A Day At The Gather

Writers: Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 14th August 2014

Characters: R'enh, Chaysea
Description: R'enh takes the headwoman on her promised outing.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 8, day 14 of Turn 7

R'enh

R'enh woke early and bathed Mnoranth, then oiled him until he gleamed.
He then bathed himself in his own pool and dressed in his best gather
tunic. Then he chuckled at himself. Why was he going out of his way
for this particular woman. He reached for a piece of fruit to break
his fast and sat to wait for her to arrive for their trip.

Chaysea contemplated putting on the breeches she had worn on her
outing with L'pin- they certainly made it easier to ride. She ended up
settling for a colorful skirt instead. Rather than her customary
black, the skirt was different shades of minty green that swirled
around her legs in strips when she moved. It had splits on either side
to allow for better movement and Chaysea figured she would be able to
ride in it as well.

With a cream halter top and a pair of sandals, Chaysea felt
sufficiently scandalous by Hold standards... But she sort of liked it.
After all, she was going to a gather with a bronzerider and wanted to
fit in.

Despite what she had told R'enh she navigated the way to his weyr by
memory. Knocking on the Weyrseconds door she flicked her bangs back
away from her face as she waited.

He opened the door with a welcoming smile and then a sweep of his
eyes. "You look very nice," he said appreciatively. "Did you bring a
cloak for the ride?"

Chaysea smiled, "Thank you." And then she held up her arm where there
was a brown cloak draped, "Check!"

"Good," he winked. "Come on then," he said leading the way to where
Mnoranth waited for them. He pointed out the places for her to climb
and then climbed up himself. He strapped them both in while she made
sure she was comfortable and her feet were snug in their straps. "Arms
around me and off we go."

Mnoranth dropped off the ledge and with a couple of pumps of his
massive wings rose out of Dolphin Cove. "Ready?" He asked over his
shoulder.

Chaysea nodded and gave R'enh a little squeeze, her arms wrapped
around his waist. She liked riding in front of the dragonrider's
better, then she didn't have to worry about pressing her bosom into
their back. But she got the feeling that R'enh was no stranger to
womens' breasts so she tried not to blush over it.

R'enh patted her hand and circled the Weyr once gaining altitude with
ever sweep of Mnoranths massive wings. "Here we go," he called and he
held onto her hands where they crossed his abdomen. The cold nothing
of between robbed them of all sensation for a long moment then they
burst into a lovely summer day over the northern continent and they
began their descent. A meadow filled with tents and people was gaily
decorated with flags that indicated where the dragons should land.

Mnoranth bugled a greeting to a queen on the heights and then landed
with a flair and R'enh chucked. "Big showoff," he called. But the
bronze simply arched his neck and waited impatiently for his rider and
passenger to dismount.

Chaysea smiled as she was helped down by R'enh, her hands
automatically adjusting her skirt down over her knees as she looked
about at the many tents and the throng of people. She could already
hear music lofting over the field toward them, and when the wind blew
she could catch a smell of roasted nuts. Her favorite.

"It has been too long since I have been to a good gather." She admitted.

He smiled down at her. "Then it's time for you to have some fun. Where
would you like to start?"

While other women may have darted first to the clothing booths, or the
jewery, or maybe even to the dance floor, Chaysea's eyes darted first
to the food stall, "Food," she said, looking up at him with a smile,
"nothing ever tastes as good as food at a Gather." She didn't know if
it was the ambiance or not but nothing compared to it.

"Lead the way," he said with a grin. There were so many wonderful
smells coming out of the food area that he was more than happy with
the idea.

Chaysea stopped first by the stall that had the slow-cooked beef
sandwiches, and of course she had to have one of those, and then she
picked up deep-fried tuber slices from the next stall, "Oh, R'enh,
Mnoranth may not be able to lift me before I am done eating." She
grinned at him.

He put down his own sandwich then reached out and spanned her waist
with his hands. "I think we're safe," he grinned and lifted her off
her feet slightly. "Yeah not to worry." He's carried firestone sacks
heavier than you."

He picked up the sandwich and took a great bite.

Chaysea laughed when he picked her up, surprised by how effortless he
made it seem, "Then I shall feel no guilt about eating all my heart
desires." She said as she too took a large bite out of her sandwhich.
After swallowing it down, her eyes traveled to another tent over, "And
I am definitely going to need some of those roasted pecans before we
leave. They are my favorite." She could probably consume an entire bag
of them that evening if she didn't ration herself and make them last.

"Then obviously we must get some," he chuckled and followed her toward
the next tent. "But after this we're going over there." He pointed to
the Jewelcrafters tent.

"Okay." Chaysea agreed, "And then maybe some dancing?" She smiled as
she handed the man at the stall money for her bag of peanuts.

"Of course," he smiled. He wondered if she had any idea exactly how
good he was at that. she hadn't been with them for the last hatching
if he remembered correctly. That also begged the question of how good
she was, but he would find that out soon enough.

He led the way to the Jewelers tent and bought some gold wire in two
different sizes along with an assortment of beads and three beautiful
topaz gems.

"See anything you like?"

Chaysea shook her head. She still had marks left from her deceased
husband but she kept them safely tucked away and didn't spend them on
frivolous things like jewelry. "I am happy with my pecans." She said,
lifting the bag with a smile.

"Then let's go check out the jugglers down by the square. Someone said
they were very good," How does that sound?

The Headwoman dug a couple of pecans from her sack and popped them
into her mouth, "Let's go!" She enjoyed how easy it was to be around
R'enh and not be worried about manners and etiquette. He was also a
man of confidence and he was self-assured. She liked that.

The day wore on and afternoon led to evening. They saw some more
sights and enjoyed the Hold. As the sun faded from the sky, the
musicians gathered and when they started playing R'enh held out his
hand. "Feel like a dance?"

Chaysea put her hand in his, "Why, I thought you would never ask." She
smiled as they stepped out onto the makeshift dance floor with the
other couples.

R'enh smiled and swung her out before swinging her back in to lock his
frame and guide her around the floor.

The Headwoman had danced with many different men before but she was
pleasantly surprised by the Weyrsecond, "I am impressed, R'enh. You
dance remarkably."

"Why thank you very much," he smiled. She was doing a fair job keeping
up with him and had show a bit of talent herself. "We should work out
something for the hatching." He swung her around in a large circle
before ending the dance and turning to clap for the musicians.

"And be the envy of all the other dancers?" Chaysea's eyes lit with a
mischievous since of humor, "I like the way you think, sir."

"Hey," he winked. "Bronzerider. I think a lot of things." He put a
hand on her back to guide her off the dance floor and to the
refreshments. "Tired yet?"

Chayse _was_ slightly winded and the break from the dancing was a nice
reprieve, "Just a bit. It has been a while since I have been dancing."

"Are you ready to go home or would you like to stay over and come back
tomorrow?" R'enh didn't have illusions or plans about what could
happen if they stayed but he also didn't know her logistics.

The Headwoman sighed, "I am sorry to say I should be getting back. I
have some appointments I cannot miss tomorrow. I will clear my
schedule better next time and perhaps we can do an overnight stay."

"Then lets whisk you home," he smiled and soon the shadow of a very
large dragon threw its shadow between them and the very bright moons.
They once again mounted up on the very large bronze. "Ready?"

Chaysea wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a light
squeeze, "Ready!" She called back with a smile. As they flew she
rested her cheek against his back. The Gather had been fun and
exciting, and R'enh had been a perfect gentleman. She marked it as one
of the happiest days of her life.

Last updated on the September 6th 2014

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A Day At The Gather