Much to Hear

Writers: Avery, Yvonne
Date Posted: 24th February 2014

Characters: Alina, L'pin
Description: Alina hears L'pin practicing, and goes to investigate
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 5, day 2 of Turn 7

Alina

L'pin had been using this particular small room to practice
music for nearly as long as he'd been at the weyr. It was
windowless and the glows were rarely changed. A few chairs
and desks were in it, which meant it had probably been used
as a classroom at some point, though the blue rider pitied
any children who'd had to take lessons in such a stark room
with no decorations to liven it up a little.

He set the small harp down and began to tune the strings.
He'd been using the guitar more lately, and this instrument
had been somewhat neglected.

It was the music that drew her. Alina had always been fond
of music, and it was a treat when it was permitted at the
farming cothold she'd grown up at. She hurried through her
duties, sweeping the last corridor with more vigor than
effect, before tip-toeing down the hall and stopping outside
the door the music was coming from. The instrument was
unfamiliar too-- she'd only really heard pipes and a gitar
before. Frowning, she tried to peep around the edge of the
door to see what it was without the musician seeing her.

L'pin saw movement out of the corner of his eye, but fought
the urge to look over in favor of continuing to play the
piece. No point in spooking whoever was listening, if they
were being skittish like a nervous feline. In another
minute, he was done. He carefully resettled the instrument
and picked up the sheet of music, still not looking at the
door.

Gathering her courage, Alina cleared her throat and stepped
inside the little room. It was rude to interrupt someone,
but she couldn't help herself. She _had_ to know. "Excuse
me, sir?"

He turned fully to look at the person. He didn't recognize
her, which meant several possibilities - a woman who'd run
away to the Weyr, a crafter hopeful, a new candidate. "How
may I help you, lady?" he asked.

He'd called her 'lady'! Alina flushed with pleasure and
dropped into a quick curtsy to hide her smile. Nobody had
ever called her lady, not unless they were being mean about
it. "I'm sorry to intrude, dragonrider, but I heard you
playing and... and I've never heard that instrument before.
What is it?"

"You're not intruding at all. This is called a harp. You can
come over and touch it, you won't break it," he said with a
gentle smile. "I'm L'pin. What's your name?"

"Alina." She drifted closer to run her fingers across the
harp's strings, then picked the instrument up. The wood felt
warm, almost alive, and the instrument fit perfectly into
the crook of her arm. She put it down, a little regretfully.
"It has a beautiful sound."

"Do you have an interest in music?" He saw the way she
looked at it and wondered if she'd ever played an
instrument. Depended on where she was from, possibly.

"I can sing, a little, but I can't play anything," she
admitted after a moment. Their cothold wasn't large enough
to have a Harper full time, and even if they had, it was
doubtful that _she_ would have been allowed to take time off
to learn to play.

"If you'd like to learn, and have time outside your assigned
duties, you could learn. That's the beauty of the Weyr," he
told her. "What range do you sing?"

Alina looked up, startled. "Alto."

"I could play something for you to sing with right now, if
you wanted."

Alina shook her head, suddenly aware again that she'd
intruded. L'pin had obviously come here to practice
undistrubed, and here she was, disturbing him. "Oh no, I
couldn't. I'm not really that good. And I'm sure you have
better things to do."

He gave her his most charming smile. "Better than spending
time with a nice young woman?"

Was he _flirting_ with her?! Alina's eyes went round. He had
to be twice her age, if not three times. He was ancient!
But... she didn't want to leave. The harp had sounded so
lovely, and it had been such a long time since she'd sung
anything. "I... have chores..." she managed after a moment.

She really was skittish, and he worried about frightening
her. "I wouldn't want to get you into any trouble. You could
always find me afterwards," he suggested gently.

There was no way she'd go find him later. But she still
didn't want to go. Maybe one song... "Just one, then, if
it's not too much trouble. And I can't stay for more than
one or I'll never be done chores tonight." After all, what
harm could one song do?

"That would be fine." She sounded a little more confident
there, and he was glad. He looked back at the music he held
- Sunset's Gold, a song from the last Pass. He didn't want
to be depressing, and wasn't sure how well-known outside of
the hall it was. "Is there a piece in particular you'd
like?"

"I know all the teaching songs. Or maybe... do you know the
harvest song?" Alina hummed a few bars, suddenly feeling a
little homesick. It would be nice to hear a familiar song
within the Weyr.

He listened to her humming, then played back the starting
notes to confirm. "I do."

"I would sing that one, then..." Alina cleared her throat
and stood a little straighter as L'pin launched into the
opening bars. The harvest song was a simple thing.

"The hay is all mowed, the wheat is all bound
hey, hey, hey-o
The frost will soon touch the yellow gold ground
hey, hey, hey-o
The barns are all full and the harvest is in
hey, hey, hey-o
Let the ale from the cask and the gather begin
hey, hey, hey-o,
hey-o, hey-o, oh."

L'pin played a final few bars and let the sound fade slowly
into the silence. Alina sighed, suddenly feeling very
homesick indeed. It was fall, although you couldn't tell it
from Dolphin Cove. The weather was always nice here-- unless
it was raining.

"I'd forgotten how nice that song is," he told her. "You
sing quite well."

She smiled at the compliment. "Thank you, sir. But your harp
sounds much nicer than I do."

"Turns and Turns of practice. I was a Harper, before I was a
rider."

"Really?" To have given up being a Harper, to be a
dragonman... that seemed crazy! And to give up the Harper
Hall... in her imagination, the air hummed with music at the
Harper Hall. It would never be quiet. "What was the Harper
Hall like?"

"I remember how lovely it was. There was much to learn, and
to hear. Some brilliant people taught. Some astounding
singers of the likes you'd weep to hear. But it wasn't
perfection, there were flaws as there always are." He sighed
wistfully. "I am so sorry for what happened to the first
Hall, but it is rather nice having the new Hall here at the
Weyr. I'll miss them when they're gone."

"I've never been..." Alina trailled off, then smiled at the
dragonrider. "But I've kept you from your practice. Thank
you for your time."

"It was a pleasure, miss Alina. Feel free to seek me out
anytime." He thought he rather liked the girl, and hoped
she'd open up a bit more.

Last updated on the February 28th 2014

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Much to Hear