Not Quite Friends

Writers: AL, Heather, Mirren
Date Posted: 21st January 2016

Characters: Meledei, Endarin, Barenziah, D'shiel
Description: The four companions go to a Gather, but it's not quite what Meledei hoped for.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 3, day 28 of Turn 8

Barenziah

Meledei fiddled with her gloves a moment before she pulled them over her hands. Although she was decked out in a lovely dress of green, the hue matching that of her eyes, she had to ruin the effect by placing her jacket over her upper body and pants underneath the long, flowing skirts. Cascades of green tumbled from her hips in a variety of shades, spring to emerald, but that was all that could be determined of the outfit for the moment. As the first of the small group arrived, she offered a brilliant smile. "Good morning."

"Good morning." Endarin tipped his head toward Meledei, a little surprised to see the goldrider in a dress. Every time he'd visited the Weyr he'd noticed that dresses did not seem to be common place. Even though they were attending a Gather he still hadn't pictured the woman in a dress. The Hallmaster was wearing tan breeches and a fitted white shirt that made his tan seem deeper and in contrast to his black and silver hair.

"Good morning." Meledei greeted him cheerfully. "Looking forward to the Gather?" D'shiel and his company hadn't arrived yet, so they might as well enjoy a chance to chat for a few moments.

"Who doesn't like a gather," D'shiel interrupted as he arrived. Apart from the pressure not to mess this up. He nodded toward the older man. Surely he wasn't the goldrider's 'friend'?

Having attended many a gather as a Lady's attendant, Barenziah wore one of her finer gather dresses, a deep purple in shade that made her fiery hair appear even more scarlet. Over one arm she carried a black leather jacket that wouldn't mar her ensemble too badly but would keep her protected from the cold while they rode.

Her eyes scanned the shoulder knots of the man that was standing beside of Meledei. **Must be the new Hallmaster.** She didn't take much interest in news about the Dolphin Hall, but she had heard that there was a change in leadership.

"Hello everyone."

D'shiel's eyes widened. "Wow," he said breathlessly. "You look beautiful." He knew he was staring but he couldn't seem to take his eyes off her.

"Thank you." A light blush tinted Barenziah's cheeks. It was the first time D'shiel had ever paid her such a compliment.

Endarin looked between the two, it was clear to see the chemistry between them, and it made it clear to him that they were going to the Gather as much more than "just friends."

"Well met." He said with a dip of his head, and then he turned his attention back to Meledei. "Ready to go?"

Meledei offered a wave to the redheaded woman, then nodded to the Hallmaster. "I'm ready if you guys are."

Without waiting for much of an answer, Meledei tugged up her skirts in order to mount her golden lifemate. Beneath them, boots and trousers revealed themselves briefly as she settled upon the dragon. Elleth kindly offered her foreleg for Endarin to use as a booster and Meledei stretched out her hand for him to take if he so desired it.

D'shiel gave Barenziah one of his lopsided smiles and offered her a hand to help climb up Padraith. "Milady," he said formally, while grinning.

"Thank you." The split in Barenziah's dress allowed her to freely move her legs as D'shiel helped her into place on Padraith's neckridge. Once she was settled and safely in her straps she looked up to see that Master Endarin was seated behind Meledei ready for the trip.

Endarin's eyes inevitably strayed to the healthy expanse of leg that Barenziah's dress revealed. From the way she had been dressed he had assumed she was possibly a holdbred transplant at the Weyr, but with her confidence in showing a little skin he couldn't be certain.

Soon they were in the air and Endarin found himself amazed, again, at the feel of flying. He'd ridden a dragon transport from Topaz to Dolphin Cove but riding on a gold dragon was another matter entirely. The trip /between/
was shocking as usual and then there they were suspended in air above a bright, sunny Gather.

Elleth lowered down to a gentle landing, then crouched down low to make dismounting easier. Meledei did so while making sure her dragon was between her and the Hold. Without revealing too much skin, Meledei slipped out of the trousers that kept her legs warm, then folded them before she placed them in one of the large sacks. She did the same with her jacket then offered to take Endarin's. Southern Boll was far too warm to need such things. Once her outerwear had been removed, the upper part of the dress was revealed. The same shades of green wrapped themselves snugly around her torso, ending in off the shoulder sleeves which were wide and loose, the material trailing down to her wrists.

Once the jackets were put away along with her helmet, she took a moment to quickly twist her hair up into a bun and slip silver and emerald combs into her hair. That done, she finally turned to the others. "All right, what shall we do first?"

Barenziah stood beside of D'shiel, letting him take the lead. She secretly hoped the two of them might break away from Meledei and Endarin for a little while.

"Maybe we could wander around and catch up later to eat?" D'shiel suggested. He'd noticed Endarin looking at Barenziah as was happy to put some distance between the other man and himself.

That had been unexpected. Meledei had thought they'd come together to fellowship as friends, but D'shiel's request put a stop to that idea. So much for getting to know Barenziah. "Oh, sure."

Endarin personally didn't mind at all that the other two individuals were breaking off, they seemed like one of those lovey-dovey teenager pairs that had just recently discovered the opposite sex. Seeing that it was just going to be him and Meledei, he offered his elbow to the goldrider. "Shall we then?"

The smile which had dimmed at the sudden mention of splitting resumed its brightness as Endarin politely offered her his arm. "Yes, let's." Well, at least one friend was going to stick by her during the Gather.

Last updated on the January 27th 2016

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

Not Quite Friends