A New Arrival

Writers: Clancey, Kaysea
Date Posted: 30th November 2007

Characters: J'darin, Aneya
Description: Aneya stops in to introduce herself and thank J'darin for the Weyrs hospitality
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 6, day 2 of Turn 4

J'darin

"J'darin! So nice to meet you face to face, finally." Aneya held out her hand in welcome to the Weyrleader of Dolphin Cove Weyr. "Good things have been heard of your leadership during the recent tragedies your Weyr has faced. And I am most grateful for your generosity in housing myself and Aramyth for the next few days." Still brilliant blue eyes shone from delicately wrinkled eyelids.

Though nearing her sixtieth turn, Aneya could still hold her own amongst the younger woman of a Weyr, despite the small but visible signs of aging. Deeply tanned skin held signs of weather damage around the frail skin of the eyes, but few flaws could be detected in the rest of her face. Her hair still held some of its dark lustre from turns gone by, a rich mahogany streaked with fine seams of silver in the heavy plaits she wore for flying.

J'darin tilted his head forward in respect, taking her hands gently and smiling warmly in thanks for her kind words. "Nonsense, Lady. The entire Weyr contributed to saving our eggs, and the rebuilding. I am lucky in my Weyrfolk." His smile broadened. "Of course! You are both welcome for as long as you would like to visit."

J'darin tilted his head toward Hasaarth, who was preening even for this new gold, and shook his head with a laugh. "My bronze appears to be happy to have you and Aramyth as well!"

**Careful, beloved. Your mate may take exception to you showing off for another queen!**

"Our visit will be a short one, this time around. I am to meet with my daughters intended." Aneya replied, "Which may be just as well, as I'd rather not get on the bad side of your queen, if Aramyth starts flirting with your bronze." she gave a deep, velvety chuckle. "Oh, which reminds me..." She turned and reached into her carrisac, "I never arrive anywhere empty handed..." she turned back to J'darin and proffered two bottles displaying the crest of Benden. "Their finest White - my way of saying thank you for your hospitality."

**Knock that off, you oaf! Nyith will have your hide and her rider, mine!**

But he was laughing as his bronze seemed to settle. Nyith was his first gold mate, and Dolphin Cove his first Weyr. J'darin supposed a little pride in his maleness was to be expected by his relatively young dragon.

"He seems to be settling.." J'darin started to say more than blinked several times as she handed him two bottles of fine wine, and not just _any_ wine, but Benden!

"My lady, that is surely not necessary! A poor host indeed would we be not to welcome a visitor such as yourself and your lovely gold.
The gift is quite generous, though, and much welcomed."

He would never insult her by refusing it, but he wanted her to understand he was only take it because she offered not because he required anything to have her as a guest.

"I am afraid that fine wines and liquors are the last things to be replenished in our stores after the hurricane. Clearly, so many other things were far more important. My Weyrwoman will appreciate one, and I definitely will enjoy the other." He smiled warmly at her, and offered his arm.

"Come inside and share a glass with me, Lady? Or would you like to go about your visit?"

"A drink would be nice, but only one..." she held up one finger, "I don't want my daughter and her intended to think I have been imbibing this early in the day." once more a throaty chuckle followed. **Now you be a good girl, and play nice!** she warned Aramyth, **I don't want any territorial queens coming to take a piece of either of us, remember we're guests here!**

Returning her attention to the Weyrleader, she allowed her gaze to travel slowly over his length, before meeting his eyes. "I'll be returning here again, in less than a month or so I think, for Kateena's wedding - another bottle or so wouldn't go amiss, I suspect?" she asked, her eyebrow raising a little in question.

J'darin very nearly blushed under her obvious scrutiny, but managed his normal charming smile at her regard. "Only one?" He teased her, then offered his arm with all the charm that was in his nature. "We can't have your daughter thinking ill of you, hmm? Very well, my lady.
But only if you promise to share dinner with me when you return, and another bottle would be very welcome to add some flavor to that dinner."

"That I can certainly manage." she smiled, taking the offered arm and allowing herself to be led into his Weyr. She hadn't missed the slight flush that crept over his face, and had to remind herself that she was probably old enough to be his mother since he looked younger than Kateena. Bad enough that her queen was flirting with his bronze, without she herself causing problems with his Weyrwoman.

He would have been offended had he known her thoughts; he was all of
36 turns and proud on top of his age. Young, still, though. "You come in good time, Aneya. We have finished putting our Weyr back to rights after the storm, and a lovely new crop of weyrlings Impressed a month or two ago. We have only two golds here, so we do not get weyrlings quite so often as other Weyrs with three. Though I have to admit, having only the two seems to make the competition for their attention very fierce!"

"Recovery from the hurricane has been well managed, you have my admiration, both you and your Lady. Recovery after such devastation doesn't come easily." Her admiration was genuine, looking to the Weyr it was barely obvious that just a month or so ago the place had been flooded, and ravaged by the driving winds and rain - to say nothing of the tidal flows. "My daughter was caught in the storm, too. So I know some of what you had to deal with."

J'darin nodded, his gaze distant as he led her into his office for the one promised drink. Seating her politely first, it was some time before he answered.

"Yes, the Dolphin Hall was hit as badly as we were, but there was less of it to rebuild." His eyes were still distant as he continued. "It still gives me pause that we live in a place where mindless things like Thread and the weather have so much impact on our lives. We can fight them, but not ..change them. The storm was terrible and I lost too many riders to it." He shook of his momentary nostalgia with a smile and focused back on his lovely guest.. "But we survived, and we will go on, the better prepared to enjoy every moment we get to live." Rather fatalistic, even for J'darin, but he had been touched deeply by the storm and scarred by his decision after to lower the fighting age.

"That's the best thing to remember those we have lost by, living life well. Their chance was taken from them, so we live our lives better in their honour." Aneya nodded, sensing the nostalgic road J'darin was travelling. "Speaking of which, that wine has good life - how about we honour it?" she didn't mean to make light of the conversation, but she also didn't want J'darin to become maudlin, which he possibly could with the direction the conversation was going in.

J'darin smiled, shaking it off. "Forgive me, lovely lady. I fear I was much battered by the experience and made some bitter decisions that still do not sit well. But yes, you are correct, as most goldriders usually are." He winked and then went to his cabinet, finding nice glasses - a gift from Maurgen - and poured them both nice amounts of the very fine wine.

He raised his glass to hers, and smiled once more, meeting her eyes with a bit of mischievious glint. "Here is to all insufferable queenriders. May they always be right .. and their queens who choose so wisely." He was referring to Nyith choosing Hasaarth as her mate, but it could apply to the riders they chose at Impression equally as well.

"I'll accept that toast and reply with one of my own." she replied, holding his look as she answered his toast, "To Weyrleaders who show strength of character and determination, whilst instilling courage in those they lead." She hadn't missed the news of the weyrlings joining the flight wings early, it had travelled quickly. Some didn't hold with the decision but, despite J'darin's worries, many of the Weyrleaders and bronze riders she had spoken to had agreed they to might resort to such measures given the same conditions.

J'darin's gaze warmed on hers as he nodded to her praise. "And here is to all the Weyrfolk without whom you and I would never succeed at what we are tasked to do for Pern." He drank a long, delicious sip, rather enjoying his afternoon visitor.

She tilted back her glass, pleased to see a smile return to his face.
The wine slid smoothly over her tongue and down her throat, adding to her pleasure. "I'd have to agree with you. We may do our bit to protect what we have, but we'd be nowhere without the support we receive from the Weyr at large." He may be young, but he had a head on his shoulders; she wondered just how much of this had to do with the catastrophe's he had had to face in recent times, and how much was natural ability. Regardless, he was an attractive man in more ways than one, she hoped he was appreciated by the lucky Weyrwoman.

If J'darin had known her thoughts, he would have laughed. He and his Weyrwoman worked well together - but that's all they did together.
Traelyn and he had not shared a bed, other than when Nyith Rose to mate, in months. It was his young Harper who shared his bed most nights, these days. And his heart, truth be known.

"Aneya, I have very much enjoyed our visit. Thank you for brightening my day.. Hasaarth says he has enjoyed meeting your gold, as well, the shameless oaf."

"I shall be off to find my quarters, and then make my way to the Dolphin Hall." she nodded, realising she shouldn't monopolize his time any further. "It's been a great pleasure meeting you, and I'll remember my promise for the next visit." she handed him her glass, touching his hand a little longer than necessary, in farewell. "I'll see you before I leave though." she promised.

"See that you do, my Lady. See that you do." He was intrigued by her open interest, and he gave her a warm smile and a respectful half bow as she took herself out of his office. He was not usually tempted from his Maurgen's bed, but the thought was definitely forming. "If you need anything while you are here, Aneya, please come and find me.
Any time. And have your Aramyth bespeak Hasaarth whenever you choose."

His smile remained as he _watched_ her walk away. Intriguing, indeed.

Last updated on the December 2nd 2007

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A New Arrival