Questions and Friends

Writers: AL, Suzee
Date Posted: 9th May 2012

Characters: R'enh, Meledei
Description: Impromptu Dance Lesson
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 5 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Rhosyn

R'enh

Meledei stretched, then stacked the work in front of her into a neat
pile. It was time to stop and take a break. Dinner would be soon, but
she had a little time before hand. Sometimes she took a bath,
sometimes checked on Elleth, or sometimes just walked around or read.
She stood up and leaned back, stretching a little more. Sitting so
much was annoying. Sometimes she literally stood while working on
things just so she wouldn't have to sit, but she still tightened.

The young goldrider slid the chair back under the table then made her
way out of the records room. She left the work there, neatly stacked -
stuff that didn't get done that day. She'd get to it tomorrow, pick up
where she left off.

"Hey," he popped his head into the door in an attempt to startle her
then chuckled as he walked into the room. "You're working too hard
again."

"Am I?" Meledei smiled at the bronzerider whose dragon had caught her
own. "There's a lot to fix. We've managed to catch up on some things,
but not all of it."

"I'm sure," he knew how things had lightened up for her when their new
goldrider had arrived but then just over a month later and the
Weyrwoman had left. He could only imagine what kind of workload had
dropped back onto her shoulders.

"All work and no play makes Meledei a dull girl. Come on," he smiled.
"Dance practice."

"Ah, impromptu dance practise. Well, I was thinking about what I was
going to do before dinner." Meledei laughed and closed the distance
between them. "All right, let's go somewhere and practise then. I
always do enjoy dancing with you."

"Great," he smiled. "I've got a harper and his gitar standing by" He
grabbed her hand and twirled her out the door.

"Wait, we actually have someone to play music for us?" Meledei
laughed, but didn't fight - rather, she let him guide her along, her
eyes twinkling with amusement. "Now that I didn't expect."

"We do," he nodded. He'd made friends with one of the journeymen and
giving him transport a couple of times had earned him more than one
favor. He led her to one of the small gathering rooms near the dining
hall and began to push the furniture against the walls.

"I see. I need to start making more friends like you." Meledei giggled
and worked with R'enh, moving the furniture so they would have more
room. "I say this is the most impromptu dance I've ever had."

He waggled his eyebrows at her. "This way you don't have time to be
scared."

"Scared? Why would I be scared?" Meledei puffed out some air in a
dismissive tone. "What's there to be scared of?"

R'enh chuckled and nodded to the Harper. A lively tune started and he
swept her into one of the quick stepped dances they'd been practicing.
Soon faces began to appear in the doorway. "An audience," he said and
tightened his frame. He'd known that as soon as the music started it
would draw a crowd from the dining hall.

"I think I had a plenty big audience at the hatching feast." Meledei
pointed out with a laugh and moved with the dragonrider. She hadn't
been a _bad_ dancer, but she had to admit, R'enh's instruction had
given her more finesse and style.

"You did," he smiled. "But you weren't learning a new dance then
either. You'd already practiced it lots of times." With that he dipped
her over his knee.

Meledei always had a thrill when she got dipped. She let out a giggle,
eyes shining. "Ah, so I'm learning a _new_ dance." She paused as she
was twirled then drew back into his arms. "What's this one called?"

"Oh I'm not sure," he smiled and pulled her into a frame. "Ok that way,"
he pulled her into a series of quick steps.

Meledei wouldn't have been able to keep up if R'enh hadn't been
teaching her _before_ the hatching. Fortunately, he had and so while
she may not have had as much finesse as he, she held her own at least.
"Why do I have a feeling you're testing me?"

"Because I want to see how much you've retained." He smiled. "We're
going to push you a little." He twirled her into the final pose and a
smattering of applause came from the entry.

If Meledei had been wearing a skirt, the move would have looked much
nicer. As it was, her feet were a little awkward, but she managed the
complex turn and twist without tripping herself or R'enh. She laughed
at the applause. "I guess they feel I didn't ruin your performance."

R'enh chuckled "You did great." He pulled her up and swept a hand
toward her with a semi formal bow first to her and then to the crowd.
Then he took a step back and applauded the Harper with a smile.

"Bah. You are a show off." Meledei laughed and shook her head. "Come
on, nothing to see here!" She made a showing motion to the onlookers.
"Want to head to the dining hall?" That was to R'enh, to whom she
turned after indicating there would be no more dancing to watch.

He poured a drink of water for both of them and sat down next to her.
"So," he started lightly. "What was going through your mind at the
hatching when I was talking to Rhosyn." He wasn't quite sure what was
going on at the time but he'd noticed a rather funny look from Meledei
he didn't understand.

"What?" Meledei's brow creased at the sudden change of subject. It
took a moment and then she realised what he meant. She shrugged.
"Oh...just...stuff."

"mmhmm," he mused. "Come on Mel. We're friends. What was going on?"

"I don't know. I guess I felt a little jealous." And foolish. It
wasn't like Meledei and R'enh had a relationship. No, it was something
beyond that. "Just...the way you looked at her...and she at you..."

He tilted his head to the side. "Really?" He tried to think back to that
night and whatever had happened. He'd never really talked about Rhosyn
with Meledei so she might not know about their past. "It's
complicated with Rhosyn." He waived a hand. "I guess it's always
complicated with Rhosyn." He stroked a hand down her arm. "You realize
we know each other very well... right?"

"I kind of figured that." Meledei gave him a rueful smile. "I
just...I don't know. I used to have someone like that. I guess I wish
I did now." Well, she did, sort of. But...well...Meledei just didn't
see him that way. In some ways, she still missed F'gol, though she knew
she couldn't take him back. He'd hurt her too badly. She'd never be
able to trust him. But she couldn't help but want something like that
again.

"We tend to meet many people in the Weyr," he was sure she'd had this
talk from someone but it never hurt to set out a reminder. "Some you
keep in your life and some you don't." He shrugged. "It's not like the
Hold or Hall where you can be with one person your whole life." He
pulled her into his arms for a hug. "You're special Meledei. Elleth
chose you for a reason." He put his hands on her shoulders and leaned
back. "We'll always be friends I think, and someday some other rider
won't quite understand why." There were so many reasons he liked
Meledei but he didn't want to lay it on too thick. "Rhosyn is just
that, my friend."

"Seems like more than just that." Meledei shook her head. "It's none
of my business what you two are to each other. I just...guess it made
me realise how much I miss having something like that." She paused for
a moment, then shook her head. "I don't agree with you though. I
think you _can_ stay with one person your whole life even in a Weyr.
My parents did. That's what I want. What I thought I had...though I
was wrong. I guess I'm not as over it as I thought I was."

"Oh, I'm not saying you're wrong Mel," he said. "My parents did too."
He ran his hand over her hair. "It's just very hard in a Weyr." He
didn't need to remind her of the danger they all lived with every time
they went out to fight Thread. They'd all chosen this life and been
chosen by their lifemates. He'd come to feel that he'd had to give up
on a lifelong relationship. But maybe there was a chance he could find
someone to spend his life with. He enfolded her in a quick hug
silently thanking her. Then he kissed her temple.

"Let's get something to eat."

Last updated on the May 15th 2012

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Questions and Friends