Jewel of a Rider

Writers: Clancey, Miriah
Date Posted: 7th May 2015

Characters: Lanniya, Solieira
Description: Solieira comes to visit Lanniya
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 12, day 11 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Rhosyn, Lenala

Lanniya

As was her custom, she often checked in on the newly Impressed after
they'd been in training for a time. She talked to them far more
often while they were Candidates, of course, but as with so many other
riders and younglings in her care, she never stopped thinking of them
as "hers".

But this time it was different.

It had been some time since they'd had a young gold about the Weyr,
but this was not just a young goldrider. She could hear _all_ the
dragons. She was a treasure indeed, and Sol had promised her
grandparents, after all.

She had promised that Lanniya was now part of a new family.

To that end, she made up a special couple of treats for the young girl
and took it off to the barracks to see if she could tempt her out for
a walk with her beautiful gold during their free time.

Lanniya swiped the last bit of oil off of Anaeryth's wing and watched
with loving pride as the gold stretched to allow the light to ripple
along her flanks. She was such a lovely shade, Lanniya thought. More
lovely than any other, in her mind.

Sensing her lifemate's feelings, Anaeryth preened. }: I think so too. :{

**Don't get a big head, Anaeryth.**

The sight of an older woman allowed the gold to quickly change the
subject. Peering around Lanniya, the gold snuffled the air. }: Who is
that? :{

Lanniya turned, saw Soliera and smiled brightly. "Solieira!" She waved eagerly.

"Hello lovely ladies. Anaeryth, you are gleaming." The Headwoman
bowed her head respectfully to the young gold and her young rider.

"Lanniya, I wanted to see how you were, and I brought treats." She
smiled her warm smile and set the basket down at her feet. "You
both look stunning. Time to sit a bit and talk with me? Perhaps
she'll let me scratch her eyeridges?" She pulled a fresh bubbly from
the confines of the basket and offered it to the young girl. She
winked. "Most weyrlings I know are always hungry."

"Oh, I am _starving_." Lanniya eyed the bubbly with undisguised hunger
and took it quickly. "Thank you." She took a bite and then,
remembering her manners, pulled out a small seat for the Headwoman.
"Seems like I'm eating all the time now that I'm so busy." Lanniya may
have been eating more, but she clearly hadn't gained weight, though
there was a slight definition in her arms that hadn't been before.

The young gold peered at Soliera for a moment before stepping forward
and plopping herself down on her bottom in front of the older woman.
Without a moment's pause, she thrust her head forward, presenting her
eyeridges. Lanniya giggled. "I think she'll let you."

Sol grinned in delight and winked at Lanniya. "A tad shameless, the
lovely thing." She busied herself scratching as requested. "It is
part of my duty to see you all fed until you burst, with all the
energy you must use taking care of this beauty. I'll always be glad
to bring you treats, and you are welcome to stop by and see me any
time." Still scratching, she turned to the young woman. She noted
the lack of weight gain but was not surprised. Weyrlings could eat
their weight every day and still not gain weight, she surmised. They
were on the go constantly.

"And how are classes going then, Lanniya? And do you miss your family
too much?"

"She is, especially when it comes to attention." Lanniya munched on
the bubbly with unrestrained glee, sucking the juices off of her
fingertips. "She's not at all snobby like I figured golds would be.
She seems to like everyone. I've yet to meet someone she won't
demand...er...ask a scratch from. I think she thinks the entire Weyr
exists to service her needs." She grinned as Anaeyrth lifted her chin,
clearly showing that she did indeed believe that very thing. The
little gold crooned as Soliera found a particularly itchy spot and her
lids half closed in bliss.

Lanniya finished the bubbly with relish. "I don't like the classes
much, especially if I have to sit at a desk or table for candlemarks.
I like the outside ones, though. And the etiquette lessons?" She
exhaled and wrinkled her nose, speaking in a mock lofty voice. "You
have an image to uphold. You have to do everything just so. Dress like
we say, always be clean and pristine and for Faranth's sake, wear
shoes!" Lanniya shook her head. "If Anaeryth wanted someone like that,
she would have never chosen me!"

Solieira's rich laugh bubbled forth but she did say softly, "Ah, but
despite the truth, you do need to at least _learn_ the lessons.
Anaeryth chose you just as you are, true, but at times, you will find
some things required of you that you may not always enjoy." She
smiled though, and went on, "...but as soon as those things are done,
by all means, take off your shoes, my dear." Her laugh sounded
again and she touched Lanniya's nose lightly. "You will be a fine
weyrwoman, and a wonderful part of the Weyr. Trust Anaeryth, and
trust your teachers. Think of those dull lessons as building blocks
for the future very much more fun ones like drills and going /between/
and your first flight with your lifemate. They will all help you
to keep your beautiful golden attention seeking dragon safe for all
the turns ahead. "

Anaeryth butted up against Soliera's hand to remind her that her head
knobs still required scratching. The gold peered at the two, her tail
flicking rhythmically back and forth as she listened. }: I like you
without shoes. :{

Lanniya grinned at Anaeryth warmly. **I know.** She turned back to
Soliera and sat down on the ground across from her, her bare toes
wiggling. "I _am_ learning them. I just get bored with them. I like to
_do_ , not just watch someone show me how. And I don't think I should
be exactly like Rhosyn or Lenala. I don't think I should try to be.
Everyone is different."

Startled but immediately contrite, Sol began to scratch as requested.
"Lovely lady, you chose well." She said to the young gold. "Yes,
most do get bored with the "not doing" part of lessons, sweetling.
But it will pass. Soon it will be all "do". " She grinned at her
other comment and nodded in frank agreement. "You should definitely
be your own type of goldrider, Lanniya. No two goldriders are alike,
and I think that is the way it should be. I've served several
goldriders in my time as Headwoman and yes, they were all different.
And trust me, its part of a Headwoman's job to help you be 'you'. I
hope I get to see you fully grown into your place as Anaeryth's
rider." she smiled again.

"Go enjoy yourself, Lanniya...and remember... my door is always open to you."

"You will get to." Lanniya's grin never faltered. "But before I go,
can you tell me something?" Her head tilted to the side and her voice
lowered. "And don't mention it to my grandparents because they don't
want to talk about this sort of thing, but how would I go about..."
Her hands waved and gestured as she tried to find her words. "I'm not
like most of the weyr girls, you know? Uhm...I mean, I know what _it_
is all about from listening to the dragons during flight but um...I've
never really and I'll have to when she gets older but I can't just go
up to any guy and ask, you know?"

Solieira couldn't stop the giggles - well chuckles, in a woman her age - from bursting out at Lanniya's youthful, confused way of asking about sex. Sol was no stranger to it, for sure. She thought of U'das with a really warm grin and decided she might go 'bring him some snacks' later on today, but in the meantime she tried to think how to answer the young girl's question without sharing too much information since Anaeryth was still too young for that kind of thinking. She could tell her what she knew from 10s of Turns of being a Headwoman, though she'd never had dragon nor flit to experience it herself.

"Well of course I won't tell them, silly." She finally managed when she stopped chuckling. "I don't mean anything by the chuckles, love, but I'm over 70 turns. And it warms my heart to see you ...being you." Not shy, no, but just...Lanniya.

"When she's much older.... when you've made senior Weyrling..... there are some older bronzeriders that might do for you, love. You will be their queen and it should be well done, that first time, and before she Rises for sure. If you want, when the time comes, I'll help you find a suitable soul." She could already think of one or two that might do that Lanniya would find attractive, but they would also be discreet and treat her with the respect she deserved.

"The general way is through friends of friends. Either ones you've made since you've been here, or ones that your Weyrlingmaster might be able to suggest. But if you'd rather me, I'd love to help you. But it must be when she's much older. And able to bear the emotions. You should have a care during Flights, too, to shield her from those sounds in your mind. It could hurt her."

Was that what she wanted to know? "Is that what you meant, Lanniya? Or did you have a more specific question?"

Lanniya pursed her lower lip and nodded. "I guess I have plenty of time to decide. I _have_ met lots of riders but only a couple that I've gotten to know well." She blushed a bit at the mention of doing it well, but quickly spoke up after Soliera mentioned shielding. "Oh, I have been. I've had to do that since right after I got here. I was hearing lots of stuff that I definitely wasn't supposed to. I thought my grandfather was going to drag me out of the Weyr by my toes when he found out."

She glanced around again, and her eyes glinted with mischief. "But I did learn that if I was really really curious, I could ask a green dragon. They can be really silly sometimes, but they like to talk. Only you have to be careful, because sometime they send images and..." Her eyes widened and she shook her head. "I had been curious how to male riders...you know...well, one green dragon gave me details. It was..." She blinked. "very interesting."

She patted Anaeryth lightly, the gold now engrossed more on preening her wings than their conversation. "Besides, Anaeryth and I saw a couple by the lake that were uhm..involved. They were kinda out in the open a bit. Anaeryth didn't think much of it." Lanniya's eyes twinkled. "She said they looked like naked grubs fighting." She giggled. "And they kinda did, actually."

And she started laughing again. The rich full laugh that could make her attractive, even at her Turns.

"Oh child, what a precious gift you our to the ranks of goldriders everywhere. I cannot wait to see you grow up." And she meant it too. What a delightful way of looking at things she had, and it made Sol feel young again, at least for a moment.

"And such are we seen through the eyes of the dragons - small and silly and they wonder why we put so much worry and thought into an act that should be simple and wonderful." She was talking mostly to herself, but also to Lanniya.

"I've hides that describe it all in detail, lass, if you're that curious. But right you are... green dragons are gossips of the worst sort. Most of them, anyway. You are not going anywhere, my girl. And yes, you have some time to think it through. But in the meantime, keep an eye on the handsome ones. Though not TOO much of an eye, unless Anaeryth is asleep! "

Lanniya beamed at the Headwoman, her eyes lit up at the praise, but also at the humor. "I might ask you about those hides when she's older. And maybe about the other too. " She rose and gave Solieira a warm hug. "Thank you for coming to visit me and for the advice."

"Tis my job, but in your case, my pleasure, sweet Lanniya. Think of me as your 'Weyr' family, no doubt. I will always be here for you, even when you are grown and graduated." She hugged the girl back. Would she _ever_ put on some weight? And smiled to herself. She would, eventually, but Sol would wager that might be just about all the 'change' that happened in this jewel of a goldrider.

"Come see me any time, lass. " Sol offered the last with the fervent wish that she _would_ be here for Lanniya for many turns yet. But she was getting up there in turns, and at times, she thought it was time she retired. Shaking off those maudlin thoughts, the Headwoman - for she was still, today - took herself back to the kitchens, where no doubt some youngling had gotten into some sort of trouble in the time she'd been gone.

Last updated on the May 14th 2015

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Jewel of a Rider