The Finished Portrait

Writers: AL, Heather
Date Posted: 3rd July 2014

Characters: Esiah, Meledei
Description: Esiah finishes his portrait for Meledei
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 15 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: N'vanik, Kapera

Esiah

Esiah was finished and in record time for one of his portraits. Of
course, another excuse to see the Weyr's youngest goldrider also had
spurred his work ethic into overdrive. The product was breath-taking,
even Esiah would admit. Normally very critical of his work, there was
no denying the beauty of the portrait. It showcased Meledei against a
stormy grey sky, and roiling ocean.

Having called in a favor with one of the woodsmith's that he knew,
Esiah had even had the portrait framed in an ornately carved wooden
frame that had been stained a steely grey. With the portrait tucked
safely under his arm, Esiah walked to the goldrider's weyr and knocked
gently on the door.

"Yeah, come in." Meledei lifted her gaze from where she was running
her hands over her straps. She checked them daily before and after
drills as well as before and after Threadfall. It might have been
more than some dragonriders, but she was a little bit paranoid when it
came to safety. A smile sprang to her lips when she saw who the
visitor was. "Hey Esiah. How goes it?"

Esiah returned the smile, "Good. I actually came to bring you your
portrait. It is finished." He announced proudly, flipping the frame he
had around so that she could see.

"Really? I thought you'd take longer." Meledei set aside her straps
then rose so she could approach the painting and study it with an
intense scrutiny. She leaned forward to peer at the ines, the texture
of the paint, the colours and way he cast the shadows and light.
Finally she nodded and smiled. "It's lovely. Better than anything I
could ever do."

"Do you have anyone you want to show it to or hang on to it a while
before it gets hung up in the archives?" Esiah asked.

"Just my dad, I think he'd be tickled with it." Her father would
think it was great, Meledei was certain, as long as the painter hadn't
depicted his daughter in a bad way - which he hadn't. "Do you do a
lot of these? Portraits I mean?"

"Not really. I mean, I did a few at the Holds while I was travelling
but painting pompous Lord Holders and their simpering wives doesn't
have nearly the appeal that you would imagine. I worked mostly on
landscapes... Until I came here." Esiah smiled, the Weyr had been a
much richer source of inspiration for painting.

"I'd be interested in seeing your landscapes." Meledei appreciated
art, even if she didn't have the ability to recreate it. She had to
admit, she was often in awe of those who could. "Do you have any
displayed around the Weyr yet?"

"Not yet, the landscapes that I did are now hanging on some wall of
the Hold where I was stationed. I didn't bring any of my finished
works when I came to the Weyr, there just wasn't room to transport
them. Once I finish a landscape again you will be the first person to
see it." Esiah smiled.

"Oh good. I find landscapes pretty and soothing." And perfect
decorations for a weyr, if they weren't too big. Maybe Meledei would
commission one so she could have something in her own. She had a
couple of small tapestries, but she had to admit, not much else. "So
who's next on your list for a portrait?"

"The Weyrleader if I can wrangle him into it. Women are much easier
to..persuade.. and if not the Weyrleader then probably the Headwoman
or the new goldrider." He had yet to procure an opportunity to
introduce himself to Kapera, but he would eventually.

The new goldrider. That announcement had only been made recently and
it did make a good gift. She'd ruminate on it for a while - see if
there was anything else she might decide to give rather than a
painting. "Well, I'd like to see some sometime. Maybe I'll hit you
up for a commission at some point."

The journeyman flashed a smile, "It would be my pleasure."

Last updated on the July 15th 2014

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The Finished Portrait