Changed Forever

Writers: AL, Suzee
Date Posted: 27th June 2014

Characters: L'cor, Meledei
Description: Meledei comes to check on the young dragonrider.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 20 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Ciendra

L'cor

"Hey L'cor." Meledei approached the young bronzerider with a smile.
Drills had just finished and everyone was dusty and tired. Lunch
would be served soon so they could settle the rumbling of their
stomachs. Before she and L'cor rushed off, though, Meledei thought it
was a good time to catch them. Once they left, they'd be swept up into
the other duties that took up the rest of the day - particularly her.
"How's it going?"

"Oh Hello Lady Meledei," L'cor smiled. He reached up to begin the
process of removing Tonuth's straps.

"Lady Meledei?" He'd called her that before and she flicked her hand
in dismissal. "It's just Meledei. Just hadn't really talked with you
in a long time and thought I'd see how you were doing."

"Yes, well," he looked over at her. "Sorry that is just the turns of
training as a Steward and believe me, they're all very picky when it
comes to their titles. It even makes me just a little uncomfortable
that when I visit home they call me My Lord."

"Eh, well, you don't have to worry about titles with me so much. I'm
not that formal usually." Maybe when she was in a formal situation,
Meledei might bow to that requirement, but certainly not on a daily
basis or in casual contact. "So how are things going? Taking to full
dragonrider status all right?"

"It's certainly more challenging than I thought when I first came
here," he said. "But I'd never want to do anything else at this
point." He had gotten the straps unfastened and started pulling them
off looking for any little marks of wear that could signal danger.
"How about you? How do you like riding gold?"

"I like being bonded to Elleth. It wouldn't have mattered if she'd
been green or gold." But she was gold, and because of that, Meledei
had a different status and different duties in the Weyr - just as
L'cor did and would as a bronzerider. "Enjoying your freedom now
that' you've graduated?"

"I know what you mean," he said. "I watched all the weyrlings in my
class and I don't think even one of them would have had their
Impression go any other way." His smile widened when he answered her
next question. "I am," he nodded. "I have been to visit both my
parents and even went north to a gather."

"I love Gathers. I go to them when I can. How did you like it? It's
quite a bit different from down here." Meledei liked to visit the
North, but she didn't ever think she wanted to live up there. She
loved Dolphin Cove far too much. "And you're adjusting to Weyrlife
okay?"

"Yes," he smiled. "We had a great time. It was quite a bit different
than the little hold I grew up in." He'd recognized the different
styles of knots and such but not what all of them signified. The
colors in the north were different than the south and he knew he had
his job cut out for him making certain the next time he went up he'd
be better prepared. That and he wasn't used to all the Holders bowing
and addressing him as "My Lord" whenever they walked by.

"I am I think. Was it hard for you when you realized Elleth had
changed your life forever?"

"No. Not for me." Meledei shook her head and crossed her arms over
her chest. "But you have to remember, I'm Weyr born and bred. My
mother was from a hold, but my father was a dragonrider, so I've seen
it from one side all of my life. I just kept on going the way I
always went - only without beastcrafter knots and goldrider knots
instead." With a shrug, she continued. "It's different for those who
aren't from the Weyr. Different mindset, different culture. Not in a
bad way, just unusual in comparison. I'm glad you're adjusting
though."

He looked at her rather seriously, "I do think it's easier for a man
than a woman to adjust to such... freedom." He tilted his head and
shrugged. But I have to say it's good to see someone like Ciendra, who
was searched at the same time I was, go from a rather hopeless
existence to a place where her work ethic is appreciated."

"Easier for a man?" Meledei tilted her head to the side. "You mean on
the sexual side of things? Yeah, probably, but that's probably
because from what I know about men, whether they come from holds or
not, they think they can sleep around and it doesn't matter. Faranth
forbid that a woman do the same thing, though, especially in a hold."

"That sounds a little bitter," he mused. "I don't think all men are
that way Meledei. Marriage to me would have been a commitment I was
willing to make. Even now, I have a special relationship with Oria and
I don't really want to adventure outside of it just because I can." He
shook his head. "I'm sorry someone hurt you. But not everyone is like
that."

Meledei managed a small smile. "Sorry. Recent hurts, and thank you
for that. It's nice to know that not everyone is like that." Though
Meledei had certainly learned that even Holders weren't necessarily
more likely to make commitments. T'nom certainly hadn't been.
"Anyway, I just wanted to see how you were doing, not dampen your day.
I should probably get going."

"Well thank you," he smiled. He knew he was inexperienced in the ways
of the Weyr yet and she'd had many more Turns here but he resolved
that he wouldn't let bitterness take hold. That was one thing his
mother had always warned him against. If anyone could have railed
against the cards they'd been dealt it was Dinalee. She loved a man
she could never have and yet she was happy. He watched the young
goldrider as she walked away and hoped she'd find what she sought or
at least appreciate what she had when she had it.

Last updated on the July 1st 2014

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Changed Forever