Change of Perspective

Writers: Eimi, Ames
Date Posted: 5th August 2013

Characters: Vestian, Elmaldi
Description: Elmaldi takes her first dragonride
Location: Harper Hall, Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 1, day 26 of Turn 7
Notes: Notes: Follows the events of "Can This Marriage Be Saved"

Vestian

Her bags were packed. She was _actually_ traveling. Vestian had
informed her just the other day that they would be making this journey
to one of the holds for him to work on some type of commission. She
was going to go with him as his apprentice and assistant. Elmaldi had
learned much over these months. She was more confident in her colors
and blending and her art was improving because of it.

Carrying her bag, she moved to one of the main sitting rooms at the
Hall, waiting for Vestian to arrive and their journey to begin.

"Ah, Elmaldi, good," he said as he entered the room without ceremony.
After the morning he'd had, his mind was still thinking about what had
passed between himself and his wife, and not so much on pleasantries.
"Did the Headwoman find you a wheryhide jacket?"

"Yes, she did," Elmaldi reached down and picked up the jacket that
she'd laid over her bags. "Where are we going again Master? Is is
close or far?" They'd talk about a few places he had commissions at
that he needed to visit. She wasn't sure which location they were
headed towards today. She was eager, however, for her first trip.

"Rock Slip Hold. It's far enough that a dragon has been sent for us.
My things are already loaded. Are these your bags?" He hadn't even
bothered to ask her if she'd ever been on a dragon before.

She hadn't. **A dragon? A real-honest to goodness dragon and _I'm_
going to ride on it?** She was suddenly nervous and excited at the
same time.

"Ye..yes..these are my bags." She really only had the two. One with
her few outfits and the other with her art and drawing supplies.

"Right," he nodded, picking them up, one in each hand. "Do you need to
use the necessary before we go?" Porenne had always asked that question
of him and the children before leaving on a trip.

She actually blushed a bit at his question. "Um, no," she replied a
bit self-consciously. Elmaldi shuffled her toe a bit, feeling
embarrassed and hoping they would get one with things and not deal
with other embarrassing questions like that.

"Come on then," he said with a nod of his head, indicating that she
should lead the way. "You've seen the place where dragons land, right?
There's a blue there waiting for us." Vestian had already checked in
with the rider, who was now busy loading up his luggage and supplies.

She knew the area, alright. Had watched the dragons there in the past,
but she'd never actually _ridden_ one herself. She swallowed a bit
nervously as she picked up her bags and started walking. It didn't
take long to make it out to the main dragon landing area. She froze in
place, staring at the dragon. He seemed bigger than she remembered the
dragons being. She was supposed to _ride_ on _that_. Elmaldi
swallowed. She hated heights. How was she going to manage this?

"Are you all right?" Vestian asked with a slight frown after handing his
bags off to the waiting rider. "You look a little pale."

She looked at him and gave him a shaky smile with a shaky laugh. "I
um, have never ridden on a dragon before, I don't particularly like
heights either," she told him. Elmaldi swallowed with effort as she
tried to tell herself everything would be okay and that she could do
this.

It suddenly dawned on Vestian that Elmaldi had not been at the Weyr with
the Hall. Of course she was not used to dragons! "Listen," he said
gently, putting a hand on her shoulder. "There's nothing to be scared
of. The rider will put a belt around your waist that will hold you
firmly in place. We'll sit you right between me and the rider, so you
can hold onto him, and I'll hold onto you the whole time. There's
nothing to be nervous about. All right?"

"All right," she replied, trying to sound more confident than she
felt. She was so nervous she couldn't even enjoy the idea that she
would be siting in front of him with his arms around her. "I'm ready.
I need to learn how to do this." She sad the last more for herself
than anyone else.

Indeed she would if she wanted to be a portrait and mural painter in the
future. Clients rarely came to them. "I'll climb up first and we can
put her between us," he said to the bluerider as he slipped his wherhide
jacket on. "Put it on," he said, pointing to the one she held in her
hand before he asked permission to step up on the dragon's foreleg and
pulled himself up into place. Vestian was well practiced in strapping
himself in, but was more than willing to let the rider check his work
before helping Elmaldi up. "Ok, Elmaldi, step up on the dragon's leg
and give me your hand. The rider will help you the rest of the way."

She was still nervous. She put on the wherhide jacket like he told her
to. She waited while he climbed up, and then it was her turn. She
stepped on the dragon's leg and nearly fell off in her initial anxiety
over it. She got over it and reached her hand up to Vestian's. It was
quite surprising then, when she finally found herself seated in the
saddle. Elmaldi blinked as she looked at the world from this vantage
point. It didn't seem as bad as she thought it would.

The rider adjusted her straps around her and then took his place. "You
can hold onto my belt or my waist," he said as he raised his hand.
"When I lower my arm, it means we're about to jump."

Vestian gripped her belt with his hands to help make her secure, but as
the dragon launched them in the air, she fell back against him, and his
arms went round her waist. "Are you all right?" he asked into her ear.

She'd tried to keep herself steady, but it was harder than she'd
realized. She found herself pressed against Vestian. His arms around
her.

"Oh, yes," she replied, "I'm _just_ fine now." She was pleased as
could be to be in this exact position. It was the closest she'd gotten
to seeing her imaginings turn into reality.

"We'll be going /between/ in just a moment sir!" the bluerider called
back as they gained altitude. "When I give the signal."

"Elmaldi, don't worry. You will see, hear, and feel nothing but cold in
/between/, but I won't let go of you, I promise." Vestian could
remember how unnerving his first trip into the black had been. "Just
start counting and it will be over in no time."

And then _it_ happened. Total blackness. Cold so cold she didn't think
she'd ever feel warm again. She could feel panic rising inside her as
the darkness seemed to press around her. She wanted to call out, but
no words came. Then, she recalled the instruction she'd been given.
She started counting, and then in just those few seconds, they burst
forth back into the land of the living. Elmaldi let out her breath on
a ragged sigh, her whole body starting to tremble from the experience.

Vestian felt the shudder, and feeling rather protective of his young
charge all of a sudden, he gave her a quick squeeze. "See, not so bad.
Don't worry, I still have you. It won't be long now before we're on the
ground."

She liked his arms around her, but at the moment all she seemed able
to feel was the deepest cold of her life. Though the sun was shining
she still felt cold from the trip. She nodded to Vestian as a
response, even while she watched the dragon begin to circle towards a
hold. The ground appeared to be coming closer, indicating they were
getting ready to land once again. Elmaldi was looking forward to being
back on land once again.

As the worst was over, Vestian removed his arms from around her middle
and instead placed them firmly on her belt. "When we dismount, let me
get off first and I'll help you down. How do you like the view?" As an
artist, riding a dragon had given a whole new perspective on the
landscape, and he loved to drink in as many details as possible. If
only he could sketch while adragonback!

She was sorry when his arms released her. At his words, however, she
finally took a moment to look around her. Then she gasped.

"It's beautiful! I never imagined what it would look like to be able
to fly above the ground. It's just...amazing!" She breathed, her eyes
trying to take in every detail.

Vestian grinned at her reaction, pleased that she seemed to share his
view of the world from high above. "It changes your perspective on
everything, doesn't it. You just want to drink in every detail."

"I do," she replied, still breathless and amazed at the sites laid out
on the ground below her. It was truly amazing.

Her Master smiled as they watched the Hold come closer and closer. Soon
they would be on the ground, and their true business would begin. But
until then, he was content just to enjoy the ride.

Last updated on the August 9th 2013

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Change of Perspective