen it was many many people..too
many people.

D'ale looked back for G'wen when the young rider didn't appear next to
him. "Are you coming? We can't find the best instrument without you ya
know."

The youngster blushed and scooted to his side. As try as he might, he
couldn't resist tucking his hand into the crook of D'ale's arm as they
walked into the crowd. At least he gave him an apologetic look for
doing an act that made more than a few men glare in their direction.
"Are gathers always so crowded?" he whispered.

"Not _always_," he replied. "This one is more than a normal gather.
There will be a conclave of the Lord's Holder. They don't do that at
every gather. Besides, Emerald falls always has great races. Have you
ever seen a runner race?" He didn't ignore the hand on his arm but
realized it was more for G'wen's comfort than for anything else and he
was certain the young man would feel more wonder at the sights around
them soon enough. "Oh! Look there," he pointed to a largish tent.
"The Harper's booth." He headed in that direction.

If anything G'wen tightened his grip on D'ale's arm as they walked
towards the booth. "N-no, I've never seen a runner race," he muttered
as they came up to the Journeyman in charge of the booth.

"Afternoon Journeyman," greeted D'ale warmly. He'd worn his knots that
included the harper blue thread running alongside the brown of his
lifemate and the weyr colors. "Do you have any apprentice instruments
we could look at?"

"Right over there," said the younger man pointing toward the back of the tent.

G'wen tried to all but bury himself in D'ale's side when the harper
first spoke to them. After he pointed to the back of the tent,
curiosity won out over shyness and he peered into the tent at the long
rack of gitars, with violins and other stringed instruments hanging
overhead. Alongside were drums of all descriptions and sitting on the
table beside it all were various pipes. His eyes went round in wonder
as he took it all in.

D'ale pushed G'wen in front of him down the narrow aisle toward the
section of gitars. He could see at a glance the apprentice instruments
vs, journeyman, and then there were the masters. One of them took his
breath away. "Oh," was all he could say as he lifted down the
beautifully inlaid instrument. It was truly splendid workmanship. He
stroked the strings and a mellow tone reverberated through the tent.
He played a simple riff and the notes came through clean and sure. He
hummed as he played. Then he smiled longingly and put it carefully
back. "Someday," he promised himself. Someday he would have an
instrument like that.

G'wen watched him, still a bit awe struck by it all. "Why
'someday'?," he asked when the brownrider put it back. "Why not now?"
They, after all, shouldn't have just been looking for him.

"Because, my young friend," he said with a smile. "It is far too
expensive." He looked along the row to where the apprentice
instruments were hung. "Let's look at these."

"But..." G'wen glanced back at the gitar. "Why don't you just buy
it? Mine can wait." He hated the idea of such a kind man as D'ale
going without an instrument that was obviously made just for him. The
tone of the gitar would match his voice perfectly.

"It's much too much for me right now. But I know the Master and can
always find him later." He patted the young man's shoulder. Then he
walked over to the apprentice instruments. He idly picked up one after
another strumming the strings to test the tone. After 5 of 6 of them
he came across one with a very nice sound. He lifted it to look with a
single eye straight down the level side of the neck. One of the last
frets was slightly crooked but the neck was straight and true.

"Hmm," he mused. "This one is a possibility." The the lacquer on the
sound box was rippled in places and certainly unevenly applied but the
sound.... "Oh yes, we could refinish the box but the neck is true.
That's one of the most important things." The seams were all sound. He
fiddled with the tuning pegs, they moved easily. He played a short
riff. Then he nodded and handed it to G'wen. "Yes, I think this is
your instrument." He smiled.

"Really?" he all but squeaked, taking the gitar like it might break at
any point.

"Really," he said with half a smile. It was great to see the joy the
simple gift was giving the kid. He just clapped him on the back and
steered him to the front so he could pay for it.

Last updated on the October 15th 2011

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A Gift at the Gather