Your Chance

Writers: AL, Len
Date Posted: 19th November 2010

Characters: Meledei, G'wen
Description: Meledei visits DFW looking for a friend and runs into Galwen
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 22 of Turn 5

Meledei was hungry. Not that she hadn't eaten all day, she had but for some reason, she was just hungry. Maybe it was the swim she had taken before coming to the Weyr. It was a rest day, but she knew that even on rest days not everyone could rest. Those who didn't usually got a rest day on another day. Supposedly, Jiala was off, but Meledei hadn't been able to find her just yet. Well, she hadn't really looked that long or hard, probably because she was hungry. So, it was off to the kitchens she went, hoping someone would be nice to her and give her a little something to tide her over til lunch.

Galwen was walking out of the kitchens when he saw the stranger wandering in. He'd just spent most of what was supposed to be his rest day washing about every dish from breakfast and lunch. His best mate Sevin was supposed to be doing them but some of the biggest bullies from their Candidate classes were also on kitchen duty. As Sevin had been picked on terribly from them, Galwen had volunteered to step in. Not that any of those Holder louts would do anything while the Headwoman was around.
He watched the new girl. No one else was about now, and she had that hungry look about her. Sighing tiredly, he raised an eyebrow at her.

The closest person was a young man, a stranger - but that wasn't surprising since she wasn't in her home weyr! He at least noticed her so Meledei grinned and moved a little closer. "Mind if I beg a little snack from you?" She asked softly, her tone congenial. "My stomach's growling and refuses to take no for an answer."

He chuckled at her words. "No problem. There's some pies in the kitchen, or do you want something heavier? We've got a really great new baker, I think everyone in the Weyr is at least 10 pounds heavier since she joined us! They're her pies." He turned back to the kitchen, seeing if the girl--no weyrwoman, he corrected himself--was following.

And follow him she did! Meledei was right on his heels and then came up a little beside him so she could talk to him better. "Ten pounds? Well, it wouldn't do to gain ten pounds, but a pie sounds lovely. Nothing too heavy, I don't want to spoil my lunch after all."

"No problem," he smiled. "They're just little ones, bubbly but without the bubble, if you know what I mean."

Meledei laughed, the warmth radiating outward. "I guess if I don't I'm going to find out! Hey, even if they're only sort of bubbly pies, I'm not going to complain. My stomach's going to thank you!"

He smiled and led her over to where the pies were cooling. "I don't think a pie...or two...will be missed." Taking two pies and placing one in the girl's hand, he asked, "so, how's your queen?"

"She's well, thank you!" Meledei turned the pie and then took a big bite, bliss creeping over her features. "I love bubblies. Even mini bubblies. I just can't get enough of them...though I do have to be careful not to gorge on them."

Galwen nodded in agreement, although looking as if he should have eaten a bit more. Some vauge fear seemed to have him in constant motion lately, working more hours in the kitchen than normal, and shedding any weight having several great bakers in the Weyr would have put on a boy. A deadly mix of dealing with bullies, dreading the upcoming Clutching and T'bel's obnoxious dallies with him and his mates kept him from resting. Someone had told him lately that his father's weyrmate had taken a hilarious tumble at Aileyan's birthday party. He would have paid a nice mark to have seen that. Watching Meledei eat, he slid another one her way before asking, "so what brings you here?"

Meledei eyed that second pie. Should she? Shouldn't she? It was a _pie_...a miniature pie, but a pie none the less. Still, she'd probably not want dinner if she had _two_. But it was a _pie_. She stared at it as she slowly sucked the juice off the tips of her fingers. "Oh, I'm visiting a friend but got the munchies and decided to stop here first." Pie...

"Oh? Who's your friend? Perhaps I can find out where they are for you, if you wish to make your visits to the Weyrwoman first." Seeing the mental battle being played out in her expressions, Galwen edged the pie closer. Another sweet wasn't going to hurt her figure. And besides she seemed kind, which should be rewarded.

"Jiala. Do you know her?" That pie was getting stared at and pondered over. Sweet, gooey goodness that was so difficult to resist. Oh, and then it got closer and....Meledei's hand shot out and plucked the pie from the plate. Her mouth thanked her most graciously.

"Jiala? Small girl, about our age? Brown hair?" There was a girl he thought with that name but she was nowhere around. He grinned when she made a grab for the pie.

"That's her." Meledei managed in between bites, nodding too just in case it was too difficult to make out the words with the sticky stuff in her mouth. She swallowed a couple of times to clear it before stating, "I came over to visit, haven't seen her since she moved over here a few months back." Ah, pie. Yum!

He thought for a moment. "Ah, Jiala, I think she may be helping with one of the injured riders. D'you want me to show you where the infirmery is?"

"Sure, why not?" Meledei accepted as she took that last bite. She chewed it slowly, the sweet and sour going bland before she finally swallowed. She reached for a napkin and wiped off her mouth. "And thanks!"

Galwen lead the young weyrwoman out into the Weyr bowl. Seeing her dragon close by, he exclaimed, "wow! Look at her!" He turned, amazed, to Meledei. "She's yours, yes?"

"She is indeed, that's my Elleth." Meledei beamed, her expression almost as bright as her gold's minted hide. She'd just had a bath before coming so the dragon looked brighter in the sunlight. The creature turned her head toward her rider and the young man who accompanied her, eyes whirling a gentle green. "She says hello."

"Hello Elleth, you're beautiful!" Galwen walked up to the young queen, her hide shining almost molten silver in the sunlight. Turning back to Meledei, he added, "I don't think I've ever seen such an unusual colour on a queen."

"Yes, it's very unusual. It's sometimes hard to tell that's she's gold until you take a closer look. I think it's just the way her hide uses the light. I'm not sure." Meledei shrugged and scritched her lifemate's eyeridges. "But I like it. It's a beautiful trick and she's just absolutely perfect. Are you standing?"

With no small effort, he looked away from the small queen and glanced at her rider. "Yes, first time though, so I don't expect much. If I don't get trampled by either a dragonet or a fellow candidate, then I'll be happy."

"Word to the wise." Meledei put a finger against the side of her nose and closed one eye in a wink. "If a dragon's headed toward you, move out of the way. If you're the one they've chosen, they'll follow so don't worry about missing out on your chance!"

"Ah, cheers for that. I doubt seriously if any dragon'll be headed my way though." He shyly raised a hand to stroke the queen's eyeridge.

"Don't be so sure about that." Meledei shook her finger at Galwen. "You never know. A dragon might choose you at the very next hatching!"

He smiled ruefully at her words. Aware he was keeping a weyrwoman from her task at hand, he gave the gold one last pat and waved Meledei to follow him to the Infirmery. "I'm Galwen, by the way," he said to her.

"It's nice to meet you Galwen. Have I told you my name? Probably not." The goldrider laughed at her lack of manners. "I'm Meledei, of Dolphin Cove. Are you originally from the Weyr?"

"Yeah, born and raised. My da and his partner ride in U'kaiah's wing."

"Oh yeah? Well, they say that candidates who have family as dragonriders tend to be more likely to Impress." Meledei didn't want to give the young man false hope, but it was true. A lot of candidates who Impressed had dragonriders as family members...of course...some didn't...and some who had dragonrider family members didn't Impress. Better to think positive. "How old are you?"

"I'm going to be 17 soon." Better to say that than 16 turns. He was tired of being 16 and being considered so young. Being short and fine featured didn't help either, but the age was what he fixed his thoughts on, hoping that the riders--particularly the blue riders--treated him differently after his birthing day.

"Sixteen...that's the age I was when I Impressed. It wasn't that long ago really." Meledei laughed softly, "So maybe you'll Impress this time around!"

"Hope so!" While they were talking, Galwen was leading them to the Infirmery. Pointing to a small girl, he asked, "is that your friend?"

"That's her!" Meledei brightened at the sight of a very familiar face. "Well, you've helped me find my missing person and for that I thank you Galwen! It was a pleasure to meet you."

Last updated on the December 16th 2010

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